Best Tour/Company to see Most of Europe w/ 2 teenagers??
Jul 20th, 2013, 10:05 AM
#43
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All tour companies are not the same. Tour companies can be VASTLY different. My first trip to Europe was with a tour company that I will NEVER travel with again. I have traveled with a mediocre tour company, which I will retrain from traveling with again on a guided tour. I have traveled many times with a tour company that I thought was wonderful (Rick Steves) and has left my daughter and me a lifetime of memories. I have traveled independently, which I like, too.
People travel in different ways for different reasons at various times in their lives. The reason I chose tours at one time of my life was because it was just my teenage daughter and me traveling. The tour gave her other people her age to talk to and gave me some adult conversation. I am now married and my husband and I have been on both guided tours and independent travel, and we now prefer independent travel. If I ever travel solo, I will probably return to Rick Steve tours. Again, everyone is different.
People travel in different ways for different reasons at various times in their lives. The reason I chose tours at one time of my life was because it was just my teenage daughter and me traveling. The tour gave her other people her age to talk to and gave me some adult conversation. I am now married and my husband and I have been on both guided tours and independent travel, and we now prefer independent travel. If I ever travel solo, I will probably return to Rick Steve tours. Again, everyone is different.
Jul 20th, 2013, 11:02 AM
#45
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The fairly young girls coped with NYC very well - certainly dealing with London (English spoken) and Paris (they both has basic French) was well within their ken. We didn;t let them go out alone at night until they were older - but 11 and 14 together city kids are fine maneuvering central London and Paris).
(We did explain how the tube and Metro worked - but they mainly visited sights within walking distance.)
(We did explain how the tube and Metro worked - but they mainly visited sights within walking distance.)
Jul 20th, 2013, 11:03 AM
#46
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KL467 I absolutely agree not all tour companies are the same. I have only taken one tour to Europe,, ( have always gone independently ) and it was the Rick Steves 14 day Family Tour of Europe and it was great.. I chose it because I wanted to give my then 11 yr old a quick taste of many places... and the logistics of seeing all those places independently are already arranged, plus we had 26 days in Europe in total ( we spent the other 12 days in Rome and Paris on our own before and after tour) and knew she would enjoy having some kid time .. It was a great well run tour,, but it certainly would not qualify as a "budget" tour.. it was value for money though.. no extras on tour , no nickel and diming..
Jul 20th, 2013, 01:28 PM
#47
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justinparis: I agree with you that Rick Steves is definitely not a budget tour. With two kids in college$$$, I have not been on one of his tours since 2011. 
I like the "no nickel and diming". I love the ambience, professionalism, comfort, and pace of those tours. When my daughter and I previously took tours, we also added on to the beginning and end of trips, which gave us "some" time alone. My favorite trip to Europe EVER was the Rick Steves France trip in 2007. Wow!
My first trip to Europe was with a low-budget tour company, and I thought I would die from exhaustion. Never ever again. I am smarter now and read reviews, etc. before booking a trip!
Some "budget" tour companies will nickel and dime people, which can be costly and inconvenient. Always read the fine print.
I like the "no nickel and diming". I love the ambience, professionalism, comfort, and pace of those tours. When my daughter and I previously took tours, we also added on to the beginning and end of trips, which gave us "some" time alone. My favorite trip to Europe EVER was the Rick Steves France trip in 2007. Wow! My first trip to Europe was with a low-budget tour company, and I thought I would die from exhaustion. Never ever again. I am smarter now and read reviews, etc. before booking a trip!
Some "budget" tour companies will nickel and dime people, which can be costly and inconvenient. Always read the fine print.
Dec 31st, 2013, 05:30 PM
#48
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I have traveled to Italy several times, Africa once and a grand tour of Europe last spring. I have used tour companies and gone independently. I really found independent travel fun. I took my young adult son and made hotel reservations and reservations to a couple of special sites . We traveled by train and taxi when we needed to and had a really good time. I have been on Rick Steves tours and Go Ahead tours. Rick Steves is usually pretty fast paced. Go Ahead is an EF company and includes airfare in their reasonable prices ( if you want it). They have great tours . I would definitely recommend just a few countries in that shore of time. Our tour last spring was 2 tours and seven countries BUT we were there over a month. The best part of the trip was the extra few days at the end which we planned ourselves-taking a train from Paris to Normandy,renting a car and staying in a lovelly B and B .
Dec 31st, 2013, 05:53 PM
#49
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Oh, please don't join a tour group. You are experienced travelers - part of this will be showing your kids how.
I suggest just doing London, Paris, and Rome, each place incredible for different reasons, and each a fantastic walking city with plenty of sights to see. This exposes them to three different languages and cultures. That's plenty - if you go the frantic route, it all becomes a blur.
You might fly into London, as the culture shock is less. Build in a couple of easy days at the start, because of jet lag.
Then take the Eurostar to Paris for a few days.
Then take the night train to Rome - much more fun, and memorable, and efficient, than flying. Then fly back home from Rome.
Or you could reverse it: Rome, Paris, London, fly home. And by the way they might get interested in the planning and research beforehand, which will deepen the experience of being there.
That's my 2 cents!
I suggest just doing London, Paris, and Rome, each place incredible for different reasons, and each a fantastic walking city with plenty of sights to see. This exposes them to three different languages and cultures. That's plenty - if you go the frantic route, it all becomes a blur.
You might fly into London, as the culture shock is less. Build in a couple of easy days at the start, because of jet lag.
Then take the Eurostar to Paris for a few days.
Then take the night train to Rome - much more fun, and memorable, and efficient, than flying. Then fly back home from Rome.
Or you could reverse it: Rome, Paris, London, fly home. And by the way they might get interested in the planning and research beforehand, which will deepen the experience of being there.
That's my 2 cents!
Jan 1st, 2014, 12:52 AM
#52
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"I really think its mean when people don't even bother to return to a thread to say thanks for suggestions. I don't understand it."
I think it's usually because they don't get the answers they want.
I think it's usually because they don't get the answers they want.
Jan 1st, 2014, 06:50 AM
#53
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>>I think it's usually because they don't get the answers they want<<
They got "good" answers - but like the phrase in Paul Simon's "The Boxer" -
"man hears what he wants to hear & disregards the rest"
Stu Dudley
They got "good" answers - but like the phrase in Paul Simon's "The Boxer" -
"man hears what he wants to hear & disregards the rest"
Stu Dudley
Jan 1st, 2014, 07:55 AM
#54
In this case since it is the OPs only ever post, she may have logged out and just never found her way back. Many newbies assume they'll get an e-mail alert if there are responses to their query.
Or . . . Maybe she is just a rude biatch
Or . . . Maybe she is just a rude biatch
