Organizing a trip to Europe can eat up a lot of time and feel overwhelming. With COVID worries easing for many and travel rules loosening, numerous Americans have navigated the planning obstacles.
Travel from the U.S. to Europe surged an astonishing 862% in March 2022 compared with the same month in 2021, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. That probably explains why your social feed is full of photos of the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben.
Even so, locating the best flight deals and acceptable lodgings at a reasonable price can feel like another full-time job. Truthfully, that hunt can drain some of the excitement out of planning your dream getaway.
There is an alternative to that hassle.
Many tour operators provide group pricing on both airfare and lodging. They organize travel logistics for you so you can focus on guidebooks and deciding what you want to experience. Yes, some tours can involve early bus departures and other inconveniences, but that’s not universally true.
Tours also foster social connections. You’ll be taking that memorable trip with a group of strangers at first. By journey’s end, you might discover a travel companion or two to join you on future European adventures.
The aim is to visit those historic and scenic spots within your budget. Tours can help you do that.
Your Dollar Stretches Further in Europe
This is an excellent moment to visit Europe. Because of inflation, the euro’s value dipped significantly versus the U.S. dollar in summer 2022, meaning your money buys more in euro-using countries.
The exchange rate hovered near parity — a rarity since the euro became widely used in 2002.
There’s another modest reason to plan a European trip now. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is introducing a 7-euro charge (just over $7 presently) for any non-European visitor starting in May 2023. This fee is intended to help identify travelers and manage epidemic-related situations.
6 Europe-Focused Group Tours That Reduce Hassle
- Under30Experiences
- Travel & Leisure Club
- Walking the World
- Affordable Tours
- ExpatExplore
- EF Go Ahead Tours
You’ve probably heard of larger mid-range tour operators like Globus, Trafalgar and Gate1, among others. Even TV travel presenter Rick Steves runs tours.
We’ve highlighted a few you might not recognize but that are worth a look. They can be particularly cost-effective if you can secure inexpensive airfare on your own. Know someone who works for an airline? That’s one way to snag cheaper flights.
1. Under30Experiences
Targeting young adults (21 to 35) on a tight budget, Under30Experiences lists trips worldwide, including Europe. Often, Under30 publishes monthly itineraries — covering lodging, transport and activities — so there’s typically an option no matter when you want to travel. In summer 2022, many listed European departures ran under $2,000.
Under30 also notes that it considers traveler safety when selecting accommodations.
Though focused on ages 21–35, Under30 allows travelers older than 35 (but not younger than 21). It also encourages solo travelers to join group outings and sightseeing. The company is flexible about date and plan adjustments, recognizing that long-range arrangements sometimes need to change.
2. Travel & Leisure Club
Leveraging the reputation of the well-known travel magazine, Travel & Leisure Club provides curated European itineraries that can lower travel and lodging expenses by up to 60% compared with booking everything yourself.
Membership costs $14.95 per month ($179 annually) and includes access to a personal concierge available before and during your trip, plus a subscription to Travel & Leisure magazine.
3. Walking the World
Walking the World runs guided walking tours across some of Europe’s most beautiful urban and rural landscapes. There’s no join fee for travel groups; your payment covers lodging but not airfare.
The club typically appeals to an older crowd but welcomes younger participants. Spain, Ireland and England were among the summer 2022 offerings. For example, a 10-day Ireland tour was priced at $3,995. Groups have size limits and often book up fast.
4. Affordable Tours
Offering thousands of itineraries beginning around $3,000, Affordable Tours covers nearly any trip you can imagine.
This service aggregates tour options; it partners with local travel providers worldwide, so you’ll travel with guides who really know their regions. Affordable Tours also lists “air-inclusive” packages so you don’t have to arrange flights separately.
5. ExpatExplore
Want to cover as much ground in Europe as possible in a single trip? ExpatExplore specializes in multi-country circuits. These tours span several nations — for instance, a 7-day, 6-country Europe Taster trip starting at $1,210. That price typically excludes airfare to the departure city but includes at least one meal per day.
6. EF Go Ahead Tours
An offshoot of EF Education First, which promotes cultural understanding through travel, Go Ahead Tours runs a variety of trips — solo, small-group and multi-country. EF also features niche itineraries such as safaris, national parks, culinary and wine tours, historical trips, and castle-focused journeys.
Go Ahead posts alerts about tour promotions, including first-trip discounts, weekly deals and a Club Go loyalty program for repeat travelers. A two-week Greek Islands itinerary is advertised at a bit over $4,000, excluding the flight. That rate includes 12 breakfasts, five dinners with beer and wine, three guided tours and 12 nights in selected hotels.
Extra Tools to Ease Travel Planning
The benefit of joining a tour is having someone else shoulder the logistics of transportation and lodging. But if the options above still feel like too much, there are sites that let you enter your travel specifics and then generate possible matches.
TourRadar
Enter your travel dates, preferred destination, age, group size, where you want to visit, and the kind of trip you’re after (leisure, sightseeing, hiking, etc.) and voilà — a range of selections appears. TourRadar asks many questions to surface the trips that best align with your preferences.
Scott’s Free Flights
Scott’s Free Flights won’t book tickets for you but locates airline deals that arise for various reasons — including “mistake fares” inadvertently published by carriers that they honor. Members can specify their home airport and preferred destinations to receive quick alerts. Scott’s offers a free tier plus paid levels at $49 or $199 per year depending on the features you want.
Alex Reed is a seasoned journalist who has covered personal finance since 2013. He contributes to Savinly.
