I'm going to Spain next Spring with Adventures Abroad. I have not gone with them before, but I selected them based on comments in this forum.

sjde53-
Have no idea your age or preferred style of travel...that said, I'm 35/F/single/professional and have chosen a trip (Dalmation Coast gulet cruise) with Adventure Center based out of England. Figured using a non-US based company will give me more of an oppy to meet fellow travelers. AC runs very small groups, this trip is 18 I think. Costs is very affordable, roughly $1,000 for 8 days on gulet, bfast each day and a few other meals thrown in. Intrepid Traveler also looks like a very cool company. keep everyone posted - I'm eager to learn about other's travel stories/successes!

My first trip to Europe was on a Globus tour in the late 70's. At least in my experience the hotels were like 2* and were located outside the city centers. Because of these reasons and the constant travel on the bus it was discouraging and since then I decided to travel independently.

In our experience, you largely get what you pay for. We've traveled with Tauck and Abercrombie and Kent (very expensive) but you stay in better hotels, eat in better restaurants, have better guides and, perhaps most important, have smaller groups.

Our first European travel some years ago was also with Globus which whisked us through the major highlights. Fine in my estimation. Have been with other tour groups, most recently Elderhostel and Grand Circle (4 X).

Bob_Brown, so Backroads Touring is still in business? We thought that was a great way to see Britain and loved the farmhouse B&Bs. They use minivans and we began with 7 then ended up with 4 passengers aboard (due to several health problems) which gave even more personal attention. Also as here we've often added extra days before and after a tour.

ozarksbill

We've traveled with both Tauck and Abercrombie and Kent and they are both excellent. As with all tours, you largely get what you pay for. With both these, you'll stay at top rate hotels (A&K a little nicer), and eat at good restaurants - A&K again a bit better. The guides are good with both companies, though I think Tauck uses all American tour guides but for local guides while A&K seems to use people who were brought up inthe country visited. This always brings better local knowledge.