Thursday, January 29, 2009

European River Travel: Which Country And River To Choose?

By Samson Mandez

If you are thinking about river travel, you should spend a moment to consider a European cruise. These kinds of waterborne trips are great to explore the interior of a country, and especially so no the European continent, with its tightly packed and diverse cultures and nationalities.

There are probably few ways to visit a country which are as cool and pleasant as river travel, and whether you will be traveling alone, with friends, or together with your spouse and kinds, it will probably be a trip to remember.

Compared to seaborne cruising, there is much more inland territory you can cover on a river trip, and compared to car-borne holidays you won't have to experience the discomfort of constant hotel changes. Plus who has ever heard of a river traffic gridlock?

It is true that ships for European river travel are smaller then ocean liners, but most are very comfortable and quite roomy, and there are several that have a movie rooms and fully equipped restaurants, as well as a dancing area. Plus, of course, viewing areas to look at the lovely landscape around you.

Before looking at the boating companies that you may want to book your trip with, it would make sense to decide on the length of your voyage, as well as on the location that interests you and on the amount of amenities that you would expect to come with your package.

River trip lengths can be very variable, although the most typical ones are one or two weeks, or more. Another possibility is to spend only a short time on the river, combining it with a land-based visit. For instance, you could spend three days in Paris and then cruise down the Seine for another three days.

As for the location, the most popular destinations are the Rhine, from Switzerland to Holland, and the Danube, which flows from Germany to Romania. Lots of lesser known alternatives are possible on the internal waterways of countries such as France, Italy, Poland, Russia, the UK and Spain.

Another crucial thing to consider is the season of the trip. The south of France or the flower-growing areas of Holland are great for a late spring or summer trip, for instance.

During the holidays in the winter, on either a Rhine river cruise or a Danube river cruise you could stop and walk through the renowned Christmas Markets of Germany and Austria.

As for the price level of the trip, you will find many alternatives, going from fully inclusive, escorted luxury trips from basic "from A to B" travel catering specifically to younger travelers. There are options for all tastes, and for all budgets. - 16759

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