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'I plan to prioritise India over rest of the globe': Indian man after 10-day Europe trip amid heatwave
The man said that one of the biggest challenges was that travelling around European destinations often involves considerable walking.
An Indian man has said he plans to prioritise travelling within India over overseas trips after a 10-day family holiday in Europe during July-August left him struggling with the intense heat. Ashish Nanda shared his experience in a post on X, saying he would not repeat the trip during the same period.
"Better travel India than travel to Europe," Nanda wrote, adding that June to September can be "hot. Really hot."
Nanda pointed to the ongoing heat across parts of Europe, saying that even temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius could feel like 40-42 degrees Celsius under clear blue skies. "While Spain, France, Germany are in the news for the heat, nothing is sparing rest of Europe either. Even 35C feels like 40-42C in the clear blue skies," he wrote.
Nanda said that one of the biggest challenges was that travelling around European destinations often involves considerable walking. "With such clear skies, the heat at times becomes unbearable. You just can't walk," he wrote, adding that caps, umbrellas and sunglasses offered only limited relief.
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Nanda also complained about the lack of air conditioning in several places he visited. He said there were no A/Cs in restaurants, most museums and castles, as well as trams and buses. "Even most hotels don't have air conditioning. Need to choose the hotels very, very carefully," he wrote.
He said that the heat also affected sightseeing as walking around monuments and iconic bridges became difficult. River cruises and BigBus tours were also challenging, while shopping at street markets and local markets meant spending more time outdoors. He said that even outlet malls were often open-air complexes, making them uncomfortable during the daytime.
Nanda said that his family eventually adjusted their schedule by visiting places early in the morning and later in the evening, taking advantage of Europe's longer daylight hours. "But mid-day, we realised better be back at the hotel," he wrote.
He said that he experienced heavy showers twice during the trip, which brought temporary relief from the heat. "Thankfully. I should say we were lucky," he added.
Reflecting on the trip, Nanda said that his family at times wondered whether leaving Mumbai during the monsoon had been worth it. "We at times wondered - Should we have left Mumbai Monsoons for European Heat," he wrote.
"Now onwards, I plan to prioritise India over the rest of the globe. Overseas will need real careful planning," he concluded.
(Also Read: Indian woman in Sweden busts ‘biggest myth’ about living in Europe: ‘Moving here doesn’t make you rich’)
Social media reactions
The post prompted several users to share their own views on the best time to visit Europe.
One user wrote, "Best time to go is in late sept to oct end. I always travel there during that time, less crowds, better weather and views."
"In 2012 in Europe, I remember there was no such problem throughout the year. We hardly set up a small table fan in our room only 3-4 times. Global warming is really a global problem now," commented another.
"During my childhood i use to hear that Europe is cold place, mostly they have cool climate everywhere. Now i see that the tar in the roads are melting in Europe," wrote a third user.
"Europe Springs, Europe Fall and December Christmas vacation are the only times one should visit Europe," suggested one user.
