thursdaysd

A Scandinavian cruise isn't a bad idea, but if I were doing that I would want to go with http://www.hurtigruten.com/ And I wouldn't consider any of those three companies "high end" - that would be Azamara, Crystal, Lindblad, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea...

Mimar

A cruise is a good idea. You could also look at river cruises. Try www.vikingrivercruises.com. The Grand European cruise starts in Amsterdam, makes stops in very scenic towns in Germany and Austria, and ends in Budapest. Has your Nana been to Hungary?

LowCountryIslander

I've done 7 Rick Steves tours 4 with my mom, who is around your nana's age, we are going on another (to Sicily) in Feb/March. We like them, because as mentioned upthread the hotels used are generally in the center of town, or within very short walking distance. I have to say, that although the majority of travelers on the RS tours have been from the U.S. I've been on these tours with Australians and Canadians, so there can be a variety.

If you are considering a RS tour, and don't want to do one long tour, I think his longest is about 18 or 20 days, you could select a couple different itineraries and piece together 2 tours. I've not done this, but a couple we toured Portugal with last year (12 day tour) then went to the Basque Country tour that started 2 days after the Portugal tour ended. You will have to look carefully at the tour dates offered to coordinate such a trip, but I do know that several of the itineraries afford this type of connection.

Another poster above mention Hungary, I had a friend do the RS Prague & Budapest tour in November and she raved about it. I think that was an 8 or 10 day tour, you could certainly consider then booking another tour before or after. It's just something to consider, if you hadn't thought about that option.

suec1

Really I think a cruise would be ideal - either river or Med. / Norhtern Europe. So many choices on the big ships and IMO even the mid-level lines are at a comfort levell waaay beyond hostels or sketch hotels. I like Celebrity, reasonable priced, lovely ships, many choice of itineraries. Also lots of people on board so there should be folks in both of your demographics. River cruises much smaller but again quite a few choices - we did a Danube that took us to Budapest to Prague.

If you continue to think on a land tour - Rick Steves would get my vote as long as between the two of you, you can handle the luggage. I'd suspect the lodging would not be "luxe" but smaller, personable well-located hotels.

It's nice to have a nana like yours!

bdevlin314

I did consider a river cruise, but I was a little hesitant because I have gotten boat sick before. I don't get sick on little boats, but the only larger boat I have been on was a Ferry and I got really sea sick. Have you had any experience with sea sickness? Can anyone give me some insight?



And I personally wanted to do what you suggested and go to a travel agent to plan the whole thing but my Nana really wants to go with a group. She's worried that since were females she doesn't want us to be alone. And she wants to try to meet new people since my grandpa recently passed she doesn't like to be alone. I know tours have their positives and negatives, but Nana is offering to take me to Europe so if I have to be stuck on a coach bus with a group of seniors I'll gladly take it. She is however at least letting me plan some things which is why I am doing all of this research.

From all of the replies I have gotten on here and other threads I think I've narrowed the tour companies down to: Tauck, RS, Smithsonian, Odyssey Unlimited, Globus, Insight, and R Crusoe.

Unless someone has a better suggestion?

The budget, really isn't a factor. My Nana said she rather spend my dads inheritance having once in a life time vacations with her granddaughter than pass out and hand him a bunch of money.

If I had to cluster places together I would want to see Budapest, Vienne, Prague, KraKow, Warsaw, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels, and more in depth Germany.

I was thinking about flying into a city not on a tour staying a few nights meeting up with a tour and possibly linking two different tours together to fit our needs and then staying a few days after the tour ends to see another city. So maybe two separate 10 day tours and then extra days. Still not 100 % but it seems that might be my best bet.

Nana hasn't set a max number of days she said 14 days minimum.

Planning is stressful.

Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions thus far!

trvlgirlmq

You could still use a travel agent if you are not as comfortable planning all the logistics of combining tours, etc. Many travel agencies like AAA work with the tour companies you listed. This would take some of the stress from you especially as you are just beginning and your trip is about 5 months away.

iris1745

Remember, on Tauck, Globus and Insight, get your best price from them and then call www.pavlustravel.com for further discounts.

thursdaysd

I would drop Globus from that list.

No reason whatsoever to use a travel agent for a European trip, and even less to use one to book a tour!! (From what I've seen AAA works with Trafalgar, the companies on the OP's list are all easy to book direct.)

Planning can be fun if you are willing to settle for "good" rather than " best". I consider I get to do a trip three times: once when I plan it, once when I actually travel, and once when I sort the photos.

historytraveler

If Nana wants to do a tour then do a tour. I would definitely drop Globus from the list and if money isn't a factor I'd consider Tauck, Smithsonian and have a look at National Geographic. They are the only tour company I will consider traveling with at this point in my life.

dreamon

I know that this is a sample of one but my colleague did a European river cruise. He and his friends are in their early 50's and said that they were the babies of the cruise. Everyone else went to bed before 9:30. My parents have done about four river cruises in Europe and have said that the average age is about 75. You can't always just wander into town looking for some nightlife either like you could if you were staying on land.

iris1745

Well, of our 33 trips to Europe, six were on tours and we never encounter or tried to predict the average age.

<Everyone else went to bed before 9:30pm>

Definitely not our experience.

Interesting SECOND HAND information.

I think people who have had FIRST HAND information are a bit more credible.

fmpden

I think a cruise would satisfy a lot of your requirements.

janisj

The problem w/ a Med. cruise is they are generally out to sea in the evenings so you will be confined to the ship instead of being able to explore the cities.

But on a cruise at least there will be folks from babes in arms to 90yo's

W/ the river cruises - they do tend to track older.

thursdaysd

If you want to visit Europe, visit Europe, don't spend time on a boat with thousands (these days literally thousands) of other tourists when you could be wandering around town, sipping coffee or wine, people watching, dining under the stars with the locals.... Even when you get time in port it's not the same because those thousands are right there with you. I've been in port cities before and after the cruise ships dock, and they are differeent places when they are overrun by the hordes. (Last time I was in Dubrovnik I actually had to queue to get into the old town.)

bettyk

I'd look at Collette Vacations:

http://www.collettevacations.com/

janisj

Oh - I totally agree. Cruise if one wants to cruise, but it isn't a very good way to 'see' Europe. I wasn't advocating a sea cruise.

River cruises are a bit better in the 'seeing' department . . . but mostly for older folks.

dreamon

Iris, secondhand but accurately relayed. I thought this was a forum where everyone could contribute their knowledge (and varying opinions). My firsthand experience is largely not relevant to the OP because I normally travel independently.