I was recently asked to review trends I’ve seen in recent years in European travel. Here are a few thoughts:
Our guidebooks and tours are selling better than ever. Tourism to Europe is up. And so are airfares, add-on flight fees, and the costs of changing your ticket. Good luck here!
Electronic communication is revolutionizing things: Disposable mobile phones, cheap and easy Wi-Fi availability, and so on, have changed the way we travel. Just try to find a pay phone in Europe these days. (Calling someone on Skype over a Wi-Fi connection is both cheaper and easier than paying to use a phone.)
It’s predicted that by the end of 2011, half of all American mobile phone users will have smartphones (compared to just 10 percent in 2008). My hunch about why Apple features little old us in their iPhone ads is that they want people to perceive their iPod Touch and iPhone as essential travel tools (and our content-loaded Rick Steves Audio Europe™ app makes a strong case for exactly that). As more people travel with smartphones, there will be more handy apps.
Of all the royalties I get for my guidebook sales, ebook proceeds make up only about 5 percent. But this will change rapidly in coming years. More and more sights are sharing a digital look at themselves for online viewers. Google’s new Art Project lets you take a virtual tour of some of the world’s top museums, including the Uffizi in Florence, the Palace of Versailles near Paris, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Even the staid Vatican City has gotten in on the act, with their heavenly, online, interactive look at the Sistine Chapel.
Europe’s increasingly common chip-and-PIN system for purchases, which requires users to insert a pre-loaded card with an embedded microchip and key in a PIN, is frustrating American travelers (whose banks are sticking with the magnetic-strip credit cards). Don’t fret about this, though. For now, the chip-and-PIN system is used mostly for convenience machines (e.g., automated gas stations, ticket machines, parking meters, and tollbooths). Merchants, ATMs, and hotels have no problem with your magnetic strip. (Still, to avoid potential frustrations, it’s handier than ever to use cash.)
As Europe has united, the rich countries have brought along the poor ones (like Greece, Ireland, and Portugal), creating a false affluence. And apparently, it doesn’t work. Because the relatively poor-performing countries are locked into the euro, they can’t make macro adjustments by docking their workers’ wages with a devalued currency. I believe that’s why these countries are in a more serious crisis (and need to be continuously bailed out by Germany and company) than the rest of Europe. How will that impact the traveler? It won’t, really. I wouldn’t look for any deals. And I wouldn’t worry about demonstrations. Instead, I’d simply anticipate demonstrations in the streets of Europe for years to come. It’s a healthy thing. It’s how those democracies vent. As their politicians force their economies into reality (cutting back on promised entitlements, as when Sarkozy raised the French retirement age from 60 to 62), workers will march. That’s just way too much exercise for Americans…who’d rather just go home and find a TV station that affirms their frustrations.
Europe’s cities are becoming more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. (Paris’ borrow-a-bike system, called Vélib’, is a model; London, Brussels, Vienna, and many others are following suit.) Some cities levy a congestion fee, charging almost any traffic for entering the old center. Many tourists don’t understand, drive into traffic-free zones, and end up with pricey tickets added onto their car rental bills. Learn the local signs that help you avoid this inconvenient expense.
Some sightseeing news: The biggest construction site in Europe is for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where Blue Badge guides lead cheap, fascinating tours of the ongoing work. In Paris, the Orsay Museum plans to re-open its top-floor Impressionist area this fall after a long and extensive renovation. At the Vatican, they’re in the process of moving Pope John Paul II’s remains from the crypt up to a more prime spot in St. Peter’s Basilica. (By the way, on May 1, JPII is being beatified ‘ the final step before sainthood. The festivities will clog Rome with visitors and fill its hotels for days.)
I’m heading off for two months of travel (guidebook research and TV production ‘ mostly in Italy and Turkey) in a couple of weeks, and can hardly wait. Stay tuned for lots of travel insights and fun.
Rick – you mention cities becoming more bike friendly and also that not having a Chip and PIN card is not a problem, but it has been my experience that to utilize the great Borrow-a-bike system in Paris or similarly in Brussels, you need to have a Chip and PIN card. Is there any American card issuer that is issuing Chip and PIN cards? thanks for posting
During these challenging times, you will have to work harder to bring the traveler the best value and opportunities. I look forward to hear what is happening when you hit the road in a couple weeks.
Hey Rick, we`ve been marching in Madison, WI. I joined the march last Saturday, though I am not a state employee. I`m just someone who thinks it would be better to build people up than tear other down. Not that people would find that there was much of up to a teacher`s salary.
Interesting article, thanks as always for the insights you bring. But.. Why must you insist on using snarky, holier-than-thou generalizations like “That`s just way too much exercise for Americans…who`d rather just go home and find a TV station that affirms their frustrations.” ? You`re obviously free to write what you want in your blog, and we`re free not to read it. I very much appreciate and enjoy everything you do – except this continual stereotyping, anyone-who-doesn`t-think-like-me-is-an-idiot bashing of Americans. You`re too good for this ridiculous, immature posturing, Rick!
As I was reaffirming my frustrations by watching a local TV station, I noticed that Japan had an epic earthquake and tsunami. I was wondering why you haven`t made a comment on this, as you did with Haiti. In my opinion it`s a little more important than chip and pin systems or wi-fi.
Rick, “Europe`s increasingly common chip-and-PIN system for purchases, which requires users to insert a pre-loaded card with an embedded microchip and key in a PIN, is frustrating American travelers”. One point to clarify is that not all “chip & PIN” cards require users to “pre-load” them with funds. My current “c & P” cards consist of both debit and credit cards, neither of which is “pre-loaded”. I suspect the same situation is true in Europe.
Hi, Rick, Thoroughly enjoyed the university level travel lectures last Saturday. Thank you. I`m new to your blog, so please forgive me if you have already addressed this elsewhere and I missed it. Would it be appropriate to ask, while you`re travelling in the next two months and blogging as you mentioned, in addition to trends in technology and political climate`s, would you comment on if and how individuals and small businesses have adapted to the impact of the world-wide Great Recession? For example, a restaurant may adjust its hours of service, menu offerings, or portion sizes to economize which may differ from long standing cultural norms. Do you notice difficulties and sacrifices, and if so, what are they? Are those changes meant to be temporary or permanent? I lived and travelled in post-WWII Europe and Asia when I was a child in the fifties and sixties. There`s been so much growth and prosperity since then, but I would enjoy knowing how Europeans are doing now. It will be a little while before I return. Thank you.
I`m sorry Webmaster, but I have to give some rebuttal to Leslein. I marched in Madison. I am not a public employee and in fact was unemployed at the time of the march last weekend. There were over 85,000 (some say over 100,000) people at the square. I saw one or two signs that I thought were over the edge, but that was all vs the 100`s, more likely 1,000`s that were humorous or direct. Also, all the people I know in Wisconsin (Democrat and Republican including State Assemblyman) are calling for the arrest of anyone making death threats. These are not thugs of any kind. They are families, librarians, teachers, sanitary workers, university professors, secretaries, salesmen, hair dressers and more. These are some sample signs that I recorded. I was there. “Walker, Pants on Fire.” “Help us Obi-Feingold Kenobi,” WisKOCHistan, Open for Business,” “Authoritarian Rule Will Be Recalled,” “Tea Time is Over,” “Fab 14 Feel the Love,” “Ask me How to Recall,” “Animals for the Ethical Treatment of People,” “Solidarity,” “Walker is a Tool,” “Arrogance does not Equal Leadership,” “Screw us and We Multiply,” “Sheet Metal Workers Support Worker`s Rights,” “Walker, Stop the Lies,” “Loud Librarian for Labor,” “No more Pencils, No more Books, Thanks to Walker`s Dirty Crooks,” “Market Place to Safe? Vote Republican,” “Walk like an Egyptian,” “Poo Meet Fan, Fan meet Poo,” ” Teamster Pilots Support Wisconsin Workers.” There are more, but space is running out. Look beyond the right wing blogosphere for what is really happening in Wisconsin. This is grassroots and it is people getting up off the sofa and making their own statements rather than watching it happen on TV.
Good topic, Rick. Another travel trend that I would add to your list is that the competition between airlines in Europe often makes flying cheaper than taking the train. In the past few years my family has flown Air Berlin, Nikki, Air Baboo, and bigger carriers such as Austrian Air, Luftansa and Air France on European inter-city flights for very reasonable prices. Memorably, we once flew Vienna to Paris for €19 one-way (plus tax). Another time we flew Vienna to Brussels for €1 each way plus tax. My wife is always on the look out for such bargains and a cheap deal often dictates where we are going next. My wife says to add that the service on these short hops hasn`t yet suffered: They still serve snacks. Happy travels!
Ken D, Just a clarification: In Europe, chip-and-PIN cards are always pre-loaded with money. This is why European vendors and automated sales points prefer them to credit or debit cards. With a credit card, the business has to make a call to the credit-card company to authorize the transaction, then they have to pay a hefty fee (a few percentage points) to the vendor for the privilege of accepting the credit card. With chip-and-PIN cards, the amount is simply deducted from the prepaid total. Because the card is preloaded and therefore does not require a telephone call to the bank to authorize the transaction, chip-and-PIN cards are also more desirable for automated machines. (The parking meters in my US city accept credit cards, but there`s a long delay when the machines have to call to authorize the transaction. This isn`t a problem in Europe.) Currently no US bank issues true “chip-and-PIN” cards that work like European ones do; I think one company is about to introduce one, but its exorbitantly high fees make it impractical for most travelers.
Oops, correction–the vendor has to pay a hefty fee to the credit-card company (not the vendor).
Pam, the facts prove otherwise!
Rick Steves has just received some excellent “push back” from readers. He probably learned something. And his follow up to those comments will help him and his prospective customers.
It is rather impressive that one person was able to keep an eye on 85,000 people.
I`m looking forward to your travel blog when you hit the road in Europe. It`s always fun to live and learn through you. I love to travel to Europe and am planning to do so this summer. I`ve learned a lot from your blogs, TV shows, travel books and I loved your book “Travel as a political act”. I was fortunate to attend your lecture in Fort Wayne, IN. Keep up the great work. There are many many of us out here who love you!
Sorry – what do recent events in Madison, WI have to do with Trends in European Travel?
What they have to do with Trends in Europe is that Rick stated that Americans don`t have the energy to get up and walk. I was there. I got to the square at 9 in the morning and did not leave until 4 in the afternoon. Are there any other eyewitnesses on this forum who can speak to the facts? I am sure that there were some elements who were negative. I am not disputing that. What I am saying is that they are a small minority and that 95 – 99% of the people marching and at the rally are middle class, primarily white Americans just like you. They likely earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a year. If they are in the public sector they likely have not had a pay raise in several years and for the last two years have had furlough days in which they have not been paid. Yep, they may have a nice pension of $25,000. This is a summary of thing I have read in the Wisconsin State Journal, a rather conservative newspaper. So, unless you were there don`t talk to me about the `facts.”
Video tape exposes lots of facts! Just because they go unreported by most of the media doesn`t make them untrue.
I think it is ironic that we are helping the middle east establish freedom and democracy, and the conservatives in this country are trying to take our rights away. You will see Europeans join in to establish their percieved freedom too.
CH- No, actually Ken was correct. The “Pin and chip” cards are, in fact, credit and debit cards. They don`t come “preloaded” with funds anymore than the US version of a debit card. I live in Europe and have both a PIN-encoded debit and credit card. They work no differently than US cards, with the exception that I validate credit card purchases with a PIN instead of a signature.
I must agree with Jon. You are continually snarky and think you are better than everyone else. I certainly liked you better before you became a know-it-all millionaire. Grow up and have a little humility
Maybe Rick doesn`t actually write some of these blogs? They occasionally certainly don`t reflect the enlightened, balanced person he purports to be. I would be very careful of delegating this responsibility to someone who is not in lockstep with my own business philosophy.
Judy….. your statement re: conservatives is very general. How about some specific examples of where they are trying to take `rights` away? I presume you understand that `rights` come from God, and privilege from the government.
And now Barry has taken us into a new war for oil just to sate his BIG OIL buddies. Not that I disagree just wanted to call attention to it.
I was not at the Wisconsin rampage so does that mean what obviously occured, did not? I would guess Pam was not at the Arizona shooting but does this mean she doesn`t know the facts of what took place there? I am a consumer of news of most the current media. It seems they all were reporting and displaying examples of brute and thuggish behavior. Untold images of Walker as Hitler and other murderous monsters of history were openly on display, and death threats even from fellow legislators. I cannot understand Rick not condemning the countless examples of this, knowing his pride in his recent Hitler imagery history. In Pam`s own words: “95 – 99% of the people marching and at the rally are middle class, primarily white” It seems that is one of the Loud-Mouthed Left`s main whines about the TEA party rallies, the lack of colour. Now Pam confirms what we all knew to begin with. Does anyone want to talk about the cost to get the capitol back into the condition is was before the rampage? Too many facts heh?
Rick would be wise to stay away from U.S. political debate because he won`t convince those who disagree with him and they won`t buy his products anyway. So in many respects his beliefs are like preaching to the choir. Not much value in that.
First of all, I didn`t bring up Wisconsin. It`s fair to respond to other posts and point out the down side to demonstrations. Wisconsin teachers have more collective bargaining privileges and pay less for benefits than Federal civil service workers. I look forward to 85,000 people surrounding the White House. Wisconsin taxpayers are much worse off on average than teachers. I think people have a right not to join unions or have their pay usedf against their will for campaign contributions. The protesters tried to physically block legislators from entering the capitol. The fleebaggers left to state to prevent the legislature from meeting. This is hardly democratic. The teachers themselves set a terrible example, costing the state millions by lying to call in sick and close the schools. Their signs had words such as “outlow” and “negotiatin.” Not exactly role models.
I believe what has happened in and around Madison is, for the most part, the ultimate example of civil disobedience. Webster defines a thug as “a brutal ruffian or assassin.” Hardly an apt description for people standing up for themselves left with no other recourse. And it wasn`t teachers or firemen or sanitation workers that threw this nation into a financial crisis, it was the irresponsibilty of Wall Street, by people who complain like children about a anti-corporate President while reaping record profits. Sure taxpayers fund these salaries; it`s also true that these salaries are hard-earned by men and women who often go above and beyond for other people kids, other people`s safety and other people`s property. When we decide to get our priorities straight and support the people who dedicate their livilhoods to professionally serving others, that`s when this Republic begin to head in the correct direction. As for Rick, his generalization shows more than a small dose of tone-deafness; indeed, they`ve rallied not just in Madison, but in Trenton and Lansing as well. Frankly, it just comes off as ingnorant as the people who castigate him.
Just couldn`t resist putting in a snide comment about how all Americans are fat and lazy, could you, Rick?
Rick IS fat….. he`s just NOT lazy!
Not everyone gets the luxury of unions or can take time off to go protest. Military members do not have a union. After working out the median hours worked and the base pay for an E-5, the average hourly wage came out to $1.38. Those that received money per diem for being married only came out a fraction higher. So when teachers and police officers make a $1.38 an hour, then they can start protesting in my opinion. You would have accomplished more taking that time and spending it at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or children`s hospital.
Civil definition is by definition illegal. Taking the law into your own hands is certainly thuggish. The teachers aren`t being passive in their resistance. Martin Luther King didn`t harass people at their homes or recored license plate numbers. There are legal options, like voting, or obeying the law. The literal Hindu definition of thug is “deceiver.” Telling supervisers you`re sick to shut diown schools while going to a protest is what deceivers (thugs) do. It`s also rather thuggish to desecrate a memorial to a military hero. http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/somebody-has-written-workers-of-world.html
Sorry. Meant to say civil disobedience.
Soooo, according to the conversation here, the biggest “trend in European travel” is… griping about a protest in Wisconsin that took place two weeks ago. Hm. Don`t Europeans have anything better to talk about? Or Rick`s blog readers, for that matter? Come on, folks. Rick made a tongue-in-cheek aside (which, anyone who has lived in Europe will tell you, is true[INVALID]Europeans are far quicker to stage protests than Americans, Wisconsonians being the exception that prove the rule), and that`s all anyone here can talk about now. And you all accuse Rick of politicizing things. Hello, kettle? This is pot. You`re black. Let`s get back to European travel, please. And stop feeding the trolls.
B, I disagree vehemently with Rick on his politics but am one of his better customers (16 tours) and supporters because he is the very best when it comes to European travel! People can passionately disagree on ideas and still be civil can they not? Even spouses can disagree and still be married.
Do ATM cars work in Europe like credit cards? Like the do in the US.
Sorry, I meant ATM cards…