From breathtaking scenic beauty to bustling, historic cities, you’re certain to find your heart’s delight on this 15-day tour; and after days of craggy coastlines, rolling hills and towering castles, you’re likely to find a frothy pint as well!
The tour begins in Edinburgh, Scotland and dominating the city is the ever-imposing Edinburgh Castle, site of the famous Military Tattoo. Your guide will lead you through the gates of defense and into the main courtyard at the castle where you will visit St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh, the Royal Palace Apartments, the Great Hall and the Scottish National War Memorial, as well as have great views overlooking the city. From the castle, walk down the Royal Mile, past many intriguing shops and pubs, to view Holyrood House where Mary Queen of Scots once lived.
As you leave Scotland you will wind your way down through the English Lake District and into the medieval city of Chester. Chester is a remarkable walled-city with its unique Rows and traditional black and white Tudor-style buildings. It is home to an impressive cathedral with unusual fittings and an antique organ as well as beautiful gardens. One of the most memorable things to do while in Chester is to walk along the footpath built into the tops of the walls offering a different perspective of the city, glimpsing the gardens and buildings from a different vantage point.
In Wales you will enjoy lunch in a castle, a highlight of the tour! You’ll then journey through Snowdonia and see the famous castle in Caernarvon where Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales. Then it is on to Holyhead and across the Irish Sea over to Dublin. The high spot of your Dublin tour is a visit to Trinity College to see the 1,000 year-old Book of Kells!
While in Ireland you will visit the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher as well as take a scenic drive around the picturesque Ring of Kerry allowing you to see the million different shades of green that Ireland offers. You’ll also visit Blarney Castle where you have the opportunity to kiss the Stone of Eloquence and obtain the gift of gab!
Once you ferry back across the sea to Southern England you will visit some of the most famous places in Britain! The well-preserved Georgian city of Bath is a wondrous sight as you tour the famous Roman Baths and Pump Room. In Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, you are able to walk through Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, built prior to the 15th century, and see how she lived as a child before marrying William Shakespeare.
On your way to London you’ll stop to visit the mysterious and prehistoric Stonehenge – a sight you will never forget. Next stop is Hampton Court Palace for a chance to stroll through the gorgeous gardens and see the famous maze. On your last day a city tour of London including views of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, and if your timing is right, the Changing of the Guard will round out your journey!
Enjoy this enchanting, scenic spree through Scotland, Ireland, Britain and Wales; from medieval Edinburgh to the modern metropolis of London, you’re bound to delight in this memorable tour of Britain and Ireland Highlights!
Learn More > Click here for all Britain & Ireland tours!
Discover rich history and the warm hospitality of local folks along the way
On Grand European Tours 15-day Britain & Ireland Highlights tour you will experience the best that these countries have to offer. From the castles, bagpipes, cattle and tartan kilts of Scotland to the scenic coastlines, jaunting car rides, sheep and beer of the Irish, to the serene landscape and ruins of Wales, to the quaint villages and bustling cities of England.
With enticing expeditions such as dining in the Ruthin Castles in the deep countryside of Wales, kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland or seeing the wonder of Stonehenge, you’re bound to delight in this memorable tour of Britain and Ireland Highlights and bring home memories that will never fade!
August departures also include admission to the famous Military Tattoo which is held in the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle. This grand spectacle gathers more than 20,000 people together for an evening of music, marching bands and historical reenactments. The tattoo is such a significant event that is it broadcast to an international audience of 100 million, and this tour gives you the opportunity to watch the festivities right on the castle grounds!
Learn More > Click here for tours to Britain & Ireland!
16-Day Eastern European Explorer River Cruise
From the emergence of city-states to the decline of civilizations, the history of Europe is best revealed along her rivers. You’ll cruise to seven countries: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, and visit five capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. Immerse yourself in new cultures, meet new friends, and delight in new cuisine!
14-Day European Serenade River Cruise
Let the music and culture of Europe’s grand cities and fairytale villages serenade you! Experience life in the tiny villages, medieval bastions, and bustling cities along the majestic Danube, the peaceful Main, and the romantic Rhine as you travel from the elegant city of Vienna to the colorful canals of Amsterdam.
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Portugal & Spain River Cruise through the Douro Valley
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Travel Europe’s most unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage river valley through Portugal and Spain.
The Douro River, rising in Spain and reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Porto, has created the spectacular Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rambling Vineyards and charming native farms called “quintas” cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions and to Port country – the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of old world architecture. Visit Coimbra, the “Birthplace of Kings;” Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center; and Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Taste plenty of wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including Port wine, the region’s sweet fortified wine. Feast on a traditional meal at the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy an authentic Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show; and dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent 18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. All along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, and meet warm-hearted, friendly people with welcoming arms. Learn More > Portugal & Spain River Cruise through the Douro Valley
9-Day Paris & Normandy River Cruise
9-day Paris and Normandy River Cruise not only includes a full-day Normandy Beaches tour, but you also get to enjoy other magnificent towns of the region. From Rouen and Honfleur to Monet’s Giverny, the breathtaking beauty of this northern region of France is a sure delight! And who could forget Paris? Enjoy a full day touring the City of Light as the final triumph on your discovery of a land full of art, culture, history and brilliant landscapes!
9-Day Burgundy & Provence River Cruise
Sail through the heart of Burgundy and Provence on a magical journey where sumptuous cuisine, fine wine, world-class art, nature and history are a treat for all the senses. You’ll sail past quaint hilltop cities and fashionable, lively towns, lush vineyards, fields of flowers, and sun-drenched vistas made famous by great painters such as Van Gogh and Cezanne. Add in the full-bodied wines and incomparable culinary dishes, and you’ll soon discover that joie de vivre is not just a phrase, but a wonderful way of life!
9-Day Enchanting Danube River Cruise
Pay tribute to the queen of Europe’s great rivers, the Danube, as you waltz your way through regal cities and hilltop villages. Sail along this beloved, ancient waterway and discover Budapest, the beautiful “Queen of the Danube” and breathtaking Vienna, the “Waltz Capital of the World.” Experience enchanting Salzburg, the charming village of Durnstein located in Austria’s lush vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, and Passau with Europe’s largest pipe organ located in its grand cathedral. This is a journey full of centuries of intriguing history that will unfold before your eyes.
9-Day Danube Discovery River Cruise
Sail along the majestic Danube for an unforgettable journey from Vienna to Nuremberg. You’ll discover one beautiful gem after another – the imposing 900-year-old baroque Abbey of Melk, the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Wachau Valley, and the Old Town Regensburg, the largest intact Medieval town in Europe. Vibrant cities, enchanting villages, and picturesque countryside define the Danube.
Passports and Visas
All passengers will require a passport for any tour that leaves the United States including Canada and Mexico. Your passport needs to be valid for six months beyond the conclusion of your trip. Certain countries that we tour also require a travel visa, including Egypt, Jordan, Russia, Belarus, Turkey and China.
Baggage
Each tour member can bring one large suitcase and one carry-on suitcase on the coach. Your large suitcase should not exceed 50lbs or 30″x22″x10″ in dimension. Some airlines have more restrictive policies regarding the size or weight of your luggage, so you will want to check with your airline prior to traveling in order avoid over-limit fees.
Your carry-on luggage should be no larger than 17″x14″x6″ in order for it to fit on the overhead shelf of the motor-coach. Most carry-on bags with wheels and a telescopic handle will not meet these dimensions. Our passengers often find that a backpack or small duffel works better for their carry-on luggage.
The handling of your large suitcase by hotel porters is included as part of your tour package, however your carry-on luggage is your responsibility.
What to Bring
This will depend upon your personal preferences, where you are traveling to and the time of year you are traveling. We recommend that you pack lightweight clothing as a basis for your wardrobe and then add layers to accommodate for a range of temperature. Packing versatile separates can mix and match to make several different outfits and will save you from over-packing. Wrinkle-resistant clothing can be found in most major department stores and make a great addition to your vacation wardrobe.
Bring soft, comfortable shoes for walking. For evening-wear, men may wish to take one coat and tie, while women should bring one or two wrinkle-free dresses. For the most part, however, dress is casual. Cruise passengers will require one semi-formal evening dress.
Please remember that traveling with a closet full of clothes is not really necessary, while an emphasis on comfort is paramount. You may also expect some rain showers so be sure to carry a light raincoat and a small, collapsible umbrella.
If you are traveling with a companion it is a good idea to pack clothing for each person in each of your suitcases. In the unlikely event that one of your cases doesn’t arrive with you, this will help to reduce the stress of waiting for your luggage to catch up with you.
Budgeting
This is obviously a difficult question, since the amount will vary from person to person and from tour to tour. Our itineraries include many features which will save you money on tour – if you study your tour pages in the catalog or on the tour page of our website you will see how many highlights are included with your sightseeing, as well as meals and entertainment. Listed below is a guide to extra expense for which you should budget per person.
Meals: Lunches are usually not included and peoples’ requirements vary. We suggest $20 per person per day. Where evening meals are not included, the cost will depend on the type and locations of restaurants used. As a guide, we generally recommend that you budget $40 per person per meal.
Optional Excursions: Experience has shown us that most passengers participate in these excursions and you should therefore budget for them in advance. You will receive a list of optional excursions with your final documents a few weeks prior to the start of your tour. If you would like to receive them sooner you are always welcome to call and request them or you can view sample optional excursions for our tours on our website.
Personal Expenditures:Souvenirs, stamps, postcards, telephone calls, taxi fares, laundry, etc. Allow yourself $10-15 per day, plus extra for any major gifts. Prior to departing the U.S., we recommend that each traveler acquire a small amount of cash in the currency of the country where your tour begins. An amount equal to $100 U.S. dollars per person is usually satisfactory for initial expenses. Your local bank should be able to assist you in acquiring foreign currency.
While travelers checks are still a safe method of changing money whilst traveling, it is worth noting that it can be hard to exchange checks and you typically incur charges or lower exchange rates than if you were to use your ATM card in a local bank cash machine. Major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard and American Express) are widely accepted in many stores and restaurants. Also, it is important that you inform your bank or credit card company of when and where you are traveling prior t in order to avoid any problems.
9-days Select London & Paris Tour
Grand European Tours’ 9-day Select London & Paris tour is a hosted tour, which is a bit different than most of our other tours which are fully escorted. We have found that for these two great cities, which have so much to offer, a hosted tour makes it easier for our passengers to see the things that interest them the most.
So, how does a hosted tour work?
VIP Door-to-Door Transfer will pick you up at home and take you to your local airport for your flight to London. Upon arriving in London you will have a provided transfer from the airport to your hotel, the lovely Thistle Marble Arch, located in the heart of the city on Oxford Street just across from Hyde Park. That first evening you will meet your local host and fellow travelers for a welcome drink.
The next morning, day 3 of your tour, you will begin your sightseeing tour. You will be able to admire Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and historic Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned since 1065. Then drive through the West End, seeing Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column. Then you will walk with your guide to Buckingham Palace to witness the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard (if operating). Lastly, drive along Piccadilly, past Green Park and the Ritz, to finish in the heart of the West End. The rest of the days is yours to spend as you please.
Your local host will be available at the hotel to assist you with any ideas of things to do, how to get there, or to make reservations for you. The next two full days are yours to explore the city as you choose. Your host will also offer optional tours that you are welcome to sign up for such as a day trip to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath or to Shakespeare’s Stratford or anything else that interests you.
On day 6 of your tour your Paris tour director will meet you at your London hotel and escort you to St. Pancras Station to take the Eurostar Train to Paris. The train ride takes about two-and-a-half hours and passes through the Channel Tunnel. Upon arrival in Paris your orientation tour takes you to all the main sights: the Louvre building, Place de la Concorde and Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and enchanting Notre Dame Cathedral. Tonight you have the option to take the Paris Illuminations tour to see all the sights lit up at night – a great way to experience ‘the city of light!’
The next two full days are free to do as you please. Your tour director can help you to set up some day tours or you can feel free to explore the Louvre for a few hours, ride up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, go shopping at the Galleries Lafayette, or even to take in one of the famous Parisian cabaret shows!
At the end of the tour you will be transferred to the Paris airport for your flight back home. We are also able to add hotel extensions in either London or Paris if you would like to make your stay longer too.
With the freedom of a hosted tour you have a dedicated host to take you to see all the major sights and to help you with any arrangements that you need and also the flexibility to see and do those things that created your desire to experience these cities in the first place. You will bring home treasured memories of these two grand cities!
Learn More > http://www.getours.com/tours/elp.html
1. GET A PASSPORT
Passports are now required for visiting most countries including Canada, Mexico and most of the Caribbean, so if you don’t have one yet you should get one. It might be time to renew your passport as it should always have at least 3 blank pages and 6 months validity when you travel. Also, getting a new stamp or visa in your passport is a great travel resolution for the new year!
2. MAKE YOUR TRAVELS STRESS FREE
With our fully escorted tours we truly take care of you. You don’t have to worry about hotel reservations, most of your meals or driving from place to place. Also our tours offer a great mix of guided sightseeing and free time, so you can enjoy your destination. Maybe take some time to just sit and people watch or sample the local flavors at lunch or enjoy a gelato while out on a stroll.
3. LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE
Simply learning a few key phrases in the native tongue of your destination can go a long way. People really appreciate when foreigners at least try and attempt a bit of conversation in the local dialect, and even just to know hello, good day, please and thank you will bring you closer to making new friends.
4. TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Time is of the essence, so travel with those who matter the most in your life. A lot of our clients choose to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and graduations by bringing the whole family on a tour, it’s a great way to celebrate the moment and will be a long-held memory for all.
5. SPLURGE A LITTLE AND GO FOR AN UPGRADE
Everyone has been cutting back on all kinds of things during this recession, but now that we are beginning to come out of it take the opportunity to splurge a little while the prices are good. We offer great rates when you upgrade your flights to business class.
Also, with the exchange rates the way they are now you get more bang for your buck in Europe then you do at home, so spoil yourself a bit and take a trip to Europe.
6. TAKE BETTER PHOTOS
Take a class or visit with a tech at the store, or maybe even just read the manual in order to learn all the functions of your camera and to get some tips on how to take a great picture.
7. CHAT IT UP
Make the effort to chat with a local, while in line for coffee, or at the table across from you at lunch, or shopping in a store. Not only will you meet someone new but you will come away with new insights into the local culture and probably some good recommendations on where to go and what to eat as well.
8. PACK LIGHTER
You don’t need to bring everything you own, and the smarter you pack the less you have to worry about. You can find travel tips and weather information on our website for the tour you are interested in. Keep in mind the TSA’s 3-1-1 rules for items you can pack on the plane and any baggage fees that might be charged, especially for overweight bags. We will have a future newsletter dedicated to packing tips, so keep an eye out for that.
9. EXPLORE YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Not up for a trip abroad this year? That’s ok, there is plenty to see right here in the good ol’ USA as well. From California’s beautiful coasts to our great National Parks to the historic Northeast – there are plenty of tours to pick from. We also have tours to Canada’s Rockies and Mexico’s Copper Canyon.
10. TRY SOMETHING NEW
This year step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Whether it is to visit a new place or culture, trying a new and unusual food, or maybe even zip-lining in Costa Rica. Trying something new is exciting and memorable and often leads to a new outlook on life, so go ahead and try something new!
Grand European Tours offers first-class escorted tours to Europe. With over 40 exciting destinations you will be sure to find a vacation package or itinerary that interests you.
Grand European Tours present a real value for travelers. Vacation packages provide priceless opportunities. They have been escorting American travelers to Europe for over 30 years. A large part of their success comes from relationships with local experts who can offer travelers unique cultural experiences. Local guides really make each destination come alive.
For first time travelers, I would highly recommend their London & Paris Vacation Package which is called Select London & Paris. The vacation package is a semi-guided tour, which means you will have access to a local guide as well as plenty of time to explore on your own. This 9-day vacation package to London and Paris showcases the best of both of these historic cities! Soak up the city sights with an included sightseeing tour or explore on your own. Enjoy 4 nights in London before taking the Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel to Paris for two delightful days in the heart of France!
The best part- the price! Grand European Tours is able to get deep discounts on the finest European accommodations, due to volume discounts. Choosing one of their European tour packages means less cost, less planning, less logistics so you can truly relax and enjoy the experience!
‘Tis the season of celebration all around the world, and for many European countries, December 13th starts off the holiday season with the feast day of Santa Lucia! This holiday, though most commonly associated with the Scandinavian countries, originated with the birth of one Lucia in Syracuse, Sicily!
While each country has their own unique traditions on this day, the Italians are not to be left out! In fact, when it comes to celebrating in Italy, every day is a holiday!
Rome, in her vast empire, was often referred to as the capital of the world. In her zenith, no other city on earth could compare to her. And even today, with her historical, religious and artistic offerings, this thriving economic and cultural metropolis hardly has an equal even among the greatest cities of the world! From the Vatican to the famous Colosseum, there is always something memorable to experience in the Eternal City.
This picturesque hillside village, overlooking the Bay of Naples, has long been known for her kindness to travelers. The beautiful orange and lemon groves characteristic of the city add freshness and provide for her famous limoncello. Combine her proximity to Pompeii and the island of Capri with her stunning view of the sea and the sent of citrus in the air, and you have the perfect spot for a holiday destination.
Sicilian first and Italian second, the citizens of Sicily feel an enormous loyalty to their island home. Situated in a coveted spot just off the toe of Italy’s boot, Sicily was likely the most conquered island in the world. All of this conquering brought numerous foreign influences into the land, and resulted in unique Sicilian culture, art, cuisine and even language. While still a relatively undiscovered bit of Italy, Sicily is truly a national treasure. In fact, from the beauties of Taormina and Mount Etna to the architecture of Palermo and the wonder of Agrigento, it’s sure to be amore at first sight in beautiful Sicilia!
