Appropriate clothing for son in Europe

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’m glad you are asking questions so I can ask my son. One boy in the group is doing the majority of the planning, meaning my son doesn’t know or doesn’t care!</p>

<p>Travel will be by train from Munich to Berlin and Berlin to Copenhagen. Air travel from Copenhagen to Amsterdam, and of course to and from the US :slight_smile: I know they are staying in hostels in each of the cities, but I don’t have names as of yet. I am assuming the boys can leave their belongings at each hostel if they are returning again that night; would I be correct? </p>

<p>I think my son has more information than he is sharing, but he is busy watching the last 2 or 3 seasons of 24 on DVD and it is hard to get a conversation going. I usually have to catch him on the way to the kitchen or the bathroom!!</p>

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<p>HINT: check NO luggage. Period.<br>
Yes you can stow luggage in train stations or hostels. On your back is off your hands. No experience is not caring: why argue w/ experienced traveler who wants to have your son not slow down the group. There is a self preservation part of this. A group can only travel as fast as their slowest member. A group can only be as happy as the least amount of whining too. Your son is gonna be just fine. You are gonna need to keep a notepad of stuff you learn by bits. Get yourself a list of the cities and then do some Googling. It is all gonna be just fine. </p>

<p>Now, remind yourself: NO checked baggage. For any reason other than it will get lost.</p>

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<p>My son travels with a back pack that he can strap on his back. He brings this home from college too. His version unzips like a duffel–across the top–which makes it easier to pack and keep organized.</p>

<p>Hint: if your sons is brand new, scuff it up a bit to discourage pilfers.</p>

<p>Polo shirt and khakis, other than looking touristy, will be fine for everything other than nightclubs.</p>

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<p>My son just got back from two weeks in eastern Europe (Slovenia, Serbia, etc.) where he found that his MIT t-shirt was a big hit, including getting him free admission to some science museums… He wore a t-shirt and long pants most days, along with lightweight hiking boots. He said that’s what “everyone my age” wore. </p>

<p>The thing he didn’t expect was transit strikes–they encountered three one-day strikes in two weeks!</p>

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<p>In hostels there are often large metal or wooden lockers which are large enough to take a big rucsac. So you can lock stuff in there during the day. However, often you must provide your own padlock to do this. So take 3 or 4 padlocks of different sizes, just in case (in most places the hostel will sell you a padlock of the right size anyway)</p>

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<p>My kids went to Europe last year. If your kid wants to blend in, he should wear black, dark colors. (Americans tend to wear brighter colors than Europeans). Take as little as possible. Bring hand washable, quick drying things.<br>
(Already mentioned, but Rick Steves has good packing advice). </p>

<p>I read recently that anti-American feeling in Europe is now as high as it was in the early 80’s–when I was in Europe. (One student strategy back then was to put Canadian flag stickers on our backbacks–Sad, but true–people may be nicer if they think you’re Canadian!)</p>

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<p>Woolite sells travel sized packets good for one wash each. I’ve found them incredibly useful for hand washing clothes while travelling in Europe. If you are planning to hand wash clothes, though, you might want to consider wicking fabrics that dry quickly, kind of like Nike drifit clothing (I’m sure that there are plenty of other brands). There are socks that runners and hikers wear that are made of synthetic wicking fabrics to reduce blisters that are fantastic for this purpose too.</p>

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<p>You want to blend in…get a black world cup t-shirt and you’re set…and enjoy being part of this once every four years party.</p>

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<p>I don’t think my son will be doing any hand washing; he barely gets his laundry done at school! I am sure he will be buying at least one world cup shirt; he has t-shirts from everywhere like most teenagers.</p>

<p>I think he has figured out most of what he is taking. If it is cool like it is now, he will wear his jeans or long khakis, when it warms up he will be wearing his khaki shorts. This is a kid that is not worried about standing out and with all the people in Germany for the world cup, I don’t imagine he will be the only one in khakis.</p>

<p>I was surprised to see how cool it was in Germany the past few days. I hope if will warm up just a bit more by next week; I don’t want to figure out how to get a jacket in his bag also!!</p>

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<p>Just remind him to watch his wallet!!! Not that Germany is a haven for pickpockets, just that with this many tourists, the careless ones can get ripped off</p>

<p>So NOTHING in the back pockets…</p>

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<p>My grocer said it snowed in Italy day before yesterday and that is why our heat wave in the south has now turned into beautiful cooler weather. (I’d take a jacket.)</p>

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<p>What about in Spain and Italy? Can teen travellers wear shorts there and not stick out too much?</p>

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<p>I can’t remember seeing anyone but Americans and athletes (went to the final stage of the Tour de France one year) in shorts over in Europe.</p>

<p>Also, I read [an</a> interesting article](<a href=“http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370304&root=us&cc=5901]an”>http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370304&root=us&cc=5901) about how our soccer team is treated abroad. I’d be very careful not to wear any American logos around the stadium (this was advice I got while in Monte Carlo during some games a few years ago). Some interesting bits:

</p>

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<p>Oh, for crying out loud! My 16 yr. old son and I are laughing at these posts – especially the one that says everyone in Amsterdam is high, and in Munich, Germans complain about everything.
No wonder Americans have a bad reputation!</p>

<p>We have lived in Munich for 4 years, and travel all over Europe.
Pokey, all the young guys wear shorts. All of them. In the winter too. They wear Vans, Nikes or whatever with those socks you can’t see. Just like in the U.S.</p>

<p>Best option is to have him take a couple pairs of those microfiber zip-off pants. They dry quickly if they get wet, and then he has the option of shorts or pants. Can roll up easily to stuff in a bag. Tell him don’t stress about clothes, he should just be comfortable, because the World Cup venue is a zoo, and the less he has to worry about the better.</p>

<p>Most important item of clothing is a waterproof jacket. It is cold and rainy, and is predicted to be so until the middle of July. (Last year we had a total of 5 days of sunny weather, it was rainy and in the 50’s- 60’s the entire summer.) He can purchase a World Cup sweatshirt or whatever and dress in layers for warmth.</p>

<p>Please tell him DO NOT under any circumstances leave any valuables in his room in the hostel or hotel!! Not even for a minute. The Munich youth hostel has a notorious theft problem – we think it’s ‘inside work’. He won’t want to visit our office at the Consulate for an emergency passport during World Cup! Keep all valuables in zipped pockets distributed in his pants and backpack. Make photocopies of his passport, credit cards and other ID. You keep a copy, Mom or Dad, he should keep a copy separate from passport, etc. Don’t bother with traveler’s checks. He can use ATMs to get Euros with a US debit card. Try to talk him out of bringing iPods and other crapola that makes him look like a walking robbery target. Maybe one kid only should bring a phone (we have phones in Europe), preferably with a camera, or email capability. There are Internet cafes all over. Not sure about Internet at the youth hostel, but they might say on their website.</p>

<p>Rolling duffel is going to be more luggage than any young guy wants/needs. A shove-under-the-airplane-seat backpack is the way to go. Checking luggage is a real time-waster on both ends, and rolling a suitcase around crowded train stations can be a hassle.</p>

<p>Plenty of people wear shorts in Italy, self included. Only restriction is visiting some churches (like St. Peter’s in Rome), where tank tops and shorts are prohibited.</p>

<p>Hats off to your son for scoring World Cup tickets! Almost no one I know got them. Hope he has a fantastic time.</p>

<p>“Everyone in Amsterdam is high”. Sheesh. Hardly know what to say to that. Right now, Rembrandt’s birthday celebration means unparalleled opportunities to see artwork by that genius in Amsterdam. I’ve been to Amsterdam countless times, never high, except on the art and Indonesian reistafel.</p>

<p>I posted a long one of tips on European travel for students, maybe someone can find it?</p>

<p>A.M.</p>

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<p>I found your other post here with some very useful information: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=1634323#post1634323[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=1634323#post1634323&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>AnudduhMom- I sent you a private message; I hope you saw it.</p>

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<p>and I sent one back atcha!</p>

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<p>"Stay away from logos (Polo, Hilfiger, etc.). It’s like wearing a neon sign that says “American Tourist!”.</p>

<p>I personally wouldn’t wear any team’s shirt to the event (World Cup general merch is fine). Football fans are notoriously rowdy and aggressive (anyone see the racism special on ESPN?)."</p>

<p>– That was one heck of countless racist crowds… What is wrong with those people in Europe???</p>

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<p>

I don’t think the average European would think poorly of an American tourist. After all, they’re used to having tourists around. I think that these games bring out some fiercely loyal fans who sometimes let their emotions get out of hand. We’ve all seen the images from soccer matches that have gotten out of control. My opinion is that it’s best to blend in just in case, but some may think I’m a bit too cautious. :)</p>

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<p>Let the games begin. Great fun!</p>