Affordable Europe

A walk down a narrow street in Gamla Stan section of Stockholm.

Don't Put Off That Trip!

By Chris Stine

>Escorted Tours
>European Cruises

If you love to travel—and I’m certain you do—especially to Europe, but you’re flinching at the drop in the dollar against the euro, there are several reasons why you don’t have to put off that dream vacation.

Here are two key words to help you get over the jitters of a European vacation: Tours and cruises! Booking an all-inclusive escorted tour or cruise vacation will take the sting out of those “dollar doldrums.”

Escorted Tours

Once upon a time—a long time ago—the word “tour” meant hopping on and off a bus and doing the cookie-cutter drive through England or France, with little or no time to really enjoy the scenery, culture and local flavor of the destination. Those days are thankfully gone, and more than 11 million travelers yearly are taking advantage of all the benefits that come with an escorted tour.

There is very little resemblance to the tours being offered today, by such renowned tour operators as Tauck World Discovery and Trafalgar, to those of yesteryear. Contrary to popular belief, these vacation offerings, while structured to some extent, are not rigid and do not lack adventure or sophistication. The fact is they encompass a tremendous spectrum of tastes, interests and travel styles—from a multi-country tour to a wine-tasting tour that could include letting food and wine lovers stay in private wine-producing villas in Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont, Italy, or attend private cooking classes in Provence, Tuscany or Sicily.

They also could include such amenities as after-hours museum visits, meals in private settings (perhaps a palace), behind-the-scenes theater tours, and stays in chateaus instead of hotels. Actually, if you’re looking for something different, consider a stay in a castle in Europe, a farm in Ireland, an eco-lodge, or a traditional Pousada or Parador (authentic country inns of Portugal and Spain). From luxury inns to chateaus, travelers who want to trade high-rise hotels for something more exotic can find a variety of vacation packages and tours with unusual accommodations.

For the fifth straight year, Italy placed first as the most popular international destination for vacation packages and tours, but Eastern Europe is the hottest up-and-coming destination, including Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Consider these destinations when you’re planning your vacation, since prices to this region could be a better bargain.

With today’s dollar in a decline, traveling to Europe can be costly, particularly where the strong euro means that a four-star hotel can cost up to $450 or more per night, and where other extras, like restaurant meals and sightseeing tours, can quickly add up. Because tour operators rely on volume purchasing, it often enables them to secure hotel accommodations, airline space, sightseeing tours, meals and other arrangements and services that would be virtually impossible to obtain from any other source. The average savings are 30 percent, and can range from 10 to 40 percent depending on time of year and destination. With these additional savings, you can plan on spending on other amenities, such as art, gifts for friends and loved ones, etc.

Buying your tour or package also means peace of mind. Since you prepay for your trip, you know the cost in advance, and you can budget for your vacation with more certainty. Booking well in advance also protects you against further devaluation of the dollar and guarantees that you won’t pay costly extras during the trip. Most travel experts agree that waiting for last-minute bargains does not guarantee the best price. Booking early often will help lock in the best price and the best routing, as well as avoid late fees.

Here are some other money-saving hints from travel professionals:

• Choose train travel over renting a car
• Travel in the off-peak seasons to get value pricing
• Look for family discounts for children 18 and younger
• Know that escorted products have more included in the package price
• Look for vacation packages and tours that include as many meals as possible to put more money in your pocket for other things. Plainly put, buy everything you can on this side of the Atlantic and avoid “sticker shock” after you arrive at your destination.

Some people wonder if they’ll have enough independence on a group tour. Today, however, more and more tours are building in free time and giving travelers the best of both worlds. Many escorted trips also provide for a considerable amount of learning. Naturalists accompany trips to the wilderness; local experts, known as step-on guides, may join briefly to share their knowledge of a specific area, culture or activity; while tour directors are usually savvy, personable and well informed. In short, tours and vacation packages are as varied as the millions of Americans who purchase them.

You’ll also have the assurance that your vacation has been planned by professionals. And in the event that an unforeseen problem does arise, a tour escort, local host or some other representative of the tour operator is generally available to assist you.

European Cruises

Boat tours offer an intimate glimpse into the culture and history of a city.

Europe also can be a bargain if you cruise. All of us are looking to get the most for our vacation money, and that’s why you’ll appreciate the value of cruising. With only shore-side excursions to consider (unless you explore on your own) and buying souvenirs, cruising is a proven money-saver. Many cruise lines are now offering a wide variety of diverse cruise itineraries and incredible savings for the 2008 Europe season. On a cruise, accommodations and food are already paid for—plus the view from your stateroom changes every day.

Typical expenses such as accommodations, transportation between cities in Europe, food, entertainment and tours are much less on a cruise, which makes these items all inclusive. And a big plus—you pay in U.S. dollars for your intra-European transportation, accommodations, meals and sightseeing—no worries about the exchange rate for the major costs of your trip. And because cruises usually price their sailings—as well as shore excursions and even spa fees—up to a year in advance, you are locking in a trip’s major costs before you even set foot on board.

What are some other benefits? You constantly sail from place to place, but check in and unpack only once. You have the same accommodations every night, and you don’t have to scour the countryside for a decent restaurant with prices that won’t give you heartburn. And think of all the amenities you get while cruising—from the quality and service in your stateroom (maybe even one with a balcony) and dining, to the onboard entertainment and facilities aboard the ships. Often, these perks can’t be matched at this price on land.

Passengers also have options in the type of cruise they want to experience. The large cruise ships feature the more traditional itineraries, while the hugely popular riverboats ply the inland waterways and rivers, and the smaller yacht-like ships provide a more intimate environment and less structured itineraries. Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess and Celebrity, are launching megaships in the Mediterranean in 2008 or positioning more ships there in anticipation of a successful season. Many of the vessels will cruise throughout the region this summer from perennial favorite destinations like Italy and Spain to Croatia and Arctic gateway towns, which some predict are going to be the season’s important new destinations. With so many lines sailing so many ships this summer, pricing on European cruises has become increasingly competitive—particularly in this era of 200-euro hotel rooms.

New Dalmatian and Black Sea destinations, along with additional Greek and Turkish ports, make for not only a more varied European cruising season, but a longer one as well. And that longer sailing window, now stretching as late as December on some lines, provides yet another opportunity for travelers to save. By avoiding the peak months of June through August, travelers can save as much as $1,000 on a cruise of seven to 11 nights.

If you’re thinking of avoiding Europe this year—don’t! There are deals to be had on land and on sea. But book now when the time is right.

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