Dec 10
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If you’re group is traveling to Berlin, an absolute must-see is the home of the German parliament, the Reichstag building.
It’s an old building with new tricks. The Reichstag was reborn as the capitol building of the unified German government when the capitol was transferred from Bonn in 1999. It’s been renovated with a spectacular glass dome. This is a real highlight for any visitor, as you can walk up to the top and catch some great views of Berlin.
Since it’s such a popular attraction, there are often long queues of people lining up to visit the Reichstag. If your group arranges a prebooked tour, you can enter the Reichstag via a special entrance, and do either a normal tour of the building with some explanations, or special art and architecture tours. Groups must be between six and 25 people.
You can also sometimes attend sittings of parliament. There’s a restaurant on the roof-top terrace if you get hungry.
(Photo via flickr cc)
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Dec 07
Ireland has become one of the top tourist destinations, thanks to its breathtaking scenery, cultural delights and ancient history. For a special trip that lets you spend more time at your favorite locations and less at ones that don’t suit your personal style, consider a self-drive tour through the Emerald Isle.
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Dec 01
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the hilly, central region of the country. Spain, generally, is more affordable than many European capitals. The large number of free attractions and events also help to keep down the cost of visiting this historic city. Continue reading »
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Nov 22
Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is not generally known for its affordable prices. Yet the City of Lights offers a variety of free things to do. Perhaps the best free thing to do in Paris is to explore the compact city on foot. This planned city rewards sightseers at every corner with a new vista or spectacular building. In addition, here is a sampling of the free things to do in Paris: Continue reading »
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Nov 11
Any group going to London has conflicting goals: Someone wants to haunt the royal spots like Buckingham Palace and watch the Changing of the Guard, another wants to hang out with wax figures at Madame Tussauds and another group member really wants to get arty at the Tate Gallery. How can you satisfy the tastes of everybody? Continue reading »
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Oct 31
One of the most famous reminders of the Berlin Wall is the border crossing known as Checkpoint Charlie. It doesn’t exist any more, of course, but the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie located near the original site of the crossing is a great place to learn about what went on in Berlin during those difficult times. Continue reading »
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Oct 28
The Louvre, probably the world’s most famous museum, is home to 35,000 artworks from all over the world and from every era in history. But if you’re going with a group, you’ll need to plan in advance. Following are some points to consider. Continue reading »
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Oct 17
Germany’s “Castle Road” stretches 585 miles across southern Germany and the Czech Republic, from Mannheim, Germany to Prague. Along the way, there are 70 castles and a variety of Medieval cities and fortresses to explore. Continue reading »
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Oct 14
The Palace of Versailles, the official residence of the kings of France from 1682 to1790, is the most popular tourist destination outside of France. But groups of 30 more more must make arrangements in writing at least four months in advance before visiting.
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Oct 10
Amsterdam is a wonderful, welcoming place for women to visit thanks to the Dutch belief in women’s independence and the fact that English is spoken everywhere. Continue reading »
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Oct 01
There are more than 45 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry. This combined with the ease of traveling in Ireland, the lack of a language barrier and the abundance of choices of travel packages has made this small island a favorite destination.
Ireland is only 350 miles long and 200 miles wide. This makes it possible to see a great deal of this lovely country in a relatively short period of time. But don’t be tempted to “see it all” in one trip. Rushing through a country as varied and special as Ireland would be a terrible mistake.
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Sep 28
Athens is one of those cities that is fascinating on multiple levels. History lovers could spend a lifetime in the Greek captial and not see everything. Remnants from Ancient Greece, some remarkably well-preserved, stand next to Byzantine chapels, alongside a row of 19th century colonial buildings. The Greeks themselves take their past in stride, bustling past these wonders, with the nonchalance of ones who see history every day.
Dining in Athens
Then there’s the dining. Like Paris, but on a different scale, it’s all but impossible to get a bad meal in Athens. The traditional dishes are simply prepared–grilled or baked–and the produce is colorful and just off the vines. From a lively taverna in the Plaka to a seaside eatery along the Aegean in Pireaus, the food is delicious.
Outside of Athens
Athens is also a great starting point for exploring the interior of Greece–places like Delphi and Olympia–or the dozens of sun-filled Greeks islands, each with its personality, such as Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini.
Traveling to Athens
Roundtrip airfare to Athens starts around $800 from New York City. Once in the city, you’ll find hotels, restaurants, and transportation much less expensive than in other European capitals.
(photo credit: Flickr user: R Polls/cc license)
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Sep 27
For those looking for a vacation with a little more culture then how about a trip to the City of Culture? Barcelona, Spain is one of the most vibrant cities in the world with incredible architecture by Antoni Gaudi punctuated by the flowing beat of flamenco music and dancers.
The most popular stop in Barcelona is a magnificent temple designed by the master, Gaudi, himself. La Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and it still has at least another 30 years to go.
If you’re looking to experience Spanish culture throughout the ages then the Spanish Village or Poble Espanyol de Montjuic is a must-see. This small Spanish village contains different quarters, which depict different style of architecture throughout Spain. There are also several shops for tourists to pick up a souvenir or two. In addition, the Spanish Village hosts the famous Flamenco show at tablao de Carmen.
No trip to Barcelona is complete without a visit to Museu Picasso. This art museum hosts over a million guests a year and features one of the largest collections of Picasso’s artwork. The artist’s life unfolds before visitors in a chronological fashion, making it one of the most enlightening tours through Picasso’s life.
Many different group discounts are available for tourists interested in Barcelona, Spain; contact your travel agent to find the right discount to suit your particular group’s needs.
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Sep 25
As the diverse and richly-cultured capital city of England and the United Kingdom, London is a fantastic destination for groups. Filled with sites like London Tower, the famed London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and so much more, London is large enough to cater to groups but intimate enough to welcome you like a long-lost relative.
Groups as large as 25 will be comfortable in London, able to travel en masse, be accommodated in some of the cities coziest (or “cosiest,” if you’d like to do it London style!) inns and hotels, and can easily pile on the city’s fantastic underground to visit the best attractions.
History buffs will want to spend time at places like Westminster Abbey, one of the kingdom’s finest examples of Gothic architecture. Politics lovers will scramble to visit the iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, aka the Palace of Westminster, home to Britain’s House of Commons and House of Lords. Romantics will get nostalgic at St. Paul’s Cathedral, famous site of Prince Charles and Diana’s beautiful wedding. And when the group is up for a little down time, the giant ferris wheel-esque London Eye will give you a bird’s eye view of London during your 30-minute ride.
London offers a little (or a lot of) something for everyone, making it perfect for your next destination. When you’re booking hotels, make sure to ask for group discounts and when making your restaurant reservations, don’t forget to emphasize the size of your group.
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Sep 24
If you and your friends are spending some time in Paris and the hustle and bustle of city living is getting to be a bit much, then a day trip to Versailles might be in order. Besides Euro Disneyland, Versailles is one of the most popular destinations outside of Paris for tourists. If you are traveling with a group of 30 or more, you will need to make your travel arrangements 4 months in advance and they should be made in writing.
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Sep 22
Most people who take group tours to Ireland either head to a major destination (such as Dublin) or they plan their full-country tours around a specific type of sight (such as Irish pubs!) Ireland’s a great place and there’s no wrong way to see it but you might be better served by taking your group on a more unique vacation in Ireland. Western Ireland is a great group travel destination because it offers you a range of different sites and plenty of the great Irish culture while keeping you somewhat off-the-beaten path enough to make it affordable.
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Aug 24
Unlike American Ski resorts, which are generally large and filled with new hotels and condos, European ski resorts tend to be small villages at the base of mountains, with inns and guest houses as their primary accommodations. Most of them are older than their American cousins and offer more history and, dare I say, charm.
One of the best ways to enjoy a ski trip to Europe is to book one of the many group tours. Not only are these trips more affordable, but you’ll be traveling with other ski enthusiasts. Most tours have a guide available for hints on restaurants, ski trails, and sightseeing as well as to help with any mishap or communication problem. Among the best of the companies offering ski tours to Europe are:
- Snow Tours — offers tours to ski resorts in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria that include transportation, accommodations, lift tickets, and airfare.
- Ski Europe — offers trips to dozens of European ski resorts, including the lesser known ones in Bulgaria and Andorra. Ski Europe also arranges trips for groups of skiiers, such as a school group, skiing club, or neighborhood association.
Whether you’re headed to the chic slopes of St. Moritz, Kitzbuehl, or Davos or prefer the more casual skiing at Chamonix or Grindenwald, you’re sure to find European skiing a once in a lifetime experience.
(photo credit: istockphoto)
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Aug 01
Many people who enjoy group travel to Europe go on a tour that covers many countries within the area. This can be a great experience; after all, each spot in Europe is so different that you really get a range if you visit them all. But what you don’t get when you travel this way is the in-depth experience of spending a significant amount of time in one location. For a chance to really experience another culture, it is sometimes best to pick a single group travel destination in Europe. And one of the best ones to put on your list is Greece. Continue reading »
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Jul 30
One of the best ways to get around Europe is to get yourself a EuroRail pass. And one of the best tips to know is that, if you’re going to Europe with a group of ten or more people, you can get a discount on that pass. And the other important thing to know is that it is critical that your group designates a leader to make decisions about EuroRail travel for everyone. Continue reading »
Tips & Planning, Europe No Comments »
Jul 28
Shuffling your snow boots around Lapland sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But Finland has become a bit of a tourist magnet in the last few years, and the Finns are well set up to cater for groups and keep them active. Add to that Finnair’s ever-expanding flights and it’s becoming a realistic target.
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Jul 11
Travel to countries in Eastern Europe – such as Russia, the former Czech Republic and
Hungary – will be filled with mystery and tradition; however they will also be a culture shock to most Canadians and Americans. Remember the intrigue of the people and cultures of
Eastern Europe is what drew you here. If this is your first trip to
Eastern Europe I would recommend you traveling with a tour group, or with someone who knows the language of the country you are visiting.
Here are 3 simple rules to make your trip more enjoyable and memorable:
- Go with a professional travel outfit – Professional travel companies specialize in group travel adventures. They will always outfit a trip with a guide that knows and is familiar with the country you are visiting. Your guide will likely speak the language, know the laws, the most popular destinations, and most importantly he or she will have the safety of everyone in the group in mind. If you don’t know the language, customs and have never been to
Eastern Europe, best let a professional travel guide be stressed instead of you!
- Enjoy the travel group bonding experience – Traveling with a tour group will no doubt lead you to make new friends while you’re sharing your travel experiences. Group travel alleviates a lot of the stresses of travel – getting lost, missing flights, getting into trouble due to unfamiliar customs of a country. There will be travel headaches, moodiness and bad service, but keeping a positive attitude will help you enjoy the experience with your group that much more.
- Remember you are the stranger – Don’t get me wrong, it’s obvious to the locals that you are a tourist, so traveling with a group, especially if you don’t know the language, will not take away from your experiences in
Eastern Europe. Brush up on the customs and laws of a country before you travel there, and be respectful of the cultural differences – that includes those of your group members and of the locals in
Eastern Europe as well.
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