European River Travel: The Basics Explained

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European River Travel: The Basics Explained

If you're considering going on a cruise, river travel is a good way to go. River cruises let you explore many of the most fascinating rivers and cities worldwide, and especially so in Europe with its wealth of diverse history, culture, and cuisine.

Regardless of whether you will be cruising by yourself, as a couple, or with a group of people, you will find that European river travel has something special, and that every cruise that you will take on the continent's waterways will be a trip to remember.

River travel allows you to see the interior of the continent from an angle that few tourists experience to the fullest. You will be far from the crowds, travelling with your floating hotel. and will never risk being stuck in traffic or having to wait for hours at airports and train stations.

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.

There are many European river travel companies that you can go with, but the most important initial part is to decide on the length of the trip that you want to make, on the location and on the kind of comfort. just make sure that you begin with these details so that you can then relax and plan out the trip.

As for the length, you can find anything from three day cruised to break up a longer holiday to leisurely four week trips down major rivers such as the Danube. One or two weeks are pretty standard lengths.

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.

You will see wonderful floral displays as you cruise through Holland in the spring or sail through the South of France along the Rhone and Saone in the summer. There you could see the vistas that inspired Van Gogh.

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.

Concerning the level of comfort, you will find that there are a great number of alternatives, from Spartan drive-your-own houseboat hires to luxury cruse ships that have a lot in common with high-end hotels, but that retain an individual character.

About the Author

EuroRiverTravel.com is the premier resource for european river travel on the Net, with updates on topics such as booking a cruise, as well as on cruising through several countries, preparing for the trip, making the most out of the cruise - and much more!