An Insight Into The Best European Tours

So you want to go to Europe. You want to go up the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Get a blessing from the Pope as he celebrates Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Have a romantic gondola ride in Venice. See the castles and gardens of England where Princess Di used to walk. Visit William Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-on-Avon. Walk through the castles and battlefields of "Braveheart" country in Scotland. See the original statue of David by Michaelangelo in Florence. See if the hills are really alive with the sound of music in Vienna. Pray before the Infant Jesus in Prague. Lend support to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. See the cathedrals and art galleries of Madrid. Have a cable car ride high into the Swiss Alps. Whew, your wish list is long.

The best way to see a lot of places without wasting time and money is to have a well-planned tour. And when it comes to touring Europe, Insight Vacations is the expert. "Insight Vacations has experience, the knowledge and the imagination to make it all come true. These are vacations as you would have planned them."

Insight Vacations offers some 60 choices of the finest tours covering European as well as the Eastern Mediterranean, Scandinavian, and Russian areas. Each superbly planned itinerary – ranging from four to 21 days – weaves its ways through the scenic, historic and cultural fabric of the countries. The "must see, must do" attractions are highlighted, with you being able to choose from options. But always, you are welcomed into a first class or superior first class hotel in the heart of the city. Hence you have the freedom to explore – stroll the grand boulevards or cobbled streets; try a fine restaurant or a quaint café; visit a museum or art gallery. Meals offer delicious choices allowing you to taste local flavors as well as savor traditional hospitality.

Transports come in the form of Europe’s premiere motorcoach fleet (Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Setra) with modern washrooms and toilets, first class cruise lines and superior railroad journeys such as the Eurostar, Glacier Express and TGV. Tour directors and city guides share with you the sights and sounds, the history and attractions of the places they call home.

With Insight, you actually save hundreds of dollars in what you will have otherwise spent for cab fare going to and from your hotel located in the city outskirts, and for expensive optional tours.

Most popular among the Filipinos is the Best of Spain and Portugal, a 16-day tour that takes you through Madrid, Salamanca, Oporto, Lisbon, Seville, Costa del Sol, Gibraltar, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona. Apart from the in-depth sightseeing tours and orientation tours to these destinations, there are several highlights in between. From Oporto to Lisbon, you also visit the pilgrimage village and Basilica in Fatima, as well as explore the medieval town of Obidos. In Lisbon, you will go to the Jeronimo’s Monastery to view the Navigator Monument and the Belem Tower, the starting point for Portugal’s great navigators. Then you head for the Cathedral and Christopher Columbus’ tomb in Seville. Even enjoy a local dinner with a fiery Flamenco show! Enroute to Costa del Sol, the tour stops at the medieval town of Ronda and the British controlled-Gibraltar. Heading inland to Granada, you will spend the afternoon at the famous Alhambra Palace. In Valencia, the favorite city of "El Cid," you will also visit Generalidad Palace, El Miguelete Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady of the Forsaken. In Barcelona, you have the opportunity to see the Sagrada Familia and the Olympic Games complex. Going back to Madrid, you will stop in Zaragoza and see the Cathedral of our Lady of Pillar in Zaragoza. Finally, you will see the Prado Museum and admire the Velazquez paintings in Madrid.

Contiki Holidays For The Young Travelers: 18-35 Years Old

The energy level and interests of the youth sometimes differ from those of their parents. Thus, it is also a popular arrangement for a family traveling to Europe, that while the parents take the Insight Vacations package, their children take the Contiki Holidays motorcoach tour, then both finally meet up at a certain point after their tour. This ensures enjoyment of all the members of the family.

Contiki Holidays is a motorcoach tour operator in Europe, Australia, Eastern Mediterranean, US, and Africa for the youth ages 18-35. Each Contiki Tour ensures interaction, informality, diversity, affordability, and lots of fun.

As an example, while the parents are taking the Best of Spain and Portugal (16 days) of Insight, the children can take the Spain and Portugal of Contiki (13 days). Both have very similar itineraries, but it is the concept of fun that makes all the difference. Imagine a gathering of 40 people, a tour manager, and a driver of the same age range! This can only translate to lots of new friends, great nightlife and funny adventures.

The Spain and Portugal tour takes you through Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Costa del Sol, Mijas, Seville, Lisbon, and Salamanca. The tour also passes by Toledo to see the Gothic Cathedral and El Greco’s house. In Granada, you will discover the fascinating old city including the Mosque of the Caliphs. At Costa del Sol, you will see the exquisite Alhambra Palace, former residence of the Moorish kings. The tour diverts to Mijas, the most popular and lively Mediterranean resort on the Costa del Sol. And you can party Spanish-style at the local tapas bars. In Seville, enjoy the city sightseeing including the Maria Luisa Park, the tomb of Christopher Columbus and the Giralda. Enjoy Lisbon and the magnificent sweeping views over the Tejo River. In Salamanca, visit the shrine of Fatima, the scene of celebrated religious miracles. Also, grab the chance to taste the local port before arriving in the lively student city of Salamanca. Finally, appreciate the panoramic tour of Madrid including Puerto Del Sol and also the guided tour of the Royal Palace. And at the end of your tour, you will hope that it would still not be over and all you can do is to remember to swap addresses and bid farewell.

* * *

The tours are available locally through Rajah Travel Corp., the general sales agent in the Philippines for both Insight Vacations and Contiki Holidays. For inquiries, call Rajah Travel at 813-31-45, 523-88-01/7, 522-05-41/8, 894-08-86.

The fastest and most comfortable way to reach Europe is via Air France’s direct Manila-Paris flight. Air France is the only European airline with non-stop flights to France three times weekly. For bookings, call 887-75-87 or 887-75-81.