Tuesday, August 4, 2009

European River travel: The Basics Explained

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 on 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 kids, it will probably be a trip to remember.

On a river trip you have access to inland areas of countries that big ships just can’t get to, and you get to sail along serene waterways, rather than drive along congested highways. Your comfortable hotel travels with you and you usually moor very centrally in most towns that you will visit.

Also, don’t think that riverboats are devoid of comfort just because they are smaller than seagoing vessels. You will find that the rooms are functional but spacious, and that your cruise boat will also feature comfortable common areas such as eating and lounging spaces, as well as viewing spaces to soak in the scenery, of course.

For the preparation, before looking at the specific trip, you should determine the length of the voyage, the area you want to see and also the general level of comfort that you would expect.

Concerning the length, one or two weeks is standard but there are also short break offers for a weekend, and on the other end of the scale, six week Rhine-to-Danube extravaganzas for people with a lot of leisure time.

There are several great locations that you can choose from. Major countries for European river travel are Austria-Hungary-Romania (Danube river), Germany (Rhine, Elbe, and their tributaries), Holland (Rhine delta), France (Seine and Rhone), Spain-Portugal (Douro), Italy (Po and the Venice laguna) and Russia (Volga and the lakes around Petrograd)

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.

Trips in Germany are great in the winter months, especially if you like a traditional Christmas atmosphere and home cooking and baking.

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:
Check out EuroRiverTravel.com for comprehensive resources on how to organize European cruise. You will find all the information that you may want about European river travel at your fingertips.

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