Even on an inclusive trip, an extra cost can be water. A liter of bottled water in Europe averages 5 euros in a store and 10+ in a restaurant That means $100 a week to quench your thirst. When should you drink H2O from the hotel sink, when not?
Airplanes dehydrate, travel is tiring, water at meals might not appear. Most of us are shy about asking for tap water, especially while watching Europeans order the bottled stuff. Some women also feel “waiter shamed” if asking for tap. Europeans in restaurants do not seem to drink water at all? Statistically they actually do drink less water than Americans. Recommended consumption in Europe is 2 liters a day for women. Recommended consumption in the US is 2.7 liters for women.
Western European water is safe. The fact is Europeans drink bottled water for taste not because of danger. Europeans say they have a discerning palate that detects water’s additives. You might also detect a difference; ie in London, water is ‘hard’ with more calcium and minerals.
The trend for bottled water is gradually fading. In 2020, the EU passed new rules for drinking water. It must be free or for a small cost. (Again we women are shy about walking into a pub, hotel or restaurant and asking for free water). The new law updates quality standards for drinking water, tightening limits for certain pollutants. It also sets minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with water: ie. pipes or taps. Endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals and microplastics will be monitored in line with the latest scientific developments.
More recently a section of Belgium pushed farther: in Wallonia, free tap water must be supplied in all restaurants and public places.
Where does that leave the nervous traveler who fears local water?
Here are some basic rules:
—Most water in W Europe is safe to drink. Trace minerals might give it a different taste but are safe. Here is a good list to go by.
—If your hotel has good water, fill your water bottle in the hotel or at breakfast. Most breakfast buffets include large bottles of spring water. Alas, water bottles do mark you as an American tourist.
—Find a supermarket/ convenience store and buy large bottles there. Note: some supermarkets will be in basement venues.
— If buying from from street vendors, make sure the bottle top is securely fastened.
—For the super budgeter, bring camping type iodine pills, follow directions carefully to purify tap water. The water will taste bad but iodine does the trick. Some individuals should not ingest iodine.
— Hotel maids will often give you more bottles if you ask. (Our tours include bottled water, usually 2 bottles a day, and more in hotel rooms).
—Boil uncertain water in the hotel room kettle. Boil it twice.
Outside of Western Europe, Canada, and highly developed countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, you should drink bottled water and brush teeth with it. Unfortunately the CDC rules are vague about where/how/what beyond don’t drink it if contaminated? Duh. All comments above relate to ice also. Travel tips from award winning The Women’s Travel Group, Ask about water on our Asia trips: India, Vietnam/Cambodia, Japan/Taiwan.
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