Heard the horror stories? Dinner in London for $145 each, not counting drinks and tip. Lunch in Venice $65. Hotels in Paris $600 a night.
Yes, Europe is expensive. The euro is worth more than $1.50. Flights cost an average of 7 percent more than they did a year ago. Hotel rates continue to rise. Is Europe worth it, you wonder.
To my mind, yes. Europe is magical at any price, with its history, sights, cuisine, shopping, and festivals. But one way to shave expenses is to take a tour or cruise.
Grand European Tours, which has been specializing in trips to the Continent for nearly three decades, is among companies guaranteeing that once you put down your deposit the price is not going to change, even if airfare, fuel surcharges, and government taxes go up and currency exchange rates fluctuate. For those who want to cover a lot of territory, there is a 16-day Best of Europe at Leisure tour beginning at $4,099 that includes London, Paris, Amsterdam, Lucerne, Switzerland, and Venice, and gives you 14 breakfasts and five dinners. For those seeking a narrower focus, there is the 14-day Grand Tour of Greece at $3,549 from Boston, including 12 breakfasts, seven dinners, and a welcome reception.
Visit getours.com or call 800-552-5545.
Mediterranean cruises grow increasingly popular, and I still have fond memories of one I took a decade ago aboard the Grand Princess. This year the Pacific Princess has a similar 12-day itinerary, visiting Barcelona; Marseille (via Provence); Florence/Pisa; Rome (via Civitavecchia); Naples/Capri; Mykonos, Greece; Istanbul and Kusadasi; Athens; and Venice. Listed prices begin at $1,859. Add to that the price of airfare and excursions, which can range from under $40 for a basic tour to a few hundred dollars for an overnight stay on land between ports.
Visit princess.com or call 800-PRINCESS (800-774-62377).
For young people, there is Contiki, which specializes in vacations for 18- to 35-year-olds. Berlin & Prague, for example, begins at $869 plus airfare and includes six breakfasts and two dinners. Young people seeking something less traditional might consider the 16-day Europe Camping expedition. Travel is by motorcoach and ferry but nights are spent camping. Countries visited are France, Belgium (in transit), the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. Prices begin at $1,469 plus airfare and include 14 breakfasts and eight dinners. As with most companies' tours, Contiki trips include a lot of sightseeing, but there are also optional tours at extra cost.
Visit contiki.com or call 866-CONTIKI (866-266-8454).
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