I’ve stayed in hostels, boutique hotels, luxury hotels, and villas while traveling around Europe. I would hate for you to learn some things the hard way like me. So, before you book that long-awaited trip to Europe, there are a few things you may want to consider. I’m sure you think you’ve thought of everything, but the subtle cultural differences between America and Europe may greatly impact your vacation if you’re ill-prepared.

1. Think Small

Everything is smaller in Europe, especially the hotel rooms. This can be a shock to us Americans who live super-sized lives. Regardless of how many stars the hotel has earned, the rooms will lean on the tiny side. If the rooms are tiny, you must know the beds are even tinier.

In Europe, you either get a large bed or two single beds, and those single beds are narrow and very close together. So, I hope you’re comfortable with the person you are traveling with because you may roll over onto them in the middle of the night and still not hit the floor.

2. Don’t Be Afraid of the Bidets

As mentioned above, everything is smaller in including the bathrooms but they do make room for bidets. If you never seen or heard of a bidet, allow me to explain Bidets look like low sinks with a single handle. Be clear this low sink is not for hands but to freshen up other areas after you’ve used the restroom or “water closet,” since this is Europe we are talking about.

3. No Shower Curtains

After traveling to five European countries, showers have been a struggle. Showers are typically hand-held with glass doors. In some hotels, the glass doors don’t close, making the whole experience a watery mess. So you’ll need extra towels.

4. Floors Are Numbered Differently

Remember to hit Level 0 on the elevator when you run to the lobby to grab more towels. In the US, we assume Level 1 is the lobby, aka the first floor, but in Europe, Level 1 is considered the first floor above the ground level. Level 1 on Euope is where you’d find rooms and not the entrance. If there is a floor below Level 0 its considered -1 and so on.

5. What Elevator?

Either the elevator doesn’t exist, or it’s big enough to fit two suitcases in it. As I said earlier, “think small,” or, in this case, not at all. I’ve stayed in hotels in Europe with no elevator, one elevator, or multiple elevators. The latter option was a Marriott that catered to an American consumer base, so that was rare. But the norm is one or none. Imagine one elevator for an entire hotel and its the size of your closet under the stairs. I spent a lot of timing waiting and squeezing into places.

6. The AC Ain’t It

I suffered, not wholly, in silence when it came to the AC units in Europe. Nobody does AC like America does AC. Most Europeans are used to living without a thermostat to bring that sizzling summer heat down to a cool 60º, and I don’t know how they do it. Word on the curb is that Europeans are environmentally conscious, and we all know AC units are bad for global warming. During my stays across Europe, I’ve had a wide range of cooling system experiences, and it is rare to find a hotel with booming AC. You should be prepared to sweat it out.