Tour groups for 30 somethings to Europe

[takeonyou]

I am trying to save up independently and surprise dh with a trip to Europe in about 2.5 years for his 35th birthday.

I have heard that people go with tour groups. Anyone know of one that is 30 something friendly? I don't want to be stuck with college kids or the retired set.

[Deleted]

I don't think you need a tour group for Europe. It is easy to find all the touristy spots! Another option is to do a cruise.

[hz80408]

If you're not comfortable booking your own arrangements; I'd rec looking at tours with companies like Gate 1 Travel: www.gate1travel.com/

[protozoa]

I'd suggest reading some Rick Steves books on the places you are interested in in order to plan your own trip.

[sm12]

DH and I aren't really tour-group kind of travelers, but I am tempted by Rick Steve's "My Way" tours. Basically, hotels and transportations are provided, and otherwise you are on your own.
www.ricksteves.com/news/tournews/1209/my-way-tours.htm

Or, you can just use a guidebook and plan yourself. Again, I'm a fan of RS's books.

[runblondie26]

Aug 28, 2012 14:24:41 GMT -5 protozoa said:

I'd suggest reading some Rick Steves books on the places you are interested in in order to plan your own trip.

+1 on the Rick Steves books. We just show up with one in hand and go from there. Rick has never done us wrong.

[frlcb]

Do it on your own, it would be so much better.

Whatever you do stay away from Contiki tours.

[takeonyou]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely check out those books. I was thinking tour group just so we would have some "friends" to chatter with, go to the bars with, etc.

[phunluvin82]

Aug 28, 2012 14:31:11 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Do it on your own, it would be so much better.

Whatever you do stay away from Contiki tours.

Ditto that. When I was in college, we did Busabout, which is prob still a younger crowd than what OP is looking for...but we crossed paths with Contiki tours several times, and OMG.

[Norticprincess]

We normally book on our own, haven't had any problems. DH's second favorite hobby is planning trips. (his first is diving)
BFF used www.intrepidtravel.com/ for a month long tour of India, but it was just her and her FI.

If you want to combine a few land based cities with a taste if other countries, I'd second the cruise idea. Spend time on land before or after your trip.

See what your university offers as far as alumni tours.
We get info on AAA tours (I think the attact an older crowd)

[dr.girlfriend]

If you guys are more active, you might want to look into the REI tours. It's kind of combined touring/hiking, but I think it skews to a younger group.

[dulcemariamar]

I loved the cruise I took in Europe but IMO I wouldn't take one if I had my heart set on seeing a lot of things. You only have maybe 6-8 hours in the port and a lot of the ports are not directly in the city you want to visit (For example, Rome or Florence)

Go on your own and sign up for different sightseeing activities at the city. If you hate the people or the group organizing it, it will be only a few hours of your trip.

Take a cooking class or sign up for one of the pub/tapa tour.

[gt7301b]

Aug 28, 2012 14:33:14 GMT -5 takeonyou said:

Thanks everyone. I will definitely check out those books. I was thinking tour group just so we would have some "friends" to chatter with, go to the bars with, etc.

God, this sounds like my personal hell.

The only thing I can really see planning this far off is a budget. I book all my European vacations a couple months in advance when airfare goes on sale.

[hz80408]

The REI trips are super expensive, IMO. Rick Steves' tours could be up your alley

[takeonyou]

This isn't planning so much as figuring out where we wantto go and how much it will be.

[anna7602]

Aug 28, 2012 14:58:56 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

Go on your own and sign up for different sightseeing activities at the city. If you hate the people or the group organizing it, it will be only a few hours of your trip.

Take a cooking class or sign up for one of the pub/tapa tour.

Ditto this. There are tons of activities like this geared at tourists (in English) in most major European cities that will allow you to meet other travelers, if that's what you want. In Paris, for example, I see people doing bike, walking and segway tours all the time and I am pretty sure they just last a few hours or part of a day. Then there are special themed-tours like "Notre Dame at Night," etc.

[gt7301b]

Aug 28, 2012 15:30:24 GMT -5 takeonyou said:

This isn't planning so much as figuring out where we wantto go and how much it will be.

The costs can vary a lot depending on your traveling style. We usually end up spending 5-6K for a week to 10 days, but I pick the destination based on a good deal on either lodging or airfare.

You will spend less money if you are flexible in your destination, but then again if you spend 2 years planning maybe you don't care as much about the costs.

[takeonyou]

The only destination I have to hit is London. Dh really wants to go there. Everywhere else is a bonus since neither of us has ever been to Europe at all.

[kangaroo11]

London is so easy without a tour! And you'll meet people in pubs anyway, since everyone will speak English. I could spend 10 days there without batting an eyelash.