Private tours in Western Europe

[tmt9367]

We'll be visiting Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Tangier this coming April and need good private tour operator recommendations. Any solid advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Shaun

[sondi 14]

We used Tours for You in Lisbon a year ago and found them to be very

good. I have also read other good reports on this site from others who have used them while in Lisbon.

[Ine]

Amsterdam is a very "walkable" city with very good public transport.

Besides most attractions are not that far apart.

Interesting places: Rijksmuseum (Rembrandt), Van Goghmuseum, Ann Frank house, make a canalboattour, Flowermarket, walk though "Jordaan"section of town, sit on an outside terrace and watch people..

Check http://www.vvvamsterdam.nl/

 

http://www.simplyamsterdam.nl/sights.htm

 

http://www.amsterdam.info/map/

[dbh62ark]

We were in Brussels last year after a cruise, and it’s very easy to see on your own. If you are just there for the day, you’ll need to find your way to the Grand Place, and it is magnificent. Frommers has some walking tours of Brussels. I’m always torn when I see these posts on Brussels because I adored Brugges, but I don’t think you can go there and to Brussels in the same day during a port stop. If I had to choose, I hate to say it because we loved Brussels, but I’d choose Brugges.

 

Along with Ine, I would like to encourage you to see Amsterdam on your own. It is so easy. The cruise ships dock near the train station, and the ships usually run shuttles. The train station is at the edge of the Red Light District, and Frommers has a good walking tour that includes that area along with the oldest house in the area, the most narrow house in the area, etc. But I think you would really be missing something if you don’t go to the Anne Frank house. I get chill bumps just thinking about our visit there. It would be best to make that your first stop to avoid long lines. From there, it’s easy to find a canal boat tour. We rode the electric tram to the Van Gogh museum and the flower market too. The main sites there are in a compact area.

 

We stayed in Lisbon prior to sailing on a HAL cruise, but we went back there last year while on a port stop. You might be well served by a private driver there, but it’s also very easy to see Lisbon on your own. If you are docked near the Belem area (there are 3 cruise ship docks in Lisbon), you’ll be near some of the main sites such as the monastery, the coach museum, and the Tower of Belem.

 

I haven’t used a private tour operator for Paris (we’ve traveled there on ground trips), but I’ve seen lots of posts regarding private tours from LeHavre here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233.

 

Have a great trip,

Donna