What To Know Before You Book A Hotel With 'Air Conditioning' In Europe, Per Samantha Brown

Traveling to Europe is an incredible experience. From different languages, traditions, and cultures to so many breathtaking views and experiences, it is a continent that needs to be explored. To make your trip even better, it's necessary to understand that each destination comes with its own set of rules and customs — especially during different seasons.

If you're planning to visit Europe in the summer and are worried about the heat, world traveler Samantha Brown shared some important information. In a Facebook video, she warns that even European hotels with air conditioning can still be quite stuffy. "If you're booking a European hotel that says it has air conditioning, you'll want to lower your expectations of what that is," Brown says. "They'll have it, but they actually cap it around 23, 25, or 28 [degrees, and] it won't go lower than that." She's referring to the practice of hotels barring their temperatures from being set any lower than 77 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes capping it even higher, at 81 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can feel like there's no cooling system at all.

She explains that the practice even occurs in brand hotels like Marriott, so you shouldn't necessarily expect a difference at a 5-star hotel. But that doesn't mean you have to put up with the heat, or let it ruin your holiday. There are ways you can get around the warm climate and still enjoy your trip to Europe.

Contrary to the U.S., air conditioning is not a common amenity in Europe and will probably be difficult to find in Airbnbs. With most buildings being quite old, it is unlikely that they come with air conditioning at all. Even when a hotel offers air conditioning in their facilities, it is usually a central system that doesn't go below a certain temperature, no matter how hard you try to lower it. As a result, "it gets stuffy in the middle of the night," Samantha Brown warns. "You can open the windows and it doesn't matter, it's still stuffy." With electricity bills on the rise as a result of the reduced gas supplies in Europe, many shops, restaurants, and hotels are being cautious — even if it leaves customers sweating. Most likely this energy-saving tactic is a result of government laws and regulations instead of the hotel, restaurant, or shop trying to save money. 

Europeans have learned eco-friendly, energy-saving tactics to help them navigate the heat, despite the warmer weather in the summer. In old buildings that have cellars, for example, big openings above the cellar door allow cool air to flow through the rest of the house. Tilted windows on higher floors also help to form a slight draft, cooling the house down. Closing blinds and shutters preventing the sun from getting in during the day can help keep the space cool. 

Following Samantha Brown's advice in these situations can prove rather useful. Instead of giving in to a stuffy room, she explains in her video, a simple solution can be as easy as asking reception for a portable fan. "I don't know why I didn't think of that, but I saw someone with a fan [and] I'm like, 'Oh, that's what you do,'" she says. This can help reduce the stuffiness and provide a wisp of cool air that will help you sleep at night. While it might not come with the room, many hotels will provide it if you ask. Unfortunately, it may require the key card to be inserted in the electricity slot all night, which is definitely not ideal or eco-friendly, but if you can't sleep, it is an option to consider so you're not "grumpy wumpy," as Brown says.

Calling your hotel in advance to understand the cooling system they use will help you prepare. This will help you pack accordingly, lower your expectations, or even find alternative solutions. If reviews mention stuffy rooms, old buildings, or broken cooling systems, it might be best to seek other accommodations by using an air conditioning filter in your search. This will provide options that come with better amenities and cooling systems. Just remember that Europeans manage to cope with the heat, so following their simple tips, such as hydrating frequently, wearing breathable light clothing, or even taking a cool shower before sleeping, can come in handy.