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It is no secret that Europe is one of my favorite places to visit. Whether I’m headed to the sandy beaches of Southern Italy or to the rainy shores of Ireland, I always enjoy my trips across the pond. However, for those who are currently planning their first trip over to this beautiful continent, there are a few things to know about the European hotel rooms before you go.
1. European Hotel Rooms are Typically Smaller than American Hotel Rooms
Once you have made it to your destination and you walk in to your new hotel room, don’t be alarmed if it is only HALF the size you were expecting. It is not a mistake. European hotel rooms are just traditionally smaller than rooms we are used to in America. Most of the buildings in Europe are a lot older and the rooms were just made to be smaller.
2. You Often Put Your Key in the Wall to Keep the Lights On
Yes, you read that right. I will admit that I was very confused on my first trip to Europe as to why the lights in my room just would not stay on. In many European hotels, you will need to put your room key in a little slot on the wall in order to activate the electricity in the room. While this may seem like a hassle, on the bright side, I very rarely lost my key while in the hotel!
3. Europe Uses Different Plug Outlets
Before you embark on your trip, you should be aware that in Europeans have different plug outlets than the ones we use in America. You will need an outlet converter in order to use any of your American-made electronics. For adaptors that can be used in the UK and Hong Kong click here, and for converters to be used in the rest of Europe, click here.
4. Twin Beds are Common
While I have yet to see a luxury hotel room in America with twin beds, they are actually fairly common in Europe. In fact, you will often notice that hotels that offer “double beds” are actually just pushing two twin beds together.
5. The First Floor is Different from the Ground Floor
This piece of information is most useful when you are in the hotel elevator. There are many times when I would automatically push the “1” button expecting to be brought down to the lobby. Knowing that there is a difference between the two can save you some time (and annoyed glances from others) while riding in the elevator.
If you found this post helpful, check out our other travel tips here!
