WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED TOURIST IS WEARING THESE DAYS



WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED TOURIST IS WEARING THESE DAYS

It is a widely held belief that all tourists – but especially American tourists – are easy targets for thieves while abroad. What follows are (hopefully) some useful tips on how we can all appear less conspicuous while traveling and still be comfortable. These are of course just suggestions, but they come from Europeans themselves and some very experienced world travelers.

~ As a rule of thumb, Europeans tend to be more reserved in their dress and comportment. Europeans tend to over dress (according to American standards) and Americans tend to under dress (according to theirs.) You’ll hardly ever see European adults wearing shorts in public. Europeans do not consider sweatshirts, sweatpants, baseball caps and exercise gear to be appropriate street wear. This isn’t to say you can’t wear these things – just be advised that by doing so you may call unnecessary attention to your tourist status! As a general rule, if you’re ever in doubt about whether to overdress or under dress for a particular occasion, always err on the side of the former.

~ Belts are very popular. The Europeans usually tuck in their shirts, even tee shirts, so that the belts will show. Sweaters tied around the neck, shoulders or waist are seen a lot, and bright scarves for the women, tied in a variety of ways, are very popular. In fact, belts and scarves are great wardrobe extenders for the women especially, take up almost no room in the suitcase, and can help dress up an outfit in no time. (Hint: Coil belts inside shoes when packing.) Costume jewelry also works well, but my advice is to bring along a few inexpensive pieces, and leave your good things at home.

~ European men and women alike seem to get along well with dark colors – black especially -- and in fact black jeans seem to fit the bill for almost any situation except the most formal. Similarly, a pair of black athletic shoes can be very versatile because they give you lots of comfort, but don’t stand out like white athletic shoes do. If anything will mark you as a tourist, it will be your brand spanking new white tennis shoes!

~ Activities on this tour will mostly require loose comfortable clothing, though there will be occasions (such as a night at the theatre or our final dinner) when you’ll probably want something a little dressier. When considering what clothes to pack for the trip, look for plain clothing that can be dressed up or dressed down. (This is where those scarves, belts and jewelry will come in handy.) Non-wrinkle, easy-care garments work best. Try to plan your travel wardrobe around a few basic colors that go well together – one dark color and two neutrals or lights, for example. Your goal should be to get by with as little as possible.

~ Though in general the further south we go the warmer it will be, the weather abroad should be very similar to what we normally see here in springtime, but conditions can of course be unpredictable. I would recommend thinking in terms of layered clothing. Vests and sweaters are useful. A light jacket or raincoat will probably be all you’ll need for outerwear.

~ Please leave your “fanny packs” at home. They are thief magnets. I know they are convenient, but this is really not a safe way to carry your belongings. I personally have witnessed tourists relieved of their cameras and wallets in a split second. Go Ahead will provide us with a very nice shoulder bag, which you can wear across your chest “bandolier style” with a hand on it at all times, or you can carry your own. What you carry is less important than how you carry it.

~ ‘Happy feet, happy traveler!’ Shoes will be your biggest challenge. Finding something that is at the same time comfortable, versatile and stylish won’t be easy, but these should be your considerations, preferably in that order. For the amount of walking we’ll be doing on this tour, your shoes simply must be able to hold up, so a thick sole will probably be a necessity. For everyday wear, those dark-colored athletic shoes (or the equivalent) work well. Since shoes take up a lot of room in the suitcase, the fewer pairs you can get by with, the better, so you’ll want a shoe with a lot of versatility – one that can be worn with as many different outfits as possible. Whatever shoes you choose, try them on, be sure you’re comfortable with them and most important, break them in before you leave!

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