Euro summer is ruining the vibe
Stop doing what everyone else is doing and do it the right way - for you
I don’t usually publicly share my predictions but since I’ve noticed I am right 9/10 times, I think it’s time I start.
I will stand proudly by what I’m about to say - next summer everyone will be in Croatia.
Your favorite influencers will be dining on the walls of Dubrovnik, Victoria Paris will be tanning on a boat after a day spent exploring Mljet, and Alix Earle will be swapping the Hamptons for Hvar, partying it up at Carpe Diem Beach.
Cue the groans from my fellow Croats - No! We don’t want that. They’re going to ruin everything.
#eurosummer has ruined Euro summer
That’s the general consensus of what’s been happening the last couple of years with #eurosummer being a thing. Locals from all the popular European destinations are complaining about how “the Americans” are obnoxious. How could they not? Tourists are complaining about the dumbest things, like how “no one drinks water” or how they can’t get “good iced coffee anywhere.”
I agree with the locals - as someone who has spent 24 summers of her life (going on 25) in Croatia through all its stages of development, I will always side eye anyone talking shit about the lack of American things in this country.
Yes, the barista at the small cafe on the beach does not know how to make a good iced coffee. I myself occasionally want one as well, and also catch myself thinking “Jesus, why is it so hard to just follow directions?” because I have tried to explain how to make an iced americano before. However, then I check myself - you are not in America, you are in Croatia (or Greece, Italy, France) and you’re not supposed to have everything you have in America, or dare I say - even want it.
You’re in Croatia/Greece/Italy/France… it’s not supposed to be like home
That’s the root of the issue. People do not know how to travel anymore. Travel information has never been as accessible as it is now with the existence of TikTok, and as micro trends come and go, so do summer travel destinations. Trends have made the amount of Americans congregating at one spot in a whole other country very common.
Booking.com's 2023 travel trends survey found that of the 30% of global travelers who use TikTok to find travel inspiration (Booking, 2023):
1. 56% of travelers use TikTok to find travel tips,
2. 54% of them use it to get destination ideas and
3. 51% of them use it to find accommodation ideas.
Honestly, it’s wild to think that you could go to St. Tropez at one point this summer and see half of the people you see at your go-to NYC bar almost every weekend. I know, this is not a new experience. It’s been a common occurrence for years, even before TikTok was a thing. Destinations like Ibiza and Mykonos have reputations that precede them and people continuously come back every year, which in and of itself is not a bad thing.
The problem is that the regulars who have been coming for years are now coming back to their usual destinations and seeing new faces (or familiar faces that they do not expect to see) who clearly do not know how to enjoy themselves.
Yes I said it, anyone complaining on vacation in any European country does not know how to enjoy themselves. Obviously, I don’t stand by rude waiters or nightmare accommodations, that’s not one of the things I would say you should “get used to.” However, just before writing this I saw a TikTok of two girls complain about how hard it is to get the check at a restaurant.
“Why is no one bringing our check?!”
What’s the fucking rush? It’s 10pm on a Thursday in the Amalfi coast. You just sat down an hour ago. Where else are you going after this? Sit and order another bottle of wine, look at each other, and talk. You are on vacation.
People need to be reminded of appropriate behavior
I have never been to St. Tropez or Mykonos, but I’ve heard people talk about how the vibes at the most popular party places have changed, and I know exactly what they mean. People see these places on Instagram and TikTok, they notice it’s the “place to be,” they go through lengths to get reservations, and then they show up and complain. In places where they should be dancing, tourists of all genders are sitting and scrolling on their phones or editing their photos, commenting in horror “how embarrassing” the girls next to them are because they are dancing on tables. Newsflash, that’s what you do at this particular club. These people exude negative energy affecting the overall atmosphere the owners and staff have been working to create for many years, which made that particular place the place to be in the first place.
I’ve seen and heard this happen with many people, not just Americans. The issue at the end of the day is not where the tourists are from, it’s that people are going to places that aren’t for them. If you think dancing on tables is embarrassing then don’t go to that establishment. If on the other hand you are the type of person that wants to dance on tables, don’t go to the places where people sip on their champagne and calmly tan in the sun and be the one to cause a ruckus. Read the room.
Actually, do your research.
Don’t copy itineraries, make or get one made especially for you and your interests
What the internet lacks right now is accessible information about places that would fit your own vibe. You can like Alix Earle but it doesn’t mean that how she travels and the activities she wants to do are the right places and activities for you. What’s beautiful about travel is that you can find things to do that are right for you. Someone will enjoy sightseeing and having a quiet dinner more than hitting the hottest spots all over the French Riviera.
First figure out how you want to travel and then go and find the right places for you. Don’t just go to a certain destination because half the people from your graduating class were there last summer and it looked like it was a great time. Maybe a place like Lisbon would work better for your euro summer plans than St. Tropez, or maybe Ibiza is more your vibe instead of a quiet week in Sicily. Do your research before you complain about how many steps you have to take to your Airbnb. Be prepared and be open minded. You are somewhere that has a completely different culture with its own quirks and qualities and you should be focusing on discovering them rather than looking at what these places lack.
Knowing that a lot of curated information is missing for a lot of these places and having an inkling that Croatia will be the destination of summer 2025, my goal is to share as many options as possible for different types of vacations along the Croatian coast. One country can offer many different types of vacations, not just the one type you see on TikTok. Croatia is not only yacht week or Dubrovnik. Just like France isn’t only Paris or St. Tropez, and Italy isn’t just Portofino and Rome.
I will be hitting the hot spots this summer so I’ll have the latest and greatest info. Don’t worry though, because there’s much more to explore than what you’ll see on my Instagram (or your friends who are probably here this year too). I’ll make sure those places are in my recommendations too.
Follow for the ride. But also tell me more about how you like to travel? What are some places you enjoyed vs. places you have been to because someone suggested it and you didn’t like it? I need to know it ALL.
Dabble on,
Jelena