I work out at a gym with a recently retired women. We were talking the other day and as I mentioned I love to travel to Europe independently she started to ask me about tour companies -- the way she'd like to do it.

Now, money is no object for this women and she wants the best. I collect tour brochures but it's kind of hard to tell from the brochures. I know Tauk and Mauntitour (sp?) are high end.

Does anyone have experience in high end tours? She wants to go virtually anywhere in Europe.

She is looking for centrally located luxury hotels, groups of 20 or less and expert guides.

If no answers here, does anyone know of good travel agents who advise over the phone?

Or should she just surf the web for small expensive tours?

Thanks for anything you know!

A friend of mine took a French Barge Cruise with Butterfield and Robinson. Way out of my price bracket but she loved it and it was very luxe. They have an assortment of packages; some very active, others more luxurious. www.robinson.com

I don t think you can just pick one company for all tours. They all have different itineries and you have to select according to what you want to see.

Now that said...I did Maupintour to Egypt and I just dont see how any one could beat that tour or that itinery. It was a fabulous tour w/ everything on an outstanding level.

I was also very very pleased w/ my Pacific Delight tour of China. I chose the 2nd highest tour and it too was amazing.

Actually often the higher end tours include more so you wind up paying about the same than if you go w/ Trafalgar and those.

But if money were really not an issue....ahhh private jet, suites on all ships, always do a xing on the Atlantic, and always have a private guide for each place I went. Also spend much longer times in each place....very grand very 1800's and very Grand Tour!!!

An article from Forbes on, “Best Luxury Tour Companies” > > >
http://www.forbes.com/travel/2004/05..._0506feat.html

Of the regular tour companies, I think Abercrombie and Kent would get the nod - we did a superb Danube river cruise with them. We regularly use Tauck, but A&K is heads above them for luxury. For french barges, French Country Waterways is the top of the list - they own their own fleet. Have superb food and wine,and you have one night at a 3-star restaurant.

This isn't my kind of travel, either, but my parents have taken several tours through the Cooking School of Aspen. Probably not as luxurious as those previously mentioned, but she might be interested in taking a tour with a theme or a focus - cooking, food, art, hiking, whatever. The tours my parents took had less than 10 people, probably.

I'd get copies of Travel + Leisure and Conde Naste travel magazines. They have advertisements for exactly what you are seeking. They make no secret of the ones that are "luxury" tours.

I would think that most people would want to arrange a private tour if "money is no object". However, if she is looking for a group tour to Europe, then maybe Abercrombie and Kent or Travcoa. She may also be interested in the six star small ship cruiselines like Seabourn and Silverseas.

Just one question...how could a woman with such limitless means be so absolutely clueless???

Rocco - that's so rude.

the comments 3 months old