Rick Steves Makes The Most Of Unexpected Europe Trip Mishaps With One Simple Rule

When traveling in Europe, the unexpected will happen at some point, whether that means coming down with an illness, dealing with air travel issues, or getting lost en route to your destination. But hassles like these don't have to ruin your trip. They may even enrich your experience depending on your response, says travel influencer Rick Steves in his blog post titled "Making the Most of Your European Trip": "Many of my readers' richest travel experiences have been the result of seemingly terrible mishaps: the lost passport in Slovenia, the doctor visit in Ireland, the blowout in Portugal, or the moped accident on Corfu." 

Rather than naively hoping a trip will unfold seamlessly every moment, Steves' simple rule is to expect some difficulties along the way. And when they do inevitably occur, he says to confront them with creativity, flexibility, and an open mind. Crying over a spilled macchiato because the three-Michelin star Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy is booked solid for the next three weeks? Head down the street to the more humble Trattoria Aldina, which locals and travel influencer Giada De Laurentiis believe is actually the city's best restaurant. 

Hopelessly lost in Helsinki? Don't be afraid to ask locals for directions. "Many tourists are too timid to ask questions, even to prevent mistakes that can cost precious time and money," notes Rick Steves. "Locals are a wealth of information — use them. Most people are happy to help a traveler." Try to speak a few words of your hosts' language, and if that fails, get creative — use gestures or your phone's translation app. Don't let a language barrier stand in the way of connecting with locals — this could be the most rewarding aspect of your trip, if you can get past your inhibitions. In the words of Steves, "Perceive friendliness and you'll find it."

When things go wrong, it's ok to accept help from fellow travelers, too, whether in Europe or any other continent.  Some years ago, I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. Near the summit, I developed high altitude pulmonary edema — a life-threatening emergency — even though I'd never experienced such problems on any previous climb. During my struggle to return to a lower elevation so I could breathe again, I was assisted by a kind Portuguese climber, Mario, who ended up becoming a dear friend. Years later, I moved to Portugal because of Mario — a hugely positive decision that came out of my most disastrous travel mishap. If my story hasn't scared you off and you want to learn more about climbing Kili, check out our complete guide to climbing this spectacular mountain.