Trafalgar for Mixed Age Group?
 

I am planning a trip for people ranging from 17 - seniors (good health/mobile) and we are looking at the Trafalgar European Traveler tour. Has anyone gone on that tour and have comments? Good? Too much or just right amount of time on the bus? A good pace for a mixed age group? Thank you.

How many of you?

Trafalgar is a good company. But in general - teenagers really don't mix well w/ the concept of guided European coach tours. You have to be up/dressed and have your luggage packed and in the hallway by 8AM most mornings. Most tours spend some days in the coach <u>all day long</u>.

The majority of other tour members will be over 50 and many will be 65+

Is this the itinerary of the tour you're looking at?

http://www.trafalgar.com/USA/Display...ID=-1&Detail=2

If so - it is a LOT of time "glimpsing" and "taking us past" and "views of." For example, it sounds like you don't go into Notre Dame and the Louvre is a "maybe." If that suits your group, the company does have a good reputation (I haven't taken a tour with them). And a big plus of tours is that the arrangements are already made for you (though that also means you're stuck with someone else's decisions).

For me, it would be a lot of time driving by things, and I'd rather focus on a smaller area and spend more time there. Planning your own trip would also let you add in things that would interest all the ages in your group.

If you will allow, we could help you plan a trip. As J said, spending more time in fewer locations could give you a much more pleasant holiday. Rent appartment(s), combine city/country, allow for 'alone' for youngest...and I'd predict a much more memorable trip. You could also mix in lots of walking and day tours if you wanted.

Yes, guided coach tours would allow you to see a whole lot, but not to experience a whole lot.

I just looked up that tour:

11 days for London, Paris, Lucerne, Florence and Rome.

Day 1 is the over night flight to London
Day 11 is the flight home

Leaving 9 days
1.5 days/2 nights in London
1.5 days/2 nights in Paris
1 night in Lucerne (less than 1 full day)
1 night in Venice (less than 1 full day)
1 night in Florence (less than 1 full day)
1.5 days/2 nights in Rome

And the only admissions included are the Eiffel Tower and boat trip in Venice. <B>EVERY</B> other site is a 'drive by'. I'd really hate this tour - and at 17, I'd hate my parents by the end of it.

Was having problems w/ the site so didn't see jent's post. Yes - that's the same tour - only I looked at this Winter's version instead of next year's. Same insane itinerary

only one thing to say:

DON'T DO IT.

my teens would have hated it. their favourite trips were when we rented apartments in Rome, Venice and Florence and spent a week in each. We are going back to Rome for a week in February and DS, now 19, leapt at the chance to go back, even though he has to travel with his seriously uncool parents.

in eleven days you could just about squeeze in 3 places; 2 would be better. why not fly into London, spend 5 nights there, then get the eurostar to Paris, and finish your trip there? loads to do, an easy intro to Europe, AND you'll want to come back.

there are loads of really helpful experts here who would be happy to help you do your planning.

If you are set on a bus tour I would give the following advice.
For active seniors and teens the Rick Steves "Best of Europe in 14 Days" is a far better tour. It eliminates all the problems noted by janisj and jent103- teenager unfriendlyness, all 50+, a LOT of time "glimpsing" and "taking us past" and "views of", too many one night stops, non centralized hotels, too many add on costs.

We have taken a Trafalgar tour, but we are in the 50+ category and there were no one night night stops. It was of eastern Europe, we saw many countries, and we enjoyed it. If you insist on Trafalgar their "European Wonderland 2010" eliminates the one night stops.

Hi; If you do what 'dugi' suggests, or stay with your origional idea, use one of these companies to book your Trafalgar Tour. They give 10% discounts and both book many tours for Trafalgar and others. Richard www.affordabletours.com/ and www.pavlustravel.com/

I'm not sure if you have looked at Insight Vacations which is the sister company to Trafalgar. That is who we are looking at for part of our vacation. My understanding is Insight has hotels that are more centrally located, more is included and it's a smaller group. Having said that it's just me and my Mom! We are doing Paris on our own!

Yes Insight before Trafalgar any day. Better hotels, better food, more central hotels. We have travelled both and have said "never again" for Trafalgar. We have found APT is far superior to any of them but I am not sure if they are available to anyone outside Australia (APT = Australian Pacific Touring). Try the Vacations to Go site - we have found them very good and offer great discounted travel. SJF

I would never consider a tour with a teen - unless designed for them. And frankly, would be very hesitant about a tour for anyone under about 60. Just too many early mornings (and so early nights), long days on a bus and driving by things you really want to stop and see.

We took two college aged girls at Christmas break to Italy. The other couple and we decided on a tour just because it did force the girls to get up early, etc. There was no frustrating waiting on them and etc. It worked out well. They decided on Italy and we told them there was going to be only old folks on the tour. Much to our surprise, we were the old folks. It was filled with young couples, and college age kids enjoying a short visit too. They had a great time. You never know what you will get with a tour. It was nice not to drag them out of bed or argue about where to go. Made it pleasant and easy on us.

the OP hasn't been back -- registered and this was the only post. Maybe s/he forgot how to log in, forgot s/he posted this, or maybe just didn't like the answers . . . . .

If the OP is still around, I have taken teens on bus tours of France, Spain and Italy, but I selected the tours very carefully, with extra time for me to take them to see things they were especially interested in, and time for them to be on their own a bit. The teens were great on the bus. They were up on time and played games or slept on the bus, so tours actually work well for teens, but they didn't see much countryside. Which tour is the major consideration. Frankly, I looked very closely at the tour you are considering and it is absolutely horrible, one of the worst itineraries I have seen yet. You are spending as much time traveling as you are really seeing anything. Actually on your 11 day trip, you have a total of 6 days of travel and only 5 days of sightseeing. That is pretty expensive sightseeing, IMO. Please look at some other tours, or put it together yourself.