When you are ready to explore, one big consideration is often whether to travel as part of a guided travel group or go totally independent.

 

There are good things about both guided and independent travel and many things to consider. It is important to think clearly about what makes sense for your trip. Guided travel has come a long way from years ago when group tours were very regimented with a schedule allowing no flexibility. Independent travel formerly was the only way to have control over how your time is spent while exploring. Times have changed!
 

Our guided travel options include:

*Both large and small groups

*Transportation by rail as well as motor coach

*Custom groups sometimes have a private motor coach

*Expert guides to show you the iconic sites

*Combinations of time involved in group touring alternating with time on your own

*Themed groups such as culinary groups, wine groups, art groups etc.

*Tours just for Millennials

*Guided tour groups for families

*Hiking Groups

*Bicycle  Groups

*Groups that can combine both touring on land as well as time on a ship

*Group activities such as cooking classes, wine tastings or photography classes

*Family groups with activities for children as well as separate activities just for adults

*Opportunities to meet new friends with common interests on guided trips
 

Our Independent travel options include:

*Transfers and transportation

*Private or shared tours of iconic sites

*Private or shared drivers for winery tours or other areas

*Private or shared boat tours

*Combinations of hotels, transportation and city overview tours

*Excursions both private and with small groups to see sights off the beaten path

*Some independent travel can be combined with hotels booked with a local host to answer questions or help you plan your days

*In Ireland we can set up vouchers for B&B properties

*Our expertise to set up the most important parts of the trip, leaving you with unplanned time as well

 

We often combine both guided group travel with independent travel to customize a trip to what works best for our clients. Guided travel is a very efficient way to explore. Someone else takes care of all the tedious details, leaving you to just enjoy the destination.

When you want to maximize the value for your travels, keep in mind that the high quality tour companies we work with provide excellent rates for each part of your trip. For example, due to the volume of hotel rooms they book with their many tours, guided tour companies get very good hotel rates. You also have access to excellent tour guides as the top guides are employed full time with the best tour companies.

 

When totally independent travel works best, having the most important pieces of the itinerary set up ahead of time means you have paid in US dollars at a set price, you know the activities that are special to you are included and your transportation and hotels are confirmed. This gives you freedom to add in other things that you may choose at the spur of the moment to fill in some of the free days that we always include in our trips!  

 

We do not book through systems that will cause you to be bumped from hotels or put in the undesirable room locations that are reserved for discount online companies. Your vacation time  and money is too important to waste any time with those types of issues . We protect you and your money!