Travel this June - Need feedback (cruise, hotels, Paris, vacation)

[Chatteress]

I was planning on traveling this June as it is a slow time at work. I was originally planning on two weeks but with some stuff going in my area, I want to extend this trip to 3-4 weeks.

I've been thinking about doing a European vacation with a tour company as I will be traveling solo but haven't found the right package for me. I'm no stranger to traveling solo but Europe intimidate me because of the language and other differences (I speak English only) so I want to have things planned for me and not have to worry about getting lost/stressed. As I was looking at tour packages with various companies, I could not find exactly what I'm looking for which is to see 6-12 countries with more emphasis on northern countries. Unfortunately, many of the companies that offer tours base their prices on double occupancy and airfare is extra. Plus, although I wanna see the historical sites and landmarks, I am not a big fan of history so not sure if doing a tour would be the right thing for me. I sure as heck don't want to sit on a bus for hours on end and concerned about pick pockets should I go off and do my own thing!

Seems that planning this trip is more stress than it's worth so I'm wondering if I should hold off and just spend this month exploring places within the US and Canada that I've never been to (such as Quebec, Boston, NYC, DC, Philly, Vancouver and Hawaii). At least within the US and Canada, I can plan my own vacation with confidence and customize it to what I would like to do. Just researching the various countries within Europe is giving me a headache and not sure if the hassle is worth it. Plus, being on a plane for more than 10 hours is not my thing. My dream is to do Europe and I want to do it while I have the chance but maybe this isn't the right year.

[Chava61]

Perhaps you should plan to go England, Scotland and Wales or alternately Ireland. In all of these countries they speak English.

[EnricoV]

Have you looked at Cosmos?

It's a company we've toured with a lot in the past ... I'm going to assume that not a lot has changed about their company, though I can't guarantee it.

What we really liked about them was:

It's a budget tour company, so the price was great. They tended to stay in smaller hotels, sometimes outside of the city centers. We liked not staying at some generic American-style hotel. (I think that might be something that has changed about them, as a larger company, Globus, bought them out since we went with them. And many tour companies own their hotels as well.) Because it's a budget company, like a cruise line they make their money selling "optional" tours. A typical set-up would be that you'd arrive in your destination city, have a short (included) city tour, lots of times with a local guide as opposed to just the escort. Which was always a great, orienting opportunity. Then the optional part would start. If you were going on an optional tour, off you'd go with the bus. If not, you're on your own, to meet back up with the bus at an appointed time at the place you were dropped off. Everyone would meet back up, and then (usually) you'd be taken to the hotel. With again, if you're off for an evening tour, you go with the bus. If not, you're on your own to do what you want.

When we went, there was an option to have them get you a roommate. Don't know if that's still there. They do have a single supplement, but unlike a lot of other situations (like cruises), it's not double.

The nice thing about having a bus-load of potential new friends is, you probably will find others who you can tag along with to go shopping, etc., if you don't want to take the optional tours or venture out on your own.

It's based out of London, so we weren't on a bus filled with Americans that came from our area. The first few times we went with them, we were the only Americans. But they do have an option for purchasing the flights through them, and it was cheaper.

The tour guides were great. Not intrusive, but very helpful with making recommendations, etc. when we went off on our own. And so helpful as a resource when you don't speak the languages.

And just about touring in general ... I loved having someone else make all the arrangements about hotels, etc., drop me off at it, and say here's your room. I loved knowing that I had five hours to explore a city and had to be back to meet the bus at X o'clock. I loved, on days when you're on the road, to have the bus pull up to a restaurant, and say ... go in and have something for lunch. Many meals are included, but lunches never are. And I'm not all that fussy about food. I'm a bit of a procrastinator, and having someone make the decisions was great, as I didn't faff about all the time trying to decide what to do. I have done Europe on my own, and making all those kind of decisions and arrangements, well, we probably saw about the same amount in double the time.

The downside to a bus tour is, you will spend a fair bit of time traveling, depending on the tour you take. I don't mind that, as I liked seeing the countryside. But you might. Many tours, though, are at a more leisurely pace, with a few nights in each city, or at least the major ones.

Something else you might consider, as you really have a long time there to vacation, is to just plan to base yourself out of London. Spend time seeing the U.K., but take a couple week's bus tour over into some European countries. Like spend like five days seeing London, a week taking a tour on the continent, a week or so seeing the rest of the U.K., then another week tour to another area of Europe.

The flight to Europe is long. Especially from the west coast. But, it is so worth seeing, I would encourage you to do it, as much as I do hate the process of flying.

[Cantabridgienne]

I really wouldn't let lack of language skills hold you back in Europe. I mean by that logic, you'll never go anywhere unless you learn another language! English is pretty widely-spoken (to various degrees), especially in major cities and among younger people, and with enough patience, the occasional hand gestures and a phrasebook (or translation app for your phone) it's easy to get around most everywhere. There's no need to do a packaged tour.

Then again, I enjoy planning my trips and finding out stuff to do/see/go on my own. If you don't then a tour might be better for you. But I just wanted to re-iterate that traveling alone, being a woman and not having second language skills don't make a tour a better/safer idea, just a different one.

[annerk]

Viking River Cruises has boats with single occupancy cabins! They generally do a tour for half the day (which you can opt out of) and then you are on your own for the other half. You would see a lot of the area you want to visit that way, and river cruises are affordable as the meals and tours are included.

It's been my experience that most people in Europe speak at least a little English, especially in the larger cities. Pickpockets are easily avoided by wearing a money belt under your clothing.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

I really wouldn't let lack of language skills hold you back in Europe. I mean by that logic, you'll never go anywhere unless you learn another language! English is pretty widely-spoken (to various degrees), especially in major cities and among younger people, and with enough patience, the occasional hand gestures and a phrasebook (or translation app for your phone) it's easy to get around most everywhere. There's no need to do a packaged tour.

Then again, I enjoy planning my trips and finding out stuff to do/see/go on my own. If you don't then a tour might be better for you. But I just wanted to re-iterate that traveling alone, being a woman and not having second language skills don't make a tour a better/safer idea, just a different one.

I guess my issue is more with navigating around an area where the signage isn't in English and knowing how I travel, I don't feel safe using the Metro and other public transit solo due to pickpockets ... With a group, there's safety in numbers and a guide to help you navigate. Once I learn about an area, I might be more likely to want to do this solo. Mind you, I have traveled NYC, Orlando and Toronto by myself without a car so it's not fear of traveling solo but concern about an area that's so different from the US.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by annerk

Viking River Cruises has boats with single occupancy cabins! They generally do a tour for half the day (which you can opt out of) and then you are on your own for the other half. You would see a lot of the area you want to visit that way, and river cruises are affordable as the meals and tours are included.

It's been my experience that most people in Europe speak at least a little English, especially in the larger cities. Pickpockets are easily avoided by wearing a money belt under your clothing.

Thanks for the idea, Annerk ... I'll look into Viking River Cruises ... With the river cruises, are you only limited to exploring coastal areas or will you have an opportunity to see some of the more inland stuff? What about the demographics ... I am nearing my 40th birthday so are the cruises cater to an older crowd, younger crowd or will I fit right in? I was planning on getting a money belt but what about my camera ... My favorite part about traveling is the photos I bring back home. I would be devastated to lose those and traveling solo would make it challenging to take photos with me in them.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Have you looked at Cosmos?

It's a company we've toured with a lot in the past ... I'm going to assume that not a lot has changed about their company, though I can't guarantee it.

What we really liked about them was:

It's a budget tour company, so the price was great. They tended to stay in smaller hotels, sometimes outside of the city centers. We liked not staying at some generic American-style hotel. (I think that might be something that has changed about them, as a larger company, Globus, bought them out since we went with them. And many tour companies own their hotels as well.) Because it's a budget company, like a cruise line they make their money selling "optional" tours. A typical set-up would be that you'd arrive in your destination city, have a short (included) city tour, lots of times with a local guide as opposed to just the escort. Which was always a great, orienting opportunity. Then the optional part would start. If you were going on an optional tour, off you'd go with the bus. If not, you're on your own, to meet back up with the bus at an appointed time at the place you were dropped off. Everyone would meet back up, and then (usually) you'd be taken to the hotel. With again, if you're off for an evening tour, you go with the bus. If not, you're on your own to do what you want.

When we went, there was an option to have them get you a roommate. Don't know if that's still there. They do have a single supplement, but unlike a lot of other situations (like cruises), it's not double.

The nice thing about having a bus-load of potential new friends is, you probably will find others who you can tag along with to go shopping, etc., if you don't want to take the optional tours or venture out on your own.

It's based out of London, so we weren't on a bus filled with Americans that came from our area. The first few times we went with them, we were the only Americans. But they do have an option for purchasing the flights through them, and it was cheaper.

The tour guides were great. Not intrusive, but very helpful with making recommendations, etc. when we went off on our own. And so helpful as a resource when you don't speak the languages.

And just about touring in general ... I loved having someone else make all the arrangements about hotels, etc., drop me off at it, and say here's your room. I loved knowing that I had five hours to explore a city and had to be back to meet the bus at X o'clock. I loved, on days when you're on the road, to have the bus pull up to a restaurant, and say ... go in and have something for lunch. Many meals are included, but lunches never are. And I'm not all that fussy about food. I'm a bit of a procrastinator, and having someone make the decisions was great, as I didn't faff about all the time trying to decide what to do. I have done Europe on my own, and making all those kind of decisions and arrangements, well, we probably saw about the same amount in double the time.

The downside to a bus tour is, you will spend a fair bit of time traveling, depending on the tour you take. I don't mind that, as I liked seeing the countryside. But you might. Many tours, though, are at a more leisurely pace, with a few nights in each city, or at least the major ones.

Something else you might consider, as you really have a long time there to vacation, is to just plan to base yourself out of London. Spend time seeing the U.K., but take a couple week's bus tour over into some European countries. Like spend like five days seeing London, a week taking a tour on the continent, a week or so seeing the rest of the U.K., then another week tour to another area of Europe.

The flight to Europe is long. Especially from the west coast. But, it is so worth seeing, I would encourage you to do it, as much as I do hate the process of flying.

Thank you for your suggestions. I'll also look into Cosmos. You mention that it's a budget tour company so are the accommodations hostels or motels? That is definitely NOT something I'm comfortable with.

I do like your suggestion of basing my trip out of London and maybe just doing tours or mini treks into the other countries. That may work as well. I guess the biggest determining factor is can I do this trip for 5K and be comfortable with my accommodations?

[Cantabridgienne]

Originally Posted by Chatteress

I guess my issue is more with navigating around an area where the signage isn't in English and knowing how I travel, I don't feel safe using the Metro and other public transit solo due to pickpockets ... With a group, there's safety in numbers and a guide to help you navigate. Once I learn about an area, I might be more likely to want to do this solo. Mind you, I have traveled NYC, Orlando and Toronto by myself without a car so it's not fear of traveling solo but concern about an area that's so different from the US.

It sounds like a tour would be best for you. I've really never had serious problems with language or pickpockets or taking the subway--cities in Europe really aren't *that* different than American ones--but everyone has different comfort levels. I can't think of any European city I wouldn't go to alone.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Chatteress

I guess my issue is more with navigating around an area where the signage isn't in English and knowing how I travel, I don't feel safe using the Metro and other public transit solo due to pickpockets ... With a group, there's safety in numbers and a guide to help you navigate. Once I learn about an area, I might be more likely to want to do this solo. Mind you, I have traveled NYC, Orlando and Toronto by myself without a car so it's not fear of traveling solo but concern about an area that's so different from the US.

To be honest, the major cities in Europe aren't much different from the major cities in the US/Canada except the buildings are older. I've ridden the subway in Paris, London, Athens, and Rome and the big difference between them and the subways in North America is that they tend to be cleaner.