Travel Cruise

KATHY LETTE: BEST OF EUROPE

The ultimate 28-page guide to your next European adventure

Why you need to plan your European holiday

Tens of thousands of Australians join millions from other nations who travel to Europe every year. It’s a perpetual favourite filled with history, culture, great food and fabulous scenery.

But things have changed since the pandemic. So good information is now more important than ever.

That’s why the team at Cruise & Travel decided to create this special guide.

Planning your trip is essential if you want to get to see all the sights that make Europe so special.

That means ensuring you have things in place – right down to the time of your museum visit.

We recently visited two of the hottest capitals in Europe – Amsterdam and Rome. The Dutch main city has just under 1 million residents but played host to 15.7 million tourists last year.

Flights, hotels and restaurants are all in high demand – and charging accordingly. Attractions are heavily booked everywhere.

Prices have shot up by as much as 23 per cent across Europe, according to the British consumer watchdog Which?, with hotels and airlines desperate to make up for their pandemic losses.

Our best tips to help beat rising prices: book early, as both hotels and airlines release rooms and seats in batches, penalising those who book at the last minute; try cities outside the capitals (our article on Page 26 can help you choose alternative destinations); and make sure you set yourself a budget before you go.

Our advice: if you don’t know Europe well, use an accredited travel agent. And enjoy a session around the dinner table planning exactly what you want to do. Don’t leave it to the last minute. You run the risk of being disappointed.

We love Europe, and had an amazing time during our visit. So enjoy this guide – and definitely book early!

Peter Lynch, Editor-in-chief

Contents

04

The best thing about Europe

Kathy Lette (pictured above) reveals her love of cruising.

08

9 amazing European getaways

Our hand-picked selection of some of the best escapes in the hottest European destinations.

12

Magical north

Visit cosmopolitan Copenhagen and the ords of Iceland with Holland America Line.

14

Twice as nice

A fly-stay-cruise option for a Mediterranean getaway travelling around incredible Italy and the Greek Islands.

16

Secret shores

Cruising to Europe’s less-visited ports, from Sète to Klaipeda, with Ponant’s luxury small ships.

19

Rivers of dreams

Our favourite European waterways and which cruise lines sail them.

22

Bon appétit

Experience Epicurean Delights in France on one of Scenic’s new River Cruise Collections.

24

Best guides on the rivers

Tauck has a 30-year track record in Europe – and it shows in its skilled guides and local tours.

26

Crowd control

Beat the crowds in our pick of the quieter European destinations.

08