A Luxury Tour?

So many people have always had that dream of one day seeing Europe. The enchanting scenery, the history and the old architecture; different cultures and amazing cuisine. With the world getting smaller and airlines have daily departures to varies entry points across Europe, getting overseas is faster and easier than ever. Well, as easy as a transatlantic flight can be. At least most major airlines have free drinks and meals when crossing the big pond separating North America and Europe.

Then the plane lands in Paris’ ever so famous “Charles de Gaule” airport…now what do you do? The airline never said it was going to get you to your hotel. “You’re in Europe now!” Their end of the bargain is complete. So, if you want the cheapest way to get to Paris, it would probably be by finding the train station attached to the airport and buy a ticket, about 13 Euros at the time I’m writing this, and hop on the RER train into a main station in Paris. It will take about a half hour, and you will most likely be carrying everything up and down flights of stairs. (don’t rely on metro stations to have a working elevator or escalator) Note, there is a good chance you will be standing up with all your belongings for the whole trip. And remember to always have a ticket and know where to get them. A fine can be pretty pricey, and I know from experience. This didn’t happen in France though. I won’t mention them by name, but it is a very popular country for tourists and they are notorious for making rules that are purposely unclear to fine unknowing tourists who just don’t know any better…if you know you know. Hint, it isn’t Germany either. Maybe I should mention them by name because I don’t want people to think that it is England, Ireland, Scottland, Wales, or Spain either.

Now you finally get to your hotel and after a good meal and a nights rest, you want to go sightseeing. How do you do this the cheapest way? You guessed it. Learn the bus routes and stand in conditions that rival a rock concert and get off at your stop. Also, always beware of pickpockets.

Or you can go the most convenient route to get from the airport to the city and to take you all around to see the sights because public transit isn’t very luxurious. You can take a taxi. If you have to ask me how much a taxi will cost to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris, the cab driver might also know that you have no idea and the price is what they say it is. Typically, there is a flat rate of around 60 to 70 euros but someone taking advantage of a tourist in a major city isn’t exactly rare. Although I won’t say too much in this article but the difference between a major city and a smaller city in Europe is a very different experience. I find small cities far more friendly with way nicer locals, however, most transatlantic flights don’t land in a small city. However, if your local airport is a hub for a major airline, you might be lucky and can only make one stop to get to more exclusive areas.

You can now take taxis, or use a ridesharing app, but that probably won’t save you much money to get around a busy city with loads of traffic. And when all is said and done at the end of your trip, you will look at your credit card statement and realize you could’ve done this for about the same cost as a luxury tour. One that picks you up from the airport, takes you to your hotel, including sightseeing and getting around. All with a tour guide to help you with anything you need. Some tour companies like Collette will even pick you up and drop you off at your house before and after the tour. As long as you book airfare from them and are within 50 miles of the airport. Wouldn’t it be nice to just have everything taken care of for you and not have to worry about finding your way around an entirely different continent?

But which tour company do you choose? Remember that not all tour companies are created equally. You will see 2 different companies seemingly offering the same trip, why the difference in price? If you dig a little deeper, you might see that they are not the same as they initially appeared. One might offer more meals and included excursions while staying in much nicer accommodations in a MUCH better part of the city. Do you actually get to explore the destinations on the itineraries, or are you just driving passed them on the bus? Most luxury operators use a deluxe motorcoach to get you to the sites and from city to city. When it come to sightseeing, Do you walk into the ancient city in Rome, or merely pass by it on the way to walking past the Colosseum? It is quite costly to go inside with long lines if it wasn’t included in your fare.

So let me emphasize that point. When you book a tour with a luxury tour operator, you are NOT just paying for a flight and a hotel. You are paying everything that occurs the moment your flight lands, to the moment it departs again, sometimes before and after the flights. All of the “in betweens” are taken care for you. You don’t have to worry about accidently getting on the 42 bus heading south when you meant to get on the 7 bus heading north. Trust me, it happens to even the most experienced traveler. Italy is the most confusing out of the countries I like to visit. The same bus number will take off from the same stop, facing the same direction, only to turn the direction you didn’t plan on going in. At least it wasn’t like that time I got off at the wrong stop with all of my luggage, nearly missing my train.

 Travel agents are a good resource to have, but remember in Europe, if you need help at noon, it is 4 AM where I am located. It is quite nice having a tour guide with you to help you with everything you need with you. They show you the destinations, give you the history, and many times, get travelers into exclusive areas that aren’t always available to the public.

So next time you look into taking a tour and you see that price tag, remember everything that is included in that price tag. The components of any travel style to any destination, include a lot more than merely a flight and a hotel stay. If you see one tour company offering an insanely low price to see the same places, the cheap cost might literally be a flight and a stay in a budget hotel and not much more.