to prepare our new French Polynesia trip.We are working to launch out first sailing Croatia trip in 2027 soon so if you want to hear first, Join the waitlist.
In the meantime, a new spot just opened up on our previously sold out Antarctica expedition, so if you are keen to join us, go check it out.
On this week's podcast episode, Meg and I answer the most commonly asked questions we get. There is a funny ending you really have to listen to hehe
This week I wanted to chat about a topic that has been on the headlines quite a lot in the last month: why Europe is so hot, and we aren't crazy about AC anyway.
Why Europe feels so hot, and why we hate AC
Europe is increasingly hot in the late Spring and even hotter in the summer, this is why we haven't been offering any tours from end of June to the beginning of September, with the exception of the new Croatia sailing.
We try to avoid the crowds and the busier than usual streets, and we also try to avoid the higher temperatures.
Heatwaves have been increasing in frequency and starting earlier every year. I don't need to look at statistics, I know because we run tours in May and June and have experienced heat waves as early as end of May in the last 6 years.
I have lived in hot places like Dubai and Singapore, for over 15 years, but the heat was never as much of an issue as it is in Europe, even though temperatures were much higher than what we consider a heatwave in Europe.
On an average day, Singapore and Dubai are much hotter than Barcelona is on a heatwave day.
Year round, temperatures are between 24 and 35 Celsius, or 75 to 93 Fahrenheit in Singapore, and life goes on as usual. No heatwave, no risk to life.
In Dubai's summer, temperatures are consistently above 45 C / 113 F, and life has adapted to these desert temperatures.
Why AC usage is lower in Europe
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When Europe reaches 35 Celsius, schools close and the heatwave warning takes over the news.
And for good reason; We are simply not used to these temperatures and most buildings and homes have no AC, so we are unprepared.
In Spain and Italy, 50% of households have AC, this is only 25% in France while 90% of US households have AC.
But even in the cases where AC is available, Southern Europe has strict country-specific and European Union wide legislation, around the temperatures one can set the AC units in public places at foe environmentally conscious reasons.
This means the AC unit in public places cannot cool below a certain temperature, by law. Failing to comply carries heavy fines.
By country:
- Spain and Greece: AC in public places (offices, shops, transport) cannot be set lower than 27°C (80°F). Doors must also remain closed.
- Italy: Public buildings and government offices are legally restricted from cooling below 25°C (77°F).
- France: Businesses and shops are requested to keep their AC settings to a minimum of 26°C (78°F). [1, 2, 3, 4]
The rationale behind this law is environmental and economic.
The European Climate Law writes into law the goal set out in the European Green Deal for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050
AC units consume a lot of energy, making them expensive to operate, pollute the environment with CO2, and produce negative externalities. That is, they increase the temperature outside by up to 2 degrees Celsius, as they expel waste hot air into the atmosphere so they make the air hotter for everyone else.
Contrary to popular believe, AC units don't actually cool, they take the hot air and push it outside. I am sure you have walked past an AC unit in the street and seen the hot air coming out of it. Now imagine thousands of them.
They also account for about 10% of global electricity usage.
During extreme heatwaves, this massive power draw strains the electrical grid, forcing energy companies to rely heavily on fossil fuels, which pumps millions of tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere. You can read more about why AC units are bad for the environment here.
So all in all, Europe decided it is ok for us to be a bit hotter if we can protect the environment from more heatwaves, global warming and economic strain in the future. I am personally ok with this. I am ok with being a bit less comfortable for the greater good.
Besides the economic and environmental effects of AC usage, there are other reasons why AC usage in Europe in general, and Southern Europe in particular, is low.
For one, most homes in Europe, especially southern Europe, were built long ago without any modernities but with heat in mind: small windows, thick walls, shutters, balcony covers, nets against mosquitoes and more recently, ceiling fans.
This is what we used to do as kids: we opened the windows, kept the shutters closed, created a draft and turned on the ceiling fan. AC was not part of our way of life, and we kinda got on with it.
Adding AC units now is not easy.
It requires official and building approvals for the condensers to be placed on roofs or facades, which is sometimes a hurdle and could be expensive, and in some cases it needs renovations and structural changes.
Some historic city centres restrict the installation of external AC units for aesthetic reasons too.
When I wanted to add AC to my home 15 years ago, I had to get the rest of the neighbours to agree to let me place the condenser on the roof, with the subsequent permits and changes that the cabling required to reach my home.
All of the above results in much lower AC usage in Europe than in other Western, financially developed countries:
In a nutshell, AC units are expensive to operate and often hard to instal, and we are much more environmentally conscious and aware of the impact high AC usage has on climate change than other parts of the world, and are willing to put up with the impact of lower AC usage and find alternatives, such as ceiling fans, window systems with nets and shutters, and a lifestyle that centers around active early mornings, late afternoons and evenings and quiet middays.
After all, siestas were invented for a reason, and that is not just that we are lazy.
When summer arrives and temperatures heat up, the best thing you can do is take it easy in the peak of the day. Extend days to start earlier and finish later, but take a break in the middle.
What all of this means for tourist visiting Europe
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Being informed and aware of the reality is key and is the best defense.
Many visitors are caught unprepared and uneducated about the reality in Europe.
They complain to hotels about AC units not cooling their rooms enough, without realising it is a legal requirement the hotel can do nothing about.
They fill their days to the brim with activities during the heat of the day, without hats, UV-repellent umbrellas or personal fans to help out.
And they blame locals for their lack of awareness.
This all just shows being unprepared and unaware, which in my humble opinion, is the worst you can do as a traveler.
On the other hand, the best thing you can do for yourself if you plan to visit Europe, or any other hot destination for that matter, from mid May to mid September is to come prepared:
- Buy a personal AC or fan. This kind of fans are widely used by our guests and work quite well to keep you cool.
- Do as Romans do and bring a UV protective umbrella like this one. Everyone in Singapore carries one, for the sun and for the rain, so I got used to it too. It can cool temperatures underneath noticeably and help protect you from damaging UV rays.
- If you think 23 Celsius isn't cool enough for you to sleep in, bring your own personal fan for your hotel room. Some of the smaller ones have desk stands like this. Some of my colleagues had them on their desks in Singapore. And book rooms in buildings with thick walls, internal windows, and in the lower floors away from below the roof heat.
- Plan your itinerary to start early, at 7am or 8am and stop any outdoor activity from 12noon to 5pm. Do as locals do and chill by the pool, have a siesta, partake in water activities, enjoy a long relaxing lunch or an indoor activity such as museums, cooking classes, tastings, shopping, etc. I just spent 2 weeks in Croatia as you know, and I didn't see anyone in the streets from 12pm to 5pm. They were at the beach, on a boat, or simply indoors. From 5pm onwards, the shops opened back up and the streets came alive
Tags: Solo Female Travelers
