Tipping In Europe

 

In the United States, we’ve been raised on a tradition of tipping cabbies, hotel staff, bartenders, waiters and a variety of other service-oriented personnel.  Consequently, for Americans it seems normal to provide a tip or gratuity for good service.   When traveling in Europe tipping is not near as common as you might think and it certainly is not as lavish. While nothing about tipping is concrete, I hope these guidelines will relieve some stress and help you fit in like a local when traveling through Europe.

 
The information provided here is based on my extensive travels in Europe and my conversations with restaurant and hotel employees as well as local patrons. I’ve found a few generalities, which I’ll discuss first, and then I’ll dive into a country-by-country account.
 

Generalities

Europeans tend not to be as generous with their tips as we Americans.  In general, European restaurant servers are paid a salary and tips are considered a bonus on top of their wages. When pondering your tip, keep in mind a 5-10 percent tip is normal.  Only well-meaning or lavish-spending Americans leave a tip of 15-20 percent.  This is absolutely unnecessary and culturally inconsiderate.  Anywhere in Europe you’ll be safe by following the lead of Europeans and leaving a euro or two per person in your party.  In most cases the tip should be given directly to your server, not left on the table.  It is always a good idea to pay for your meal in cash as most Europeans do.  Paying with a credit card is common in some countries, but there is seldom an opportunity to add the tip to the final total.  If you are dining with a group, remember there is no such thing as “splitting the bill” whether it be with cash or credit card.  Please don’t be an arrogant American and try to push our customs on your server; it is rude.
 
If you take a taxi it is appropriate to round up the fare a euro or two as the cabbie’s tip.  Be prepared to pay the fare and tip in cash; there are no credit card machines in taxis.  
 
In hotels, it is appropriate to leave a hotel housekeeper one or two euros a day for their service and provide a euro or two for portage to your room.  It is not necessary to tip a doorman or anyone who hails a taxi.
 

Austria

It is customary give a 10%-15% tip at restaurants. Pay the tip in cash and hand it directly to the waiter when paying your bill.  There is a little trick to doing this in “Germanic” countries.  Let’s say the bill is €25 and you want to give a €5 tip.  Hand the waiter a €50 note and say, “30”.  The waiter will give you back 20 euros and keep 5 for himself.  You can walk away feeling like a local!
 

Croatia

Tipping is becoming popular in Croatia with the influx of mass tourism.  In a bar or sandwich shop, round up.  In restaurants with great service, leave 10%-15%.  Always give your tip to the waiter or waitress in the local currency.
 
If cruising on a private charter along the Croatia coast, plan to tip the captain and crew (collectively) about $50-$60 per person in your party.  If there is a cruise tour director, you should tip them about $12 a day per person.  This should be done in kunu (the local currency) or euros.
 

Czech Republic

Often a service charge is included in your bill.  If so, it will be clearly stated, usually in English.  Whether it is included or not you might consider giving an extra 5%-10% tip for good service.  Give your tip, in cash, directly to the waiter or waitress. 
 

France

Tipping in France is not common nor is it expected.  Those in the service industry are paid a salary and therefore do not count on tips as part of their income.  If service is exceptional, rounding up a euro or two is plenty. Restaurants and cafés typically include a service charge in the price of your meal. It usually is noted on the menu as service compris and will not be a line item on your bill.  Some tourist restaurants do not include this (in hopes of getting a bigger tip from Americans).  This is noted on the menu as service non compris and in this case a 15% tip is ok.
 

Germany

It is customary give a 10%-15% tip at restaurants. Pay the tip in cash and hand it directly to the waiter when paying your bill.  There is a little trick to doing this in “Germanic” countries.  Let’s say the bill is €25 and you want to give a €5 tip.  Hand the waiter a €50 note and say, “30”.  The waiter will give you back 20 euros and keep 5 for himself.  You can walk away feeling like a local!
 

Greece

The general rule of thumb here is the more expensive the restaurant, the lower the tip.  If you dine in an inexpensive taverna and spend €20 or less per person, then tip 10%.  Anything over €20 per person, tip 5%.  
 

Ireland

The “old Irish people” never tip.  Tipping was never their custom and theirs was a hard life growing up in the mid-20th century.  You’ll find them counting their pennies to the tee. The younger Irish, those under 40 years old, usually tip when ordering food but seldom when just having a drink.
Pubs – If you are simply served a drink by the guy/gal behind the bar then no tip is expected.  In the countryside, if it is not busy and the bartender “chats you up”, then leave a 15% tip with each drink or at the end of your drinking session. If the bartender is the proprietor, then no gratuity is expected, however it does not hurt to offer to buy him/her a drink.
Restaurants and Pubs that serve food – A 15% tip is standard for good table service. Up to 20% if exceptional service and extra “chatting up.”
 

Italy

Most often you will find a cover charge and service charge included in the price on the menu.  This will be noted, usually at the bottom of the menu, by il coperto and servizio incluso. The cover charge usually includes tap water and bread on the table.  The two usually add up to 15%-20%, but you’ll never see that published anywhere.  It is considered a generous gesture to round up your bill by a euro or two for exceptional service. Occasionally, you may find servizio non incluso (service not included) at tourist restaurants. In this case a 10% tip, handed to your waiter or left on the table, is fine.
 

The Netherlands

Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in every bill in the Netherlands.  It is not necessary to tip a taxi driver, hotel, restaurant or anyone in the service industry.
 

Spain

Service is always included at every bar or restaurant in Spain.  A tip is not necessary.  However, it is acceptable to leave 5%-8% for exceptional service.  Give your tip directly to the waiter or waitress in euro cash.  Do not leave it on the table.
 

Switzerland

A service charge is automatically calculated into your bill at restaurants.  For great service, you can round up or tip 5%, but it is not expected.  Always give your tip directly to the waiter in Swiss Franc cash.
 

United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

You do not need to tip in pubs when ordering drinks or food at the bar. In restaurants, often a service charge of 12.5% is added, so be sure to check your bill before paying. If no service charge is added, then a 10-15% tip will be appreciated, but it is not expected.  
 

Summary

When tipping in Europe it is important to keep in mind that the tip may already be included in the bill. You can always round up or leave a euro or two for each member of your party, like the Europeans do. A 5-10 percent tip is normal but anything more is excessive, since most servers receive a salary. Be sure to give the tip directly to the server in cash. It is also customary to tip cabbies and hotel staff a euro or two for their service.

 

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If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.
 
Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
 
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on  Twitter,  Facebook,  Google+,  LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
The Road Less-Traveled

The Road Less-Traveled

Take the small roads for a local experience

DM Spain Dining w Natalie

It’s great to see the famous sights and big cities when traveling, but the real memories are made in off-the-beaten-path adventures where you get to slow down and experience the country, not just watch it fly by through a tour bus window. The best vacations include a combination of the two. Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of benefits to traveling on a tour. Tours allow you to travel care-free, with no planning. But sometimes, you have to just wing it and see where the adventure will lead. Here is a story from one of my trips to France and the surprising places you can find when things don’t go as planned.

After a flight up from Madrid, we arrived at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport by mid-afternoon.  I rented a small car and soon we were out of the airport and on the highway toward Paris.  It being Friday afternoon, I was prepared for some traffic jams, but so far it didn’t seem too bad.  The highway leaving the airport was virtually free of cars, but by the time we reached the Périphérique, Paris’ big ring-road around the city center, we were in bumper-to-bumper traffic.  It wasn’t quite at a standstill, but we were inching along at less than 10 mph.

Traffic jam outside of Paris

Knowing Paris, I figured we were in store for at least an hour of stop-and-go traffic. But surely by the time we turned off the Périphérique and headed southwest it would thin out to nothing.  After two hours and less than 20 kilometers, I knew it would be hours before reaching Amboise.  To make matters worse we had no hotel reservation, no real plan for the next two days, and no plans for the night’s dinner.  What we did know was that reaching Amboise in the afternoon was now out of the question.
Luckily I had my GPS unit with me and we got it up and running.  After another hour on the highway, in the miserable traffic, we finally found a two-lane road that would take us through the countryside to the Loire Valley.  Well anything would be better than sitting in traffic for hours on end…so we took the little road.


Immediately the road was clear, and it was smooth sailing.  Until we came to the first town.  Friday afternoon must be the time for everyone to get out and go somewhere because there was loads of traffic.  Although, it was nowhere near as bad as what we had encountered on the highway.  The next hour passed with us speeding along our way in the rural areas between each little town and then slowing down in the town centers. This wasn’t bad though.  We got to experience several small rural towns in France.


By now it was getting late, probably close to nine o’clock.  I’d planned on finding a hotel in Amboise, but that was still an hour away.  It really didn’t matter what time we arrived as long as we could get rooms for the night and a good meal.  We were somewhere along the Loire River near Chambord when I saw it…and drove right on by.  We had a goal and destination in mind, but that place back there looked like my kind of place.  So at the next round-a-bout I did a 180 and decided to go back to check it out.

La Ferme des 3 Maillets

La-Ferme-des-3-Maillets

The place was an old two-story stone building with ivy climbing up the side.  There, in huge painted-on letters, was a sign advertising “Hotel** and Grill.”  Even with my limited French vocabulary I could tell we could find rooms and food.   As I pulled into the gravel parking lot I knew I’d made a good choice.  There were several cars and the people milling around were all speaking French.  I walked into the lobby and really had to dig deep into my French vocab to ask if they had two rooms and dinner.  The lady at the desk said “no problem” offered a really good price and booked our dinner for us too.


We settled in and then walked back downstairs for dinner.  The restaurant was just what you’d think a farmhouse grill would look like in the US.  In sort of the “Cracker Barrel” style, there were ancient tools and other decor hanging from the walls and ceiling.  On one wall there was a huge stone fireplace, complete with a cozy fire.  Large picture windows looked out onto a little garden and the wheat fields beyond.  I think we were one of the last seatings of the evening because all the other tables were either empty or filled with people involved in dessert or conversation.

Natalie-Le-Ferme-des-3-Maillets

The food was wonderful!  Natalie and I had escargot, an assortment of duck, steak, vegetables, and dessert.  All was washed down with a local Loire Valley wine.  La Ferme des 3 Maillets is one of those rare finds that only happen if you let go of your inhibitions and get off the beaten path.  Even though the staff spoke very little English and Natalie and I spoke very little French, we all managed to get our points across and have a great time.


Often, I have people ask about the idea of the “French being a bit arrogant.” First of all, I don’t buy into the idea and secondly, experiences like this one are proof that this is just a stereotype.  The staff at the inn were wonderfully hospitable and went out of their way to make our dinner and our stay a grand experience.  I’d go out of my way to eat and stay here again.

Summary

So when you’re traveling, just remember not to panic when things don’t go as expected. It is often the unplanned adventures like this one that turns out to be the most fun. And if you are ever in the Loire River Valley near the town of Avaray, find La Ferme des 3 Maillets, stay a night, have a great dining experience, and really get a chance to explore another side of France.

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If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers, and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.
Do you want to learn more about painted sheep and traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.

David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on TwitterFacebookGoogle+,LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.

100 Days in Europe Days 68-79: Italy, UK, Ireland, Croatia

100 Days in Europe Days 68-79: Italy, UK, Ireland, Croatia

Day 68

Alpe di Siusi

The Alpe di Siusi is the largest alpine meadow in Europe. Located in the Dolomite Mountains, it is also known by the German name, Seiser Alm. This beautiful alpine meadow is in use year-round for biking, hiking and skiing. Click the picture to watch the video.

68 Alpe di Siusi

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Day 69

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and always bustles with entertainment. Walk the Royal Mile, visit the Castle, lounge in Princes Street Gardens or stroll like a noble in the Georgian-era new town; there is something here for everyone. Pubs and eateries serve up traditional food with a eclectic flare. Have a “wee dram” and enjoy the city. Click the picture to watch the video.

69 Edinburgh

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Day 70

Edinburgh

Harry Potter was written here as was Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Poets and bards made this their home. It boasts an old medieval town tumbling down from the castle and a “new” 18th-century Georgian town. There is a lot to see and experience in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Click the picture to watch the video.

70 Edinburgh

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Day 71

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle stands majestically guarding the mouth of the River Conwy at the Irish Sea. It has been here since 1284 looking pretty much as it does today. The English, under King Edward I, built this castle to protect themselves from their newly acquired subjects… The Welsh! Click the picture to watch the video.

71 Conwy Castle

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Day 72

Caernarfon Castle

In the 13th century, the Welsh were fighting bitter battles with the English who were invading their lands. Finally, in 1283, Edward I of England defeated the Welsh and claimed the land as his own. During the next few years Edward built great defensive castles to ward off the Welsh attacks and to protect his armies from the savage Welsh warriors. Caernarfon is one of those castles. Click the picture to watch the video.

72 Caernarfon Castle

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Day 73

South Docklands

The South Docklands was once a thriving port with wharfs and warehouses lining the River Liffey. The 19th and 20th centuries saw a massive economic decline in this area of town. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of local pride coupled with economic development in the area. I ran across this “take pride in our community” parade while strolling down the Liffey. Click the picture to watch the video.

73 South Docklands Parade

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Day 74

Dublin Docklands

Dublin’s Docklands district has gone through many changes over the last 100 years. In the boom days of the Celtic Tiger economy (1990’s and early 2000’s) this area was filled with construction cranes and lots of development. Unfortunately, the economic recession of 2008-2016 caused all the development to lay dormant. Now in mid-2016, things are picking up, construction is booming again and the Docklands are loaded with start-up and well-founded tech businesses. Click the picture to watch.

74 Docklands

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Day 75

Viking Splash Tour

The Viking Splash Tour is a fun (and informative) way to sightsee in Dublin. The WWII-era vehicles actually do “splash” into the Grand Canal Square for a cruise on the water. I had loads of fun! Click the picture to watch.

75 Viking Splash Tour

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Day 76

Grand Canal Docks

Dublin’s Grand Canal Docks were opened in 1796 and soon became the world’s largest docks. By the 1960’s this place was completely derelict and almost forgotten as a piece of Dublin’s landscape. The 2000’s saw massive clean-up projects and an influx of young tech start-ups such as Google, Facebook, AirB&B, and TripAdvisor. As a result, this area has been nicknamed The “Silicon Docks.” Click the picture to watch.

76 Grand Canal Square

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Day 77

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s second largest tourist attraction and rightly so! Plunging over 700 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, these cliffs occupy a five-mile stretch of land in West Clare. Over 1 million people visit here each year, some for only an hour and others spending several hours hiking the trails along the cliffs. Click the picture to watch.

77 Cliffs of Moher

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Day 78

Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia. In this episode we will take a short look around the so called “Green Horseshoe.” It is a pleasant walking transition from the ugly post WWII-era’s high rise neighborhoods to the elegant 19th-century old town. Click the picture to watch.

78 Zagreb

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Day 79

Zagreb’s Outdoor Market

Each morning, local farmers, vendors and craftsmen set up a table under the colorful red umbrellas in Zagreb’s Dolac outdoor market. The market bustles with activity from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every day except Sunday. This is one of the best outdoor markets I’ve visited in Europe and certainly a place to embrace the culture and feel the pulse of everyday life. Click the picture to watch.

79 Dolac Market

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Your Adventure Starts Here!

 

 

 

 

 

100 Days in Europe Days 61-67: Italy

100 Days in Europe Days 61-67: Italy

Day 61

Volterra

Volterra is my favorite Tuscan hill-town. Its cute, cobbled streets, medieval ambiance, old town hall, good food and great wine, will tug at your heart and make you want to stay for an extra day…or week! Click the picture to watch the video.

61 Volterra

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Day 62

La Vena di Vino

La Vena di Vino is a “one-of-a-kind” bar. Owners Bruno and Lucio serve fine Italian wine, great antipasti cold cuts and plenty of ambiance. I am lucky to count them as my friends. Francesco, another friend and local wine expert, meets all my groups for an informative wine tasting. Invariably, we are all self-proclaimed experts after the lesson. Salute! Click the picture to watch the video.

62 La Vena di Vino

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Day 63

San Lorenzo Market

The San Lorenzo Market in Florence has been bustling for decades. Each day, vendors roll out their carts loaded with leather, clothing, pottery and jewelry. This outdoor market is a great place to browse and buy. Be sure to visit all the carts before making your purchase… and yes, it is ok to haggle over the price a little. Click the picture to watch the video.

63 San Lorenzo market

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Day 64

Venice off the Beaten Path

Venice has been entertaining tourist for several centuries and they all flock to the same squares, bridges and shops. Venturing just 100 yards away from the busy tourist sights will put you in the heart of Venice’s neighborhoods where real families work, drink, play and eat. Click the picture to watch the video.

64 Venice off the beaten path

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Day 65

The Venetian Arsenal

The Venetians had a mighty naval presence during their heyday. Situated at the crossroads between Europe and the East, there was a lot of maritime trade passing through. The Venetian Arsenale was built in 1104 and was the largest industrial complex in the world for centuries. Click the picture to watch the video.

65 Venetian Arsenal

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Day 66

St. Elena

The St. Elena neighborhood is on the quiet side of Venice. Off the beaten tourist path, it offers a peek into a well-loved community in the Castello part of Venice. Located only about a half-mile from Piazza San Marco… but oh, so very different! Click the picture to watch the video.

66 St. Elena

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Day 67

Bolzano

Bolzano is located in the Alto Adige region of Italy and is actually more German than Italian. Cool weather, soaring mountains and Austro-Hungarian decor. This is the perfect stop to make a cultural transition between Italy and Austria. Bolzano is also home to Ötzi the “Iceman”, a well-preserved mummy dating from 3300 B.C. You’ll see him near the end of this video. Click the picture to watch.

67 Bolzano

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Your Adventure Starts Here!

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO PLUG-IN WITHOUT A MELTDOWN: ELECTRICAL ADAPTERS & CONVERTERS

HOW TO PLUG-IN WITHOUT A MELTDOWN: ELECTRICAL ADAPTERS & CONVERTERS

Caution signEdited: September 2022

When traveling outside the United States it is very likely you’ll encounter different electrical plugs, outlets, and voltages than here at home. That’s because most of the world uses an electrical system that requires twice as much voltage as we do in the United States. Years ago, the only travel concern, relating to electricity, was how to plug in a blow dryer or curling iron without causing a meltdown. But not today, just think of all the gadgets we have: mobile phones, mp3 players, laptop computers, tablet computers, video cameras, digital cameras, and more. With all these electronic gadgets, it would seem that traveling with electronics is complicated.  It’s not that difficult… here are my hints and suggestions.

YOU’VE GOT TO PLUG IT IN

No matter what the gadget, you’ve got to plug it into something.  In the USA, that would be a socket in the wall like the one pictured below.

wall-outlet-USA

Logically, anywhere there is electricity, we expect to find some sort of socket in which to plug our stuff. However, the design of the socket is not universal!  Practically, every country has its own modification of the basic design.

French-power-socket

Typical continental Europe wall socket

If traveling to continental Europe, notice how this socket is recessed/inset about one inch.  It is important to purchase an adapter like the one pictured below so it will fit inside the recessed hole.

ac-adapt_05-EU

Continental Europe ADAPTOR PLUG

If traveling to the UK or Ireland, notice how their outlets have toggle switches. The outlet will not have power until the toggle switch is turned on. This is usually indicated by a red signal on the top of the switch.  However, if you find your appliance is not working, and there is no red indicator, consider toggling the switch and try again.

UK-wall_socket

UK and IRELAND wall socket

VOLTAGE MATTERS

Originally, electricity was used for lighting, and depending on the country, the best-suited material for the wiring differed according to what was readily available. The United States agreed on a standard of about 110 volts AC.  Meanwhile, in Europe, they agreed on a standard of around 220 volts AC.

Originally, appliances designed in Europe would work only in Europe.  Those designed in the USA only worked in the USA. You could not “mix” voltage.  That’s why the sockets and plugs differ.  You’ve heard the saying, “you can’t put a square plug into a round hole?” So, this was an easy way to keep “dummies” from plugging in mismatched devices and melting down appliances when visiting countries other than their own.

USA-plug

Plug designed for use in the USA.

 

UK-plug

Plug designed for use in the UK and IRELAND

Plug designed for use in Continental Europe

When traveling from one country to another became common, not having “common” standards of electricity became a problem.  Thus, the invention of the wall socket/plug ADAPTER and the VOLTAGE CONVERTER.  With these two gadgets, theoretically, anyone could travel from one country to the other and never have to worry about electrical problems with their gadgets.

elecVoltConverter

 

However, the best intended plans never seem to work all the time.  I recall traveling on several occasions when suddenly the lights would dim and go out in our hotel or B&B.  All too often, it was someone in my group trying to use their own USA hairdryer or flat iron, it overheating, and blowing a fuse or circuit.If you bring a curling iron, flat iron, straightener, or hair dryer from home (USA), you will need to purchase an electrical power converter and wall socket adapters.  In theory, these electrical power converters step down the 240 volt power used in Europe to the 120 volts we use in the USA.  These devices work most of the time, however, using them in older buildings with antique wiring will sometimes cause a meltdown of your appliance or even “blow” a circuit or fuse in the building.

MODERN ELECTRONIC GADGETS

Practically every electronic gadget manufactured since 1990 is designed to operate on multiple voltages.  Mobile phones, computers, iPads, tablets, digital cameras, and camcorders will recognize and adapt to the voltage in which it is plugged… without damaging the gadget.  However, just to be sure, always look at the device’s power cord, power supply, or documentation for a statement similar to that shown below.

photo
Notice – INPUT 100V-240V 50/60Hz

If your device falls into the category above (and it will if it is some sort of mobile electronic gadget or camera) all you need is an adapter to plug into the wall socket.  Here are examples for the UK and Continental Europe.

ac-adapt_05-UK
UK and IRELAND
ac-adapt_05-EU
Continental Europe

TWO RELATED ITEMS

Some blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners are made to accept dual voltage.  These generally have a small dial on the handle which can be rotated to select the appropriate electrical voltage.  Often you can pick up this type of appliance at Walmart, Walgreens, Target or other retail outlets for $20 or less.
When traveling in the UK or Ireland it is common to find the blow dryer in a drawer in your hotel room, NOT in the bathroom.  Apparently, there is a building code that does not allow electronics or outlets in the bath area.

SUMMARY

The world does not operate on a standardized electrical system, each country has their own standards.  Consequently, our appliances and gadgets will not work outside the USA without some electrical modification.  For modern-day gadgets, you will need and electrical adapter that fits the wall socket for the country in which you will be traveling.  Occasionally you may need an electrical converter and adapter if you use a blow dryer, flat iron or curling iron from the USA.

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If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.

Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at my website. Visit now at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on TwitterFacebookGoogle+, LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.

100 Days in Europe Days 56-60: The Cinque Terre

100 Days in Europe Days 56-60: The Cinque Terre

Day 56

The Capuchin Monastery

The Cinque Terre is a popular tourist destination in Italy. If you like the beach, seaside, mountains and hiking, then this is an ideal place to visit. The villages are very crowded, especially in the summer tourist season. Often the major hiking trails can be backed up in a “people jam”! However, each village offers an opportunity to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds. One such place is in Monterosso al Mare on the “zii di frati”, the path up to the Capuchin Monastery and cemetery. Click the picture to watch the video.

56 Capuchin Monastery

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Day 57

Treasure Hunting in the Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a great place for outdoor activities. There are beaches, swimming, hiking and boating to name a few. Lately, I’ve enjoyed treasure hunting… you know, trying to find stuff other people have left behind. There is an activity called Geocaching that I’ve been dabbling with lately. Let’s go find a treasure in the Cinque Terre. Click the picture to watch the video.

57 Treasure hunt

 

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Day 58

Vernazza Vacation

Vernazza is perhaps the most well-known of the five Cinque Terre villages. It has everything… beaches, bars, restaurants, cafes, markets and more. It is hard not to sit back, relax and slow down. Click the picture to watch the video.

58 Vernazza

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Day 59

Manarola

Manarola may well be my favorite village in the Cinque Terre. One can get away from the tourist crowds (yes, even the cruise boat hoards) by walking to the top of the village and following the path into the vineyards. It offers fantastic panoramas of the pastel-painted town, the sea and the mountains. To begin this adventure, simply walk uphill (beginning at the tunnel into town from the train station) until you reach the church. Facing the church follow the little path behind the buildings on your left. Buon viaggio! Click the picture to watch the video.

59 Manarola

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Day 60

Ristorante Del Duca

Ristorante Del Duca is my all-time favorite restaurant anywhere! Chefs Ivanna, Genuino and their team produce fantastic menus using only the best local ingredients. Eating here is always a gourmet dinning adventure. Click the picture to watch the video.

60 Ristorante del Duca

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Your Adventure Starts Here!