Frequently Asked Questions:
Guided Vacations

All of our guided vacations feature the finest fleet of luxury motor coaches. You’ll enjoy traveling in comfort with panoramic windows, air-conditioning, and reclining seats.  Insight Vacations utilize 40 seat motor coaches with extended business class legroom.  And most motorcoaches feature onboard Wi-Fi connections so you can stay connected with friends and family back home.

You will very seldom spend more than a couple hours without stopping for photos or a visit.  Some journeys are much shorter. Many times you’ll have multiple days at leisure without any travel. When you are on the move, plenty of rest stops are included along the way to ensure your comfort. Your Travel Director will always advise the travel time each day.

All itineraries involve walking, often on cobblestones and uneven surfaces. You need to be in good physical condition (able to walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day and keep up with the group). If you have questions or concerns, please contact a Travel Specialist. 

There are no assigned seats, but you Travel Director will implement a daily seat rotation system. This ensures that everyone gets to enjoy the spectacular view from different angles, and gives you an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers. 

Group sizes vary from 26 to 52 depending on the type of vacation you choose.

You’ll enjoy the perfect balance of planned activities and time for personal exploration on all of our itineraries. 

The prices listed in our brochure and on our website cover all hotel accommodations and porterage*, all applicable sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary, motor coach, cruise or rail transportation. Many meals are also included – detailed information can be found on each trip page.
*In some destinations/itineraries portergae is not available and guests must tend to their own bags. Ask your Travel Specialist for more information.

We take the hassle out of booking a group vacation and offer some great discounts for 10 or more people. Visit this Expert Advice page for more information on planning a group vacation.

A triple room is the same size as a twin-bedded room. There will only be two beds and a rollaway may be requested but cannot be guaranteed.

Most vacations offer a selection of optional activities which are not included in the price of your vacation but are designed to enhance your travel experience. A detailed list and costs can be found in your travel documents or on our website. There is no need to pre-book and you can sign up directly with your Travel Director.  

Our trips feature the best hotels in every destination. You’ll stay exclusively in accommodations that have been independently rated as First Class European Standard. These hotels are generally centrally located within a city and feature all the modern amenities including complimentary Wi-Fi. Other hotels are situated in scenic locations outside the city. You’ll find hotel names listed on each trip page and we encourage you to read unbiased reviews on tripadvisor.com.

All hotel baggage handling* is provided at no extra charge and included in your vacation purchase price (not included on Costsaver tours).  One suitcase per person will be delivered to your room by hotel staff.
*In some destinations/itineraries porterage is not available and guests must tend to their own bags. Ask your Travel Specialist for more information.

You may bring one suitcase per person weighing up to 50 lbs. You may also bring one piece of hand luggage provided it is small enough to take on the coach. These details will also be provided in your travel documents.  Please note that air carriers may have their own restrictions and requirements including weight. We recommend that you contact the airlines directly for additional information. You can also learn more about checked baggage fees and allowances here. Check out our Planning Your Vacation expert advice articles for more information about packing and getting ready for your trip. 

Our partners make every effort to accommodate any special needs requests, whether it be a dietary restriction or physical limitations. In order to accommodate your needs as best possible, we ask that you let your Travel Specialist know at the time of booking. You may be asked to fill out a form depending on the type of request.

Electrical plugs and outlets differ throughout the world, so you’ll need a universal travel adapter suitable for the countries you are traveling to. We also suggest that you carry a converter for any electronics that are not dual voltage (such as some curling irons) in order to prevent them from being damaged. 

If you are a solo traveler and prefer the privacy of your own room, a supplement will be applied to the price of your trip. The cost will depend on your trip and is available on request. If you’d rather not incur the additional expense, consider the room share option available on most of our vacations. We’ll accommodate you with a fellow guest of the same gender, on a twin-bed basis. Please note that room shares are not valid on all trips. Check out our Expert Advice on Tips for Traveling Solo. 

About 15 days prior to departure you will receive a travel information package that includes your itinerary, hotel list and more. Please note that your airline e-tickets and other travel documentation must bear your FULL name as it appears on your passport. It is important that you review your travel documents immediately upon receipt and contact us if any changes are required.

Most major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Europe. Credit cards and most debit cards can be used for ATM cash withdrawals onshore (there are no ATM machines onboard the ships). We recommend bringing at least one credit card plus an ATM card. Try to avoid carrying euro notes larger than €100, as merchants may be hesitant to accept them due to counterfeiting. Limited currency exchange is available on board (cash only) and all major hotels have exchange facilities. Travelers Checks are not recommended.

It’s always a good idea to let your credit card issuer and bank know of your plans to travel abroad so they can expect foreign transactions on your account. Learn more about traveling abroad and finances on our Expert Advice pages that focus on Money. 

Once you travel with any of our partners – Uniworld, Trafalgar, or Insight Vacations – you are eligible to receive up to 5% Past Traveler discount on all vacations booked directly through Grand European Travel.