If my best friend backs out of our planned Europe trip, I think I still may go. It's one of my "30 things before 30".
Expat Explore offers some amazing prices for tours to Europe. Of course prices vary by departure date, and you get what you pay for (lower class accommodation), but for a young person, wanting a taster of Europe, this seems the way to go.
Expat Tours
Pros
- starting and ending in London
- website has raving reviews- at least people are motivated to put these up.
- Hotel accommodation- not hostels
- No single supplement- just paired with same sex individual
- Comprehensive pre-departure information for every tour.
- comfort stops every 2 hours
- a range of tours, depending on how long you have, you get to see more.
Cons
- no age restrictions means kids can come and annoy on long bus trips
- 6-10 hours travel time a day
- rushed, wake up early
- budget hotels
- free time- need to plan in advance
- like all bus tours, the experience depends on the other passengers
- fast paced, unlikely to have much relaxation if you want to see everything
- everyone complains about the quality/location of the Paris hotels- have to travel to Paris by public transport
- about 45 people on the bus- have to wait for them!
Direct comparison: Comparing Expat Explorer comfort tours under 3 weeks.
As you can see, add on days are literally added on.
As you can see, add on days are literally added on.
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Price
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770-1080
April 770 Sept 970 |
1000-1500
April 1000
Sept 1500
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1200- 1830
April 1460 Sept 1750 |
1500- 1800
April 1500 Sept 1630 |
2190- 2240
April 2190 Sept 2190 |
Days
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7
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10
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12
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14
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18
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Countries
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5
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
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6
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Italy
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7
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Italy
Vatican City
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10
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Italy
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Australia
Slovenia
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9
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Italy
Vatican City
Spain
Monaco
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Arrival in Paris
Bus tour
(Dinner)
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Free time in Paris
(Breakfast)
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Overnight in Swiss Alps
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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+ Pisa
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Free time
Jungfraujoch
(Breakfast)
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Belgium lunch
Return to London
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No lunch
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Pisa, Italy
Florence
(Breakfast)
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Rhine Valley, Germany
Boat
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Netherlands- windmill
Fishing village
Free time Amsterdam
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Venice bus tour
Free time
(Breakfast)
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Dolomities NP (stop)
Munich arrival (Breakfast, Dinner)
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Rome
Walking tour
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Free time
(Vatican City)
(Breakfast)
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To Vienna
Free time
(Breakfast, Lunch)
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Wine region France
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Slovenia
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Arles
Perfumery
(Breakfast)
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Florence free time
(Breakfast)
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French Riviera
Free time
(Breakfast)
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Amsterdam
Countryside and city
(Dinner)
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Venice Free time
(Breakfast)
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Czech Republic
Prague
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Free time Barcelona
(Breakfast)
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Free time Prague
(Breakfast)
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Avignon
To Barcelona
(Breakfast, Dinner)
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Bratislava
Drive in Budapest
(Breakfast)
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Free time Amsterdam
(Breakfast)
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Useful resources:
- Tripadvisor has several threads with comments about these tours.
- Blog reviews. For example, http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/travel/europe-%E2%80%93-there-for-the-travel-and-the-friends.htm for first time, multi country trips, this expat explore is a great choice.
Tips:
- Discounts for last minute travellers.
Post contains flickr images
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