Europe Package Tour
Europe is open to everyone. With shengen breaking down many borders that have stood for centuries and equal opportunities regulations to ensure public places are welcoming and accessible your next vacation couldn't be more enjoyable. Modern means of transportation let you to travel between different European regions or countries in the shortest time possible: domestic airlines and low-cost companies offer a variety of connections at highly competitive prices.
Railways are another fast, ecological option when travelling between European countries: the TGV in France, the ICE en Germany, the AVE in Spain, the Eurostar between Belgium and France to the United Kingdom with the famous tunnel underneath the English Channel, as well as the Thalys train, which operates in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Six major European railway companies (from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands) set up a partnership in 2006, known as Rail Team. The objective of this alliance is to become an alternative to airline alliances for passenger transportation.
In addition, Europe is devoting considerable time and resources to ecology: railway transportation has increased everywhere, as seen above, but other operations have also been launched in several countries. For instance, if you would like to visit cities while riding a bicycle, you may well be able to: more and more major cities are renting bicycles for hours or days, sometimes even on a “help-yourself” basis. Modernised tramways are also becoming increasingly popular in places that had stopped using them in the 60s/70s, so the appearance of these cities is being nicely modified.
When visiting Europe today, thanks to New Technologies, you can rely on several mobile solutions, such as GPS devices, and smart phones. A large number of tourist areas are equipped with multilingual audio-guides, so you can enjoy your visits to historical or cultural sites without missing a detail. European hotels, found traditional by some and modern by others, are following the same trend: today, many of them offer an internet connection in every room or wifi access in the whole hotel. In many major cities, wifi access is provided in the city-centre itself, near their most visited districts.
What? You’re not ready to set off yet? Explore our pages… then pack your suitcases. We’re expecting you!
Fact File
Location: |
Europe Fact File |
Area: |
10,245,000 sq km / 3,956,000 sq ml |
Time Zone: |
0 UK - +1 Central / Scandinavia - +2 Eastern - +3 Russia (Moscow) - +4 Azerbaijan |
Population: |
728,857,380 |
Largest cities: |
Moscow Russia 8,717,000 - Istanbul Turkey 7,615,500 - London UK 6,967,500 - St Petersburg Russia 4,838,000 - Berlin Germany 3,472,009 |
Largest islands: |
Great Britain 219,000 sq km / 84,600 sq ml - Iceland 103,000 sq km / 39,800 sq ml - Ireland 84,400 sq km / 32,600 sq ml |
Longest rivers: |
Volga flows into Caspian Sea 3,700 km / 2,300 ml - Danube flows into Black Sea 2,850 km / 1,770 ml - Ural flows into Caspian Sea 2,535 km / 1,675 ml |
Largest lakes: |
Ladoga Russia 17,700 sq km / 6,800 sq ml - Onega Russia 9,700 sq km / 3,700 sq ml |
Highest mountains: |
Elbrus Russia 5,642 m / 18,510 ft - Mont Blanc France / Italy 4,807 m / 15,771 ft - Monte Rosa Italy / Switzerland 4,634 m / 15,203 ft |
Major volcanoes: |
Etna Italy 3,239 m / 10,625 ft - Hekla Iceland 1,500 m / 4,920 ft - Helgafell Iceland 215 m / 706 ft |
Lowestpoint below sea level: |
Caspian Sea 29 m / 94 ft |
Climate: |
Temperate in most areas - Mediterrean southern Europe |
Europe History
Egypt is one of the most fertile areas of Africa, and one of the most fertile of the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Because it is so fertile, people came to live in Egypt earlier than in most places, probably around 40,000 years ago. At first there were not very many people, but gradually Egypt became more crowded, so there was more need for a unified government. Around 3000 BC (5000 years ago), Egypt was first unified under one ruler, who was called the Pharaoh.
From that time until around 525 BC, when Egypt was conquered by the Persians, Egypt's history is divided into six different time periods. These are called the Old Kingdom, the First Intermediate Period, the Middle Kingdom, the Second Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom, and the Third Intermediate Period.
More information on each of these periods, and on the time after Egypt was conquered, can be found by clicking on each period.
- Old Kingdom (2686-2160 BC)
- First Intermediate Period (2160-2040 BC)
- Middle Kingdom (2040-1633 BC)
- Second Intermediate Period (1786-1558 BC)
- New Kingdom (1558-1085 BC)
- Third Intermediate Period (1085-525 BC)
- Persian rule (525-332 BC)
- Greek rule (332-30 BC) (also called the Hellenistic)
- Roman rule (30 BC-700 AD)
- Islamic rule (700 AD to 1500)
TOPEntry Formalities
In order to enjoy travel to and within Europe, all travellers, including infants, require a valid passport. Please note that the following information applies to leisure and business travel. Those seeking information on passports and visas for working in Europe will need to consult the Embassy for the country they wish to work in. When applying for your passport from your government’s passport authority, make sure you know how much time to allow for delivery, and be sure to give yourself extra time so that it arrives before your planned departure. If your passport is due to expire within six months of your departure, consider applying for a new one before your trip to Europe, as some countries may not accept a passport so close to expiration. Once you receive your passport, be sure to sign it and fill in the personal notification data immediately.
Visas
Travel visas may be required for some travellers or for those who are staying for longer periods of time (more than 30 to 90 days, depending on the country). You must be sure to find out what the regulations are for citizens of your home country and each European country to which you are travelling. The best place to find information on this is the Embassy or Consulate of the country/countries you wish to visit.
Schengen Area
There is an area within Europe called the Schengen area. This is a group of countries which have all signed an agreement to make travel across their borders easier. In many cases, foreign visitors can obtain a single Schengen visa to visit any of the countries in this zone, instead of having to apply to each country individually. Usually, an application for a Schengen visa is made to the first country in the Schengen area that you wish to visit. The 24 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Please note that if you have a Schengen visa and you wish to visit another European country that is not the in the Schengen area, you may still need to obtain a separate visa for that country.
If you are a citizen of a Schengen country travelling to another Schengen country, you only need your ID card. A passport is not required in this case.
Loss of passports in Europe
Should you lose your passport, report it to the local police and the nearest consulate or embassy for your country, which can reissue your passport when you are abroad. Carrying a photocopy of your passport with you, separately from your actual passport, can speed up replacement time if you do lose your passport. It is also advisable to carry two passport-sized photographs of yourself as these will be required to reissue your passport. Please note that in almost all cases, you will not be allowed to leave Europe without a valid passport.
Shopping
Because every country has a reputation for particular products, do a little research before you leave so that you know what is on offer, and check out the comparable prices at home for such items. Take advantage of your trip to load up on gifts for celebrations or the holidays – but remember to choose lightweight, easy-to-pack items if you purchase things at the beginning of your trip.
Chocolates from Belgium and Switzerland, leather from Spain, lingerie from France, wines from Italy, wooden Christmas ornaments from Germany or lace from Cyprus – all of these items, large or small, will carry memories upon your return home.
Check with local tourist offices for the locations and times for markets in the big cities. In small towns, regularly scheduled markets carry a broad base of products from the very practical to the outlandish. Flea markets also abound and offer some great bargains. For the inside scoop, it is often a great idea to talk to local folk about the best places to shop so that you can avoid tourist traps.
If you missed out on something, check the duty-free shops at the airports, on international ferries or at some train stations. These items are not usually sold at the best prices, but if time is short, then this could be your last chance to purchase that wallet or scarf before boarding the plane.
Remember also that clothing and shoe sizes vary between Europe, Britain and the U.S., so be sure to try things on before buying as well.
Credit cards are widely accepted, but check before you buy to avoid being caught out.
International shoppers may be entitled to tax refunds on the purchases they have made; remember to keep receipts and be prepared to show your purchases at the airport.
For Travellers Resident Outside the EU
Most European countries levy a value-added tax (VAT), which is a form of sales tax, that varies from country to country but can be up to 34 percent of the total price of goods. Since the tax is usually included in the price and is not added on at the point of purchase, it is virtually undetectable. The rate itself depends on the product category; in some countries the rate is higher for luxury items such as jewellery and is lower for basic items such as food from the grocery shop.
Travellers resident outside the EU can, in many circumstances, apply for a refund of the VAT on goods, but not on services such as hotel rooms or meals in restaurants. Always ask at the shop what the country's minimum-purchase requirements are to qualify for a refund (usually 65-165 euros, or the equivalent in local currency, in a single shop). Participating retailers often place the Tax Free Shopping logo on their doors for easy identification.
While the procedure varies depending on the country, you will usually need to fill in a form at the shop, showing your passport. Upon your final departure from the EU, you must submit all forms and receipts to Airport Customs for approval. They may ask to see the goods, so have them handy in your carry-on luggage. Items must be new and unused to be eligible for the refund. In some instances, you can get the refund before departure at the Cash VAT Refund desk; otherwise, it will come by mail or can be credited back to your credit card by the retailer.
Companies such as Global Refund and Euro Refund provide services for eligible shoppers to recoup taxes in three simple steps.
For Travellers Resident in the EU
Despite the abolition of duty free purchases within the EU in 1999, you can still find good prices at airport tax-free outlets. You will often see two prices listed, one for intra-Europe travellers and another one for travellers outbound from the EU. Remember that if you are travelling within the EU you will not be able to benefit from the same tax breaks as when you fly to destinations outside it, except on certain items. Thus it’s best to make your big purchases just prior to departure from the EU.
A Helpful Reminder
Tax Free refers to the possible elimination or refund of taxes levied by the country in which you purchased the goods.
Duty Free refers to the quantity of certain goods which can be brought back to your country of residence without paying the normal tariffs imposed on those goods by that country.
Health and Tips
Medications and pharmacies are widely available throughout Europe, but you will find your travels more relaxed if you take your medications with you.
Prior to your departure, consult with your doctor, particularly if you have ongoing health concerns, and to determine if you need any immunizations. Generally, travellers visiting Europe do not need any vaccinations.
Check your health insurance policy to be sure you are covered while travelling abroad, and bring a copy of your health coverage ID card with you. You may also want to consider purchasing travel insurance in case illness prevents you from completing your trip.
If you are coming from outside Europe, because you will be consuming foods and beverages to which your body may not be accustomed to, you may want to take a few simple precautions. Tap water in Europe is generally safe to drink. However, if you are travelling far from home, your body may not be accustomed to the local bacteria, so you might want to drink bottled water. Enjoy the local cuisine, but eat lightly until your body adapts to the different ingredients and methods of preparation.
Pharmacy's green cross
Carry prescription medicine in its original packaging in your carry-on luggage as well as a copy of your prescription in case you need to replenish your supply while travelling. Pharmacies, often marked with a green cross (usually illuminated), are easy to spot. If a pharmacy is closed, it usually lists the address of the nearest open pharmacy. Should you become ill, go to a pharmacy, describe your symptoms and more often than not, the pharmacist will be able to recommend an over-the-counter remedy.
It is useful to carry basic remedies for minor travel irritations, including headaches, blisters and motion sickness. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent as well or purchase them in Europe.
Jet lag, for those who come from outside Europe, causes more controversy than any other feature about travelling, and theories abound. Among the most common advice is to sleep as much as you can on the plane, and be sure to move around and stretch when you are awake to stimulate your circulation. Switch your watch to the local time as soon as you board the plane. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages while in flight. Upon arrival in a new time zone, adhere as much as possible to local time: take a short nap, have a light meal at the appropriate local hour and perhaps a brief stroll afterward. Eat lightly for two or three days, keep the first day's itinerary relaxed, and allow about 24 hours to adjust to the time change. On day two, you’ll be raring to go!
