Planning a European Vacation - Cruise Ship, Tour Group, or Traveling On Your Own

Have you always wanted to go to Europe, but you just didn't know how to get started? Well, the very first thing in planning a European vacation is to decide how you want to see the Continent.

Do you want to travel on your own, with a pal or partner? Do you want a tour group, a cruise ship vacation, or a river cruise?

Everyone likes to get different things from their holidays. I'm an American woman but I'll give you my perspective. However, you must answer the question, "Why do you want to go to Europe?"

Before looking at prices or Itineraries, you have to figure out what kind of trip is right for you. So, EuroVirgins, what is your answer when I ask you, "Why do you want to go to Europe?"

If your answer is, “My friends have been all over the world and I feel left out when they show photos of their trips because I’ve never been anywhere,” you will probably be happiest with a cruise. A cruise vacation will hit the highlights of a lot of different cities and demand minimal effort on your part.

Cruises are probably a good way to see Europe, for the first time, because you will travel within a structured itinerary and you won’t feel like you’re lost or confused. The cruise-ship people do all the planning for you. Tip: If you are under 30 and single, most cruises are not for you.

If your answer is: “I want to see the gorgeous art and take photos of the cities and the cool architecture,” you will probably like a tour group. If you’ve traveled to other foreign countries before, going on your own is a good option.

A cruise ship usually will not give you enough time to really see art museums or to wander off the beaten path.

If you answered, “I want to go shopping at a Paris flea market,” you will probably like a one-city Paris tour (or pick your city of interest). However, the flea markets don’t run every day, so I suggest you take a tour that shows you the highlights of a city and, also, teaches you how to get around the city by Metro or other mass transit.

You would want to stay on in the city after the tour is over, so that you would have as much time as you wanted to browse the cool flea markets.

If you want to shop at regular stores and boutiques, you probably need a tour that takes you to big cities, like a London-Paris-Rome tour or a Rome-Florence-Venice tour. A river tour that hits some large cities may be worth looking into. There are "shopping tours" that might fit your need.

If you answered, “I want to go to Oktoberfest and take one of those wild-n-crazy girls back to my hotel,” you will want to go on a self-guided tour with one of your friends. I think that two compatible guys will have an easier time meeting girls than a guy who travels alone, but it depends upon your personality.

If you answered, “The Mediterranean looks so romantic,” you will want a cruise vacation. If you are a single chick, you need to find a roommate to bring the cost down. If you are married or partnered up, you should do whatever you can to get a stateroom with a balcony.

If you are single, you need a roommate friend to keep your cruise costs down. Though, if you are single, you may be better off with a hotel stay at Ibiza, Santorini, Barcelona, or St. Tropez.

If you answered, “I want to meet someone rich in Monte Carlo,” I can’t help you. Just remember that the social classes don’t mingle in Europe like they do in America.

If you answered, “I want to learn to cook paella, ravioli, coq au vin, or learn about winemaking or whatever…” you should look into a tour with Tauck or one of the other upscale tour companies. You can find a list by googling something like "culinary tours of Europe". Also, many cruise ships have quick, shipboard cooking demonstrations.