This is a place where we just had to laugh at the description given in a recent “Rick Steves” guide: “Oppede Le Vieux is a place to go and die in Provence.” Whaa? What did this esteemed travel write mean? That the village is so awesome that you will just drop dead when you see [...]
Our current guests make no apologies for being fans of popular author and television personality Rick Steves. Rick has made a career out of showing tourists “Europe through the Back Door.” Unfortunately, this usually means crappy hotels, tiny rooms, awful restaurants, indifferent service and all-around a waste of money and the total ruination of once [...]
Bus tours race you through the country at a breakneck pace because they’re on a schedule. Bags out in front of your hotel room door at 6:30. Breakfast at 7. Departure at 8. Rush-rush-rush through the day, being led around like sheep with walkie talkies jammed into your ears. Exhaustion. No time for taking photographs [...]
An “Us” vs. “Them” Comparison to help you understand why European Focus Private Tours might be the right choice for you. How Our Tours Compare to the “Big Bus Companies” Them — You’re just one of the mob The emphasis is on the masses. Trips might seem cheap, but the companies are basing their numbers [...]
We scooted across the border on Sunday for lunch in Cheb, the Czech Republic. I’ve driven by this town many times but never had a reason to stop until this time, when things just worked out for us to have lunch in the colorful square of this delightful old town.
We’ve been headquartered in the lovely town of Kenmare for three nights. “Little Nest” is what this place is called in Gaelic. The name fits. The town, designed by Lord Shelburne in the 1700s, fits snugly into the surrounding rugged landscape. Designed as an “X” the town features many small boutiques, a slew of pubs [...]
Third time guest Marie arrived at Frankfurt’s Airport this morning, raring to go for her adventure in the Heidelberg and Wittgenstein areas of Germany. We cruised south on Autobahn 5, chatting and catching up all the way. The last time I’d hosted Marie was in the spring of 2006. There was much new territory and [...]
Arrival in Rome around 1 this afternoon and the blood pressure starts to go up along with the intense traffic. I’m always happy to be driving a van in the rough and tumble world of Roman driving. Seems like those behind the wheel of a Fiat are much less likely to cut in front of [...]
PARIS, PROVENCE & CÔTE D’AZUR Micro Group Tour for June or July (Max 5 adults) This trip starts off with two nights in one of the world’s most enchanting cities, with a guide who knows how to make the most of your time. We then move away f...
PARIS, SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE & BARCELONA Micro Group Tour for 2013 This trip starts off with three nights in one of the world’s most enchanting cities, with a guide who knows how to make the most of your time here. We then move away from the ci...
PARIS, PROVENCE & CÔTE D’AZUR Micro Group Tour for July or August or October, 2013 (Max 5 adults) This trip starts off with two nights in one of the world’s most enchanting cities, with a guide who knows how to make the most of your time here....
