Name: European Whirl (Paris, Base)
Brand: Trafalgar
SKU: N/A
Price: 4925 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.6 (1 reviews)

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France Historic Sightseeing Tours & Packages

Read 22 traveler reviews on tours to France Historic Sightseeing Tours & Packages.Compare trips from over 53 companies. Pick your perfect trip with...

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Our tour was from Paris, to Normandy, to Brodeaux and back to Paris. The hotels were terrible. Dirty, cheap, broken beds, toilets and showers did not work. The included breakfast meals were disgusting. Instant egg mush and stale danish. Half of the coffee machines didn't work. The staffs were less than friendly. We had 2 different drivers: one was good, the other was all over the road. We had 3 different tour guides; 2 were OK but the 3rd was terrible (just kept reading out loud from of tour book). The tour was supposed to be in both Spanish and English, but they only spoke Spanish. None of the attraction tickets were included with the tour. Most of the tour was a drive-by experience as they did not allow time for you to do anything but use the restroom and eat quickly. A few times your meal had to come from a truck stop along the way (eat there or go hungry). During the tour they would try to up-sell you there evening side excursions. We tried one of them and it turned out to be a rip off. If you're looking for a great tour and good value for your money, go elsewhere.

Europamundo Vacations

French and Swiss Spirit

Travelsphere never let us down. Over the past 15 or so years we have travelled with them 8 or 9 times, on short breaks to Paris and Germany, and longer ones to Canada, Italy and America. Our latest was last weekend on the "Experience Riga" trip....it was wonderful, we had a terrific Tour Manager in Gerry, a knowledgeable, interesting and friendly local guide in Gita and they ensured that our trip to this fantastic city was a triumph. I want to go back there as soon as possible!

Travelsphere

A knowledgeable, interesting and friendly local guide

Images of the Seine (By Eurostar)

Intrepid Travel

Trafalgar

Insight Vacations

Collette

Costsaver

ROW Adventures

Magic Hill Holidays

Rick Steves

Star Tours

Boundless Journeys

Backroads

Viking River Cruises

As with all small group travel, your group and tour leader have a lot to do with whether or not you have an enjoyable tour.  For this trip, we were lucky enough to have a great group and an absolutely amazing tour leader.  Adrian (tour leader) was a huge part of why this tour was a resounding success!

Just a couple thoughts on this particular trip:

- Bring a suitcase!  Don't buy the hype and strap a big old backpack to yourself.  You'll regret it (trust me).  A suitcase is easier and quicker to pack than a backpack.  True, many streets in older areas of European cities have cobblestones.  If your suitcase has wheels, you're probably ok on these streets and sidewalks.  The trek between train station and hotel can be quite a haul in some instances.  As long as you can safely carry your luggage up and down a flight of about 30 stairs and lift it above your head on occasion to store it in the train, you're fine.  If you can't lift and/or carry your suitcase for these short distances, you have either packed too much stuff or you just might not be in shape to make this trip.  We had a group of 10 travelers and 8 brought suitcases.  Hauling a loaded backpack up and down train station stairs and from station to hotel and back was way more effort than it was worth.

- Don't be afraid to sample the local cuisine (sometimes).  Following local customs and eating local dishes is part of why you travel.  That being said, there is a reason some of these traditional dishes haven't become worldwide sensations.  Some of them just aren't that great.  It's hard to know what you'll enjoy ahead of time, but trust your gut and try things you wouldn't normally try at home.  Just don't be shocked if, every once in awhile, you don't ask for seconds.

- Wear comfortable shoes!  We're not talking about shoes that are soft and comfy while walking around the house.  We're talking shoes that can keep your feet intact while walking uneven surfaces and pounding those previously mentioned cobblestone streets and sidewalks for extended distances and periods of time every single day.  Imagine a strenuous 7-8km hike in the mountains over rocks of all shapes and sizes.  Now imagine walking your ever-loving backside off through town the very next day, and every day after that.  You absolutely need shoes that will hold up to a lot of walking.  I would advise bringing two pair of shoes for this trip.  Better yet, get yourself used to walking long distances in your shoes of choice prior to the trip.  You'll be glad you did.

- European bandaids suck.  Bring your own.  You will end up with a blister, or ten.  If you don't bring your own adhesive bandages, you will not enjoy the outcome.

- Bring an extra t-shirt or two, a couple extra pairs of underwear, and enough socks to last until the apocalypse.  There are opportunities to have your laundry washed while on this trip but you really don't want to run short of the essentials.  I also found time to sneak off to a laundromat for an hour.  You don't want to be the stinky one in the group.  :)

- The stars of the trip for me, supply-wise: Febreze, an awesome travel adapter with 4 USB ports, a lightweight day pack, a travel wallet that attached securely to my belt, my own soap, and earplugs.

- Things I wish I had brought with me: a couple washcloths (You won't find any in these hotels), another pair of shorts, more bandaids, and a wheeled suitcase.

- Oh, I almost forgot.  Get your phone/data situation figured out ahead of time.  If your cellular provider offers coverage while you're in Europe for a somewhat reasonable cost, take advantage of it.  If not, make certain to plan ahead and locate a reputable big-name cell service provider store as soon as your arrive.  15-20 bucks will get you a couple GB of data.  Wifi is available in your hotel but you need data to use Google Maps.  You need Google Maps.  Trust me on this one.  Download the areas you will be visiting for offline use before your trip.  If you don't know how to do this, search the internet.  Do not try to navigate any of these cities without some assistance.  You will get lost.  Guaranteed.

That's about it, I think.  All in all, awesome trip!  If you are lucky enough to have Adrian as your tour leader, enjoy!  Your group plays a huge role in how much you enjoy this trip.  Make sure you contribute positively to the group.  Make friends.  Go out of your way to make sure others have a good trip as well.  Try new things.  Enjoy the tremendous scenery.  Know your limits but be willing to push them here and there.  Good luck and safe travels!

Outstanding experience!  A few tips and thoughts on Barcelona to Rome.

Barcelona to Rome

Our tour leader, David Peris, was excellent - he was incredibly helpful, fun and informative.

Our tour leader, David Peris, was excellent

I had a fall in the Spanish Pyrenees and David  Peris was extremely helpful - getting me down the mountain safely, taking me to the emergency department of a Spanish hospital and making sure that I understood about my injury and the treatment. He assisted me with.my luggage when necessary because of stairs  - my broken collarbone restricted my ability to carry my 10kg bag. The group was also very supportive but David enabled me to continue my journey with confidence and so I was able to participate in most activities and enjoy the travel I had planned so long ago.

I've traveled with my family in "06 Days - Best of Europe without Disney". We stayed in Novotel Hotels &amp; Resorts, 91120 Palaiseau France. My daughter and I was misbehaved by the Novotel hotel reception. I had called the tour manager “Heramb Joshi” to the incident location. I was calling Police but didn’t call as suggested by Heramb Joshi.

Later, I reached out to Star tours about the incident. I was surprised that Heramb Joshi didn’t update Star tours about this incident. After so many phone call and emails, Mr. Jigar Damani said that identified reception is not in service for Star tours. Star tour has nothing done to the guest recovery.

Star tour doesn’t care about your respect and dignity. Star tours charges traveler hefty money for Quality vacation. I don’t want anyone with face the same situation which I and my family faced, IT IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY TRAVEL COMPANY AND WORTH WHILE TO LOOK. They screwed our entire vacation. Stay away from this tour company.

European Highlights with Disney

Star tours was the worst tour I ever took! The bus was so cramped, they packed the whole bus and hardly any leg room! 
The guide for a European tour was horrible, nor professional!
His name was Atul, he was horrible never said hello to my kids! Not even a hello! Did not even joke with my kids!
We stopped in Paris and another Star group was there and that guide was so nice, he was joking and talking to my kids and he had only met us in the like to Eiffel Tower.
There was another tour guide that had joined us, Sonya, she was training, she was super nice too, helpful.
Atul was the worst, rude!
The food at breakfast was good, lunch was ok, dinners were horrible?
The food was too spicy, kids can not eat that!
They should accommodate kids meals, really not hard to make!
And hotels were 2 to 3 stars!
Only yet first night and last night hotels are good, others are the worst I have stayed at!
On top of that the tour is too fast paced and never had time to see everything properly.
I would not go on Star Tours ever again, no even if someone took me for free!

France Historic Sightseeing Tours & Packages Tour & Trip Reviews

Never again with Europamondo

A knowledgeable, interesting and friendly local guide