noddingheadgirl

My boyfriend are planning a trip for fall 2015 or 2016 and he really wants to visit Germany and I want to visit London, Paris and Prague so our tours are limited for options. I think for our first trip, a tour with a tour company would be ideal vs on our own but I would be okay with exploring that option. Just don't know how to go about planning transportation with that.

Our first option is with Trafalgar: European Adventures. 16 day tour.
They do not have rates out yet for 2015, but they visit United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. The starting rates is $2,650 per person plus airfare. It also includes 12 buffet breakfasts, 2 ful breakfasts and 5 three course dinners.

Second option is with Insight Vacations: European Breakaway. 11 day tour.
They do have rates out for 2015 and we were looking at September 10-20, 2015.
That tour visits United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland. The starting rates is 3,365.00 per person plus airfare (!). It includes 10 buffet breakfasts, 1 Dine-Around, 1 Celebration dinner.

My concern is; how is a Trafalgar tour?? how about Insight? It seems like Insight has alot more options included vs Trafalgar but I'm not sure what's best. I feel like there has to be a reason why Trafalgar is soo much cheaper but has a ton more countries and days vs Insight Vacations. The reviews on Insight Vacations are all super positive and there are plenty of reviews vs Trafalgar which has 2 reviews, one positive and one super negative.

I would appricate any feedback anyone can give me regarding these tour companies, or alternatives you might have.

Thank you!

hetismij2

That is not a lot of time in each country.
I would seriously consider doing it yourself. There is loads of advice on the forum for getting around independently, and you will receive plenty of help if you can decide on what you would like to see and how long you have for the trip. A ballpark figure for cost would be helpful too.
Coach tours mean early starts, sometimes long days on the coach, and little time to see the things you really want to see.

snowgirls

So lets say it Insight for $10,000 for 16 days( your trip plus tax and air x 2 people) plus Misc.) That is about $625 dollars a day. I am sure you could plan a great trip for less. Maybe do a combo of London/Paris or Germany/Prague. More in depth travel seeing what you want( vs an tour group agenda, less running around from hotel to hotel etc. You can vary food budget as desired.Hetismij2 is right, you have time to research a trip on your own.

Kathie

I wouldn't do a tour. Tours like this make everything a blur. If you are interested in your destinations, you want to have time to spend there.

First, your assumptions that you have to cover all of those destinations on your first trip to Europe is faulty. Indeed, I'd suggest you each choose one city and you spend your whole time in those two cities. That will enable you to have a real feel for both of those places. Next trip, you can build upon what you learned. I'd suggest a week in each of the two cities. This is very easy to plan - you fly into one city and out of the other, choose the best transport between the two cities, than choose your lodgings. Hotels are easiest for first-timers as you have the help of hotel staff to make reservations, etc., but you could also look into renting an apartment.

Get yourselves a guidebook or two for each city and enjoy the planning!

BigRuss

How old are you and the BF? If you're under 55, those tours will suck. They're for old blighters who need everything done for them (Trafalgar especially).

What's your actual budget? Do you want to blow $800 per day plus extras?

That Insight tour is crap: (1) it's not an 11-day tour when day 1 is your overnight flight and day 11 is your flight home; (2) you didn't hit the prices tab on insight, the tour is $160 more per person than what you list above--that's 7k plus airfare for nine days; (3) there are a LOT of optional extras on this tour (read: pay up) and that should not be the case at this price; (4) the Amsterdam day is a complete waste - they're trying to sell you stuff the whole time.

Figure out two or three places and do it yourself. It's not hard to fly into Prague, transit to Munich, take a train or short flight to Paris, and go to London via Eurostar.

noddingheadgirl

Okay-- so since I have plenty of time.. I'm going to plan it out like we were doing it on our own. I like planning, but I'm so used to planning things for the United States and Canada that Europe is a bit daunting.

Would it be reasonable to try to visit London, Amsterdam, Germany, Prague, and Paris in one trip? I would love to take just a month and GO! But... job's are a hinderance. I can probably take two weeks.. (hopefully) so I'm going to start with that and see how reasonable it is. Researching a rail pass right now.. Is it fesible to think I can travel to those places via a rail pass or would I need an alternative mode of transportation for some spots?? Regarding Germany, we'll probably hit Frankfurt and Munich? I have to do more research to see what parts of Germany we should go too. That country is huge! I do have travel books and I'm ordering a couple more.

Thanks!!!

noddingheadgirl

@BigRuss: We are under 35, so yeah that was my other concern regarding those tours. Most of the travelers are going to be much much older. Haven't thought about the start in Prague option. I will explore that start too.

chris45ny

How about London & Paris for you and Germany for him? It would mean dropping Prague but you're young and can always return. IMO you should have at least 3 full days for each city.

It is super easy to plan the trip yourself. Fly from home into London, Eurostar to Paris, train or cheap flight to Germany. You will save a ton of money and will have a trip that will fit your interests specifically. You are smart in that you are reading some travel books. I went to my public library and got travel books for my 2015 trip that I'm planning. It's a good starting point.

Just make sure you try to find accommodation within walking distance to public transport. London-metro is super easy to navigate. Paris also. I haven't done any research about Germany but would think it would be the same with options for reasonable public transport. Maybe try to find hotels that include breakfast? That would cut down on costs or time finding a place for breakfast giving you more time to sightsee.

The fall will be a good time to go-price wise and weather wise and crowd wise! I agree with everyone else-forget the tours!!

Have fun planning!

noddingheadgirl

@Chris45ny --- I'm thinking we should just do London/Paris and Germany and go from there. I've been looking into too many tours, and going by how they travel, but we can do it how ever we want. Now to narrow down the cities in Germany to stop at. Thanks!

jamikins

To start think about ease of travel - fly into London, Eurostar to Paris, train to Germany and fly home from there so you don't waste time and money backtracking.

I would pick one location in Germany so three locations - sounds like a lovely trip!

BigRuss

I'd suggest the opposite of jamikins - start east, go west. You're going overnight across the Atlantic no matter what so where you end up in Europe is less important than the fact that you shorten your trip home by a couple of hours.

Also, going from Paris to London on the Eurostar is shorter - Paris is an hour ahead so you gain an hour in Merry Olde.

nytraveler

In two weeks I would do no more than 3 cities for a first trip. If you have never been before there is usually a little bit of culture shock - and in each place you are dealing with a different language, a different culture, a different transit system and a different way of doing some things.

This is not to discourage you - just to help you wrap your mind around what it will be like. for subsequent visits much of this will be old hat and you will adapt to new places more quickly - but the first trip has a lot more differences.

I think you would enjoy it more if you limit it to 3 places: London, Paris and Munich or Berlin. Each has plenty to keep you occupied for the whole 2 weeks - but you can get a good taste of all 3 in 2 weeks.

And don;t forget to bring good menu readers as well as learn the basic greetings, polite phrases and key words in each language (I can say toilet) in 11 languages and mostly it's a variation on toilet) - but then you get into differentiating herren from damen, etc.

This type of planning is very easy to do if you just take it step by step and come here to ask questions.

noddingheadgirl

I'm going to explore all options, so I appricate all suggestions! I think 3 days in each location, plus 2 days for travel time to and from Europe should be good. Just have to pick a city in Germany to go too. Have to consult with boyfriend, since he wants to go!

BigRuss

Go longer if you can. And cities are not created equal: London is akin to NYC, Paris to Chicago.

jamikins

BigRuss - I meant that as an example...into one city out of another...either direction will work!

PhillyFan

<<Go longer if you can. And cities are not created equal: London is akin to NYC, Paris to Chicago.

How is Paris like Chicago??

BigRuss

<<How is Paris like Chicago?>>

Size equivalents. It's not like I haven't made this comparison dozens of times on this board.

PhillyFan

Big Russ - not everyone reads every post of yours.

laurie_ann

You can easily plan yourself. Buy or check out from the library an introductory book like Rough Guide to First-Time Europe or Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door (the second is more general guide with lots of details about mainstream travel there even if it doesn't exactly sound like it from the title).

And you can always connect with local guides or local tours for a half day or day as you like.

And don't stick just to the big cities. There is so much in the countryside and smaller cities that is unique.

Have fun planning!