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Trafalgar - European tour
- Thread starter SinghS23
- Start date
blunomore
Honorary Master
I suppose it depends on your personality, but I prefer traveling on my own, and not in an organised manner with a group of strangers.
If you are more adventurous, love getting to the little-known, off the beaten track parts of a city and do not mind getting lost, I strongly recommend going on your own.
If you are more adventurous, love getting to the little-known, off the beaten track parts of a city and do not mind getting lost, I strongly recommend going on your own.
blunomore
Honorary Master
We are somewhat adventurous...
Was also trying to work out which would be more feasible cost wise....
My other concern is the language barrier - I don't really speak much foreign
The Europeans are used to English speaking tourists by now
You do not need to speak their languages to do/get the basics.If you do proper research beforehand on travel and accommodation options, you would not really pay much more if you travel on your own. You could consider renting an apartment and cooking your own meals with things bought at the local markets, you may save on the exorbitant cost of food in restaurants.
we did contiki a few years back.
It was awesome!
the tour guides are your best friend: they know the ins and outs of the places you will be visiting. they will show you the hot spots, teach you some history/culture etc.. its really an amazing experience, and we would have missed out quiete a bit if it wasnt for them!! we also did the planning to do the trip by ourselves, and for the price you pay, and the value you get with the tour operators, its actually a bargain!
we also went end sept/begin oct.. and it was beginning to get a bit nippy, esp amsterdam and paris.. but it was shorts and takkies everywhere else! we even hit munich for the 200th anniversary beerfest hell yea that was fun!
some advice though: fly in a few days before you start the tour, and leave a few days after the tour ends.. and get to relax in the start/end locations.. coz the tour is stressful! sleep mostly during day, party/drink/club at night.. next day repeat!
i like beach vacations, unplugged etc.. just wasting away..but with teh euro tour i came back more tired that i was before!
It was awesome!
the tour guides are your best friend: they know the ins and outs of the places you will be visiting. they will show you the hot spots, teach you some history/culture etc.. its really an amazing experience, and we would have missed out quiete a bit if it wasnt for them!! we also did the planning to do the trip by ourselves, and for the price you pay, and the value you get with the tour operators, its actually a bargain!
we also went end sept/begin oct.. and it was beginning to get a bit nippy, esp amsterdam and paris.. but it was shorts and takkies everywhere else! we even hit munich for the 200th anniversary beerfest hell yea that was fun!
some advice though: fly in a few days before you start the tour, and leave a few days after the tour ends.. and get to relax in the start/end locations.. coz the tour is stressful! sleep mostly during day, party/drink/club at night.. next day repeat!
i like beach vacations, unplugged etc.. just wasting away..but with teh euro tour i came back more tired that i was before!
My wife and I travelled to Europe in June 2010 with Travalgar. I also thought, no ways, we want to do our own thing, do what we want when we want etc, but we took the plunge anyway.
Cut a long story short, I am very glad we took the tour option, as they know exactly where to go, what to see, and help you with everything from changing money to directions, where to eat, what to eat, you name it. I agree with pboy, the schedule is HECTIC. Up at 6 am every morning, eat, on the bus, site seeing whole day, late night, and as he said, repeat. Prepare yourself for the most insane and cool experience of your life.
Feel free to ask if you need any advise, might just be able to help.
Cut a long story short, I am very glad we took the tour option, as they know exactly where to go, what to see, and help you with everything from changing money to directions, where to eat, what to eat, you name it. I agree with pboy, the schedule is HECTIC. Up at 6 am every morning, eat, on the bus, site seeing whole day, late night, and as he said, repeat. Prepare yourself for the most insane and cool experience of your life.
Feel free to ask if you need any advise, might just be able to help.
blunomore
Honorary Master
If you decide to go the organised tour route, then the above is excellent advice.
blunomore
Honorary Master
I do not understand why you would want everything mapped out for you like you are a school child. For me, doings the various things like finding directions, changing money, etc is just part of the traveling experience and if things do not always go right, it's part of the fun!
Because the previous time, my wife and I ending up screaming at each other in some Paris street because I refused to take directions, and we couldnt find the hotel.
I also planned my own trip to Eurpose last year, was there for over a month, preferred doing my own thing.
With the internet, you can plan ahead for most things and go at your own pace. A tour guide isn't necessarily needed.
That's your fault then.
With the internet, you can plan ahead for most things and go at your own pace. A tour guide isn't necessarily needed.
That's your fault then.
MYODB
The_Ogre
Honorary Master
Blue, since you seem to be in the know, how much will this set one back (more or less) for a couple of weeks Since neither my wife nor I have been abroad something like this would be really cool 
blunomore
Honorary Master
Blue, since you seem to be in the know, how much will this set one back (more or less) for a couple of weeks Since neither my wife nor I have been abroad something like this would be really cool
No idea really, grav. I have not been to Europe since 2004.
Ask me about India any day, we have gone there annually since 2005
blunomore
Honorary Master
India is magical, mysterious, crazy, chaotic, dirty, dusty, amazing, ancient and modern .... all in one!
I have been to Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Pune, Pondicherry, Cochin, Ahmedabad and a number of smaller towns and villages.
The main ones were included. There was around 10 spots spread over 6 countries which was optional (you were given a list on the first day and you could select as much as you wanted) . If you took all the optional ones too, it came down to R10,000 extra which is a bit heavy. You could pay with credit card right there on the bus. IMHO a few of them is definitely worthwhile, but definitely not ALL at that price, unless you have the bucks.
Our tour: Fly to Heathrow,cross the channel with ferry to France, Belgium, Netherlands,Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, UK, fly back from Heathrow. 16 days total.