Grand Tour of Europe 16 days
About This Experience
Think of Europe as a cultural buffet, and of this tour as your chance to sample the continent’s most flavor-packed and historically rich regions. Whether you’ve always dreamed of traveling to the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching gondolas glide down the Grand Canal, looking out from Juliet’s balcony or just kicking back in a Dutch brown cafe or English pub, you’re sure to get a taste of all you come searching for (and much, much more).
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
14 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 5 three-course dinners with beer or wine
Private deluxe motor coach
Multilingual Tour Director
Select entrance fees
Why You'll Love It
London’s unrivaled (& free) museums
A ride on the Eurostar is unforgettable
European cafes, promenades & gardens
The alpine scenery en route to Lake Como
Italian cities are a feast for the eyes & stomach
You’ll get a taste of distinct languages & cultures
Overnight Flight1 night
London2 nights - hotel info
Day2
Europe’s biggest city extends its biggest welcome
Breakfast (in flight), Dinner
Welcome to London! After clearing customs and collecting your bags, look for the Hotel by Bus transfer desk. They will be providing the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or begin acquainting yourself with the city before tonight’s included Welcome Dinner.
Day3
A Londoner lets you in on what the locals know
Breakfast
An expert local guide leads this morning’s guided sightseeing tour of London. Highlights of the panoramic tour include views of Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and a stop outside St. James’s Palace, where you might glimpse the ceremonial Changing of the Guard (seasonal and weather dependent). After your sightseeing tour, join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle, the centuries-old retreat of Britain’s Royal Family.
Optional Excursions
Windsor Castle $85* pp
Led by a Blue Badge Guide, you’ll travel to Windsor for a guided visit to the world’s largest and longest-inhabited castle. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, Windsor has been the British Royal Family’s preferred retreat for the past 900 years. Step inside the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel (closed Sundays), where the Knights of the Garter ceremony takes place. View the exhibit of royal treasures on display within the castle. You’ll then have time to stroll through the town of Windsor and have a look at Eton College, a prestigious prep school attended by Princes William and Harry. Please note: Windsor Castle is occasionally closed when in use by the Royal Family; a visit to Henry VIII’s Hampton Court will be substituted when necessary. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 20 days prior to departure.
Paris2 nights - hotel info
Day4
Tunnel through the English Channel and surface in France
Breakfast
This morning, transfer to St. Pancras Station. Here, you’ll board the Eurostar, Europe’s quarter-mile-long, high-speed train that whisks its passengers below the English Channel and resurfaces in France. Relax aboard comfortable, state-of-the-art transportation, arriving at Gare du Nord in Paris just three hours later. Tonight, consider joining our optional Evening in Paris, featuring dinner at a local restaurant and a cruise along the Seine.
Optional Excursions
Evening in Paris $99* pp
Take in the nighttime allure of the City of Light on a special evening excursion. The event begins with dinner at a local restaurant. After you dine, board a boat cruise along the Seine. As you coast along the river and under Paris' bridges, you'll behold the gloriously illuminated monuments of Paris glittering alongside the riverbanks. Please note: the dress code may vary depending your restaurant, and your Tour Director will advise you on what to wear, but shorts and sneakers are likely to be considered inappropriate attire. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 20 days prior to departure.
Day5
Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe—oui, oui and oui
Breakfast
This morning, you’ll meet our local guide for a tour of the French capital. You’ll motor along the fashionable Champs-Élysées and view the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and more. The afternoon is free to explore Paris on your own. Or join an optional excursion to Versailles, the opulent estate of Sun King Louis XIV.
Optional Excursions
Versailles $99* pp
The reign of Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King,” set new standards for decadence among the crowned heads of Europe. It took 50 years and 35,000 workers to turn Versailles, once a small hunting lodge, into the most magnificent château in all of France and the envy of royalty worldwide. On this excursion, you will see the palace in all its glory. Tour the State Apartments and the glittering Hall of Mirrors. Then stroll through the lavish gardens with their fine statuary, splendid fountains and colorful flowerbeds. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 45 days prior to departure.
Amsterdam2 nights - hotel info
Day6
Look out on the Low Countries as you amp up for Amsterdam
Breakfast
canal cruise
Enjoy a picturesque ride on the Thalys train to Amsterdam. The Low Countries will zip past your window as make your way to the Dutch capital. After checking in to your hotel, a local guide leads you on an afternoon walking tour of Amsterdam, including Dam Square, followed by a scenic canal cruise.
Day7
Take a moment to stop and smell the tulips
Breakfast
Today is free to explore the Dutch capital at leisure. Alternatively, consider joining the optional excursion, A Day in Charming Delft. Your first destination is a photo stop in The Hague, followed by a visit to the world-famous flower market at Aalsmeer for a close-up look at one of Holland’s best-known national exports: its brilliantly hued tulips. Continue to Delft, a charming town of canals, cobbled alleyways and medieval architecture. Tonight, you might choose to join our optional Canal Cruise with Dinner.
Optional Excursions
Canal Cruise & Dinner $115* pp
Travel along the canals of Amsterdam on a low-slung house boat, enjoying the view of row houses lit up for the night. Your cruise will take you through the center of the city as you enjoy dinner by lantern light.
Optional Excursions
A Day in Charming Delft $105* pp
Pay a visit to the world-famous flower market at Aalsmeer for a close-up look at one of Holland’s best-known national exports: its brilliantly hued tulips. From there, travel to the Hague for a quick photo stop at the majestic Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice. Finally, continue to Delft, a charming town of canals, cobbled alleyways and medieval architecture. In town, you'll visit the Old and New Church, Bell Tower and the home of the famous painter, Vermeer. Afterward, take some time to explore on your own and grab lunch.
Heidelberg Region1 night - hotel info
Day8
Fix your eyes on crumbling castles as you float down the Rhine
Breakfast, Dinner
Cologne Cathedral
Board a bus this morning for Cologne, where a guided tour brings you inside the city’s landmark Gothic cathedral. You’ll also view the remnants of the city’s Roman-era and medieval walls. Then, transfer to Boppard, where you’ll board a river ship for a scenic cruise up the Rhine to Sankt Goar. There are six castles perched on the banks of this section of the Rhine, and you’ll view them along with dramatic scenery as you cruise southward. Then, board a bus for the Heidelberg region. Dinner is included on land tonight. Please note: From mid-October to April, the Rhine River Cruise will be replaced with a German wine tasting in Boppard.
Lucerne2 nights - hotel info
Day9
Day10
Discover the piece of rock Twain dubbed the “saddest” in all the world
Breakfast
A local guide introduces you to this charming lakeside city. You’ll visit Lucerne’s Old Town and the captivating Löwendenkmal, a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 defense of the Tuileries. The balance of the day is free at leisure; consider joining our optional excursion to Mount Pilatus this afternoon.
Optional Excursions
Mount Pilatus $99* pp
This scenic excursion begins with a cruise on Lake Lucerne. After docking, ascend 7,000-foot Mount Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Legend holds that the mountain was named for Pontius Pilate, blown here by the devil after the Crucifixion. From the peak, the views of the Alps are stunning; on a clear day, you can see for 200 miles. Toward the end of your trip, you’ll return to the base of the mountain via gondola. Please note: The cruise and cogwheel railway only run from mid-May through October. During the winter months, this excursion includes the cable car ride only. If the cogwheel railway is unavailable, you'll enjoy lunch on the mountain.
Lake Como Region1 night - hotel info
Venice2 nights - hotel info
Day12
Pin up a love note on literature’s most famous balcony
Breakfast, Dinner
A motor coach brings you to Verona this morning, where you’ll embark on a guided sightseeing tour. Highlights of your tour include the Roman-era Verona Arena and the Casa di Giulietta, where couples young and old pin love notes to the wall below what is said to be Juilet’s balcony. Then, continue on to Venice, arriving in time to enjoy an included dinner.
Day13
The romance of Venezia is just as undeniable as it is irresistible
Breakfast
Doge's Palace
Experience the romance of Venice during this morning’s guided sightseeing tour of the Doge’s Palace, once the political heart of this powerful maritime empire. This afternoon, opt to join a gondola tour of the canals, complete with music.
Optional Excursions
Gondola Ride With Music $65* pp
More than 100 waterways crisscross Venice, and boarding a sleek black gondola to explore them has become a time-honored tradition. On this memorable excursion, join your fellow travelers for a tour through the canals of Venice. A musician serenades you as your gondola cruises through the city. Please note: This excursion runs as weather permits. A private two-person gondola ride is available for an additional $100 per person.
Optional Excursions
Gondola Ride for Two $165* pp
More than 100 waterways crisscross Venice, and boarding a sleek black gondola to explore them has become a time-honored tradition. On this memorable excursion, you'll enjoy a private, serenaded gondola cruise through the canals of Venice. Please note: This excursion runs as weather permits.
Rome2 nights - hotel info
Day14
Day15
This ancient city’s ruins are the world’s riches
Breakfast, Dinner
Colosseum
This morning, embark on a guided tour of Imperial Rome, including the Colosseum and the Forum Romanum. Then, consider this afternoon’s optional excursion to Vatican City. Tonight, enjoy an included Farewell Dinner.
Optional Excursions
Vatican City $85* pp
This guided tour takes you inside the world’s smallest state, Vatican City. Upon arrival, you'll first visit the Vatican Museums, which recently celebrated a 500-year anniversary and hold many of the world's most important Classical and Renaissance-era sculptures. Next, you'll visit the Sistine Chapel, where you'll gaze on what is perhaps Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece. Finally, you'll visit the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica, the epicenter of the Roman Catholic faith. The artists whose efforts have contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known, including Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael and Michelangelo. Masterpieces await at every turn, from Bernini’s magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Pietà. Please note: This excursion is not available on Sunday. Advanced reservation and booking is required prior to your final payment deadline.
Extend Your Stay
Add Florence $329*
It only takes one glimpse of the legendary Duomo to realize the Renaissance never ended in Florence. Take a few days to discover the city that gave life not only to the Italian language, but also to the artists and movements that define Italy to this day. And, for a well-rounded taste of Tuscany, head to the countryside to visit the hill towns and vineyards that illuminate the region’s characteristic charms.
Florence2 nights - hotel info
Day1
The morning sun casts a new light on Italy’s Renaissance city
Breakfast
Church of Santa Croce
Transfer to Florence this morning, arriving in time to enjoy a guided tour of the city’s famous duomo and Chiesa di Santa Croce. This evening, join our optional Dinner in Fiesole.
Optional Excursions
Dinner in Fiesole $65* pp
Take a scenic ride to the town of Fiesole, where you'll be treated to some of the region's best cuisine over a relaxing three-course dinner. Unmatched views of nearby Florence serve as the perfect complement to your indulgent meal. Fiesole sits on a hill overlooking Florence, and its views of the city have been prized since pre-Roman times.
Day2
Sip your wine, savor the scenery, get a taste for Tuscany
Breakfast
Enjoy a day at leisure in Florence. Consider joining our optional excursion to Siena and San Gimignano, followed by a wine tasting.
Optional Excursions
Siena & San Gimignano $105* pp
Discover the essence of Tuscany on a full-day excursion. In Siena, a local guide introduces you to the town and its black-and-white marble duomo, where you'll find brilliantly colored 16th-century frescoes in the Piccolomini Library. You'll have some free time to explore the Campo, the square that serves as the center of civic life in Siena. Then, journey through the countryside to the town of San Gimignano, where you'll have some free time to explore the city's medieval towers or simply admire the Tuscan hills. As the sun begins to set, you'll head to a nearby vineyard, where an included wine tasting awaits. Please note: This excursion involves moderate walking.
About This Experience
Think of Europe as a cultural buffet, and of this tour as your chance to sample the continent’s most flavor-packed and historically rich regions. Whether you’ve always dreamed of traveling to the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching gondolas glide down the Grand Canal, looking out from Juliet’s balcony or just kicking back in a Dutch brown cafe or English pub, you’re sure to get a taste of all you come searching for (and much, much more).
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
14 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 5 three-course dinners with beer or wine
Private deluxe motor coach
Multilingual Tour Director
Select entrance fees
Why You'll Love It
London’s unrivaled (& free) museums
A ride on the Eurostar is unforgettable
European cafes, promenades & gardens
The alpine scenery en route to Lake Como
Italian cities are a feast for the eyes & stomach
You’ll get a taste of distinct languages & cultures
Overnight Flight1 night
London2 nights - hotel info
Day2
Europe’s biggest city extends its biggest welcome
Breakfast (in flight), Dinner
Welcome to London! After clearing customs and collecting your bags, look for the “Hotel by Bus” transfer desk. They’ll be providing the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or begin acquainting yourself with the city before tonight’s included welcome dinner.
Day3
A Londoner lets you in on what the locals know
Breakfast
A local guide leads this morning’s guided sightseeing tour of London. Highlights of the panoramic tour include views of Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and a stop outside St. James’ Palace, where you might glimpse the ceremonial Changing of the Guard (seasonal and weather dependent). After your sightseeing tour, join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle, the centuries old retreat of Britain’s Royal Family.
Optional Excursions
Windsor Castle $85* pp
Led by a Blue Badge Guide, you’ll travel to Windsor for a guided visit to the world’s largest and longest-inhabited castle. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, Windsor has been the British Royal Family’s preferred retreat for the past 900 years. Step inside the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel (closed Sundays), where the Knights of the Garter ceremony takes place. View the exhibit of royal treasures on display within the castle. You’ll then have time to stroll through the town of Windsor and have a look at Eton College, a prestigious prep school attended by Princes William and Harry. Please note: Windsor Castle is occasionally closed when in use by the Royal Family; a visit to Henry VIII’s Hampton Court will be substituted when necessary. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 20 days prior to departure.
Paris2 nights - hotel info
Day4
Tunnel through the English Channel and surface in France
Breakfast
This morning, transfer to St. Pancras Station. Here, you’ll board the Eurostar, Europe’s quarter-milelong, high-speed train that whisks its passengers below the English Channel and resurfaces in France. Relax aboard comfortable, state-of-the-art transportation, arriving at Gare du Nord in Paris just three hours later. Tonight, consider joining our optional Evening in Paris, featuring dinner at a local restaurant and a cruise along the Seine.
Optional Excursions
Evening in Paris $99* pp
Take in the nighttime allure of the City of Light on a special evening excursion. The event begins with dinner at a local restaurant. After you dine, board a boat cruise along the Seine. As you coast along the river and under Paris' bridges, you'll behold the gloriously illuminated monuments of Paris glittering alongside the riverbanks. Please note: the dress code may vary depending your restaurant, and your Tour Director will advise you on what to wear, but shorts and sneakers are likely to be considered inappropriate attire. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 20 days prior to departure.
Day5
Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe—oui, oui and oui
Breakfast
This morning, meet your local guide for a tour of the French capital. Motor along the fashionable Champs-Élysées and view the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and more. The afternoon is free to explore Paris on your own. Or, join an optional excursion to Versailles, the opulent estate of Sun King Louis XIV.
Optional Excursions
Versailles $99* pp
The reign of Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King,” set new standards for decadence among the crowned heads of Europe. It took 50 years and 35,000 workers to turn Versailles, once a small hunting lodge, into the most magnificent château in all of France and the envy of royalty worldwide. On this excursion, you will see the palace in all its glory. Tour the State Apartments and the glittering Hall of Mirrors. Then stroll through the lavish gardens with their fine statuary, splendid fountains and colorful flowerbeds. Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 45 days prior to departure.
Amsterdam2 nights - hotel info
Day6
Look out on the Low Countries as you amp up for Amsterdam
Breakfast
Take a picturesque ride on the Thalys train to Amsterdam. Watch the Low Countries zip past your window as make your way to the Dutch capital. After checking in to your hotel, a local guide leads you on an afternoon walking tour of Amsterdam, including Dam Square.
Day7
Take a moment to stop and smell the tulips
Breakfast
Today you’re free to explore the Dutch capital at your leisure. Alternatively, consider joining the optional excursion, A Day in Charming Delft. Stop at the world-famous flower market at Aalsmeer, for a close-up look at one of Holland’s best-known national exports: its brilliantly hued tulips. Delft is a charming town of canals, cobbled alleyways and medieval architecture. Tonight, you might choose to join our optional canal cruise featuring dinner.
Optional Excursions
Canal Cruise & Dinner $115* pp
Travel along the canals of Amsterdam on a low-slung house boat, enjoying the view of row houses lit up for the night. Your cruise will take you through the center of the city as you enjoy dinner by lantern light.
Optional Excursions
A Day in Charming Delft $105* pp
Pay a visit to the world-famous flower market at Aalsmeer for a close-up look at one of Holland’s best-known national exports: its brilliantly hued tulips. From there, travel to the Hague for a quick photo stop at the majestic Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice. Finally, continue to Delft, a charming town of canals, cobbled alleyways and medieval architecture. In town, you'll visit the Old and New Church, Bell Tower and the home of the famous painter, Vermeer. Afterward, take some time to explore on your own and grab lunch.
Heidelberg Region1 night - hotel info
Day8
Fix your eyes on crumbling castles as you float down the Rhine
Breakfast, Dinner
Board a bus this morning for Cologne, where a guided tour brings you inside the city’s landmark Gothic cathedral. You’ll also view the remnants of the city’s Roman-era and medieval walls. Then, transfer to Boppard, where you’ll board a river ship for a scenic cruise up the Rhine to Sankt Goar. There are six castles perched on the banks of this section of the Rhine, and you’ll view them along with dramatic scenery as you cruise southward. Then, take a bus to the Heidelberg region. Dinner is included on land tonight. (Please note: From mid-October to April the Rhine River cruise will be replaced with a German wine tasting tour in Boppard.)
Lucerne2 nights - hotel info
Day9
Day10
Discover the piece of rock Twain dubbed the “saddest” in all the world
Breakfast
A local guide introduces you to this charming lakeside city. Explore Lucerne’s Old Town and the captivating Löwendenkmal, a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 defence of the Tuileries. The rest of your day is free to spend as you like or join our optional excursion to Mount Pilatus.
Optional Excursions
Mount Pilatus $99* pp
This scenic excursion begins with a cruise on Lake Lucerne. After docking, ascend 7,000-foot Mount Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Legend holds that the mountain was named for Pontius Pilate, blown here by the devil after the Crucifixion. From the peak, the views of the Alps are stunning; on a clear day, you can see for 200 miles. Toward the end of your trip, you’ll return to the base of the mountain via gondola. Please note: The cruise and cogwheel railway only run from mid-May through October. During the winter months, this excursion includes the cable car ride only. If the cogwheel railway is unavailable, you'll enjoy lunch on the mountain.
Lake Como Region1 night - hotel info
Venice2 nights - hotel info
Day12
Pin up a love note on literature’s most famous balcony
Breakfast, Dinner
A motor coach brings you to Verona this morning, where you’ll embark on a guided sightseeing tour. Highlights of your tour include the Romanera Verona Arena and the Casa di Giulietta, where couples young and old pin love notes to the wall below what is said to be Juilet’s balcony. Then, continue on to Venice, arriving in time for dinner.
Day13
The romance of Venezia is just as undeniable as it is irresistible
Breakfast
Doge's Palace
Experience the romance of Venice during this morning’s guided sightseeing tour of the Doge’s Palace, once the political heart of this powerful maritime empire. This afternoon, opt to join a gondola tour of the canals, complete with music.
Optional Excursions
Gondola Ride With Music $65* pp
More than 100 waterways crisscross Venice, and boarding a sleek black gondola to explore them has become a time-honored tradition. On this memorable excursion, join your fellow travelers for a tour through the canals of Venice. A musician serenades you as your gondola cruises through the city. Please note: This excursion runs as weather permits. A private two-person gondola ride is available for an additional $100 per person.
Optional Excursions
Gondola Ride for Two $165* pp
More than 100 waterways crisscross Venice, and boarding a sleek black gondola to explore them has become a time-honored tradition. On this memorable excursion, you'll enjoy a private, serenaded gondola cruise through the canals of Venice. Please note: This excursion runs as weather permits.
Rome2 nights - hotel info
Day14
Day15
This ancient city’s ruins are the world’s riches
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, embark on a guided tour of Imperial Rome, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Then, consider this afternoon’s optional excursion to Vatican City. Tonight, enjoy an included farewell dinner.
Optional Excursions
Vatican City $85* pp
This guided tour takes you inside the world’s smallest state, Vatican City. Upon arrival, you'll first visit the Vatican Museums, which recently celebrated a 500-year anniversary and hold many of the world's most important Classical and Renaissance-era sculptures. Next, you'll visit the Sistine Chapel, where you'll gaze on what is perhaps Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece. Finally, you'll visit the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica, the epicenter of the Roman Catholic faith. The artists whose efforts have contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known, including Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael and Michelangelo. Masterpieces await at every turn, from Bernini’s magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Pietà. Please note: This excursion is not available on Sunday. Advanced reservation and booking is required prior to your final payment deadline.
Extend Your Stay
Add Florence $329*
It only takes one glimpse of the legendary Duomo to realize the Renaissance never ended in Florence. Take a few days to discover the city that gave life not only to the Italian language, but also to the artists and movements that define Italy to this day. And, for a well-rounded taste of Tuscany, head to the countryside to visit the hill towns and vineyards that illuminate the region’s characteristic charms.
Florence2 nights - hotel info
Day1
The morning sun casts a new light on Italy’s Renaissance city
Breakfast
Transfer to Florence this morning, arriving in time to enjoy a guided tour of the city’s famous duomo and Church of Santa Croce. This evening, join our optional dinner in Fiesole.
Optional Excursions
Dinner in Fiesole $65* pp
Take a scenic ride to the town of Fiesole, where you'll be treated to some of the region's best cuisine over a relaxing three-course dinner. Unmatched views of nearby Florence serve as the perfect complement to your indulgent meal. Fiesole sits on a hill overlooking Florence, and its views of the city have been prized since pre-Roman times.
Day2
Sip your wine, savor the scenery, get a taste for Tuscany
Breakfast
Enjoy a day at leisure in Florence. Consider joining our optional excursion to Siena and San Gimignano, followed by a wine tasting.
Optional Excursions
Siena & San Gimignano $105* pp
Discover the essence of Tuscany on a full-day excursion. In Siena, a local guide introduces you to the town and its black-and-white marble duomo, where you'll find brilliantly colored 16th-century frescoes in the Piccolomini Library. You'll have some free time to explore the Campo, the square that serves as the center of civic life in Siena. Then, journey through the countryside to the town of San Gimignano, where you'll have some free time to explore the city's medieval towers or simply admire the Tuscan hills. As the sun begins to set, you'll head to a nearby vineyard, where an included wine tasting awaits. Please note: This excursion involves moderate walking.
Passport & Visa
This tour includes the following countries: England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home. No visa is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Health
There are no major health risks when traveling to England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland or Italy. Be sure to check with your doctor or health care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements.
Transportation / Walking on tour
Round-trip flights arrive in London and depart from Rome (or Florence on extension). Your transfer upon arrival in London is provided by Hotel by Bus transportation, and you can find their desk when you make your way through customs and baggage. Included transportation is by train and private deluxe motor coach.
Clothing & Packing Tips
To ensure you’re comfortable while out exploring, we recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered. For sightseeing, we suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as well as a lightweight sports jacket or rainwear. If you’re planning a visit to a high-end restaurant or performance, you may also want to bring dressier attire. Also, please remember that it’s preferable to avoid showing bare legs or shoulders during visits to churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis).
Baggage Allowance
Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. Bear in mind that your luggage will probably weigh more on your return trip due to souvenir shopping. We allow only one suitcase per person. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height). There may be times when you will have to handle your own bags, and you’ll find that lightweight luggage provides a distinct advantage. Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on luggage.
Baggage Handling
Please note that porter service cannot be guaranteed on the trains from London to Paris, Paris to Amsterdam and Venice to Rome. Please be prepared to handle your own baggage.
Cuisine
You’ll have the opportunity to taste a wide variety of cuisines on this tour. In London, reasonably priced traditional fare can be found at local pubs (Stilton cheese, steak and kidney pie, haggis and Cumberland sausages). French cuisine is a national (and international) obsession, done with style and flair. Croissants and café au lait begin the day, followed by delicacies such as foie gras, pâté, escargot and truffles. French wines and coffees are some of the finest in the world. Traditional Dutch cuisine is hearty fare, primarily based on meat, potatoes and stew. The Dutch are known for cheeses such as Gouda, Edam and Leyden. Swiss food, influenced by surrounding countries, is varied and sophisticated; the most famous local dish is fondue, made from molten cheese, flavored with wine, garlic and liquor, into which pieces of skewered bread are dipped. Cuisine varies by region in Italy—in Lombardy, you’ll find rice dishes such as risotto, while pastas such as spaghetti all’ amatriciana are more common around Rome.
Currency
The British pound, euro and Swiss franc are the currencies you’ll use on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination country, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take credit cards and ATM/bank cards. We suggest informing your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so they don’t confuse your purchases for fraudulent charges.
Tipping
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/ CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.
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Grand Tour of Europe
This tour was even better than we imagined. It is extremely well-organized. The hotels were excellent. The Tour Director as well as each of the guides in the various countries were extremely knowledgeable of history, current events, the various cultures as well as the languages. Our Tour Director paced the entire trip perfectly. We were on buses, trains, trams, canal cruises, gondolas - and it all went as smooth as silk. I could do the trip all over again. My husband and I highly recommend this tour. It is the best way to see so many wonderful places - and you have free time or tours as you wish! Loved it.
Great First Time Trip
This is a great trip for first timers. You get to see so much each and every day. Our Tour Director was experienced and a great person and really helped us explore and made it a great time for everyone. The bus and train rides between desinations were not bad and really gave you a chance to reenergize before the next stop. It was a good time of year to go as well since there were less crowds and the foliage was just amazing. We had a fantastic time and can't wait for the next excursion!
Wonderful time!
We had a great time! The tour guide Oda was so wonderful & knowledgeable. She was able to help work out any problems that popped up & helped us do anything that we wanted to do on our own. She managed a large group of people very well. We saw so many things & loved it all but it was a bit fast paced. We were pretty tired by the time we got home. If you have lots of energy this is the tour for you! Don't pass it up, we saw so many awesome places. We did almost all of the optional tours & highly encourage you to do so as well. We traveled by so many different means, I loved that aspect of the trip. One thing I advise, take enough clothes to last you the entire trip as there is no way to do your own laundry & for the hotels to do it for you is very costly.
Grand Tour of Europe
We both thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The itinerary was packed, but allowed some down time, especially if you didn't do all the optional tours. Our guide, Oda was fantastic. She spent time when we arrived in cities making us feel comfortable with the transit system and how it worked. That was helpful when exploring on our own. She also did a wonderful job of "handling" all the different personalities on the trip. One suggeston I might make is that if the tour guide knew ahead of time that someone has a hearing impairment, etc..In that way care could be taken with positioning said person so that they could hear and see what the guides are saying. Perhaps if others on the trip knew such a need existed that may be helpful as well. Oda also did a great job of letting us know when we needed to get lunches ahead of time for train rides. She did a wonderful job of organizing our own portage as needed. One note about optional tours-when we sign up for them ahead of time, we don't know the schedule for the day it takes place. For example taking the Evening in Paris Tour may limit what else you do that day in Paris because of when you arrive in Paris. Taking the Vatican tour may limit what else you can see in Rome. We enjoyed the opportunity to get to know some of our fellow travelers a little better and appreciated the optional e-mail list that we received. Rob Angell was a great help on the trip as well. He jumped in as needed in certain situations(porterage, etc). We certainly were able to see numerous sites that we would not have otherwise seen and got to revisit some places we had been to previously. The vast majority of sites were however new to us.
Needs Fine Tuning
On a fast paced tour like this, hotels need to be centrally located (walkable) to major attractions or too much time is wasted with public transportation. This was the case on this tour with the hotels in London, Paris (switched on arrival to not the one confirmed) and Amsterdam. Amsterdam was listed as city center and was a few miles outside the city. Late hotel arrivals compounded the ability to not get free time sightseeing completed. Porterage from trains was non existent and in Amersterdam we had to offload our our baggage and drag them through the station, out into the street, over a few cobblestone streets to our coach. A more senior group would have had great difficulty with this procedure. Our tour director, was pleasant and upbeat, did the best she could but often was unclear or late in providing instructions. As a plus, staying on Lido in Venice was a pleasant experience. Everything available yet away from the S. Marco mob. The beach was down the street for a change of pace and the vaporetto dock right outside the hotel. Adding another day in Venice would improve the experience. This was my 7th Go Ahead Tour and unfortunately the first one that left a lot to be desired operationally.
Not-so Grand Tour of Europe
This tour was a mixture of excitement to see other countries and sights to confusion of hotels specifically in Paris, closed sights on the day we had "free time"--The Vatican and The Louve Museum-- and other such things.
Disappointing trip
See comments from my spouse. I feel this could be a great tour but until they fix the logistics and planning I wouldn't recommend it. I felt like we were a shakedown trip for GoAhead. The value of what could be experienced is great but the way it was presented wasn't. The snafus in Rome and Paris were purely due to poor planning. Patron's Day isn't a surprise holiday nor is the fact that the Louvre is closed every Tuesday. Lake Como was pretty but most of the day was wasted with bus trips and could have been left off so we could get to Rome to see the many sites there. This trip was like buying a new model of a car-generally good but left to the consumer to find the bugs in the product so they can be fixed for next years model.
Grand Tour of Europe
Overall, this tour provided a fair experience of the highlights of Europe. Unfortunately, the Louvre, & the Sistine Chapel were not included. This is a grave oversight on GoAhead's part. The Louvre Museum was closed the day we had free time in Paris, & an optional excursion for it was not available. Due to the Patron's Day holiday in Rome, we had to change the day of the Vatican Museum excursion (which included the Sistine Chapel), to the day we arrived in Rome. However, we arrived in Rome at 1:30 pm, & the Vatican Museum closed at 3:00. We had 1/2 hour to visit the entire Museum, but due to the crushing crowds, did not succeed in viewing anything. We paid for a excursion and were only able to experience a small part of it. These 2 instances could have easily been avoided with better planning on GoAhead's part. GoAhead's choice of hotels left something to be desired also - our hotel in Paris was rated 2 stars, was attached to a youth hostel, & in a poor section of the city, far away from the city center. The hotel in Amsterdam, while nicer, was 25 minutes away from the city center by trolley. One other complaint is that everyone who was leaving Rome, had to leave the hotel at the same time, regardless of when flights left - we had to get up at 0600, arrived at the airport at 0730 - 1.5 hours before the ticket counter even open & 4 hours & 15 minutes before our flight left. This made our travel day over 24 hours in length - a travel day of 20 hours is bad enough, but this just made it that much worse. On the plus side, our Tour Director was fantastic, worked very hard to insure that everyone enjoyed themselves. The majority of the guides (all but one) were very informative & enjoyable too.
walked a marathon
lots of walking
best trip for a first timer
with a limited budget I think I received full value and more. Our tour guides were extremely knowledgable, and our tour director was both practical and charming.
