A huge part of travel means expanding your horizons and looking at how other nations and cultures live. Wherever you go, you’ll see lots of upsides—as well as a ton of downsides. It gives you perspective. Ultimately, what you like about life abroad will depend on your personal priorities, whether that’s good food, affordable healthcare, rapid travel, or something else.

The American members of the r/AskReddit community recently opened up about the everyday things that people living in European countries have that they consider to be luxuries. Scroll down to read their personal opinions. 

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#1

Person in an MRI machine, attended by a technician in a modern medical facility. Healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt you upon using it.

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    #2

    Variety of fresh European bread loaves on display, showcasing daily luxury dining options. The bread. Coming back from Germany recently and all the bread back home in the US feels like I'm chewing on a kitchen sponge instead of giving my jaw a workout.

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    #3

    European pastries displayed in a bakery, considered a luxury by Americans. Less sugar in products.

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    #4

    Box of luxurious European chocolates with assorted designs, open on a table. Chocolate. I lived in Finland for a bit at 18 and their basic Fazer chocolate made our Hersheys taste like wax. They had no idea how much better it was.

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    #5

    European-style gourmet meal with seafood, salad, and bread on a rustic plate. Fewer additives in their food. There’s a reason I lost 19 pounds when I studied abroad in London. The only way I was able to lose weight in America was through weight loss surgery!

    mochahotness:

    Food not filled with crazy chemicals. A lot of additives allowed in the US are banned in other countries

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    #6

    Two European police officers in uniform standing in a park, overseeing a public gathering. Reasonable gun laws.

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    #7

    European cityscape with historic architecture and a canal, highlighting everyday European luxuries. Rad architecture, lots of great food, exposure to a bunch of different cultures and languages without having to take a long flight.

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    #8

    European cheeses on display, priced in euros, highlighting everyday luxury items for Americans. Good cheeses.

    OddConstruction116:

    As a European that was what I missed the most, when I spent a few months in the US.

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    #9

    European workspace with laptops, coffee mug, and programmers coding, focusing on everyday European work culture as seen by Americans. More time off. When my wife gave birth to our child, she had to use all her vacation and sick pay as "maternity leave". This was a government job.

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    #10

    Heated towel rack with a brown towel in a modern European bathroom, next to a window and a vase with an orchid. Those nifty towel heater / dryer racks.

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    #11

    Man in a blue jacket carrying a leather briefcase, illustrating European everyday luxury. Job security. In the EU, there are certain rules employers must comply with for terminations, including advance notice. There is also a works council process in some cases that employers must comply with before layoffs can take place. In the US, they can pretty much terminate you same day in many cases.

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    #12

    European architectural luxury with ornate sculptures on a historic building facade. The ability to fly out to major world cultural and historical sites for just a weekend and have it cost relatively little. I did a study abroad program in London, and the ability for me to book a weekend trip to Berlin on RyanAir for like 40 pounds never got old.

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    #13

    Lecture hall filled with students, highlighting European educational setting. Pretty sure some European countries have free university and that sounds nice, I wouldn't mind going back and learning more skills but it's crazy expensive here.

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    #14

    European high-speed train at station, showcasing daily European luxury in efficient public transportation. Access to ubiquitous and fast rail travel.

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    #15

    European bus stop in a leafy area, with route maps and an advertisement, illustrating public transport as a daily luxury. Affordable and effective public transit. I love visiting Europe. I can pop on a street car, bus, or underground and get to where I need to go. No dealing with traffic, no money for gas, no worry about being late. Europe public transit is very time efficient. Not just speaking of city public transit either. For the price of a tank of gas or two in America I can pop on a train and go through 3 countries. Not to mention Japan’s public transit with the Shinkansen. Couple hours and you’re hundreds of miles away. It’s wonderful and very easy to do.

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    #16

    Three people laughing and enjoying each other's company outdoors in warm light. Better work/life balance.

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    #17

    Airplane landing on a European runway with mountains in the background, highlighting travel luxury. Mandated employer supported vacations.

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    #18

    The Colosseum under a clear blue sky, representing European architecture seen as a luxury by Americans. Historical sites.

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    #19

    A variety of fresh fruits, including grapes and kiwi, in a basket, highlighting everyday European luxury. Fruits and vegetables that taste good.

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    #20

    Person enjoying a fresh salad with prosciutto, highlighting everyday European luxury dining experience. Long as hell lunch breaks. I once worked in the US office of a French company. Folks in France would see movies on their lunch break. Some would play full tennis games, shower afterwards, then return to work. Some would go home and take a nap. My lunch breaks: I consider myself lucky if I can squeeze in a quick walk, quickly jam some food down my throat, and maybe take a leak and then get back to work before folks start looking for me.

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    #21

    Cup of coffee with heart latte art, a daily European luxury, next to slices of cheesecake on a table. Excellent coffee and pastries in close physical proximity.

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    #22

    Person commuting on a bike, symbolizing European everyday luxury for Americans. Bike-able cities. When I lived in Munich it was a paradise for biking. I could take my bike almost anywhere in the city and region without much concern and I loved doing it. Not every city in Europe is like that obviously, and Munich is probably one of the best, but almost every major city I visited in Europe had a lot of people on bikes, and good infrastructure for it. Also intercity rail and bus travel. The US has both of course but just not in the same league.

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    #23

    Restroom signage in modern European style, featuring male and female icons on a transparent panel. Cubicle toilets. Public bathroom door gaps are uncomfortably wide.

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    #24

    Glass of fresh orange juice with slice, showcasing a daily European luxury. I was gonna say those fresh squeezed orange juice machines in all the grocery stores, but I just read all the comments about healthcare and vacations and remembered I live in a delusional hell.

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