8 Different Ways to Travel around Europe this Summer
How often do we opt for the familiar sights of Paris for a romantic mini-break, and the Costa del Sol for a family holiday, over pastures new? The whole of Europe is right on our doorstep and geared up to provide us with thousands of exciting holiday itineraries and resorts, but were not taking full advantage of this!
Its proximity to us makes Europe a cost-effective travel option, and its cultural richness means theres something for everyone, just so long as youre prepared to extend your knowledge of whats possible. Plus, with Brexit and its potential fallout mere months away, theres never been a better time for UK residents to move seamlessly across European country borders, soaking up new tastes, experiences and plenty of sunshine. Lets have a look at 8 different ways in which you could get to know multiple European destinations before the Autumn.
Travelling solo
Whats stopped you from travelling solo up until now? Is it the stigma attached? Perhaps you resent having to pay the single supplement? Or maybe you simply dont fancy taking a holiday surrounded by families and couples, potentially feeling like the odd ones out? Aspen Travel is a booking partner for a number of tour operators who champion solo travel holidays.
We can provide you with a tour that allows you to meet like-minded solo travellers and have a shared experience in the places youve always wanted to visit, without having to compromise on the destination of your choice. Your tour manager will host a number of sociable occasions to give your group a chance to get to know one another, ahead of you exploring new places together. Its a great opportunity to make new friends.
Saga Holidays, Riviera Travel and, Cox and Kingsare just some of the tour operators who offer specialised solo travel tours and you can find holidays in just about every country. A few of our European favourite solo packages are a tour around Andalucia in the south of Spain, a grand tour of Switzerland and trips to Malta.
As a Family
Are the school holidays stretching out ahead of you and youd like nothing more than a week of relaxation, excitement and the kids being entertained by somebody else? Perhaps what would make this even better is the absence of a long haul flight? We offer a huge range of family holidays in Europe. You can stay in a high end Club Med resort for a week or two with a huge menu of leisure activities at your disposal and all inclusive meals.
You could also take a family-friendly cruise or escorted tour. Some cruises and tours promote their family weeks separately to ensure your kids will have other children their own age to play with and you can meet other parents. A couple of our favourite resorts for family holidays in Europe include Club Med Palmiye on the Turkish Riviera and Neilsons Baia dei Mori Beachclub in Italy. Any of Mark Warners Greek resorts are also great for keeping both young and old fully entertained throughout your holiday.
By Train
Ever wanted to explore an Alpine wonderland high above the clouds, without having to climb a steep mountain to get there? Tour operators like Great Rail Journeys will provide you with a luxury train carriage to facilitate your journey. Youll take a train to the summit to explore glaciers, eat a rustic meal in a mountain village, or see high altitude-dwelling wildlife up close.
Trains can reach destinations that are inaccessible by other forms of transport and give you a great view while youre passing through plains or forests. Youll stay overnight in towns along the way and have your own tour manager, who will travel with you. Meals will be provided by top chefs on board the train, as well as in restaurants at the destinations on your itinerary.
Ocean Cruises
There are so many exciting islands to discover in Europe! Simply taking a day trip from your mainland resort is not going to give you a good insight into the unique characteristics of the main attractions of Venice, Greece and the Dalmatian Coast, to name but a few. However, an ocean cruise will do exactly that.
Youll stay on board a state of the art ocean cruise liner which will deliver you to a different island destination or mainland port each day. In-between sailings, youll have access to a range of amenities, exceptional meals and be entertained every evening. Given the quality of the cruise lines with which we partner, you can expect a spacious cabin, a comfy bed and a balcony on request.
Wine and Food Tours
Fed up with chain Italian restaurants serving up an approximation of pasta and pizza? Want to see how steak tartare should really taste? Then you might want to take a wine-tasting or foodie tour of Europe. This is a tour with a focus on you sampling the very best local cuisine on offer.
A dedicated tour manager will ensure you taste the signature dishes of renowned chefs in acclaimed eateries. Youll have the chance to explore vineyards that produce award-winning wines, as well as drink a glass or two of your preferred tipple. In addition to this, you might get a cookery masterclass to show you how to prepare ravioli in the authentic way, or a workshop in wine-pairing.
If your foodie tour is a cruise, your on board chefs will also be geared up to give you a taste of typical, beautifully prepared recipes of the region. Youll spend a week or two having your tastebuds teased and tingled, whilst you look out over impressive views. A trip that involves sharing fondue and pierrade in the Swiss Alps, cordon bleu cuisine in the French wine regions, or the finest Belgian waffles the country has to offer, will surely be a memorable one.
European River Cruises
Its so easy to cross the Channel on the Eurostar or in your car, but once you get to Calais, its a long drive to get to the major cities of Europe. This means one of you must be the driver (and on soft drinks at all times) and one of you will have to negotiate the unfamiliar roads. The potential for fights and getting lost is immense and if you plan to travel between different cities, you can expect to repeat this scenario every few days.
With a river cruise, youll have a captain in charge while you watch the riverbanks drift lazily past you, as you travel between destinations with a cocktail in your hand. Europe is a rich patchwork of different countries and cultures, with fascinating ports that are easily accessible from the continents main waterways. Why not make the most of your break from work and explore it. The Danube will take you from Austria to Eastern Europe; to places such as Slovakia, Romania and Hungary, while the Rhine can take you through the Benelux countries and Germany.
River cruises are becoming an increasingly popular way to visit a number of fascinating, fairytale cities, in a range of countries. Your accommodation will be a luxury cabin on a decadent cruise boat with full of state of the art amenities to keep you busy between ports, restaurants where youll enjoy fine dining, and a sun deck.
Escorted Tours
Has Spain always fascinated you, but you dont fancy restricting yourself to a week on the Costa del Sol? Then a wider tour of Spanish highlights is presumably what youd prefer. However, if youre not feeling brave enough to book all your internal flights online, or you feel under-confident about your ability to get around, an escorted tour could be an ideal solution. Its a tour with an expert guide at your side, taken with a small group of like-minded individuals. It will allow you to take in the highlights of a large area, without you having to do any planning or research.
We partner with internationally respected tour operators to provide luxury, all-inclusive escorted tours. In many cases youll enjoy a VIP door to door service, making going on holiday as simple as stepping outside your front door. Your dedicated tour manager will be on hand at all times to take you from your flights and transfers to places of interest and your overnight accommodation in various cities around Europe. A busy, carefully-planned itinerary can ensure youll see the majesty of the French Alps one day and the highlights of the Pilgrim Trail through Northern Spain the next, before flying on to Berlin, Rome, or wherever the mood takes you.
Self Drive Holidays
Were you desperate to see the dolphins everyone else saw when you were looking in the wrong direction on a previous holiday, but your tour manager got you straight back in the coach to continue the drive around the coast? Sometimes travelling with a group, and sticking to a strict timetable, means you dont get as much time as youd like at the destinations you are personally enjoying the most. Self-drive holidays are a great antidote to that.
Youll get the benefit of a tour guides expertise, but without the time pressure that a guided tour provides. Your itinerary is planned in advance to ensure you see all the iconic sights of France, Germany, Spain, or the country through which your driving, as well as the best (and often little-known) viewpoints.
Your overnight accommodation will be pre-booked and your meals pre-arranged. All you have to do is pick up your hire car at the airport and drive, following the provided route. Its a flexible and liberating experience that means you have none of the hassle of organising a tour. It will take you to dozens of fascinating landmarks, but then, if you want to spend most of your day in your favourite spot, you can.
If youre interested in finding out more about any of our European all inclusive Summer packages, please get in touch with our highly experienced travel advisors, who know all the details of each of the tours we offer and can help you make your holiday booking with minimal hassle. You can email us or give us a call. Well be able to answer all your questions.