Passport to Europe: Trafalgar’s guide on making the most out of your first European sojourn

MANILA, Philippines - Got that aching wanderlust for beautiful Europe? Whether it’s France’s iconic Eiffel Tower, Rome’s Vatican City or even the famous canals of Amsterdam (the “Venice of the North”), Europe is rich with culturally eye-opening sights, sounds, and experiences that any avid traveler would want to check off his or her bucket list.

Enjoy an indulgent glimpse of Europe’s best and even hidden secrets with Trafalgar, as the world’s leading guided holiday company lets you in on how to make your first-ever trip to Europe your most memorable and unique journey yet.

According to Trafalgar travel director Brendon Bush, more and more Filipinos are now jetting off to Europe to experience what the continent has to offer.

“Europe is a very popular destination for Filipinos for many things,” he says. “First off, culture, history and architecture are key attractions — for instance, because many Filipinos are Roman Catholic, they want to go and see the Vatican City. Then there’s also the shopping — the strength of the peso has made the region a lot more affordable than before.”

But with more than 53 countries in Europe, choosing which ones to visit first can be quite an overwhelming experience. Bush suggests: “Try a multi-country trip for a general taste of the region’s diversity.” Trafalgar, he says, offers guided holidays to Europe and Britain via local partner Pan Pacific Travel Corp.

“You can go First Class and enjoy first-class hotel accommodation, quality local cuisine for meals, sightseeing with a local travel director who possesses a wealth of local know-how that will allow you to enjoy an authentic experience of the city, daily transport on luxury coaches, and of course, coveted insiders’ experiences such as ‘Be My Guest,’ which allows you to dine with a local host and get to know the culture better,” Bush says.

“For travelers who prefer to minimize costs but enjoy great value, there’s the CostSaver guided holiday, which offers an equally exciting itinerary that costs 30 percent less than it would if you would travel independently,” Bush adds.

Bush recommends the 12- or 18-day guided holiday for first-timers or the “At Leisure” package for those who would want to really savor each destination. “The At Leisure package enables you to stay longer in each place — around two to six nights and plenty of free time to go around on your own. This is perfect for someone who would prefer a more relaxed itinerary,” he says.

And with so many landmarks to explore and conquer, he advises travelers to make the most out of the wisdom of Trafalgar’s travel directors. “They have the information, insider knowledge and experience to suggest the best things to do while on a holiday with us,” he says. “As a travel director myself, my goal is to ensure that those touring with me will not miss out on any signature sights and sounds that any happy traveler to Europe should come home with memories of.”

Must-sees in Western Europe, he enumerates, include Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame; Florence’s Accademia Museum (“Michaelangelo’s Statue of David is easily the most famous sculpture in the world”), Rome’s Colosseum, Vatican City, Pantheon and Piazza Navonna; Venice (“the city itself is an experience like no other”); Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace; the old town of Innsbruck; and Brussels’ Grand Place.

“Of course, other sights and destinations such as Prague, Berlin, Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw, and even the cities of Spain — these are included in our longer, more extended itineraries,” Bush says.

And, of course, Bush points out, what makes the Trafalgar guided tours truly unique are the distinct and exclusive elements that are incorporated, such as the “Be My Guest” experience.

“This is an opportunity to visit a unique villa, chateau, castle or a local’s own residence. In many cases, you eat with the family while they entertain and get to know you, while you sample some of the best home-cooked meals in that area. You can also explore wineries and distilleries as some of these packages take place in an area where you can sample the local produce, and learn how their wine, whiskey or cognac is produced,” he says.

There’s also the “Hidden Treasures” package, where the travel director taps into local insider knowledge to show the group something that only they know. “It’s a real treat for guests to have the opportunity to see something that might have been just around the corner, but had they not been shown it by the travel director then they would have missed it,” Bush says.

“It may be something simple like a photo stop of a windmill, or a little store that sells delicious local pastries, sweets or sandwiches, or a small hidden piazza. Or sometimes we go off the beaten path and show our guests an entire little village that no one would have heard of,” he adds.

With this, Bush dishes out his final advice to first-time travelers to Europe: “Seize the day. Do everything you can and buy everything you want — experience Europe as if you were not coming back! And yes, choose a guided holiday that’s just right for your travel style, but does not scrimp on the experience. After all, what you want is a European getaway that you will always remember, and even want to come back to.”

Trafalgar is the world’s leading guided holiday company offering exceptional quality and value itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With 65 years of experience and unrivaled local expertise, it provides an authentic insider’s view to create truly unique travel experiences in Europe, Britain and eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, China, Mexico, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada.

Pan Pacific Travel Corp. is located at the G/F, Pacific Place Apartelle Suite, 539 Arquiza cor. J Bocobo St., Ermita, Manila. For more information, call 523-1990, 526-6427 or 536-1265/67 or e-mail at trafalgarmanila@panpacifictravel.com.ph.