CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER

Jeff’s hits from the south of France this week have been incredible. Who hasn’t been inspired to travel across the Atlantic? If you are anxious to go, I would highly recommend a river cruise. They are great hassle free way to travel in the area. They offer the benefits of a large ship cruise yet they are small and intimate.  They are, however, the fastest growing segment of the cruise industry and therefore sell out quickly.  For peak season you need to be booking these about a year in advance.

TAKE A TOUR

One of the best parts of the cruise or any guided trip is the tours offered. Many people love to do Europe all on their own but often miss out on the history and inside information from a local. Often these experiences will be the most memorable parts of your trip; a Vespa tour around Rome, cheese and chocolate tastings in Switzerland or an Amalfi coast tour by private yacht. Booking a tour can also help you avoid lines. It is especially important for some key museums and points of interest where you can stand in line for hours if you just show up i.e. the Vatican or Florence’s Uffizi Gallery. Many tours, either private or shared, offer you ‘skip the line’ experiences where you can just walk right in passing some who have been standing in line.

WHEN TO GO

The best time to go is really dependant on what you are looking for. July and August are beautiful, but also tend to be the busiest and most expensive months of the year. If you are touring cities, maybe you don’t need it to be hot? Exploring cities all day in the sweltering heat can be exhausting. If you love museums and galleries, some destinations like London and Paris can be great off season. Go late fall or winter - avoid the crowds, the heat and save some money. Other destinations like the Greek Islands largely shut down at the end of the summer so visiting those out of the summer season would be like hitting a ghost town.

FROM POINT A TO POINT B

If you are not river cruising there are many options in terms of getting around. Discount airlines in Europe often have very inexpensive flights between cities, but keep in mind that some nickel and dime you for every item; luggage, seats, surcharge for credit card payment, charge to get a text message with changes etc.   They are still great deals - just read the fine print and know your terms and conditions. Watch your connection time when booking your flight. If you are doing a connecting flight with two different airlines that are ticketed separately the airlines will not protect you if you there are any changes or delays.

Train travel in Europe is fantastic. Consider getting a rail pass if you are doing a lot of travel. This may save you some money rather than just doing point to point tickets. Remember trains stations in Europe are notorious for pick pockets and theft so keep a sharp eye on your belongings.

If you are considering renting a car, keep in mind your comfort level in driving in a foreign country. Although the flexibility to explore on your own is great, for some people the extra stress can ruin a vacation. If you do rent a car remember to check if you need an International Drivers Permit and to get the full insurance. It may be cheaper to buy a GPS here and download the international maps you need rather than paying for a daily rental. Costs on GPS systems are down with the smart phone technology giving them a run for their money, and then you have it to use for any future trips as well. Remember to check if you are driving a diesel or gas vehicle and be very careful filling up at the pump. Diesel is much more prevalent in Europe and it can be both a time consuming and costly error if you accidentally put diesel into a gas engine or vice versa. The pumps in a foreign language may not always be too clear, trust me….I learned the hard way!