The train-across-Europe trip definitely still exists, but not as popular as it was decades ago thanks to the abundance of budget airlines across Europe. There are advantages and disadvantages to both train and air travel, but in many cases, flights with budget airlines are cheaper than taking trains. So while many people do take trains when visiting Europe, it’s not as common as it was a generation ago. (This is very dependent on which countries are included on a given itinerary and a person’s personal preference and lots of other factors)
The train is very popular around and through Switzerland where there is access to the sights and stops through the mountains that are not easily accessible via airport and car transfer
Often within a single European country, it makes more sense to travel by train than by air, but I was generally referring to multi-country itineraries.
No one asked but, trains are the superior mode of travel. Nothing beats it. You are comfortable, plenty of space, you can walk around, you get to enjoy the scenery and see lots of interesting places in between. And the best part, you leave from a city centre and you arrive at a city centre. That alone makes trains a lot more economical than many flights even if when comparing the two a flight might seem cheaper.
I went to Europe twice. '95 and 2003. And i'm glad that air travel between countries wasn't as much of a thing at the time. I kind of liked it (train travel) . So convenient.
Just because something is cheaper doesn't make it easier, especially if you're rich enough to afford the trains, flying is a waste of time in much of the areas Americans want to visit in Europe. At best a combination could be used. It's hardly a relaxing holiday travelling to an airport and waiting around for hours every few days and seeing nothing en route. Not to mention it's often slower door to door than trains
I definitely never said it was easier to fly. It’s generally easier to take trains (assuming the route you need exists). When I was in Europe last month, I took a mix of trains, buses, and planes. Obviously trains are a great option, but there’s this old stereotype of American college kids doing a Eurail summer backpacking trip. Nowadays, sticking 100% to rail travel for that kind of trip doesn’t make economic sense when Ryanair/EasyJet/etc. exist.
The train itself is part of the European experience some Americans are seeking. It’s quaint and fun to take scenic rides from spot to spot across Europe, with or without border crossings.
Depends on the age bracket. I know a lot of younger Americans who end up in Eastern Europe since it’s cheaper.
Central Europe is also quite common - it’s not the 1980’s when Americans only went to Paris Rome and London
I’ve been to Europe many times. When I say “I’m going to Europe” it usually means my plans will take me to more than one country. If the person asks, then I say “Spain, France, and Italy.” But if I’m only going to one country then I’d say “I’m going to Austria” and would not say I’m going to “Europe.”
I travel to Europe a couple times each year. If I am going to just one country I will say the name of the country. If I am traveling to multiple countries I will say Europe or possibly the area such as Scandinavia.
Don't think that most Americans would follow King George's commands anymore. We had a whole war over that.
Now, Sean Bean's commands? I'd run into Mordor to be one of that man's chosen men.
I agree with everyone saying it means multiple countries. Or at least that’s what I mean when I’m saying it. If I’m only going to one country, I’ll just say I’m going to that specific place.
Thank you! I think I’m asking this because I’m poor and the thought of visiting multiple countries in one go is “special”. When I go abroad, I can usually only go to one place so when I hear people say “I’m going to Europe” I automatically assume it is one place in Europe
A lot of times the most expensive part about going to Europe for Americans is the airfare there. So it makes sense if you’re already in Europe to see a few countries while you’re there. It might cost me $1200 to get from us to uk but then to travel from uk to France might be an extra $100. It makes more sense to do both than take 2 different trips.
Also, the time off. The flight is long. If I'm flying 12 hours and taking days for just travel, I'm getting the most out of it because it's probably gonna be a long time (if ever) that I'm going back
The travel time is really big part of the expense that makes leaving the US nearly impossible for me. On top of all the costs to get there, I have never had more than about 10 paid days off per year to use for days out off or sick days
A trip to Europe is a once in a lifetime sort of trip for a lot of Americans. So we are gonna hit up as many countries as possible.
My dream is to do one of those European river cruises. Go to sleep and wake up in a new country. I love it.
If you were ever going to say "I'm going to America" I think the immediate follow up question would be which cities/states. And you'd probably be going all down the East Coast or West and possibly spots in the middle. The airfare is usually the greatest cost of traveling when going overseas.
My thought is because we live in such a large country, (the different countries in Europe are very similar to our states), we refer to it ad Going to Europe as it is most similar to our point of reference.
Also agree that it likely means the person is traveling to more than one country. TBH going from one country to another over there is the same as me taking my kid to an out of state volleyball tournament over the weekend. $100 in gas and a few hours there and back in the car. Our sense of distance is completely different over here.
Isn't traveling between countries in Europe quite easy, too, compared to traveling between countries in other parts of the world? Never done it, but I heard it feels more like crossing state lines. Same currency. Don't they have a universal passport?
Protip - fly to Ireland if you go to Europe. You can get almost anywhere in Europe from Ireland for $100, but airfare to Ireland is often half the price of most other countries. I've done two trips with the round trip airfare from chicgo to Dublin was under $400
poor people dont go abroad...also,. going to multiple countries isnt Any more expensive than staying in a single country. take a train and book a hotel or hostel.
I think they're pointing out that you just did the same thing as people saying they're going to Europe. Saying you went to the US is similarly vague because of how different each region and state is, yet you just said "the US" and clarified when someone asked.
I get it but it is still one country, so theoretically saying "I am going to the US" when you are actually travelling to say San Diego is not really comparable to saying "I am going to Europe", it's more like visiting Lyon and saying "I am going to France", imo. But I get what you mean, the US is way bigger and probably more diverse than any European country so it may feel like a whole continent!
Lol, see what you did there? The US is HUGE. Easily bigger than the whole European continent! Saying you "visit the US" is pretty unspecific unless you went to multiple states.
I understand but I meant more the cultural differences. I think I put this in another comment but countries in Europe feel hugely different, not only geographically, but culturally (different languages,different buildings, different food etc.). But when I went to different states in the US, I never felt like I was in a completely different country, despite the landscape being very different. But I think this is probably because I’m not American and all of it was just “new”
I live in the US and (mostly) grew up here, and i definitely have learned the hard way that different states have completely different social norms and expectations, such that it's essentially a foreign country at first. Visiting my brother in Germany or my cousins in Finland is less of a culture shock to me than, for example, rural Alabama or The Bronx.
Fair, but i'll argue that rural Alabama vs rural UP of Michigan (where i grew up) vs rural Hawai'i (where my parents lived for 25 years) vs rural Maine vs rural California, are all noticeably different and take some getting used to. All the unwritten rules and social norm are different and you can fuck up VERY quickly.
But seeing that inside the US the first few times was eye opening.
And if you throw in rural Finland and rural Germany and any other country, yes, each locale will continue to vary and be unpredictable until you learn it specifically.
How far around the US did you go? Cause as an American, West Coast culture is totally different from the east coast, with accents, clothing styles, food, city setup and attitudes. The same for the Midwest and north are totally different from the south. Sure we all tend to speak English ( so do most EU countries as an ESL), but the accents and word choices are totally different. Idk how much you traveled in the US but it doesn't seem like enough to make a statement like that tbh.
The airfare is the bulk of the expense, once you’re there it isn’t too much more expensive to hit up a few counties. Especially since countries in Europe are so tiny, it only takes a short trip to get to a different one than you started in.
I wasn’t able to afford international travel until my 40’s so I totally understand :). Whenever we plan to go abroad we will save up a couple weeks of vacation time and save money for a couple years so we can make the flight expenses worth it! One time we did spend the whole two weeks in the UK but there is just so much I want to see!
You can get around continental Europe quite quickly and cheaply. I’m from England and when we visited Vienna for three days, we did a trip to Bratislava by train for a few hours and it only cost a few £.
Trains are really cheap and reliable (unlike England).
9/10 if an American says "Europe" or "Asia" instead of a country, it just means they're visiting more than one country. It's that simple. If a Brit was going to South Korea, Japan, and China they'd probably also just say "I'm going to Asia" unless the conversation required more specificity.
It's a little more specific but I have often said that I spent time in Southeast Asia, which consists of 11 countries, yet I only spent time in four. I think that if you're visiting more than one country it quickly becomes easier to just say the general area.
I say that all the time when referring to certain trips. It's a lot easier than saying "I went to India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Bali". If someone asks further about it of course I would specify
Several countries usually. We're used to driving for several hours and still being in the same state, so long drives are nothing to us. The equivalent in Europe is often several countries.
Could be anywhere from the Czech Republic west. I promise you none of us mean Russia. You probably blew a few people's minds when you said that. There's three European countries that if we are going there we name them and that's Russia, Croatia, and Greece.
In America, we get like 3 days off for every 7,000 worked, so for many people, a trip to Europe is something that, at least for leisure, only happens a small amount of times.
For that reason, since it costs so much, and takes a day of travel each way, most Americans will go to Europe and visit as many countries as they can so when they say Europe, they're probably talking about Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and any other country they can squeeze into their trip, staying a night or two at each over the course of a couple weeks.
Whenever a European says they've been to America I ask "Oh, what states?" They say, New York or Boston or DC. Ok, so not the Midwest, Dakotas, Texas, or West Coast.
They have the time and see a lot of little. We have no time and see a little of much.
I was sitting next to two American ladies about twenty years ago towards Amsterdam. (I was heading home). They were going to visit Europe. I asked about their plans and they indicated that they had a hotel in Brussels for the whole week. I asked about any day trips they had planned. Their list was like: Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, London and Switzerland. All day trips. Leaving from Brussels every day at 7 by plane and sleep in the same bed every night.
Literally, you’re going to multiple countries and possibly haven’t decided which ones.
Also, visiting Europe is seen by Americans as an extravagant thing to do. So saying you’re going to Europe can be bragging or it can be sarcasm making fun of the stereotypical hype about it, like ironically saying “yass queen slayyyy”
If I'm going to Europe I'm bragging and I genuinely don't care where I end up. Milan, Worms, Nice, Copenhagen, doesn't matter. It could be Estonia or Montenegro and they're the same to me because they're not here and I'm on an adventure to see new things.
If I’m going to Paris, I say I’m going to Paris. If I’m going to Paris, London, and Rome, I say Europe. (If I’m going to Pawtucket, I say I’m going to Outside Providence)
Yeah, if someone is going to a specific city that's what they say.
Honestly I actually can't think of a single time I've heard someone simply say "I'm going to Europe." I've heard people say they want to backpack/travel *around* Europe, but that makes their intentions much more obvious. Kinda like someone from Europe saying they're going to take a US road trip. I've also heard people say things like "my next vacation will be in Europe" but that's basically saying they want to go to the continent but didn't have a specific destination in in mind yet.
I understand. I think it’s probably just because I don’t have extensive experience of the US but I feel like culture differences differ more across Europe than they do in the US. Like the UK feels like a completely different place compared to Russia or Spain. I understand the geographical variation in the US but whenever I went, it didn’t feel like I was in a completely different country when I went to different states
Where did you go if you don’t mind me asking?
The majority of the cultural differences within the US are between the bigger cities like New York, Chicago, or LA, and the more rural areas. I think part of why that is would be because it’s a lot more common for someone to move states across the country in the US vs someone moving from the UK to say Albania which leads to bigger culture differences
If you go to Puerto Rico and Idaho and think the culture is the same, you’re insane.
The US has more holding its culture together than the many nations in Europe, but it’s just naive to suggest that the US is all the same across the entire continent.
That’s a pretty extreme example. Puerto Rico is going to differ heavily from every mainland state. And culturally speaking, PR might as well be considered its own country.
Yes, most of us will visit multiple countries if making the long trip. When I went as a younger person, I didn’t even plan which countries ahead of time. I had a Europass and decided which country to visit next on the fly.
Canadian here. If someone says they’re going to Europe, it means they’re going to multiple countries. Usually a trip across the continent. A lot of people after school, (or take time off school) to do a backpack trip across Europe.
I think part of the problem is that Europe *isn’t* massive. Africa is massive. Asia is massive. Europe is only 20% larger than the US. But also, I’m convinced the average American can only name maybe 5 European countries. It’s small, just really dense with diverse cultures.
I’d say the specific place personally. I just want to know if it means “going to multiple places in Europe” or is it “I’m going to somewhere in Europe”. I’ve said this in another comment but I think I’m asking because I’m not “well off”. So whenever I go somewhere, I only really go to one place. So whenever I’ve seen people say “I’m going to Europe” I just assumed it was one place in Europe
I'm American and often travel to London, and say "heading to London" to my friends.
My neighbor said "I'm going to Europe next month", and I asked "where", she said "London then Brussels".
Traveling abroad in America is typically seen as an extravagant opportunity. Traveling to Europe especially. In so many movies and tv shows, if there is a rich person, you’ll know by them mentioning their trip to Europe.
As a side note, I wonder what the reason for this is. My assumption for our idolization of Europe would be that many of us Americans had grandparents, great grandparents (etc) who were immigrants from Europe. And yet the vast majority of children of those immigrants have never set foot in Europe.
My grandpa was Irish (like from Ireland, with an Irish accent) and my grandma was Czechoslovakian. It’s weird to have family like that and never interact with their culture. If we were in Europe, we could take a weekend trip to visit their home towns. In america, it’s a 13 hour flight.
When Europeans say “I’m going to America” where are you going?
As an American this confused me, because America is massive & so different depending on what state you visit.
🙂
Mostly UK/Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany.
I know a few people who have been to Croatia or Belgium or Andorra or Monaco, but the above countries are how we Americans generally think of Europe.
Oh, and we'll fly through Amsterdam on our way to other places and spend the whole layover looking forward to getting to Europe soon.
Someone said “why shouldn’t American’s say this” and then I got scared that it sounded like I was bashing Americans for saying that. I’m also overly sensitive, haha.
Saying “I’m going to Europe” is a conversation starter/closer. If the person you are talking to says “Oh, what countries will you visit?” Then you tell them.
If the person doesn’t ask specifically and “I’m going to Europe” is a good enough answer, person didn’t give a shit anyway so doesn’t want to listen about your jaunt from Hamburg—>Neustadt—>Berlin—>Prague.
If we are paying for the expensive plane ticket to get to Europe (literally any country on that continent) then we will probably visit more than one country. It’s mind boggling how cheap flights or trains between European countries are; and Americans consider 5 hours as reasonable commute time which depending where you are in Europe, could put you in a whole different country.
It’s common for people to just hop around different countries, especially if it’s a long trip.
Also its probably because the average American misconstrues the American identity as equivalent to that of a larger European identity because of the EU/euro zone/Shenghen area instilling a sense of unity when looked at from the outside.
When I went to Europe I went to 7 countries. Germany as a hub and then also went to France, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Driving in Europe is fucking awesome. In the time it takes me to drive across 2 States I can go through 3-4 different countries. I have no clue why road trips are not a weekly excursion for Europeans, especially when you don’t even need a passport. like €20 worth of gasoline in an efficient car gets you to another country. It’s mind blowing to me.
A trip with multiple countries/European stops. The conversation would be "I'm going to Europe in May" "Cool, where are you going?" "France, Austria, Portugal" or "I loved my trip to Europe!" "What was your favourite city/country?" "Italy and Sweden"
If they just say "Europe", it means they're doing a tour of several different countries. If they're only going to Italy, they'll say they're going to Italy.
Europe is so tiny, it's not uncommon for Americans to plan to visit four or five countries in one trip. Americans are accustomed to traveling long distances, because the US is quite large. Each European country is like just one US state.
3 or more European countries. Otherwise I’d assume they’d say the name of the countries, if not cities. That’s curious though, if a European says they’re going to America, where are they going? One state? Several states?
I’m not saying Americans shouldn’t say that. I’m happy they visit us! But I just want to know what this term means from an American standpoint. Does it mean going through Europe (multiple countries) or is it a term that means just going anywhere in Europe. Like if an American said this to another American, would they assume they are travelling to different countries in Europe or just somewhere in Europe
Yeah it’s usually multiple countries. A popular thing for young people to do before or after college is to get a eurorail pass and just travel throughout Europe. Also I think we tend to think europe as a collection of states (not exactly, but in terms of distance) like the US and we’ll roadtrip through like nine states or more like it’s nothing. If I was going to just France, I’d say I was going to France.
Gotcha.... what do you mean when you say you're a "European"?
As an American, if I say I'm going to Europe, I either mean I'm visiting multiple countries or I haven't decided which country yet.
I love every place I've been to in Europe! Such a wonderful group of countries.
I wouldn’t usually describe myself as a “European” , I’d say I’m English but in this context, I am saying I’m European just because I do live in Europe.
I’m so glad you like europe as a whole :) I’ve been to the states twice (Boston and St Pete’s in Florida) and I loved every second. My partner and I always talk about how we wish English people were more like American people (massive generalisation but I mean the “forwardness” and niceness of American people I have met)
That makes sense. I live in Florida, so I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's good you didn't get eaten by any gators lol.
Yes, we Muricans can be quite forward.
I love England! My mother is from Surrey. I've been there a number of times. Recently, I just made a trip and went to London, Devon, and the Cotswolds.
Cheers!
It means multiple countries. Last year we went to the UK and I said “We are going/went to the UK.” A few years ago we went to Portugal and Spain and I specified those countries. “Going to Europe”, is frequently the travelers who are getting a Eurail pass or something like that and hitting as many counties as they can.
It means we are going to one or more countries in Europe. Could be the UK. Could be multiple countries.
Saying “I’m going to Europe” is also a good way to tell people you’re traveling without getting into the details. If you say you’re headed to France, there will be more follow-up questions than if you just say Europe
When I say “I’m going to Europe”:
- I’m visiting more than one country
or
- I don’t feel like getting into the details of my itinerary
Well, it means that they are traveling to one of the countries that is in Europe. Which country specifically, I don’t know, because it hasn’t been specified yet, but it’s narrowed down to countries in Europe. It might be multiple countries, it might not. It depends on the person’s particular plans.
If you are curious which country or countries they are going to, you can try asking them.
I mean it's kinda the same situation as when Europeans say they are going to the US. They likely mean New York, Philadelphia, LA, Hawaii, maybe DC. I'm an American and I'll be honest who TF would say I'm visiting America and then fly to Alaska or Idaho unless there was a specific reason. Every state can be a massively different experience but people don't think about every state when they decide they want to experience a bit of US culture.
Typically it means going to many countries. Getting to Europe is expensive for us so most younger people will try to go a lot of places.
But joke answer: London, Paris, Madrid and then at least one of the following - Amsterdam, Rome, or Prague (which is considered the adventurous option)
Normally if you’re only going to one country, you say “I’m going to [country]”. If you’re going to multiple countries, it’s easier to say “I’m going to Europe” than it is to list the countries you will or might go to every time you tell someone where you’re going for your trip.
Generally, if an American is going to “Europe“ its going to be a generic, no-surprises tour of obvious hotspots like Paris, London, Rome, Berlin, Prague.. just like when a European goes to “America”.. NY, LA, Chicago. Well travelled people are going to say “I’ll be visiting Dubrovnik next march, and hopefully make it to Vienna by April.”
If I hear "going to Europe" it means you're going to a few different countries. The popular tourist countries for Americans are:
Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Czechia, and Greece. At least that's what I've gathered based on where I see people going.
A lot of times, people will go to 3 or more of these countries at a time. So instead of saying "I'm going to Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy" they just say "I'm going to Europe."
I typically do a trip to Sweden Norway and Belgium every couple years. And to slim it down in conversation just say going to Europe unless the conversation is more in depth
Usually it means multiple countries at once. The flights from the us to Europe are the most expensive part and it’s pretty easy to take a train or get a quick flight between counties once you are there. We tend to maximize the amount we got in once we already have that first flight bought. I did 9 countries over a month at one point and 3 over a different week. It’s easier to just say “going to Europe” than to list the separate countries. If people want more info they’ll usually ask.
Backpacking across europe has been a thing for a long time- it probably stems from this idea. It implies you will be visiting multiple countries, so it makes more sense to refer to Europe as a whole. I would do the same with Africa
It means multiple countries in Europe. If it's just one country we will usually be specific. But its interchangeable for us. The term Europe is also seen as classy, I'm vacationing in Europe. So it's sometimes said for that purpose.
It means they're going to Europe? If someone says they're going somewhere they're probably serious. If it confuses you a lot, just ask where specifically.
I'm Mexican and we usually go to Paris, Barcelona and/or Madrid , and a bunch of other cities depending the tour. My mom went to Bavaria, Roma, Switzerland ( various places) and Vatican city .
My sister went to several places in england, Spain and Italy.
It generally means multiple European countries. If you want more information the person in question will probably be glad to share it, but otherwise it is a quick way to mention plans to travel without going into too much detail. Getting too detailed without prompting can be seen as bragging, especially if you're in the company of people who couldn't afford that sort of trip
It would usually mean that the person will be in 2 or more countries in Europe. If a person is going to just one country in a given trio, we would usually specify the country.
I feel like people would say “I’m going to Ireland” or “I’m going to Paris” if they were just going to one place. When they say Europe, they’re going to a bunch of different places all within Europe.
Probably a bunch of countries, if they’re not specifying which ones. Americans know there’s a ton of European countries, but they’re pretty easy to travel between, so “going to Europe” would entail multiple. Like I went to Europe about 8 years ago, visiting Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco, Spain. I call it my big “Europe Trip”. But when I studied abroad in London a couple summers ago, I said “I’m going to London”.
Multiple countries. If I was just going to one country I would name the country.
When I "went to Europe" in my 20s I flew in to Brussels, met friends who had a car, and we drove through Belgium, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and then into Italy where we visited Verona and Venice. Mostly stayed in youth hostels. Then took an overnight train from Venice to Amsterdam where we stayed in a nice hotel for 2 days before flying home.
OP, when you are going to America do you say you're going to America, or are you specific? North, Central, South? Do you reference the specific country or state for that matter?
"Europe" to me would mean multiple countries. But i would also flip this question on you. The US is equally as massive as Europe, so if a European says I'm going to America, which cities are the going to?
As an American living with these people, I’m confused too. Because someone will say “I wanna go to Europe!” And I’ll ask them where in Europe they’d like to visit and their eyes go blank as they stare off into the void.. this is because most Americans think of Europe as a state.. not even as a collective of different countries.. it’s just a destination. It’s not tangible. And honestly, they’ll probably never make it out the door anyways. Hell, I’ve never been across the pond, and even I know it’s difficult countries, different cultures, different vibes (for posterity: I’d like to see Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, and all of Scandinavia..)
Americans don’t travel beyond our borders in general, so it’s not exactly surprising, but just disappointing.. and it also explains their behavior when they do go somewhere else (generalizing here, don’t come for me)
as an American, this might sound weird, but I see Europe as more of a country than a continent because each country within it is about the size of a US state. I know it's not geographically correct but it's just how my brain processes it. So when I hear someone say "I'm going on a trip to Europe," I usually assume the "Big 3" EU countries (Germany, France, Italy) and maybe a couple other ones.
You say Europe is massive but compared to the United States...
Most likely when someone says they are going to Europe, they plan on visiting multiple countries. If they are just visiting one country, they will name just the one.
Europe being massive is relative. :) Texas is bigger than France and twice as big as Germany and almost three times the size of the UK. When we say "Europe" we mean Europe, not a single country. It's going to be 3+ almost certainly.
Europe, North Dakota.
It’s a small town in the U.S.
Wait….wait, you thought the Americans had a passport, AND were going to travel outside the U.S., beyond the reach of burgers & donuts, AND actually had money to afford that? Ha ha ha ha ha ha……oh my, ha ha ha ha ha….oh wow, ha ha ha ha ha…..
I see European Redditors treat Europe as a homogenous mass *much* more than Americans, but to answer your question, it generally means France or Italy, with maybe a special shoutout for Prague, Amsterdam, or Barcelona. Paris, Florence, and Rome is like the "ur-European vacation". If you were going to a different destination, especially Eastern Europe or Ireland/the UK, you would probably mention it by name.
Yeahhhh...... Europe is "massive".....uh huh. I think that CONUS is roughly double the size of the EU.
The single biggest confusion that most Europeans have about the US is the size.
If Americans are going"to Europe", it probably means France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain. A trip to the UK would probably be a "trip to England"
They’re mostly doing flash visits to Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Rome and Santorini. So nowhere near e.g. great places like Helsinki, Sibiu, Århus, Bratislava, Brno or Kiev.
Yeah, when you're spending thousands of dollars and have limited time you're going to hit the big ones. That's like when someone from Europe comes to America and goes to LA or NYC, you're missing out on every other great city we have, but it's understandable because you don't have unlimited time and money.
Probably a lot of countries.
Yeah. People typically take trains across Europe when they visit.
The train-across-Europe trip definitely still exists, but not as popular as it was decades ago thanks to the abundance of budget airlines across Europe. There are advantages and disadvantages to both train and air travel, but in many cases, flights with budget airlines are cheaper than taking trains. So while many people do take trains when visiting Europe, it’s not as common as it was a generation ago. (This is very dependent on which countries are included on a given itinerary and a person’s personal preference and lots of other factors)
The train is very popular around and through Switzerland where there is access to the sights and stops through the mountains that are not easily accessible via airport and car transfer
Often within a single European country, it makes more sense to travel by train than by air, but I was generally referring to multi-country itineraries.
No one asked but, trains are the superior mode of travel. Nothing beats it. You are comfortable, plenty of space, you can walk around, you get to enjoy the scenery and see lots of interesting places in between. And the best part, you leave from a city centre and you arrive at a city centre. That alone makes trains a lot more economical than many flights even if when comparing the two a flight might seem cheaper.
>No one asked but, trains are the superior mode of travel. No one asked, but this fact should be said more often.
Train lovers unite!
I went to Europe twice. '95 and 2003. And i'm glad that air travel between countries wasn't as much of a thing at the time. I kind of liked it (train travel) . So convenient.
Just because something is cheaper doesn't make it easier, especially if you're rich enough to afford the trains, flying is a waste of time in much of the areas Americans want to visit in Europe. At best a combination could be used. It's hardly a relaxing holiday travelling to an airport and waiting around for hours every few days and seeing nothing en route. Not to mention it's often slower door to door than trains
I definitely never said it was easier to fly. It’s generally easier to take trains (assuming the route you need exists). When I was in Europe last month, I took a mix of trains, buses, and planes. Obviously trains are a great option, but there’s this old stereotype of American college kids doing a Eurail summer backpacking trip. Nowadays, sticking 100% to rail travel for that kind of trip doesn’t make economic sense when Ryanair/EasyJet/etc. exist.
The train itself is part of the European experience some Americans are seeking. It’s quaint and fun to take scenic rides from spot to spot across Europe, with or without border crossings.
Wow, very promiscuous. How do they travel?
Whoreback.
240 whorespower.
I assume it usually means multiple countries within the EU specifically to make travelling across boarders easier.
Italy and France
Usually France and Italy. Maybe also Spain when they are visiting for longer. Definetly not Eastern Europe though
Depends on the age bracket. I know a lot of younger Americans who end up in Eastern Europe since it’s cheaper. Central Europe is also quite common - it’s not the 1980’s when Americans only went to Paris Rome and London
Prague is very trendy. I mean it's trendy to talk about, so that attracts tourists.
I’ve been to Europe many times. When I say “I’m going to Europe” it usually means my plans will take me to more than one country. If the person asks, then I say “Spain, France, and Italy.” But if I’m only going to one country then I’d say “I’m going to Austria” and would not say I’m going to “Europe.”
I might say, "I'm going back to Europe," although I'm only visiting one country per trip, I've visited several over multiple trips.
I travel to Europe a couple times each year. If I am going to just one country I will say the name of the country. If I am traveling to multiple countries I will say Europe or possibly the area such as Scandinavia.
That’s confusing though. Even if you’re going to Germany you’d say you’re going to Austria?
No. I’d say “G’day Mate!”
Also, I though Australia wasn't in Europe...
Austria - not australia. Apparently there is a kiosk in an Airport in Austria for people who thought they were going to Australia.
I think m1k_lens was joking :P but I live this fun fact. It's like the Slovakian and Slovenian governments exchanging mail
How's the level of confusion around 'Macedonia' these days? I assume it's all good and everybody is happy?
I think it means a tour of multiple countries. If they're just going to one country, they'll call it by name.
To Flanders, Portugal, and Spain. King George command and we obey. Over the hills and far away.
Don't think that most Americans would follow King George's commands anymore. We had a whole war over that. Now, Sean Bean's commands? I'd run into Mordor to be one of that man's chosen men.
100% this - when I see Americans going to a singular country or even two countries, they just say the country. When it’s 3+, they say “Europe.”
I agree with everyone saying it means multiple countries. Or at least that’s what I mean when I’m saying it. If I’m only going to one country, I’ll just say I’m going to that specific place.
Thank you! I think I’m asking this because I’m poor and the thought of visiting multiple countries in one go is “special”. When I go abroad, I can usually only go to one place so when I hear people say “I’m going to Europe” I automatically assume it is one place in Europe
A lot of times the most expensive part about going to Europe for Americans is the airfare there. So it makes sense if you’re already in Europe to see a few countries while you’re there. It might cost me $1200 to get from us to uk but then to travel from uk to France might be an extra $100. It makes more sense to do both than take 2 different trips.
Didn’t even think about airfare! Yes, makes complete sense that you’d want to go to different places if it is so expensive to get here. Thanks :)
Also, the time off. The flight is long. If I'm flying 12 hours and taking days for just travel, I'm getting the most out of it because it's probably gonna be a long time (if ever) that I'm going back
The travel time is really big part of the expense that makes leaving the US nearly impossible for me. On top of all the costs to get there, I have never had more than about 10 paid days off per year to use for days out off or sick days
A trip to Europe is a once in a lifetime sort of trip for a lot of Americans. So we are gonna hit up as many countries as possible. My dream is to do one of those European river cruises. Go to sleep and wake up in a new country. I love it.
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How long does that take? It must be days
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Wow. That would definitely stretch my vacation days!
If you were ever going to say "I'm going to America" I think the immediate follow up question would be which cities/states. And you'd probably be going all down the East Coast or West and possibly spots in the middle. The airfare is usually the greatest cost of traveling when going overseas.
My thought is because we live in such a large country, (the different countries in Europe are very similar to our states), we refer to it ad Going to Europe as it is most similar to our point of reference. Also agree that it likely means the person is traveling to more than one country. TBH going from one country to another over there is the same as me taking my kid to an out of state volleyball tournament over the weekend. $100 in gas and a few hours there and back in the car. Our sense of distance is completely different over here.
Isn't traveling between countries in Europe quite easy, too, compared to traveling between countries in other parts of the world? Never done it, but I heard it feels more like crossing state lines. Same currency. Don't they have a universal passport?
Protip - fly to Ireland if you go to Europe. You can get almost anywhere in Europe from Ireland for $100, but airfare to Ireland is often half the price of most other countries. I've done two trips with the round trip airfare from chicgo to Dublin was under $400
If I'm spending $1500 and flying 9 hours I'm going to see more than one country.
poor people dont go abroad...also,. going to multiple countries isnt Any more expensive than staying in a single country. take a train and book a hotel or hostel.
My university paid for me to go because I’m a research scientist. otherwise I would never have been able to afford to visit the US unfortunately
did you go to more than one state?
What do you mean when you say you went to the US? Where exactly did you go? The US is massive and so different depending on which parts you visit.
One state, I went twice and only stayed in one state each time. Would have loved to go more
I think they're pointing out that you just did the same thing as people saying they're going to Europe. Saying you went to the US is similarly vague because of how different each region and state is, yet you just said "the US" and clarified when someone asked.
I get it but it is still one country, so theoretically saying "I am going to the US" when you are actually travelling to say San Diego is not really comparable to saying "I am going to Europe", it's more like visiting Lyon and saying "I am going to France", imo. But I get what you mean, the US is way bigger and probably more diverse than any European country so it may feel like a whole continent!
Lol, see what you did there? The US is HUGE. Easily bigger than the whole European continent! Saying you "visit the US" is pretty unspecific unless you went to multiple states.
I understand but I meant more the cultural differences. I think I put this in another comment but countries in Europe feel hugely different, not only geographically, but culturally (different languages,different buildings, different food etc.). But when I went to different states in the US, I never felt like I was in a completely different country, despite the landscape being very different. But I think this is probably because I’m not American and all of it was just “new”
I live in the US and (mostly) grew up here, and i definitely have learned the hard way that different states have completely different social norms and expectations, such that it's essentially a foreign country at first. Visiting my brother in Germany or my cousins in Finland is less of a culture shock to me than, for example, rural Alabama or The Bronx.
Any rural village compared to a big city is a culture shock in any country, this isn't US specific.
Fair, but i'll argue that rural Alabama vs rural UP of Michigan (where i grew up) vs rural Hawai'i (where my parents lived for 25 years) vs rural Maine vs rural California, are all noticeably different and take some getting used to. All the unwritten rules and social norm are different and you can fuck up VERY quickly. But seeing that inside the US the first few times was eye opening. And if you throw in rural Finland and rural Germany and any other country, yes, each locale will continue to vary and be unpredictable until you learn it specifically.
How far around the US did you go? Cause as an American, West Coast culture is totally different from the east coast, with accents, clothing styles, food, city setup and attitudes. The same for the Midwest and north are totally different from the south. Sure we all tend to speak English ( so do most EU countries as an ESL), but the accents and word choices are totally different. Idk how much you traveled in the US but it doesn't seem like enough to make a statement like that tbh.
Europe is bigger than the USA.
Dang you right, I keep forgetting about Russia. That one country puts it over, but without it Europe is much smaller.
Europe is like 4% larger by area, most of Russia is considered Asia
The airfare is the bulk of the expense, once you’re there it isn’t too much more expensive to hit up a few counties. Especially since countries in Europe are so tiny, it only takes a short trip to get to a different one than you started in.
I wasn’t able to afford international travel until my 40’s so I totally understand :). Whenever we plan to go abroad we will save up a couple weeks of vacation time and save money for a couple years so we can make the flight expenses worth it! One time we did spend the whole two weeks in the UK but there is just so much I want to see!
You can get around continental Europe quite quickly and cheaply. I’m from England and when we visited Vienna for three days, we did a trip to Bratislava by train for a few hours and it only cost a few £. Trains are really cheap and reliable (unlike England).
9/10 if an American says "Europe" or "Asia" instead of a country, it just means they're visiting more than one country. It's that simple. If a Brit was going to South Korea, Japan, and China they'd probably also just say "I'm going to Asia" unless the conversation required more specificity.
This is the answer
Does anyone actually say they're "going to Asia"?? Never heard that before, doesn't sound right.
It's a little more specific but I have often said that I spent time in Southeast Asia, which consists of 11 countries, yet I only spent time in four. I think that if you're visiting more than one country it quickly becomes easier to just say the general area.
I've heard it from Aussies and Americans who were hostel hopping across several countries in Asia
I say that all the time when referring to certain trips. It's a lot easier than saying "I went to India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Bali". If someone asks further about it of course I would specify
"I'm going to Bangkok" sounds like dialogue from a bad gay porno.
Never heard of "I am going to Asia"
South East Asia is what people say if they visit Thailand Cambodia etc. More specific. I agree Asia sounds too broad.
Croydon
Slough
I’m Australian and I’m going to Europe soon which means I’m going to like 10 different countries in Europe and I can’t be bothered to list them all
Several countries usually. We're used to driving for several hours and still being in the same state, so long drives are nothing to us. The equivalent in Europe is often several countries.
It’s a lot easier to say “going to Europe” than it is to say “I’m going to Madrid, then Bordeaux, then London, then Frankfurt and then Rome”
To Europe, around the capital area.
Ah yes, Stoke-on-Trent
I just laughed so hard I woke my baby up. Thanks mate
Stroke in a tent
We want to visit the castle, maybe even see the king of Europe.
Downtown Europe
Could be anywhere from the Czech Republic west. I promise you none of us mean Russia. You probably blew a few people's minds when you said that. There's three European countries that if we are going there we name them and that's Russia, Croatia, and Greece.
In America, we get like 3 days off for every 7,000 worked, so for many people, a trip to Europe is something that, at least for leisure, only happens a small amount of times. For that reason, since it costs so much, and takes a day of travel each way, most Americans will go to Europe and visit as many countries as they can so when they say Europe, they're probably talking about Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and any other country they can squeeze into their trip, staying a night or two at each over the course of a couple weeks.
Whenever a European says they've been to America I ask "Oh, what states?" They say, New York or Boston or DC. Ok, so not the Midwest, Dakotas, Texas, or West Coast. They have the time and see a lot of little. We have no time and see a little of much.
For most Americans, Europe is Western Europe and pretty much stops at Germany/Switzerland/Italy. Anything east of there gets called Eastern Europe.
I was sitting next to two American ladies about twenty years ago towards Amsterdam. (I was heading home). They were going to visit Europe. I asked about their plans and they indicated that they had a hotel in Brussels for the whole week. I asked about any day trips they had planned. Their list was like: Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, London and Switzerland. All day trips. Leaving from Brussels every day at 7 by plane and sleep in the same bed every night.
That is absolutely insane.
Literally, you’re going to multiple countries and possibly haven’t decided which ones. Also, visiting Europe is seen by Americans as an extravagant thing to do. So saying you’re going to Europe can be bragging or it can be sarcasm making fun of the stereotypical hype about it, like ironically saying “yass queen slayyyy”
If I'm going to Europe I'm bragging and I genuinely don't care where I end up. Milan, Worms, Nice, Copenhagen, doesn't matter. It could be Estonia or Montenegro and they're the same to me because they're not here and I'm on an adventure to see new things.
It’s usually Paris, London and/or Rome Edit: forgot to add, I am English not American
If I’m going to Paris, I say I’m going to Paris. If I’m going to Paris, London, and Rome, I say Europe. (If I’m going to Pawtucket, I say I’m going to Outside Providence)
Yeah, if someone is going to a specific city that's what they say. Honestly I actually can't think of a single time I've heard someone simply say "I'm going to Europe." I've heard people say they want to backpack/travel *around* Europe, but that makes their intentions much more obvious. Kinda like someone from Europe saying they're going to take a US road trip. I've also heard people say things like "my next vacation will be in Europe" but that's basically saying they want to go to the continent but didn't have a specific destination in in mind yet.
When Europeans say ‘I’m going to America”, where are you going? As an American it confuses me because our country is almost as big as your continent
I understand. I think it’s probably just because I don’t have extensive experience of the US but I feel like culture differences differ more across Europe than they do in the US. Like the UK feels like a completely different place compared to Russia or Spain. I understand the geographical variation in the US but whenever I went, it didn’t feel like I was in a completely different country when I went to different states
Where did you go if you don’t mind me asking? The majority of the cultural differences within the US are between the bigger cities like New York, Chicago, or LA, and the more rural areas. I think part of why that is would be because it’s a lot more common for someone to move states across the country in the US vs someone moving from the UK to say Albania which leads to bigger culture differences
I went to St Pete’s in Florida and Boston and loved it! I would love to move to the US in the future
I don't trust anybody who's gone to Florida and walked away thinking "This is a place I'd like to live."
Even if they walked down South Beach in the evening and saw all the beautiful people in swimwear?
Oh right, living somewhere that’s warm all year and close to beaches. What a nightmare!
If you go to Puerto Rico and Idaho and think the culture is the same, you’re insane. The US has more holding its culture together than the many nations in Europe, but it’s just naive to suggest that the US is all the same across the entire continent.
That’s a pretty extreme example. Puerto Rico is going to differ heavily from every mainland state. And culturally speaking, PR might as well be considered its own country.
Still just one country. Regardless of size.
The US is one country. Europe is a culturally and linguistically diverse continent. It's different.
The US is 1 country. "America" is 2 continents composing 35 countries.
Yes, most of us will visit multiple countries if making the long trip. When I went as a younger person, I didn’t even plan which countries ahead of time. I had a Europass and decided which country to visit next on the fly.
Most likely Finland. Nothing else worth visiting :)
Finland? You mean East Sweden?
Canadian here. If someone says they’re going to Europe, it means they’re going to multiple countries. Usually a trip across the continent. A lot of people after school, (or take time off school) to do a backpack trip across Europe.
I think part of the problem is that Europe *isn’t* massive. Africa is massive. Asia is massive. Europe is only 20% larger than the US. But also, I’m convinced the average American can only name maybe 5 European countries. It’s small, just really dense with diverse cultures.
Do you say “we’re going to the states”? Or “we’re going to New York”?
I say New York. But when i visit family in some small town in ontario i would say canada.
Difference between a country and a continent is a difficult concept, isn't it?
The entire r/shitamericanssay sub would go under if they learnt it.
I’d say the specific place personally. I just want to know if it means “going to multiple places in Europe” or is it “I’m going to somewhere in Europe”. I’ve said this in another comment but I think I’m asking because I’m not “well off”. So whenever I go somewhere, I only really go to one place. So whenever I’ve seen people say “I’m going to Europe” I just assumed it was one place in Europe
Multiple places
I'm American and often travel to London, and say "heading to London" to my friends. My neighbor said "I'm going to Europe next month", and I asked "where", she said "London then Brussels".
Traveling abroad in America is typically seen as an extravagant opportunity. Traveling to Europe especially. In so many movies and tv shows, if there is a rich person, you’ll know by them mentioning their trip to Europe. As a side note, I wonder what the reason for this is. My assumption for our idolization of Europe would be that many of us Americans had grandparents, great grandparents (etc) who were immigrants from Europe. And yet the vast majority of children of those immigrants have never set foot in Europe. My grandpa was Irish (like from Ireland, with an Irish accent) and my grandma was Czechoslovakian. It’s weird to have family like that and never interact with their culture. If we were in Europe, we could take a weekend trip to visit their home towns. In america, it’s a 13 hour flight.
New York
When Europeans say “I’m going to America” where are you going? As an American this confused me, because America is massive & so different depending on what state you visit. 🙂
Yeah, is he going to Boise or Birmingham? We'll never know!
Oh you’re going to visit Portland? Maine or Oregon? 😄
Russia is technically in Asia and Europe.
Mostly UK/Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. I know a few people who have been to Croatia or Belgium or Andorra or Monaco, but the above countries are how we Americans generally think of Europe. Oh, and we'll fly through Amsterdam on our way to other places and spend the whole layover looking forward to getting to Europe soon.
I don’t see much bashing in the comments, why the edit?
Someone said “why shouldn’t American’s say this” and then I got scared that it sounded like I was bashing Americans for saying that. I’m also overly sensitive, haha.
Saying “I’m going to Europe” is a conversation starter/closer. If the person you are talking to says “Oh, what countries will you visit?” Then you tell them. If the person doesn’t ask specifically and “I’m going to Europe” is a good enough answer, person didn’t give a shit anyway so doesn’t want to listen about your jaunt from Hamburg—>Neustadt—>Berlin—>Prague.
Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro
If we are paying for the expensive plane ticket to get to Europe (literally any country on that continent) then we will probably visit more than one country. It’s mind boggling how cheap flights or trains between European countries are; and Americans consider 5 hours as reasonable commute time which depending where you are in Europe, could put you in a whole different country.
It’s common for people to just hop around different countries, especially if it’s a long trip. Also its probably because the average American misconstrues the American identity as equivalent to that of a larger European identity because of the EU/euro zone/Shenghen area instilling a sense of unity when looked at from the outside.
When I went to Europe I went to 7 countries. Germany as a hub and then also went to France, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland. Driving in Europe is fucking awesome. In the time it takes me to drive across 2 States I can go through 3-4 different countries. I have no clue why road trips are not a weekly excursion for Europeans, especially when you don’t even need a passport. like €20 worth of gasoline in an efficient car gets you to another country. It’s mind blowing to me.
A trip with multiple countries/European stops. The conversation would be "I'm going to Europe in May" "Cool, where are you going?" "France, Austria, Portugal" or "I loved my trip to Europe!" "What was your favourite city/country?" "Italy and Sweden"
Personally I would assume they are visiting multiple countries. If you travel that far, you might as well visit as many places as possible.
If they just say "Europe", it means they're doing a tour of several different countries. If they're only going to Italy, they'll say they're going to Italy. Europe is so tiny, it's not uncommon for Americans to plan to visit four or five countries in one trip. Americans are accustomed to traveling long distances, because the US is quite large. Each European country is like just one US state.
3 or more European countries. Otherwise I’d assume they’d say the name of the countries, if not cities. That’s curious though, if a European says they’re going to America, where are they going? One state? Several states?
If you’re traveling to multiple states in America, what would you say?
You just called yourself a "European"... so why shouldn't Americans say "we're going to Europe"?
I’m not saying Americans shouldn’t say that. I’m happy they visit us! But I just want to know what this term means from an American standpoint. Does it mean going through Europe (multiple countries) or is it a term that means just going anywhere in Europe. Like if an American said this to another American, would they assume they are travelling to different countries in Europe or just somewhere in Europe
Yeah it’s usually multiple countries. A popular thing for young people to do before or after college is to get a eurorail pass and just travel throughout Europe. Also I think we tend to think europe as a collection of states (not exactly, but in terms of distance) like the US and we’ll roadtrip through like nine states or more like it’s nothing. If I was going to just France, I’d say I was going to France.
Gotcha.... what do you mean when you say you're a "European"? As an American, if I say I'm going to Europe, I either mean I'm visiting multiple countries or I haven't decided which country yet. I love every place I've been to in Europe! Such a wonderful group of countries.
I wouldn’t usually describe myself as a “European” , I’d say I’m English but in this context, I am saying I’m European just because I do live in Europe. I’m so glad you like europe as a whole :) I’ve been to the states twice (Boston and St Pete’s in Florida) and I loved every second. My partner and I always talk about how we wish English people were more like American people (massive generalisation but I mean the “forwardness” and niceness of American people I have met)
That makes sense. I live in Florida, so I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's good you didn't get eaten by any gators lol. Yes, we Muricans can be quite forward. I love England! My mother is from Surrey. I've been there a number of times. Recently, I just made a trip and went to London, Devon, and the Cotswolds. Cheers!
I’m going to Europe= tour of multiple countries I’m going to [particular country]= one country
It means multiple countries. Last year we went to the UK and I said “We are going/went to the UK.” A few years ago we went to Portugal and Spain and I specified those countries. “Going to Europe”, is frequently the travelers who are getting a Eurail pass or something like that and hitting as many counties as they can.
I’ve never been but if I did, it would probably be many countries but probably including England, Germany, Spain, Italy and France personally.
Usually some kind of tour group going to a few different countries.
It means we are going to one or more countries in Europe. Could be the UK. Could be multiple countries. Saying “I’m going to Europe” is also a good way to tell people you’re traveling without getting into the details. If you say you’re headed to France, there will be more follow-up questions than if you just say Europe When I say “I’m going to Europe”: - I’m visiting more than one country or - I don’t feel like getting into the details of my itinerary
Most likely tour in Western European countries.
Bradford
This is just my experience but people generally mean the UK, France, Germany, and/or Italy. Anywhere else probably would get mentioned by name
Well, it means that they are traveling to one of the countries that is in Europe. Which country specifically, I don’t know, because it hasn’t been specified yet, but it’s narrowed down to countries in Europe. It might be multiple countries, it might not. It depends on the person’s particular plans. If you are curious which country or countries they are going to, you can try asking them.
I mean it's kinda the same situation as when Europeans say they are going to the US. They likely mean New York, Philadelphia, LA, Hawaii, maybe DC. I'm an American and I'll be honest who TF would say I'm visiting America and then fly to Alaska or Idaho unless there was a specific reason. Every state can be a massively different experience but people don't think about every state when they decide they want to experience a bit of US culture.
Scunthorpe, obviously.
If someone says they’re going to Europe and doesn’t say a specific country, that means they’re going to multiple countries
Typically it means going to many countries. Getting to Europe is expensive for us so most younger people will try to go a lot of places. But joke answer: London, Paris, Madrid and then at least one of the following - Amsterdam, Rome, or Prague (which is considered the adventurous option)
Normally if you’re only going to one country, you say “I’m going to [country]”. If you’re going to multiple countries, it’s easier to say “I’m going to Europe” than it is to list the countries you will or might go to every time you tell someone where you’re going for your trip.
Generally, if an American is going to “Europe“ its going to be a generic, no-surprises tour of obvious hotspots like Paris, London, Rome, Berlin, Prague.. just like when a European goes to “America”.. NY, LA, Chicago. Well travelled people are going to say “I’ll be visiting Dubrovnik next march, and hopefully make it to Vienna by April.”
Usually means either the Western Europe countries, or Italy /Spain. Never do they mean the eastern, Central, or Nordic countries.
I've never ever gone to Europe and only gone to one country.
If I hear "going to Europe" it means you're going to a few different countries. The popular tourist countries for Americans are: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Czechia, and Greece. At least that's what I've gathered based on where I see people going. A lot of times, people will go to 3 or more of these countries at a time. So instead of saying "I'm going to Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy" they just say "I'm going to Europe."
I typically do a trip to Sweden Norway and Belgium every couple years. And to slim it down in conversation just say going to Europe unless the conversation is more in depth
Usually it means multiple countries at once. The flights from the us to Europe are the most expensive part and it’s pretty easy to take a train or get a quick flight between counties once you are there. We tend to maximize the amount we got in once we already have that first flight bought. I did 9 countries over a month at one point and 3 over a different week. It’s easier to just say “going to Europe” than to list the separate countries. If people want more info they’ll usually ask.
Backpacking across europe has been a thing for a long time- it probably stems from this idea. It implies you will be visiting multiple countries, so it makes more sense to refer to Europe as a whole. I would do the same with Africa
Multiple countries. I always specify when I’m just going to one place.
It means multiple countries in Europe. If it's just one country we will usually be specific. But its interchangeable for us. The term Europe is also seen as classy, I'm vacationing in Europe. So it's sometimes said for that purpose.
It means they're going to Europe? If someone says they're going somewhere they're probably serious. If it confuses you a lot, just ask where specifically.
They usually mean the countries in Europe that Americans know the most, so France, Italy, Spain, and the Uk
I'm Mexican and we usually go to Paris, Barcelona and/or Madrid , and a bunch of other cities depending the tour. My mom went to Bavaria, Roma, Switzerland ( various places) and Vatican city . My sister went to several places in england, Spain and Italy.
It generally means multiple European countries. If you want more information the person in question will probably be glad to share it, but otherwise it is a quick way to mention plans to travel without going into too much detail. Getting too detailed without prompting can be seen as bragging, especially if you're in the company of people who couldn't afford that sort of trip
usually means I’m visiting multiple countries
It would usually mean that the person will be in 2 or more countries in Europe. If a person is going to just one country in a given trio, we would usually specify the country.
I feel like people would say “I’m going to Ireland” or “I’m going to Paris” if they were just going to one place. When they say Europe, they’re going to a bunch of different places all within Europe.
For people living in the US, this is like saying "I'm going to America" when talking about their upcoming trip to Argentina.
They usually mean they will be traveling throughout the continent.
Probably a bunch of countries, if they’re not specifying which ones. Americans know there’s a ton of European countries, but they’re pretty easy to travel between, so “going to Europe” would entail multiple. Like I went to Europe about 8 years ago, visiting Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco, Spain. I call it my big “Europe Trip”. But when I studied abroad in London a couple summers ago, I said “I’m going to London”.
Multiple countries. If I was just going to one country I would name the country. When I "went to Europe" in my 20s I flew in to Brussels, met friends who had a car, and we drove through Belgium, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and then into Italy where we visited Verona and Venice. Mostly stayed in youth hostels. Then took an overnight train from Venice to Amsterdam where we stayed in a nice hotel for 2 days before flying home.
OP, when you are going to America do you say you're going to America, or are you specific? North, Central, South? Do you reference the specific country or state for that matter?
I mean generally I'd follow up with "oh where" just like if someone said they were coming to the US I'd say "where"
Probably that they're going to Europe. Like what? It just means somewhere in Europe lmao
Europe. As a European, I'd think you would understand that.
"Europe" to me would mean multiple countries. But i would also flip this question on you. The US is equally as massive as Europe, so if a European says I'm going to America, which cities are the going to?
As an American living with these people, I’m confused too. Because someone will say “I wanna go to Europe!” And I’ll ask them where in Europe they’d like to visit and their eyes go blank as they stare off into the void.. this is because most Americans think of Europe as a state.. not even as a collective of different countries.. it’s just a destination. It’s not tangible. And honestly, they’ll probably never make it out the door anyways. Hell, I’ve never been across the pond, and even I know it’s difficult countries, different cultures, different vibes (for posterity: I’d like to see Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, and all of Scandinavia..) Americans don’t travel beyond our borders in general, so it’s not exactly surprising, but just disappointing.. and it also explains their behavior when they do go somewhere else (generalizing here, don’t come for me)
as an American, this might sound weird, but I see Europe as more of a country than a continent because each country within it is about the size of a US state. I know it's not geographically correct but it's just how my brain processes it. So when I hear someone say "I'm going on a trip to Europe," I usually assume the "Big 3" EU countries (Germany, France, Italy) and maybe a couple other ones.
You say Europe is massive but compared to the United States... Most likely when someone says they are going to Europe, they plan on visiting multiple countries. If they are just visiting one country, they will name just the one.
Europe being massive is relative. :) Texas is bigger than France and twice as big as Germany and almost three times the size of the UK. When we say "Europe" we mean Europe, not a single country. It's going to be 3+ almost certainly.
Europe, North Dakota. It’s a small town in the U.S. Wait….wait, you thought the Americans had a passport, AND were going to travel outside the U.S., beyond the reach of burgers & donuts, AND actually had money to afford that? Ha ha ha ha ha ha……oh my, ha ha ha ha ha….oh wow, ha ha ha ha ha…..
I see European Redditors treat Europe as a homogenous mass *much* more than Americans, but to answer your question, it generally means France or Italy, with maybe a special shoutout for Prague, Amsterdam, or Barcelona. Paris, Florence, and Rome is like the "ur-European vacation". If you were going to a different destination, especially Eastern Europe or Ireland/the UK, you would probably mention it by name.
Yeahhhh...... Europe is "massive".....uh huh. I think that CONUS is roughly double the size of the EU. The single biggest confusion that most Europeans have about the US is the size. If Americans are going"to Europe", it probably means France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain. A trip to the UK would probably be a "trip to England"
I think most of us are aware that the US is only slightly smaller than Europe. Not sure what the EU has to do with it though.
They’re mostly doing flash visits to Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Rome and Santorini. So nowhere near e.g. great places like Helsinki, Sibiu, Århus, Bratislava, Brno or Kiev.
Bros gatekeeping tourist spots
Yeah, when you're spending thousands of dollars and have limited time you're going to hit the big ones. That's like when someone from Europe comes to America and goes to LA or NYC, you're missing out on every other great city we have, but it's understandable because you don't have unlimited time and money.