BeerBorg

Wife and I are planning to go to Europe this fall. She wants everything , I want to stay solvent. But seriously, we plan 2+ weeks, London, Guernsey, Belgium, Amalfi, Rome. Not your standard tour package. Any website recommendations? I've been working on EuropeanDestinations.
No, we're not rich. But we can spend some savings to go while we can still really enjoy it.

We went to Italy in 2010 for 12 days and used a local tour company. Their info was priceless in helping us choose. Saved us money too. We stayed in one country but moving around will be harder so a tour company is best. Ask around for a small company that can give you great service.
Amalfi is awesome. Only wish we could have visited there longer.

It's been many years ago but when I was stationed in Scotland I found that, at the time, - and this may have changed over the years as the American image has become a little more tarnished - the further out into the country-side I went the more that I was treated as an honored guest rather than an American tourist. IOW...visit the big European cities but if you really want a feel for what the particular country you're in really is then get out into the county-side and spend some time in the smaller villages.

Thanks Chuck, that is always my preference. We're going in September, too much chance of rain in October. That limits our time and options. Guernsey is a must, as Jane's family is from there. It is out of the way, so I will enjoy it. I insist on Belgium, we'll probably stay in Brussels, but visit Bruges. London and Rome will bracket the trip.

Have a great time! We lived in Germany for a while and did a lot of touring. There is sooooo much to see and do. We planned out trips around military installations, they always had tours going on so can't help you on who to look too. We loved Belgium, Luxemburg, really loved Holland. France, ehh... can take or leave them. Germany, lots of nice places, but the locals are kinda stuck up. Never made it to England, really want to go back and go there and Ireland since that's my heritage.

Thanks FIT. Jane had this idea that we should visit the homelands of our fore-bearers. But it doesn't really work. My paternal grand-father came from Lithuania. But it is so far from everywhere. And I never met him, or any of his siblings. So why go to the trouble?

You can take a train from Brussels to Bruges and it's not very expensive. Brussels is wonderful and definitely more urban, while Bruges has that old world, small town charm. I'd love to go back. I dream about it all the time. And compared to many European cities, Belgian cities are more affordable to tour around and dine in.

John Sand wrote:So why go to the trouble?

Good or bad reception, it's a once in a lifetime experience to visit family, distant or not. On my mom's side, I have relatives living in Frankfort. We met them once way back when at a family reunion in indiana when I was a child. I looked them up when we lived there (germany) and got a cold reception. We were welcome, but never felt comfortable as neither did they. Happens, but I did not care, I can say I did it. Will never visit them again, but I did it.

Either way ya go, you will have a blast!!!!

FrozenInTime wrote:

John Sand wrote:So why go to the trouble?

Good or bad reception, it's a once in a lifetime experience to visit family, distant or not. On my mom's side, I have relatives living in Frankfort. We met them once way back when at a family reunion in indiana when I was a child. I looked them up when we lived there (germany) and got a cold reception. We were welcome, but never felt comfortable as neither did they. Happens, but I did not care, I can say I did it. Will never visit them again, but I did it.

Either way ya go, you will have a blast!!!!

That is so true. I know that I need to go back to visit family been to long since I been there. I need to see if the beer has really gotten as bad as my cousins say.

Because no one knows what, if any family may be there. In choosing between a tenuous heritage from a country far away and every other destination, I choose any other destination. I.E., Lithuania or fill in the blank, I fill in the blank. Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, even parts of France are more desirable. If I lived in Europe I would try to see the Baltic States. But having only two weeks (possibly in a lifetime) we have to exercise discretion.
I do appreciate all the feedback. Beer for everyone!