Hi, am wondering if anyone has had any experience with Insight, Globus, or Brendon tours of Europe ? We are looking at a 10-12 day tour. We are in our 50's . Any input?

Barney- I'll put this to the top again with my post here. Generally speaking, the Fodor's posters lean toward traveling on their own, more than with tours. But not everyone. Hopefully someone else will chime in with opinions.

Hi Barney:

I have some friends who did the UK tour last year with Globus, mostly England and Ireland, and a day or two in Edinburgh. Generally, they liked the tour but did not like the very fast pace of being up too early, returning to their hotel too late, then doing the whole thing over again day after day, and they were falling asleep on the bus instead of listening to the naration of the good tour guide. I do not know how helpful this is to you in making a decision, but this is what these people told us.

Anna Roz

I've traveled most of my life, on my own and with tour companies. Sometimes an escorted tour is the perfect thing. When I go to a new place and I'm solo I always take an escorted tour. When I want to just relax and have my transportation waiting and a hotel key handed to me I take an escorted tour. I've taken most with Globus/Cosmos . They are great.

My parents have traveled with Globus and really enjoyed their trips. I don't think it's a terrible idea for first time Europe visitors to take a tour to get their bearings. You can be independent even while on the tour...using the tour group for accomodations and transportation, but doing your own thing upon arrival in each new location. My first trip to Europe was on a Rick Steves "Best of Europe" tour -- it was enjoyable and instructive, and my husband and I learned so much that we don't feel we need to do tours anymore.