Hey there, fellow travelers! We’re in Venice Italy and after about six weeks of travel, we’re talking about the things that will start to annoy you as you travel for a long time. After you’ve been traveling for a while, things that were once cool or quirky can become annoying very quickly.
#1 The Beds
Almost anywhere you stay in Europe if you request a double bed, you get two twin beds pushed together. So, there’s always a crack in the middle of the bed. If you move around much in the middle of the night, the beds start to separate and that crack gets bigger. Or, there will be a wooden brace in there that is not fun to roll over on.
#2 Cobblestone Streets
Cobblestone streets are so pretty and quaint, and they really make you feel like you’re in Europe, but after walking on them for six weeks, they become annoying. Between twisted ankles and broken suitcase wheels, cobblestone streets can start to take a toll on you.
#3 All Churches Look the Same
The first time you step into a 15th century church, your jaw drops and you can’t believe you are in a building that is older than the United States. If you’re on a month-long Europe trip, after a while, the cities, churches, and cathedrals all start to blur together and look the same. You’ll get annoyed with yourself that you are confusing them, but it’s totally natural when you are taking in so much history over a short time.
#4 Tour Groups
These can be annoying on day one! In some towns, you’ll be overwhelmed by huge tour groups that seem to take over a town square. Do your best not to get stuck behind any tour groups at any tourist sites or restaurants.
#5 Shared Bathrooms
At first, this is all fun and very “European” but after a while, you just want some privacy. Especially if you’re having any tummy troubles while traveling. Or if someone else on your floor drank too much and is sick in the shared bathroom. Sharing close quarters with total strangers can be annoying after a while.
#6 The Euro-Funk
You and your clothes will start to stink after a while. Sink laundry just doesn’t quite cut it on the funk you will build up after a few weeks of travel. Eventually, you won’t notice the stench and then it will hit you again when you get home and unpack your suitcase!
Watch: How to Do Laundry in Europe
#7 Aggressive Beggars
At first, you just ignore the beggars, but after a while, the aggression gets pretty annoying. Don’t let them scare you; tell them no and walk away. If they still won’t leave you alone, yell for the police.
#8 Homesickness
Regardless of where you are and how good the food is, you’ll start to miss home eventually. Even in Italy, surrounded by pasta and pizza and gelato, homesickness happens. And it makes you feel guilty because you’re in Europe, on a dream vacation, and you’re thinking about home. Again, it’s totally natural, it happens to everyone at some point while traveling. Go have an American meal if it will make you feel better; there’s no shame in craving a hamburger and fries!
Watch: How to Deal With Homesickness Abroad
#9 Exhaustion
The longer you travel, the more tired you will be. In a one-week trip, it’s easy to push yourself through to exhaustion and catch up on rest when you get home. But when you are traveling long term, you need a day off here and there. And then you feel guilty for lounging around your hotel or hostel in a cool European city. We try to plan down days to help us stay energized and maybe you just go hang out at a coffee shop or have a picnic day in a local park. You don’t have to be sightseeing 24/7 for weeks at a time.
#10 Getting Robbed
The more you travel, the more likely you are to be robbed. This may be the most annoying thing about traveling and it’s a huge hassle to get everything sorted out. Luckily, we have lots of posts on how to avoid getting robbed or minimizing your exposure if you do get robbed.
These are just a few things we’ve noticed after traveling for a while. What annoys you after a few weeks of travel? Tell us in the comments! For more Europe travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos:
