Hi - I posted this message a while ago and hardly had any response,
possibly because I had the word "tour" in the title. I don't blame you
for turning your noses up at the idea of a tour, BUT:

In the midst of planning a three week tour of Europe independently by
train, I came across a Globus tour called "Thames to Tiber". Now I know
most people in this group hate the idea of a tour, and so do I, but this
one seems reasonable by virtue of the fact that it includes 3 nights
each in London, Paris, and Rome, two each in Lucerne and Venice. The
only one-night stop is in Florence. I researched most of the hotels and
they seem to be centrally located. This tour is pretty inexpensive
(about $1700 + airfare).

So the question is: for a first trip to Europe, is it a reasonable idea
to use a tour company's good deals on transportation and hotels; and
then just set off independently once you've reached your destination?
After all, they can't MAKE you buy all the little "optional sightseeing
excursions" they're sure to offer in each place. It does seem that it
would streamline a lot of the planning effort, and still give a good
basis for knowing what you'd like to see on future (independent) trips.
And since the tour ends in Rome, one could then explore the hill
towns, Tuscany etc. on one's own before flying home.

What do you think?

wrote:
    > I came across a Globus tour called "Thames to Tiber". Now I know
    > most people in this group hate the idea of a tour, and so do I, but this
    > one seems reasonable by virtue of the fact that it includes 3 nights
    > each in London, Paris, and Rome, two each in Lucerne and Venice. The
    > only one-night stop is in Florence. I researched most of the hotels and
    > they seem to be centrally located. This tour is pretty inexpensive
    > (about $1700 + airfare).
    > So the question is: for a first trip to Europe, is it a reasonable idea
    > to use a tour company's good deals on transportation and hotels; and
    > then just set off independently once you've reached your destination?

Well, does $1700 for 14 nights' stay seem like a good deal given the quality
of hotels? To me it doesn't seem that impressive - even with the bus rides
thrown in - but of course I can only guess because I don't know the hotels.

If you want to save some time and trouble, you can probably find air+hotel
packages from the airlines that will be a much better bargain.

    > What do you think?

I guess I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to avoid. If you're going
to skip out on the excursions and sing-alongs, all you're getting is hotel
reservations and bus rides. Those aren't so hard to arrange anyway.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

$1,700 for how many nights total and how many meals total? Globus is
relatively more expensive tour than others. So your hotels may be more
centrally located. You do have to add in tips for the guide and driver.
This type of tour is great for people who do not want to do any research or
planning for their trips. A lot of places you will visit will be for very
short periods of time. It all depends on what is included and what is not,
and how convenient the hotels are to allow independent touring.


wrote in message news:[email protected]...
    > Hi - I posted this message a while ago and hardly had any response,
    > possibly because I had the word "tour" in the title. I don't blame you
    > for turning your noses up at the idea of a tour, BUT:
    > In the midst of planning a three week tour of Europe independently by
    > train, I came across a Globus tour called "Thames to Tiber". Now I know
    > most people in this group hate the idea of a tour, and so do I, but this
    > one seems reasonable by virtue of the fact that it includes 3 nights
    > each in London, Paris, and Rome, two each in Lucerne and Venice. The
    > only one-night stop is in Florence. I researched most of the hotels and
    > they seem to be centrally located. This tour is pretty inexpensive
    > (about $1700 + airfare).
    > So the question is: for a first trip to Europe, is it a reasonable idea
    > to use a tour company's good deals on transportation and hotels; and
    > then just set off independently once you've reached your destination?
    > After all, they can't MAKE you buy all the little "optional sightseeing
    > excursions" they're sure to offer in each place. It does seem that it
    > would streamline a lot of the planning effort, and still give a good
    > basis for knowing what you'd like to see on future (independent) trips.
    > And since the tour ends in Rome, one could then explore the hill
    > towns, Tuscany etc. on one's own before flying home.
    > What do you think?

Hi - thanks for the response. I thought Globus was one of the cheaper
tours, but my frame of reference is Maupintour (which my rich friend
swears by) and Rick Steves. Both are a lot more expensive than Globus.

But I do know I could get a Flexi Europass for this type of trip for my
husband and myself for about $1000. If it's possible to do hotel rooms
for about $150 a night (is that reasonable?), that would be about $3250
for the two of us for fifteen nights out. The Globus thing, at around
$3400 for two, looks to be comparable. I just don't know if we would be
happier having built-in transportation and hotels, and maybe making some
friends on the bus, or going it alone.

Peter L wrote:
    > $1,700 for how many nights total and how many meals total? Globus is
    > relatively more expensive tour than others. So your hotels may be more
    > centrally located.

[email protected] wrote in news:[email protected]:

    > Hi - thanks for the response. I thought Globus was one of the cheaper
    > tours, but my frame of reference is Maupintour (which my rich friend
    > swears by) and Rick Steves. Both are a lot more expensive than Globus.
    >
    > But I do know I could get a Flexi Europass for this type of trip for my
    > husband and myself for about $1000. If it's possible to do hotel rooms
    > for about $150 a night (is that reasonable?), that would be about $3250
    > for the two of us for fifteen nights out. The Globus thing, at around
    > $3400 for two, looks to be comparable. I just don't know if we would be
    > happier having built-in transportation and hotels, and maybe making some
    > friends on the bus, or going it alone.
    >
    > Peter L wrote:
    >> $1,700 for how many nights total and how many meals total? Globus is
    >> relatively more expensive tour than others. So your hotels may be more
    >> centrally located.
    >

Your major advantage is flexibility, like that little restaurant spend
another day and eat there. It is rainy in Lucerne? skip it. going by
yourself means going when and where you want, thatis why wo many here do it
that way.
(Depending on your hotel needs $150 a night will get pretty good stuff
except maybe in London)

[email protected] wrote:
    >
    > Hi - thanks for the response. I thought Globus was one of the cheaper
    > tours, but my frame of reference is Maupintour (which my rich friend
    > swears by) and Rick Steves. Both are a lot more expensive than Globus.
    >
    > But I do know I could get a Flexi Europass for this type of trip for my
    > husband and myself for about $1000. If it's possible to do hotel rooms
    > for about $150 a night (is that reasonable?), that would be about $3250
    > for the two of us for fifteen nights out. The Globus thing, at around
    > $3400 for two, looks to be comparable. I just don't know if we would be
    > happier having built-in transportation and hotels, and maybe making some
    > friends on the bus, or going it alone.

Maybe a Eurail Flexipass is not the best travel bargain. About 6 years
ago I travelled from Rome to London on a regular point-to-point ticket,
with stopovers in Salzburg, Frankfurt, and the Hague. The ticket cost me
about $300, including the occasional upgrade and reservation (which I
purchases along the way, as needed). I'm sure it would cost more now,
but it still may be cheaper than the Flexipass.

As for hotels, I normally stay in small inexpensive hotels, which I
usually find in Let's Go. These almost always cost less than $100 a
night (usually a lot less) for a double room.

I don't know how many meals Globus includes, but I'm sure I could do
this trip for a LOT less than they're charging. Of course they say you
the trouble of reserving hotels. Another thing to consider though is the
means of transport. I'm a lot more comfortable travelling long distances
in a train than in a bus. At least you can get up and take a walk to the
snack car, and there's a usable bathroom.

Barbara