traveling newbie - advice needed

[sonny1]

My husband is working overseas and we are meeting in Europe this summer for two weeks. It will be the first trip to Europe for both of us and who knows if we will be able to go back anytime soon, so we want to see the best of what we have time to. But, at the same time, we don't see each other very often, so we want a leisurely and relaxed trip. I think one of these new city everyday trips will be too much. I don't want to spend the two weeks with my husband in a bus

I have been told that as a first time traveler to Europe, that a tour would be best for us. Comments?

Thank you for all your replies!

[Guest]

A Tour would be great for you. That way you can spend time with the Hubby without having to pay attention to driving or where you are going and so on. Look into tours that have 2 & 3 night stays, which allows you to see more and relax at the same time with your husband. Don't try and "See it All", just what you Really Want to see this time. I know you said you may never be able to go back (MOST of us do the First time lol) but after your first trip you WILL find a way to get back there, It IS that Interesting . .. .. ..Honest!

[sonny1]

I found one tour that spends 3 nights in London, 3 nights in Paris, and 3 nights in Rome. Can we add an extension that takes us to one more city to round out our 14 days? He will fly back into the Middle East from Germany. Is it possible to add to a tour if you have more days available? Silly question, I'm sure, but I'm so new at this.

[Guest]

Well Im not a T/A, so I cannot answer for sure. What I would do if I were you, first if that tour your mentioned sounds right (and it sounds like what you are hoping for) then Book it! Next look into adding your own extension with a few days in Germany. That way you can relax with the Hubby near where he will fly out from. The Trains are affordable and Europe has several airlines that are CHEAP (Rome to Munich as little as $25-$30 dollars (USD) per person and in 1-2 hours you are in Germany. Hotels can be found on the internet at a great price, and if you have a good T/A they can arrange all of it and usually at a great rate. If you take the Train it would be an "Overnight" ride and saves on the cost of a Hotel room (for 1 night), it could be romantic unless you have a 4 berth car and the extra company would be annoying (lmao sorry coud not resist). . Feel Free to ask Questions (they are not Silly, and thats what this board is for). .

[cousteau8]

Well if it were me -- I'd do a tour -- escorted means you don't have a thing to think of and can relax.. .. .. .. .. . guided may mean a few mishaps, but it will all be arranged - that - a lot of time out of a vacation.. .. . finding plane departure times, train times, etc.. .. .. . let a tour guide do that for you AND it'll probably be cheaper really then setting all that stuff up yourself.

But I wouldn't do london or paris.. .. .. . london is not that exotic and paris although beautiful is full of creepy french people who don't like us; since he's leaving out of germany why don't you stay closer to there.. .. .. . central EU - maybe belgium, nederlands, denmark and down to germany

you can usually add days without any change except the cost of the hotel added of course.. .. .. . they don't really care when you fly in and out.. .. .. .. .

and in your add-on time, you can independantly travel by train or bus - it really is easy to get around over there.. .. . my boy went at 19 yrs and figured it out and got around to 6 countries without a mishap.. .. . well lost his credit card and no money for a week.. .. . but that was minor = )

[Kelaina]

While cousteau8 is right about London--it's fairly dirty--if you want to go visit it, by all means, do so! This is YOUR trip. Where you want to go is where you should go.

And about Paris.. ..things may have changed since the last time I was there (about 8 months ago), but when I was there, I had a delightful time. I speak a little French (seriously emphasizing the "little" part), and it was enough to get me through the two days we were there. People were kind and friendly. When I got lost, random strangers on the street offered assistance. And they weren't out to steal from me either.

Paris was breathtaking. I highly recommend it!