Re language
I have a great deal of experience in learning another language by studying and later teaching English to Brazilians and, several years later, teaching Spanish to Americans.
You can practice a lot for free using the Internet with the help of a dictionary: for French, use www.lefigaro.fr, and for Spanish, www.elpais.com. I am sure there are search engines for other languages.
In Western Europe you will find yourself asking questions in French or German and receiving answers in perfect English.
If you are going to rent a car, make sure you can read the notices in the garages, lest you find that you parked somewhere on the day before some holiday or on a Saturday and the garage will not reopen until the next working day or Monday.
ARNALDO G. DECARVALHO
Springfield, IL