Independent Travel In Europe

You know I sell cruises.

That's pretty obvious.

I also sell resort packages and tours, which again is obvious.

Perhaps you didn't realize that I sell independent land packages, too.

What is an independent package?

Basically, instead of getting on the road or a plane, landing somewhere and winging it, or more likely spending months on end researching ever-changing details about hotels, sites to see and ground transportation, you just call me and I put it all together for you.

Many people believe this must cost more, and I am the first to admit that it is possible to get cheaper hotels, transportation and skip admissions, cutting the final price, because I have often done that myself.  However, for a very good to amazing quality, it is hard to beat the package deals by my favorite vendors, Travel Bound and Monograms.

Why is that?

Because they aren't reinventing the wheel every time you decide to take a vacation, which is essentially what you are doing if you choose to book it yourself a la carte.  They know what most people want to see and do, and they make that available, negotiating hard with the companies they use.  In turn, they make it easy for me, as your travel agent, to make recommendations with a high degree of confidence to my friends looking to travel to new and exciting places.

People visiting one city for less than three days, usually pre- or post-cruise, have found Travel Bound has some great alternatives to the packages sold by the cruise line.  Many are smaller properties that wouldn't be on the menu with American Express Vacations, another vendor I use, but they also have deals on those larger 5 star properties.  A feature I particularly like is that Travel Bound quotes their prices including taxes in U.S. dollars.  It is an a la carte system, where we decide what transfers and tours to add based on your preferences, and I will always interpret the choices initially to present a great total package, which you then have line item veto power to change.  While they offer all levels, I recommend sticking to 3 stars or higher, with 4 to 5 stars being particularly good best, but if you want to gamble on a 2 star, at least you'll know what you're buying. 

By the way, if you weren't aware of this, you should know that specific location within a city as well as hotel reputation definitely influences price.  Being where the action is always comes at a premium price, but sometimes you can save money and actually make your trip more enjoyable by going with a hotel slightly off the beaten path.  If you've been to Rome a lot and really are looking more for a rustic place in the Roman countryside, you can save big outside the city.  If you stay on Lido Isle instead of by San Marco for a stay in Venice, you'll save big money and also have a peaceful place to escape the crowds that's a short and pleasant water bus ride away.  I'm happy to share some of these off the beaten path ways to save money without sacrificing quality in your vacation experience. 

Similarly, if your family is more interested in Harry Potter than Westminster Cathedral, we can move your trip toward your desires.  And while there are usually cheap ways to use public transportation, it can make getting to the hotel or airport more confusing, so we can get transfers set in advance, whether in a private vehicle or shared van.  Often, breakfast is included, so you can leave home with all of your plans set and paid, except lunch, dinner and, of course, the inevitable spur of the moment decisions, which is where you get to customize your "wheel."  Having certain elements booked in advance assures you don't miss what you really want.

While Travel Bound does a great job for one city, and multiple cities for the most independent travelers,  I must say that Monograms makes it even easier. 

For Europe, Monograms operates basically with 3 day modules.  Vacations from 3 to 15 days. 

Why 3 days?

Because experience has determined that to be the ideal amount of time for a combination of tours and down time, without getting bored, although some cities like Rome have longer stays available. 

Monograms includes great hotels that have been hand-selected to be of high quality and in the best locations, with enough included excursions with pre-paid admissions mixed with exactly enough down time for most people.  And their tours are all VIP, cut to the front of the line excursions. 

The included transfers fill the gaps when traveling between cities by train, and then there is a Monograms host in each city to share inside tips.  The hosts don't travel with you between cities, but a new Monograms representative or host will greet you at the point of transfer when you arrive and take you to the next point of transfer.  While they've found independent people like you prefer to travel independently but also appreciate the assistance of a local expert at key times wherever you go.

The host will point out highlights of the city, including restaurant tips and additional site seeing possibilities, and also handle any SNAFUS like luggage misplaced by the airline, and they'll be available throughout your trip to answer questions or cut through red tape on your behalf.  Plus, the peace of mind have having someone on your side who speaks the local language fluently and can translate exactly for you.

For Europe, travel between cities is predominantly by First Class train, so break that association between big tour busses and independent land packages.

So, you see, you don't have to endure hours of frustration planning your next independent land vacation.  Call me instead.

Better service leads to better trips!