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My brother and I are buying our parents a vacation as a symbol of apparition for putting us through college. Our price range is 4k-6k.

Way back when my brother graduated we decided to get my parents a Caribbean cruse, however between then and now my parents have been on almost a dozen Caribbean curses… so another one would not be special enough. Our next idea was an Alaskan curse, but they are going on one of those next year. Plan C was Hawaii, and we might still go with that idea, the only problem is they went there a few months ago and loved it. Last time they were on a curse, so this time we could keep them on land, but it is expensive and because they did it already it may not be special enough.

So Danyale and I started thinking about Europe. My parents have never been there. My father loves history, and I doubt there is a forgetful city across the pond that he is not familiar with. So we think my father would enjoy Europe. As far as my mother, the word vacation is all she needs to have a blast. If we took her to Wal-Mart and called it a vacation she would take 1gig worth of pictures and would be totally happy.

The travel agent we are using suggests a few European vacation packages by Globus. Do any of you guys in Europe, or any other travelers know anything about Globus. To me it looks like a good entry level taste of Europe to test the waters. But I would feel much better with some Avian input.

These are the packages we are thinking about choosing from:

EUROPEAN SAMPLER 10 days

EUROPEAN SAMPLER 11 Days Same as above, just extra day in London

ESSENTIAL EUROPE 12 days

LONDON & COUNTRY 8 days

THE BEST OF SOUTHERN ITALY 11 days

There are several other packages Danyale and I would love to go on, but they are either too expensive for me right now, or not enough signature European locations for my parents first trip.

Again, any Avian input would be very much appreciated.

How anyone can do that 'spend one day in each country' stuff is beyond me. You don't really to see the places you are visiting.

Silly americans.

I would tend to agree with the wise old one (^^)

Although I have never been to Europe personally, I have friends who have done the backpacking and tour thing and they all said they would rather go to 2-3 countries and see all they can there rather than see a few tidbits in each country. I think this makes sense.

Their favs thus far are Italy, France, and Switzerland.

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"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

Yeah I know... I worry those are too fased paced. That was the main reason I picked LONDON & COUNTRY 8 days, because they spend the night in the same town the whole time they are there.

My parents have never been on a vacation where travle the whole time. When I was a kid we would spend a week or two on one beach. They go on enough vacations each year that they are not vacation starved... they like to relax. So I am worried some of the packages are not relaxing enough. But I wouldnt want to send them all the way over there and not see it all.

Any suggestions?

They have packages where there are no planned tours, you do all the site seeing yourself, and you stay in one or two places the whole time..... I just worry my parents would not know where to go without a tour director.

*imagines parents arguing on the streets of Paris over to turn left or right*

Cy, your last post jogged my memory. A lot of college and universities offer package tours...they're not for people who necessarily graduated from those schools...and most offer packages with very knowledgeable guides.

For example, my university is offering up....

http://www.wm.edu/alumni/WMAA/Journeys/2005/Journeys2005_main.html#peter

but many if not most other universities have these things, and they typically are the type with guides, stay in one place longer, etc...and seem to be affordable.

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For that amount of money you could plan a trip yourself very well. My last trip to the U.K. was about 2000 plus some spending money but of course the rooms were a bit spartan and airline rates were lower. You have the added benefit of knowing what your parents enjoy and the pace they like to do it at. I have been to the U.K. three times, once to Ireland, once to France. Why not book them 4 or 5 days in London then a chunnel ride to Paris and 4 or 5 days there. Book a hotel in a central location and they won't even need a car. You can prebook day trips to places like Stratford-on-Avon or Versailles with guides and transport. I have never experienced a problem with booking on the internet and you can double check the reservations by phone a few weeks before they leave.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

Never heard of Globus myself...
And I do agree that spending one day in each country may be a bit too fast...

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Flyoc,
Farm with attitude.

The 8 days in London and surrounding area looks interesting. You'd get to go through probably some of the nicest countryside in the country (The Cotswolds). Going to the UK first also has the advantage that you do not need to learn another language.

The various cathedrals are well worth visiting. St Paul's in London is fantastic (though I have to admit that the last time I actually went inside I was about 5!) make sure that they get to go up to the whispering gallery. Stratford is also very nice. Also if they haven't seen many castles (and I don't suppose you have many on your side of the pond, we have far too many here!) then Leeds Castle will be a real treat.

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