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We are starting to consider booking a trip for 2026. We would like to go outside the US, if possible. Some of you have encouraged me to make a post asking advice about where to go, what to do, and other things we might need to know about traveling out of country. (We do already have our passports from when we took a cruise in 2019 when we paid off our house.) So, HD friends, I am asking what kind of trip would you advise for out of the US travel newbies? Where should we research? What trip was memorable for you? Chris
All I can do is tell you what I did. To me there are two dimensions: the country and the nature of the trip (a tour company, a self-directed trip, or a cruise).
We chose first to go to a country that also spoke English and liked Americans. That took us to the UK and later to Ireland. Then we went to a country that didn’t speak English and also liked Americans. That took us to Italy. Those trips gave us the confidence to branch out further – to places with more difficult language barriers, like Hungary and Tunisia, and a few spots that pretty clearly didn’t like Americans, like a tour that included part of the Palestinian authority land outside Jerusalem, i.e., Bethlehem.
We started out with planned tours in Ireland and Italy. (I had done a little work in London, so we didn’t need any help with the UK trip.) Those tours involved buses or trains, and gave a broad sketch of each country. The tour companies do the logistical work – you just show up and enjoy. But you have to follow the tour agenda and may be dependent on the behavior of some others in your group, who might be chronically late or talk too much.
Cruises are unique. When you consider destinations, you can decide how long you want your cruise to be, and what package of stops is most attractive. The cruise companies come in all flavors. I am partial to Oceania. You only check in once but you might go to six or eight different stops, usually for a day at each one. The cruise ships mostly sail overnight, and you can disembark in the morning and return to the ship in the afternoon. As with land-based tours, you get an overview of the cities, and won’t get the depth of a self-directed tour, or a personalized tour with a professional guide.
I would recommend a Mediterranean cruise for as long as possible(10-12 days) with a luxurious line like Oceania, Azamara. You will be able to visit so many places all in a matter of two weeks. For years I was opposed to cruising but since I got older, it works for me. Good luck.
Final planning for our next RV trek in the Roadtrek 210P. I have prepped the RV. This trek will be for at least 2 months and will begin June 23. We’ll leave Arizona and visit friends in Georgia, Tennessee, and then on to the east coast of Lake Michigan where we’ll stay at our lily pad. Then side trips to the Upper Peninsula (UP) of MI and Chicago Suburbs with friends. About 2 months duration. The campground reservations are in place. We have not yet planned the specifics of the return. (Trekking is always a work in progress). This trek will be at least 6,000 miles. My most recent CT scan and MRI was a week ago, I downloaded the reports from the portal of the cancer center and I’ve read them. I have a meeting with my Oncologist on Tuesday and my Radiologist on Wednesday. I had a nephrostomy exchange a month ago and am good for another 3-4 months, with care. I’m packing the necessary medical supplies. My opinion on reading the medical reports is “go for liftoff”.
Have a great trip. I have never been to the UP but would like to.
An easy way to travel is a river cruise. Boats are small, no rough waters and no packing and unpacking. We have enjoyed river cruises on the Danube and the Rhine. Tauck is an upscale travel company that attracts friendly seniors in the upper middle class to wealthy. AMA Waterways and Viking are also good and a lower price point.
Love Tauck. We just took our first tour with them in February and have a river cruise in France booked with them next spring.
I don’t like tours and crusises, but you said you enjoyed a cruise. Therefore, a tour group or cruise is probably the best way to go. This means that anywhere is recommended because they will take care of you and you’ll get tastes of other places.
Keep in mind that cell phones have changed the world. When I rode a bike in Shanghai in 1990 I had to be very careful to not get lost because I could not read signs, no one spoke English, and there were no phones. Now you can point your phone at a sign or menu and you get instant translation. Maps show you where you are.
Depending on how fit you are, walking a Camino in Northern Spain or the coastal route of Portugal, past one awesome scenic view after another and gorgeous coastal towns is a splendid, relatively inexpensive and fun way. You can stay in hotels/high end hostels and have your main backpack transported while you walk 10-12 or so miles at your own pace.
I just got back from the Camino Mozarebi and Caminito del Rey: breathtaking views of canyons. I have been doing these for the past 3 years, while I can! Also a shout out to spending time in Gran Canaria, Morocco and Ireland. The Galapagos islands was an awesome trip. I also love Virgin Vovages and will definitely do one of their European adventures this year. Enjoy what ever trip you take.
Travel has always been an important aspect of our lives – my wife and I have tried to make it a high priority right from the beginning and as we have become debt-free and approached our FI Number in 2021, our trips have become increasingly important to us.
We love cruising and find it provides an efficient way to see lots of places without much of the stressors of moving between locations – we love unpacking once and having the “hotel” move us. Our most recent trips have included: (1) An Alaskan Cruise; (2) A Western Mediterranean Cruise (Spain, France, Monaco, Italy); and (3) A Northern European Cruise (Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and England). This year we are going back to the Mediterranean with stops in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain and England; and are planning a Cruise of Japan for 2026.
For a first time international traveler, Id go with an English speaking country. probably England or Ireland. Singapore is also a good choice. I’ve done quite a bit of international travel over 35 years-mostly business and have seen folks start looking for the McDonald’s (AKA the American Embassy..) as they experience the shock of lack of familiar foods and places.
If you want to go it on your own, such as taking trains or buses from city to city, I’d recommend England, Ireland, Wales, but as I said in an earlier reply tour groups take care of you anywhere.
Also, we found that plenty of people in the Netherlands and Germany speak English and don’t give you attitude for this. And public transportation is easy to negotiate.
95 countries here. AND for five years we have been full-time travelers (we own no real estate). It so depends on the kind of trip you want? And how you want to spend your time? Our most memorable trips in the past 5 years:
*for sheer beauty, lots of walking, great food, deep diving into history and serenity—Lake Como, Italy
*for unique environment, perpetual spring, great food and inexpensive—Cuenca, Ecuador (and the currency is the US$
*for snorkeling, 85 degree weather and long walks on the beach—Bonaire
*for visits to a region’s great cities? A cruise through the Baltics or Japan, the British Isles or the Mediterranean, staying at least a week extra at embarkation or debarkation port
*for a more exotic (and expensive) iconic locaton? the Galapagos Islands, Machu Pichu, or the Antarctic
What ever you end up doing, I recommend SLOW travel. Give yourself time to know a place before moving on.
Friends, I am so humbled that you would all take your time to try to help us. Thank you. I will show Spouse all of what you have written. I know we will find something. And I am also sure I will have more questions as we plan. Chris
Not really advising you to do it, but in August, we are going to Germany.
Both my wife and I were Army Brats. I actually grew up in Germany from the age of 3 until I was 16. My wife of 51 years lived in Germany from age 6 until age 9.
We are visiting Bavaria, specifically Munich and Stuttgart, and taking a side trip to Bad Tolz, the town I actually lived in. In addition, we are traveling to Berlin, where I lived in 1955-1957, and where my step mother was born.
The only other foreign travel we will most likely go in is planned for next year, when we will visit Ireland, Scotland, and England. While in England, I plan to take a two day trip to Normandy France, to visit the sites of D-Day. My father was a member of the 82nd Airborne and he landed in Normandy on D-Day, in a Glider, when he was 18 years old.
Once our European travel is completed, the remaining travel we are planning will be in the US, and possibly a trip to Canada’s far eastern proveinces.
While in Normandy make sure you visit the Cathedral de Bayeux. We think it’s more beautiful than Norte Dame.
BTW, my father in law was in the next wave and fought in the battle of the bulge.
Kevin, thank you. Spouse’s ancestors are from Germany, so it definitely was a thought. And the Normandy trip would also be something special, I think. C
Kevin, that sounds like a fantastic trip. I’ve read a bit about D-Day and the gliders – amazing stories. My uncle was a captain and a mechanical engineer. He was in charge of maintenance of motorized equipment, but he wanted to see action, so he got on a transport and landed in Normandy on about day 5. He told some amazing stories about the confusion, and how he basically found a combat unit and ended up in a leadership role, and walked across Northern Europe to Germany. I’m in awe of the courage those men exhibited.
Yes! C
Maybe not for anyone’s first international trip, but did anyone mention Southern Spain and Morocco, if you’re willing to pay for a group tour? Many companies combine these two countries. I enjoyed my tour several years ago. Family members recently did a similar tour, bringing our shared teenage grandson, and also had a great time.
We were in Spain and Portgual for 30 days last summer, but the 3 days we spent on a short trip to Marrakesh, Morocco were the most adventurous & made the most memories. Stay in a Riad (guesthouse/small hotel) in the city center, and make sure to visit a hammam and get a “scrub.”
Thanks, Linda, will check it out. C
Agree with the Ireland comments … many trips there. Fascinating stuff like Newgrange. Love Iceland and may return now that I can fly direct on Icelandair
We have family members who have been to Iceland, I will have to pick their brains. Thanks, George. C
Vienna is good. You’ll never run out of things to do. English works most places.
Rick Steve’s guides and free online resources are good for DIY travel: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/austria/vienna
Thanks for the link, Eludom. C
Our next planned trip — although life may interfere — is a Wilderness Travel cruise around New Zealand’s South Island next March. My dream trip for 30 years.
I hope you have a great time, Mike. C
My best recommendation is avoid the river tours (we did Viking in Russia and really enjoyed it ), but for most other places, you can easily plan the trip yourself. Get a guide book and figure out what you want to see! There are real advantages to this approach. It’s much cheaper than a “tour,” and you can set your schedule. If you want to linger in a place, you can— that’s important. With websites like Hotels.com, booking hotels is easy.
The British Isles are very easy. But two years ago, I took my daughter and teenage granddaughter to Rome— I was 80. We used frequent flyer miles and stayed in nice small hotel that was walking distance of the Coliseum. Also did a day trip to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. It was great and I don’t think we spent over $3000!
Another suggestion— go off season. The crowds during the summer in many places can be overwhelming. And these days, the heat is likely to be excessive.
Finally, one big vote here for Australia!!
We tried northern Italy last year off season. Sadly, I don’t think there is off season anymore. We stayed off the beaten track so our evenings were relaxed, but every town we went to during the day was crazy packed with tourists.
Thanks, Marilyn. We are thinking about the riverboat cruises. C
We did all but one (Portugal) of the available river cruises using Viking and Grand Circle and enjoyed them all with a mix of tours and free time at each village or city we stopped in, plus we got to eat in peoples homes for a real life experience. The great advantage is not moving among hotels and repacking.
The cabins are modest, not like cruise ship but adequate and the food was very good with a taste of local fare. I wish we could do it all again.
i found the accomodations on the Viking tour in Russia fine and loved unpacking once. That said, the cruise operators are limited by water access. In Moscow, the boat moored a long way from the city and we had to do a long bus trip in heavy traffic into the Kremlin, etc each day. As for eating in locals’ homes— we took a pass. Here’s why— we believe the local “hosts” signed on to let strangers eat with them for financial reasons. We would have been very uncomfortable, since it might be likely that we’d be perceived as “rich Americans” seeing how the natives live. We may have been wrong about this, but we can’t imagine having strangers in our house every every week. Would you open your condo for the money a tour operator would offer?
I’m thinking that for the families who choose to do this, yes, it’s obviously a way for them to earn money, but just like operating a family-run Bed & Breakfast, it’s also a way to share their culture and knowledge of the surrounding environment. Some group tours specialize in these cultural encounters. Both sides understand that there’s a financial benefit to the local hosts and that the cultural experience is what the travelers are willing to pay for.
Ahhh – to travel!
When my daughter was in her early teens I decided that being able to navigate mass transit would prepare her to do pretty much anything. So off we went, starting in the US and then to Europe. Since our early travels, she has ventured to Asia and Australia/New Zealand on her own and now with her husband.
We are history and art fans, so our trips tend to focus on museums and historical locations. Great Britain and Northern Europe are favorite places. After several trips with my adventurous daughter, I finally convinced my husband to travel with me.
Visiting the Netherlands seemed to be a good entry point and I suggest it often to people making their first trip abroad. English is spoken everywhere – in fact, signage at Schiphol airport is in English with Dutch below. Amsterdam had so much to do we could have stopped there. But visiting other cities throughout the country was a breeze. Travel throughout the Netherlands and to additional countries via train or air could not be easier.
Don’t forget Kuekenhof in the spring for the tulips
Totally agree about being learning mass transit!!!
Nony, agree about mass transit. We were not afraid to take the subways in NYC or Chicago after so much practice with the DC metro. C
While Europe of course offers so many great opportunities, I’ll go a different direction and recommend Japan. The Yen rate now makes it very affordable and it is hard to find a friendlier country to travel in. My favorite trip to recommend is a flight into Tokyo with 2-3 days (or more) there, then a first class rail pass for 7 or 14 days that takes you through some of the prettiest and interesting cities to see, ending up in Hiroshima with a flight back to Tokyo or adding another week in Korea with a flight to Seoul and return home from there or a return to Tokyo. For our “Go Go” years we are focusing on trips that take advantage of our mobility, good health and tolerance for a little more adventure and maybe discomfort, and saving some of the tours and cruises for later years.
Good perspective, deandwigz. Hadn’t thought of Japan. C.
Depending on what you need to do to be able to leave, but there is also nothing wrong with making a decision today to travel soon to just one of the many places mentioned here and “wing” 3-7 days. No reason it has to be complicated or planned to the minute. Find a cheap last minute fare to Dublin, Rome, London, Munich, Lisbon or Paris and explore a new city as you go. Some of our best trips happened this way. Wake up the first day and go for a coffee and look for a free city tour by foot or book an on/off bus for the day. Ask around for a neighborhood “locals” restaurant. Get a few things at the local grocery store. Look at what’s playing at the Opera House. Takes naps when you are tired. Though a lot of the joy of travel is the planning and anticipation, you will be surprised how easy and enjoyable it is to make a less planned fast trip to just one place and take it a day at a time.
I have traveled that way, making changes to a planned trip on the fly. From what I’m reading, that’s harder to do these days. Accommodation books up, and for popular sights you either get reservations ahead of time, or waste time in lines. I would not advise a newbie to wing it these days.
Though high season anywhere might be risky for accommodations (Europe in August!) if you are flexible and open to off season I would not hesitate recommending anyone to make a last minute trip to lots of places rather than wait 6-12 months to plan out the perfect trip. Life and the Go Go years are too short and I have been in many international cities off season and there is no shortage of hotels or things to do. But I agree that making a hotel reservation at the same time you buy your ticket for a quick trip next week is a good idea!
Good advice from a knowledgeable traveler! Thanks, Kathy.
Having lived in both Europe and Asia, I agree for a first time overseas traveler, the UK and-or Ireland probably win – closest travel, speak English and good mix of cultural, historical, and natural sites to visit.
For scenery & outdoors hiking – central Europe and for food – Southern Europe. Our new European favorite is Croatia – super friendly people, speak English everywhere, interesting historical sites from BC Greek to recent cold war, awesome food and wine, upbeat economic vibe everywhere, and very cheap. Croatia is so good, we returned for more after just one year.
For rookie travelers, the best first steps in the East are probably Australia and New Zealand. Like Dr. Lefty, New Zealand is probably our all time favorite, as we prefer outdoors activity-oriented traveling and returned a couple times. New Zealand also has the perfect mix of super friendly people, amazing natural beauty, great food and wine, and moderate cost. Asia in general and NZ in particular are long plane flights.
Thanks, John, it sounds like you have been to quite a variety of places. C
We are indeed blessed having lived among and toured many overseas places. We still have friends in Russia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, UK, Belgium, France, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan – a number close enough to stay in their home.
Having said that, we are not fanatic international travel-promoters as a “must do” for everyone – much of our favorite travels have occurred close to home. The US is tough to beat especially as we have grown to strongly prefer activity, natural scenery, and with-friends or family based travel over cultural travel. We’re kind-of over museums, amazing old churches, huge forts, ancient ruins, historic old houses, and to-some-extent cities.
What on earth is a travel-Nazi??
I loved New Zealand, but it’s a better destination for someone who is into scenery, hiking and adventure sports. Also, it is a very long way from the east coast. We all have our different definitions of “cheap”, “moderate”, etc, but I wouldn’t describe NZ as moderate. Of course, I was coming from cheap SE Asia. In fact, SE Asia is not a bad starting point. Loads to see, plenty of beaches if that’s your thing (it usually isn’t mine), great food and excellent accommodation at cheap rates, comfortable accommodation at really cheap rates.
I would add Slovenia and Montenegro to Croatia – Ljubljana is one of my favorite towns. Mostar and Sarajevo are worth seeing too, with good scenery on the way.
Destinations:
Italy for wine, food, history, architecture. Excellent train service. In two weeks (if you’re going to spend the money to fly make it a longer trip) we visited Pompeii (short train ride from) Naples, Rome, Pisa (short side trip driving to) Cinque Terra (can also be accessed by train), Modena (to pay my respects to Pavarotti), and lastly Venice.
Greece similar to Italy in all but wine (it’s still good, but the beer is excellent), but much less expensive. Driving is necessary outside of Athens. In two weeks we visited Athens (2-3 days max), the Peloponnese peninsula including Olympia, Kalamata (coastal), Nafplio(n) the first Capital of Greece also coastal (two excellent side 1/2 day trips also), and the island Hydra (no cars, only donkeys for transport, 1 1/2 hours via high speed ferry).
Travel:
By land not cruise ship. You can see much of these two places much like you can see them on TV by disembarking for a day trip from a cruise ship, but I believe you can’t truly experience these locations. Also by cruising you are not supporting the communities as much by not utilizing their hotels (we do not use short term rentals (ie Airbnb etc) because they are taking housing away from the locals, and making housing more expensive.
Time to Visit:
We travel in late May/early June, or just after Labor Day. As a result we have not run into the crowds that have been reported during the summer, especially when cruise ships are more likely to be dumping their thousands of day trippers into the locations.
Information Resources:
We are ultra planners. I utilize travel books. Prior to our first big trip which was to Italy I brought with us AAA, Fodor’s, and Rick Steves books. After following Rick Steves directions on how to get from Naples to Pompeii via train we ditched all but his book as the directions were so clear and concise. Thats all we use for a travel guide now as his travel vibe fits ours. My wife likes to follow Utubers for information (I don’t as I don’t want to see all the sites before I see them.
Private Tour Guides:
On our first big independently designed trip which was to Italy we figured out what locations we wanted to visit, for how long at each, and our budget. Then luckily we had a relative who had been living in Europe for nearly two decades, and utilized his travel agent for bookings (since then we have done it ourselves). The best thing we discovered from utilizing a travel agent was he arranged for private tour guides in Pompeii (a half day with an archeologist), also half day tours in Rome for the Coliseum and Forum, and the other for the Vatican Museums. These particular guides were able to have us bypass lines both outside and inside the locations saving hours in line. Since it is a private tour you can feel free to ask as many questions which pop into your mind as the guides are there only for you. When we went to Greece we arranged tours ourselves with a company named Tours by Locals for the Acropolis, and Olympia.
How much to see in a day:
We have learned after several trips since retiring not to schedule the entire day with things to see as we determined that was too rigid and tiring. Now we schedule something for half of a day and the other half is free to do something else, or just sit in a cafe and people watch.
Hope this information helps Chris,
Bon Voyage!
I’m going the opposite way from David and recommending a cruise for a rookie traveler. A good Mediterranean/Adriatic cruise gives you a taste of up to a dozen countries without having to make nightly lodging reservations, arrange your own transport or haul your suitcases from place to place. Then you pick whatever you liked the best and start planning a more thorough return. We fell in love with Italy and went back a couple years later.
But absolutely, absolutely follow David’s advice and stick to “shoulder season” in spring and fall. Steer clear of the summer crowds.
“and the other half (of the day) is free to do something else”
is determined that same day.
Thank you, David and Mike. Some great out of the box thoughts you had, David. C
Hard to imagine any trip being anything but magical. Here are my next two trips that I have booked, which may also provide some inspiration for an idea for you. They are both cruises as that has been an easy way to see many places without the need to worry about transportation, hotels, or dining.
Safe Travels!
Thanks, Richard. Both of those sound good. C
We went on a Venice to Athens cruise in 2022 that included many of the same stops. Loved Croatia!
You’ve gotten a lot of suggestions for Europe, and I love Europe, too. But since no one has mentioned it yet, I’ll put in a plug for New Zealand. Absolutely beautiful and very easy for English-speaking travelers. I’ve been twice and just adored it. It’s one of the few places I’ve traveled to where I’ve thought “I’d live here.” I won’t—it’s too far from family—but it shows how much I loved it.
Dana, we hadn’t thought of NZ, thanks. We will check it out. C
For ease of public transportation and helpful tourism personnel, I’ll second the numerous suggestions of England. I’ll recommend Spain – we took a southern loop from Madrid over 10 days and had an exceptional time. We also found the Czech Republic (primarily, but not exclusively Prague) to be historically fascinating, economical, and wonderfully friendly.
Thanks, Jeff. We would like to visit the Czech Republic, but maybe not for a first trip. C
Our most memorable trips were to Russia, Israel and Ukraine, probably not good ideas now. I love Spain and Portugal and well, all of Europe.
Or, take a river cruise from Paris to Normandy. A great trip is a cruise on the great rivers of Europe, you get to several countries.
Thanks, Dick. We are thinking about a river cruise. I would love to go to the Holy Land, but now is not the time, unfortunately. C
Visiting the Holy Land will change your perspective on what’s going on there. It did mine.
The main variable is are you prepared to drive a rental car or will you want to take public transport or even a tour.
While I would say the UK and Ireland are a relatively easy visit due to the language and not too much hostility to Americans yet ( despite your president’s best efforts) you do have to be aware that roads to the most interesting places like Scottish Highlands and Western Ireland are narrower than you are used to and parking is a skill like in NYC.
Alternately lots of European cities can be strung together with rail travel ( and a Eurail/interrail pass) and you can have the comfort of international hotel chains – not necessarily the best picks but save you from the worst picks). For instance you could do a route like Paris- Lyon- Annecy- Chamonix-Geneva- Lucerne-Zurich-Innsbruck -Vienna- Salzburg- Munich- Koln-Brussels-Paris pretty easily.
Or Italy looping out of Milan.
Check out Seat61 for rail inspiration.
Thank you, BBB. I would not want to drive with my vision issues, but it is a possibility for Spouse. We would be ok with trains since we used the Metro in DC a lot when we lived in Maryland. Haven’t ruled out a guided tour or cruise either, but thinking we wouldn’t want to do one of those ones where you visit a lot of different places/countries, but are exhausted. C
Nice itinerary, but no need to loop. Usually no more expensive and easier to fly into one city and home from another.
First, I’d suggest spending time on the forums at fodors.com. They’re less active than they used to be, but there are still some knowledgeable posters around, and many, many trip reports from years past.
Second, if you’re starting with Europe rather than Asia I highly recommend Rick Steves’ “Europe Through the Back Door”, which is full of good advice about how to travel. Also, spend some time checking out his website, and watching his TV shows (available on the site).
Third, what are your interests? Scenery, art museums, architecture, history, food, wine, etc. etc.? This is the first question you’ll be asked at Fodors. Also, how long? What time of year? Do you want to hike in the UK Lake District (summer), or ski in the Alps? Could you spend a whole day in the British Museum, or would you rather admire Art Nouveau buildings in Nancy?
Pretty much all of Europe is easy these days, with lots of English speakers around and excellent public transport. For info on trains start here. Going east it tends to get cheaper.
Can’t be a whole lot of help without an answer to question three. There’s enough to do London alone to keep you busy for weeks, especially with day trips, then you could take the train to Paris, then maybe Nice…
Kathy, I think Rick Steves has nothing on you! Very helpful post.
Thanks Dan, but I learned quite a bit from Rick, including the use of a money belt (don’t leave home without one under your clothes). I did prefer Lonely Planet guidebooks, though, at least before the latest format change.
I just got back from a trip to Ireland, and also noticed, and was disappointed in, the format change to the Lonely Planet guidebook I bought. Such a bummer…
Thanks for the Fodor recommendation, Kathy, I hadn’t heard of that. We are really newbies. I had heard of Rick Steves from PBS. We like a variety of things to do. Museums, plays, nature. We are thinking about going fall, 2026. C
Fall is good, although shoulder season is starting later and later. If you like museums and plays I can’t think of a better place to start than London. The museums are free, the theaters are cheaper than New York, and you’re spoiled for choice. Also, your nearest international airport almost certainly has direct flights. Then you could head to Bath or Oxford, and look into basing in the Cotswolds for a few days for seriously cute villages and hiking. If you have more time there’s the train to Amsterdam or Paris, or budget flights to Nice, or Venice, or…
I recommend starting your research with the DK Eyewitness and Insight guidebooks. They are useless for logistics, but full of pictures that will help you decide where to go. Your library may have them – you don’t need the latest edition.
Thank you, Kathy. Good info. We will look for the books.
I think the British isles are a great place to start. Wherever you decide, consider travel insurance. Should you get sick and need evacuation back home, your net worth could take a heck of a hit without it.
Great comment. The only thing I’d add is one really needs to know the details of whatever insurance they’re buying. A friend of mine bought some travel insurance and thought he and his wife were covered. A detached retina during a south pacific cruise resulted in a $25K emergency airline ticket home for him and the wife which the policy wouldn’t cover since medical care was “available” on the island he was on. Kathy’s HD article mentioned below is a great place to start educating yourself on travel insurance.
Excellent point. I wrote an HD article on that very topic.
Thanks all, I will definitely read Kathy’s article about travel insurance. C
Ireland is one of my favorite choices, We’ve been there twice and loved it. You can do Dublin without a car. We did the SW with a car and it is useful.
We did a long weekend in Paris on my wife’s 40th. It was a great trip – Paris is easy to walk and the Metro is great. London is similar. There are good day trips from London by train or tour also. Good luck.
A bit off topic Rick, but I just got my new Fidelity VISA. I thought of your experience in England when I read that the new card includes $75K of collision insurance for the rental car.
Good to know!!
For a first trip abroad, I’d put a plug for Ireland. It’s a beautiful country, an easy flight from the U.S. and there’s no language barrier. You might start with a few days in Dublin, and then take a train or bus to a more rural area.
loved Ireland. Our group unanimously said visiting Skellig Michael was the most memorable
We are thinking about Ireland! C
In addition to Jonathan’s recommendations, we loved Dingle City and Peninsula, and Doolin for amazing music. I also tell everyone touring Dingle they need to traverse the Conor Pass and Slea Head Drive.
I would highly recommend both the Ring of Kerry and Connemara. But Dublin itself is a treat — good restaurants, fascinating history, super-manageable. Be sure to visit the Easter Uprising museum. As someone born English, the way the Irish were treated is horrifying, though my guilt trip is somewhat mollified because I was raised Catholic.
We did that on our first trip abroad. Love Ireland. On the last trip we drove around Northern Ireland. It was a great experience.