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 offers a number of tours to Europe departing from/returning to London.
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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