What is the best way to travel? Well....it is not easy answer. My clients are passionate about the way they like to travel so the answer to this question depends on where you are going, your personal travel preferences, budget, and travel priorities.
Here are a few things to consider.
Destinations
Depending on the countries you want to visit, some modes of travel may be more suitable than others. For example, a river cruise may be the best option if you want to visit cities located on rivers, while an ocean cruise may be better for destinations located on the coast. A coach tour or train travel works well in the interior of the country although coastal trains can offer wonderful views.
Travel Style
Consider what type of travel experience you are looking for. If you want a more structured or pre-planned itinerary with organized activities and excursions, a coach tour or cruise may be the best option for you. My clients that love coach tours, love the fact that they don't have to do much planning aside from knowing which countries they want to visit but get to see the iconic places as well as some hidden gems.
If you are looking for a mix of structure and on your own, try a river cruise. Many offer included tours, mostly walking, biking, or hiking then you are on your own. Or you may choose to walk to town on your own and explore.
If you prefer complete flexibility and independence in your travels, doing it on your own may be the best option. My clients vary in how they travel and how much planning they want but some rent a car, take public transportation, travel by train, and some even let the wind take them and explore on their own. Most of my custom trip travelers do a mix of these things and I assist with tips on the area, hotel recommendations, flights, and internal transportation. I also offer them insight into a few places they may not want to miss. For this type of travel, you will want to research the area to make sure you see what interests you.
Travel Budget
As my mom used to say "You get what you pay for" so keep this in mind when traveling. The cost of each type of travel can vary widely depending on the level of luxury, length of trip, and destinations included. A coach tour or cruise may offer better value if you consider the included activities, meals, and amenities. However, a custom trip exploring on your own may be the most cost-effective option if you are willing to eat on the go and don't need 4 and 5-star hotels or out-of-this-world activities. A good travel advisor can offer a variety of ways to save on your dream trip.
Personal Travel Preferences
Finally, consider your personal preferences and priorities when deciding which mode of travel is best for you. Do you prefer the convenience and structure. the freedom of traveling on your own, or a mix of the two?
Let's Talk About Coach Tours
As mentioned earlier, the convenience of having everything planned can remove the stress of all the research to find out the best places to see, hotels, and so on. Most tours have free time in the evening and some free time in the places you visit as well. Don't allow the misconceptions of coach travel to get in the way. It is also a great way to hit a variety of countries and allows you to decide if you want to go back on your own for a more concentrated trip to immerse yourself in the culture. They travel the world so you will have many options from a single country to multiple countries.
You meet people like you and will become friends on the tour and after. Tour companies establish contacts that can also offer unique experiences you might miss on your own. Opportunities to cook with locals, sleep in a temple and walk behind a waterfall.
These trips vary in price based on length, destination, and size of the group. Opt for a small group tour if you don't want a crowded bus. Another advantage is that you pay one supplier for everything except flights and can make payments until the final payment.
Personally, I love a small group coach tour, especially with a group of friends, but I'd rather not deal with my luggage.
Then There Are River Cruises
If you prefer a hassle-free travel experience with all the details taken care of, similar in a way, to coach tours, a river cruise might be the best option for you. You get the best of both worlds with this one because you can choose to take an included tour or you can explore on your own at each town. Many offer bikes so you can travel by bike, walk, or take public transportation. You still must be back on the ship by sailing, but you can explore those hidden places you crave. Although I don't encourage this, if you miss the ship, you drive to the next town and hop back on.
Meals are included and you'll find specialty dining experiences onboard some lines as well There is only one seating and usually a specialty experience as well. The food will be sources from local markets so you will experience the flavors of the regions you visit.
Included activities vary and there will be less than 200 people onboard so tours are small and there is no waiting for the other 2,000 people to get off like an ocean cruise ship. They also establish contacts that can also offer unique experiences you might miss on your own. I've attended an apricot wine tasting in a monastery and a private concert in Vienna to name just two.
A river cruise, simply said, is like a floating hotel taking you from place to place without all the roller coasters and dance parties you find on an ocean cruise. River cruises go where the rivers are so it can be limiting but just a bit. After all, there are many rivers out there. You will be surprised about the places you can visit. On a River Cruise, you pay one supplier for everything except flights and can make payments until the final payment. Some lines require payment up to a year in advance.
I love so many things about river cruising, especially unpacking once and walking around town exploring on my own.
Now On To Ocean Cruises
Ocean cruising has a lot to offer for anyone who is ok with the crowds of people. They offer exciting itineraries around the globe, the ability to see many countries on one cruise or focus on only one country. If you like the excitement of rock climbing walls, roller coasters, art auctions, events, and beverage packages, this may be the best way to go.
Cruises vary with the type of cultural experiences and size of ships so smaller ships are a great option too, minus the roller coasters. They can go places the bigger ships can't.
The value of included meals is something to consider, and children's programs are available on many ocean cruises too. Ocean Cruising also has a range of budgets from budget-friendly to luxury lines that cater to your every need. Unlike most river cruises, you will have to pay for your shore excursions and many times you must travel by bus or taxi to get to the city you plan to visit. Ocean cruises don't hit the interior of countries without a bit of a drive but they travel to a wide range of places. On an ocean cruise, you pay one supplier for everything except flights and can make payments until the final payment.
I enjoy ocean cruises too but am not a fan of large crowds so I usually opt for the smaller ships when I can. I love unpacking once too!
Custom Trips or On Your Own
If you know where you want to go, what you want to see, and love freedom, a custom trip may be the best for you. I have a mix of clients who want custom-designed trips. Some love to do their own research and just need help pulling it together. Others are just too busy to put the pieces of the puzzle together and ask me to create it. Sometimes tours don't go to all the places you want to see but trains usually do! Start with destinations and budget. You can always cut destinations, shorten the stay, or stay longer in more budget-friendly cities and travel to your favorites. The world is your oyster. There is more planning for this type of trip than you may think, including entry/exit requirements, cross-border requirements, the timing of travel. and so on but it can be a rewarding experience. The disadvantage to this is that you usually pay upfront for everything.
Personally, I like this type of travel when I'm immersing in the culture of a single city or country. Cities like Paris, Rome, and London are great for this type of travel.
A Word About Combination Trips
There is one more kind of trip; the combination trip. First by combination, I mean taking one of the styles above and adding a custom component to it. Take a river cruise for example. Plan a Danube cruise and then take a train to Venice and spend a few days or more. I did just that. Come in a few days early and stay a few days after a cruise or coach tour and enjoy exploring on your own.
It is a rare day when I take a river cruise, ocean cruise, or coach tour and don't spend extra time before, after, or both. I love to do this because I get structure from a company that knows the area, limited unpacking, and also have time to immerse in a destination.
Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Consider all of these factors carefully before making a decision, and choose the mode of travel that will help you have the best possible travel experience. You can always ask me for help if you need it.
At Vibrant Travel, we research, plan, and book vacations for busy travelers, couples, and groups looking for authentic experiences in Europe and beyond. We take the confusion of travel planning, the overwhelm of group organization, and hours of searching online off your plate and use our knowledge of the locations, vendors, and experiences to create a vacation you will love without the hassles, time, and stress of planning it yourself. Best of all we only work with vetted vendors who provide the highest quality services.
We specialize in all of Europe and focus on select destinations that you might find on your bucket list; Ireland, Iceland, and Italy. But each year we create trips to bucket list destinations like Japan, S. Korea, Australia, Kenya, and South Africa to name a few.
The vacations we plan are the vacations we love to take ourselves so we can offer you experiences and places you may not have even considered but ones that will create memories that last forever.
Call today at 407-517-4744 to end the frustration of doing it all yourself.
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