travelmor

What are a few of the best 7 day packages in Europe today, given the current state of security issues?
Ideally I could travel to England, France and Italy in a group package but have time to break away if needed.
I figure total time in the 6-7 day range and late this summer/early fall.

suze

A couple thoughts...

Going solo on an organized tour may be more expensive than on your own. There is most often a significant 'single supplement'.

I suggest the magazine Budget Travel which each month has a feature called 40 Best, a summary of tour packages, plus lots of advertisements from various vendors.

Also my idea would be to pick only one country. 3 countries in 6 days is a pretty whirlwind tour, and you'll necessarily spend a lot of your precious time in transit (on a bus or train, changing hotels, etc.).

KenCT

I've been away from this board for quite a while. Delighted to return to find a forum for those of us who often travel alone.

In fact, I've spend so much time here that I haven't checked out my original inquiry!

Forgive me, travelmor, but your posting's title and its content don't match. Regarding the content, ie the "best" seven day packages to Europe, the answer is simple. There is none. Totally depends on how much money you have, how much physical activity you want, etc. etc. There's no substitute for good old fashioned research. Start by reading the postings on this forum. Lots of really good advice.

You seem to be concerned with "security." All of the legitimate tour companies are obviously concerned with the safety of their customers. Offhand, I can't think of one that would be safer than another.

Now, to deal with the title of your posting, "First time solo travel suggestions," my first would be the old Nike slogan, "Just do it." Think of a place you've always wanted to go, and go there - the Sistine Chapel, Luxor, Bourbon Street.

Travelling with a group certainly makes life simpler, particularly when you visit areas where you don't speak the language. I'm a pretty solitary guy, but I never fail to meet people who I like a lot, and with whom I stay in touch long after the trip is over.

Include the single supplement into your budget. I can't understand how someone would be willing to spend thousands of dollars for a vacation and not be willing to spend a couple of hundred more for the luxury of a single room.

Yeah, I know there are stories of assigned roommates who have become the best of friends. But more often I hear about snorers, bathroom hogs, unwanted advances, and the terminally needy.

I could go on and on, but I'll go back to my first suggestion - pick a place you want to go, and go.

KenCT

I told you I could go on and on.

I'd like to take a bit of exception to suze's take on "precious travel time," and yes, I'm a bit defensive.

I continually hear from "independent" travelers who look down on those of us who prefer to travel with a group. Usually a comment like suze's or something like "You spend most of your time on a bus."

There's no getting away from it, on one of these whirlwind tours you do indeed spend a lot of time on a bus, and sometimes you'd like to spend more or less time visiting a specific destination. But personally I'd rather spend my own "precious travel time" on a luxurious coach, reading up on the next destination, looking out the window, making new friends, or napping. And when everything goes right, and it usually does - you find your suitcase in front of your door.

suze

Ken, I think you misunderstood my comment.

I don't look down on people who take tours in the least. What I meant to convey was anyone who does 3 cities/countries in only 6-7 days necessarily will spend plenty of time on a bus/train and checking in/out of hotels, etc. I don't care if you're traveling independent or with a tour group. Actually independent would probably waste even MORE time than on a tour where things were organized for you.

My comment was to the logistics of moving around so much in such a short time.

KenCT

You're right. Either by yourself or with a group, the process of getting yourself from one place to another takes time. Personally, however, I find that when you're with a group, you can spend that time doing what you wish, as I mentioned above rather than wondering whether the cabbie is going to rip you off, if you're standing on the right platform, if you're headed in the right direction, is that weird person staring at me, and so on. And we won't even go to, well, this hotel certainly doesn't look the way it does on the website.

I have two kinds of trips. On an "overview" trip, almost always with a group I spend a couple of days in each city, and experience the "must see" signts, admittedly as selected by the tour company. Maybe it's a guy thing, but on these trips I don't completly unpack, keep my toilletries on the top and push the dirty laundry to the bottom, quite literally living out of a suitcase.

The other is an "experience" trip, where I plan the trip on my own, stay in the same place for a week or two, take side trips, make dinner reservations and purchase theater or concert tickets. This kind of trip gives you a bit of a feel of living wherever you are.

Neither one is better than the other. Both the "overview" and the "experience" trips are memorable in their own ways.

travelmor

Suze/KenCT:
After searching I found Rick Steves tours and decided to sign up for a 7 day tour of Rome. I've read their feedback and it seems this is a very tight group with an emphasis on the best sights and spots to see, many times off the beaten track.
I also realized from Suze and further reading that 7 days is too short to take in several countries so I decided on the 7 day because it will be a good starter visit to Europe for me.

suze

travelmor, WONDERFUL! i think a Rick Steves Rome tour is the perfect solution!!!

ken, thanks for your clear and insightful posts. i think you did a great job describing both sides of the coin. as you kindly put it, i'm an 'experience' traveler myself as you may have surmised.

you cracked me up with this delightful phrase- "wondering whether the cabbie is going to rip you off, if you're standing on the right platform, if you're headed in the right direction, is that weird person staring at me"

so true so true but for me that's the fun part. happy travels all!

dublinohmom

I've found a lot of trips for solo travellers on the Travelsphere UK site. I am considering booking with them for an Italian vacation. I dont' have any knowledge of them and plan to post a request on this site for info.

chinesefan

I may be late here but hope someone experienced like Kent can help me answer a most important question for me:
Which is a better way to travel Europe ? Join a group tour or travel alone free and easy ?
I am planning my first trip to Europe and I hope to visit as many places as possible and budget is my priority.
I don't mind the trouble of packing and unpacking or hopping into trains or buses often. Most important is I don't need to answer wake up calls too early in the morning.
Thanks.

LoveItaly

chinesefan, hello again.

From all the post you have posted I really have felt you would be the happiest travelling on your own. Now that I read that you do not want early morning wake up calls I am convinced of it. Everyone that I have known that has travel in a tour has come complaining that they had to get up so early every morning and that they had to have their luggage outside their hotel room door real early. It does not sound like this would make a happpy and relaxing vacation for you.

Best wishes to you regarding your trip decision.