Europe travel package deals - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

frosty · #1 03-15-2009, 02:41 PM

Okay, I'm really going to Europe this year! I originally planned on going to Sweden alone but after talking to someone at a get-together last night she suggested that I try one of those tour package things, which I've considered before but never gace it much thought. Since this will be my first Europe trip and I'm going alone, I figure it's best to go in a group and with a guide. The thing is I don't know where to start or which online companies offer the best deals. Can some of you guys point me in the right direction?

For this sort of trip, is it best to do a 1-week or 2-week tour? Is the price difference significant? I'd love to see England, Germany, Holland, Sweden, and pretty much everything in between. Ah, I'm already overwhelmed! It would be nice to have a travel buddy to help out.

rs899 · #2 03-16-2009, 08:03 AM

It is an overwhelming task to try to figure out where to go and how to get there. I have never booked a tour to Europe (preferring to go independently), so I can't offer any recommendations, other than to do some research on websites like fodors, frommers, lonely planet, eurotrip.

Don't try to do too much on the first trip. Might be best to try countries where English is widely spoken (Scan countries).

It's a good time to go, pricewise. We're heading to Athens, Prague, Venice, Florence and Ireland in June.

Rick

lutzTD · #3 03-16-2009, 09:46 AM

Rick Steve's advice is to see as much as you possibly can the first trip, then make your next trips to concentrate on the places you like. He recommends tour groups the first time also. I would try to find one that offers Europass with sleep options so you can sleep on the train at night and wake up in a new city or country. You have to buy those passes in the US before you go.

Jim B. · #4 03-16-2009, 10:44 AM

My wife and I went to Scandanavia in 2001 and used Globus Tours, they were wonderful !!

This was our first tour and it was a WONDERFUL sampler. Globus tours were great, and very reasonable.

http://www.affordabletours.com/search/tours/17754/

I had thought about taking Euro delivery of a new Volvo C70 HPT turbo coupe over there, (this was pre Sat Nav days!!) but the idea of taking a wrong turn and driving all day lost through Sweden (and knowing her temper) made me think about a tour.

I am really glad I did. We had a great time, it was wonderful.

It was jazzed up by hooking up with some Scandanavian W126 SEC owners, that I met on another forum, who gave us personal tours too.

Trip of a lifetime.

Week after I got back, 9/11 happened, Inever knew how easy I had had it at airports.....

I adored Sweden, it was 84* in Stockholm, a heat wave....Norway is hands down the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Dont miss the Gamla Stan (old town) and the Vasa (ship) museum.

It is very safe and most people speak good English!

I also got to meet my oldest friend, a fellow from Helsinki, Finland who was my penpal from 1961!!!

They took vacation when we were there, and even gifted us with a trip to Estonia, which was beyond incredible!!!

Were were gone about a month, and were there when they days were really long, in August.

Memories of a lifetime!! DO IT!!

The dreadful discriminatory expensive "single supplement" aside, don't be afraid to go alone!

When you are by yourself, you will meet more people, that will help and befriend you, as they are hesitant to approach "couples" - this is true everywhere...

t walgamuth · #5 03-16-2009, 07:24 PM

We are thinking of Doing the UK in August for a couple of weeks, the air fare is slowing us down.

I've been over three times always had my own car and made my own way. I speak only eighth grade spanish but had four years of latin.

Always had a great time, never been to the UK....yet.

kip Foss · #6 03-16-2009, 09:42 PM

Airfares to Oz are now down to about $550 R/T.

t walgamuth · #7 03-16-2009, 10:47 PM

From the west coast, though. I wouldn't mind going down under but getting to the coast would be pretty expensive for this hoosier guy!

TylerH860 · #8 03-16-2009, 10:53 PM

How about taking European delivery of a new Mercedes? Sounds like a great excuse.

t walgamuth · #9 03-17-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

How about taking European delivery of a new Mercedes? Sounds like a great excuse.

I'm way too old to expend such an amount of cash for a car, and way too cheap to finance it.

rocky raccoon · #10 03-17-2009, 09:25 AM

I have travelled in Europe and Great Britain (but not Scandanavia) for business and pleasure ove the years. My (present) wife and I were married on the island of Crete.

My advice is: Regardless of whether you are on your own or using an organized tour, limit your travel. Trying to visit those locations in one or even two weeks will only guarantee that you will be glad to get home. Europe through the windows of a tour bus or even the windshield of a car goes by in a flash. Our first pleasure trip to Italy was a month. We rented a car and drove from Florence to Taormina Siclily and back staying a day or two here and there along the way. It was great but we still hustled too much to really immerse in the small towns and countryside. Our last trip also lasted a month but we limited our travel between Rome, the Adriatic coast and Tuscany. Enjoyed that much more.

If you have a week, find a central base location within easy driving distances of things/places you would like to see and day trip. If you have two weeks, move 200 or 300 miles or so and do it again.

The structured tours are just that - structured. You have to be here and there at specific times and may get involved in spending time in places that have little interest to you. Get a car (last trip we had a diesel BMW) and get out there Meet the people and eat stuff yoeu never knew existed. English speakers are everywhere and part of the fun is trying to communicate anyway.

As always, my advice is not for everyone be it travel or Benz-related.

rs899 · #11 03-17-2009, 10:23 AM

I have been to Europe about 15 times now and only the last time did we rent a car and drive at our own pace (which was still breakneck speed) through France. It was most enjoyable. The other times we have used public transport (trains or cheap point-to-point airlines like Easyjet) . I just can't imagine having someone else tell me how long I have to stay to see something.