What to Look for in France & Spain Tour Reviews
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary. Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
Something that often surprises people when when visiting Europe (coming from North America especially) is how small the hotel rooms/accommodations are. This isn’t a huge issue, but if you’re looking for spacious rooms or you’re traveling with a couple people, it may come as a surprise and leave you a bit crowded. If booking your accommodation, look at the options and if you’re hoping for more space, consider upgrading to a larger room.
Sometimes, what may be listed as a “king size bed” is actually two single beds pushed together. Again, not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of. One more note about accommodations that some people might not be aware of – many hotels/bed and breakfasts/other types of accommodations lack elevators. If mobility is an issue, or you don’t want to lug heavy bags up and down several sets of stairs, consider this while picking your accommodation.
Other tours mentioned when taking cruises, some felt they didn’t have enough time to explore the area since they got off in the morning and left again in the evening. This is especially true for bigger cities. If you love to stroll at leisure, consider looking for a tour that includes stops for at least a night, or more for larger cities.
Land tours rather than boat cruises often allow for longer stops. Another alternative if you’re arriving and departing from big cities with a limited amount of time is arrive a few days early, or leave a few days after the tour. It’s easy to tack on an additional day or two, and if you work with the tour company, they may be able to help you in this sense.
Some of the highlights of Europe include the ways of travel and transportation. There is lots of great transportation, especially in Spain and France. It’s easy to hop on the tram and navigate your way to local sites, or jump on a regional tram for day trips to another city/part of the country. Many people are able to live without a car, fully relying on public transportation.
Some highlights of taking a tour is that everything is taken care of for you. Accommodations, tours, transportation, getting tickets to popular sites. The people you tour with are extremely professional, and have been around the block. They can share with your secret local places that a tourist may not find on their own.
If you get in a bind, or have an emergency, they have people prepared to help you navigate whatever issue arises. When going with a tour guide, you’re ensuring safety and knowing you have reliable help every step of the away. You get to sit back and relax and enjoy your trip to the fullest.
If you want a professional take on traveling in France & Spain, see the Travelstride France & Spain Guide »