Europe Or Bust!

The Euro is up and the US dollar is down. You want to travel to Europe, but think it is too expensive. Well, maybe not!

Unfortunately there is no way around airfares that are sky high (forgive the pun), but you can prevent it from becoming even higher. Try to book your travel at least 6 months in advance to get the best airfare rates. That's the first suggestion. However, don't book your airfare and then the travel plans. Do it together. Nothing worse than trying to make your touring fit your flight schedule.

Here is the best advice to visit Europe and not pay everything through the nose. Travel through Europe on a cruise or with a group tour. I know they are not for everyone as most of my business is creating customized travel. However, when you book a cruise (river cruises included) or a group tour almost everything is already included at prenegotiated prices protecting your US dollar.

The cruise lines will offer at a fixed price choice of accommodations (your stateroom), all of your meals and some beverages, entertainment and taxes. The cruise will afford you the opportunity to take excursions at each port at an extra cost, but certainly much less than the cost if you tried to do it on your own. Some cruise lines are also offering added values such as 2 for 1 pricing, airfare included specials and shipboard credits.

River Cruises have become a very popular choice withing the past several years. More and more itineraries are added each year. This luxury on water travel is a more intimate way to see Europe. The vessels are much smaller than cruise ships with only 100-200 passengers aboard. The River Cruises are able to navigate the inner waterways of Europe bringing you directly to the docks...no tenders needed! They also tend to stay in each port of call for longer times than the cruise lines, giving you more opportunity to visit each area. Like the larger cruise lines, the River Cruises offer the accommodations, meals, and taxes as part of your cost. Also, some are including airfare and 2 for 1 specials. The entertainment on the River Cruises is usually local entertainment boarded at each port of call. Sorry, no lavish broadway style shows or casinos.
Also included are all excursions. No extra cost for excursions and no waiting in long lines to find your bus or group.

Group travel by land is still very popular and getting better each year. New places to see are constantly being added. Most group travel is fast paced in the sense that you are usually up early each day and may not be in the same city more than one night. So, yes, a lot of packing and unpacking. However, this is a very thorough way to see a country or region. Depending upon the class of group travel you choose, some are larger groups than others. The pricing depends largely on the accommodations chosen for your travel. Again, your dollar protections begins with the contracted rate the tour operator has with all the service providers in Europe. Since these contracts a sealed with a promise of many guests per year, the rates are much lower than you will find on your own. Again, most of your excursions are already included. Some groups will allow a day at leisure with an optional tour provided for those who must see everything. The group land tours always include breakfast and either a lunch or dinner daily or frequently. Again, the price you pay will sometimes reflect the number of meals included.

Lastly, if your time allows, don't choose the busiest travel time of year to take your vacation. The "off" season, time of year less popular to travel, will also cut your travel costs greatly. Consult your calendar to see when you can travel. Try to travel after September and before mid April. Also avoid holiday times such as December, Easter and Springbreak. If you are retired this isn't an issue. If you are employed, your boss will be pleased you are not requesting vacation time the same time everyone else is.

Need more help? Call me or send me an email.

Happy Travels,

Adrienne

Why Didn't I Use A Travel Professional?

Yes, I know the currency difference between the US dollar and the Euro is crazy. An acquaintance recently returned from Italy and told me she paid $30.00 for a simple breakfast with coffee. Then told me her eggs were cold!

All I could do was hug her and roll my eyes. She thought she would be able to make all of her arrangements online and take care of all of her excursions while in Italy. Well, yes she was able to make all of the arrangements, but at a cost. Turns out the itinerary I prepared for her, in the long run was much less than her "piece it together"plans.

The first issue was her hotel stays. She chose decent accommodations and made her deposits for the hotels online. What she failed to take into consideration is the fluctuation of the euro caused the pricing to rise and tax (vat) was not included. Also, breakfast was not included. She chose the wrong option online and the hotel would not change the reservation because the breakfast offer was a "website" special only. I guess she really could not go back to the website to complain.

The second obstacle became registering for tours while in Italy. A few of the tours she wanted to take were not available for the days and times she hoped for. Unfortunately she missed out on a lot.

She now realizes the value of using a professional travel consultant to plan her next trip, even if it appears to be more expensive at first look. She took another look at the itinerary I prepared and sees she was penny-wise and pound foolish.

My next blog....Getting the biggest bang for you buck in Europe...