Shoes for Europe travel: Open vs Closed-toe

[sexyninja]

My sister and her FI are going to Europe and vacationing for 3 weeks for their honeymoon. They will be in Italy and France. She is looking for some comfortable walking shoes, and can't decide b/w closed-tow ballet flats vs. open-toed sandals. (She is leaving in a few weeks.)

It's been over 10 years since I've been to Europe, so I thought I would ask you ladies on here.

Ballet flats vs. open-toe sandals?

For open-toed sandals, she is looking at this pair. I have a pair similar to this and after lots of walking, the "thong" part irritated my feet (but then again, it wasn't the Born brand):
www.zappos.com/born-aberlin

[MommaK]

I should think it would depend on what time of the year they are going (I am guessing warm weather season?). but, I would take both! I mean, who takes only one pair of shoes?

[mdgirl]

The last time I was in Europe I wore ballet flats pretty much every day with little liner socks like these. I took a few pairs and they were quick and easy to wash and dried fast. I don't like sandals when I'm going to be walking around cities all day because my feet get too filthy.

[sarahbear]

Take both.

[anna7602]

Ditto taking both. A pair of ballet flats take up relatively little space in a suitcase.

[Deleted]

Take both. On my last trip, I took comfortable walking flats and sandals (the Merrell Lidia style, which are decent-looking leather flip flop-type sandals). We did SO much walking that even my normally comfortable flats starting giving me blisters, so I switched over to sandals. Also, I don't like how flats look with casual dresses, which is what I tend to wear while traveling in warm weather.