Southern Europe is thronged with tourists year-round, and for good reason. Apart from its natural beauty, it offers a tapestry of architectural brilliance, moreish Mediterranean cuisine, and expansive rivieras. Given that there’s so much to see, those who want to experience what it offers should plan ahead and look into popular travel companies and their package tours. Following a few tips and choosing to go with a tour company can help make this process easier.

Tips for planning a trip and choosing the perfect package tour

• Determine the travel budget and time
  The first thing individuals should decide is their budget. Depending on what part of Southern Europe a person plans to travel to and how many days they wish to spend there, they might need to chalk out a plan to save some money. Having a budget  can help one choose the right tour package while ensuring they don’t  go overboard with their spending.
• Avoid overthinking and overplanning
  A particular mistake most individuals make while planning holidays is overthinking and overplanning their trips. While booking flights and hotels in advance and getting passes to certain monuments and museums is a great way to save money and have some semblance of control over a trip, planning each day down to the smallest details can be overwhelming. Sometimes, it can also make a person lose sight of why they are vacationing, i.e., taking a break from their fixed schedules. Being present in the moment and having some spontaneity is essential to enjoying a trip.
  Additionally, booking day tours, hourly tour packages, or weekend tours can help take some pressure off. Tour guides know the best places to take tourists to. Since they are well-versed in the place’s history and know what tourist traps to avoid, they will make sure the experience is immersive.
• Check the packages and accommodations
  After deciding on a budget and starting to look through tour packages, individuals must carefully look into the accommodations they might have to stay in. This is because, a lot of times, tour companies might book accommodations that are an hour or two away from the attractions listed in their itinerary. Traveling for more than a couple of hours daily can be exhausting and time-consuming. Besides, traveling through Southern Europe involves a lot of walking, and many places do not have any form of public transport.
  So, it is recommended that individuals book packages with accommodations that are walkable to tourist attractions. While they might end up spending a bit more money on accommodation, they will save on transportation.
• Decide what places to visit
  This is a continuation of the previous point. It is important to choose tour packages wisely. For instance, a two-week trip to Italy and Greece can be chaotic and exhausting.  Both countries have a lot to offer, but visiting all coveted cities is virtually impossible. So, it is best to shortlist cities that are nearby and easily reachable.
• Look into the food options
  Mediterranean cuisine has a lot of delicious options to offer individuals with diverse tastes and food preferences. Even then, one should research the kind of food they want to try out or avoid. Besides that, they should also check with the tour company they have booked to gauge the kind of food they will be offered. This way, individuals with food intolerances and preferences can ensure they enjoy their trip without any major hiccups. Those who solely eat a plant-based meal can inform their tour guide or company beforehand so that they can arrange for vegan and vegetarian options.

Popular holiday destinations

• Rome
  Once known as “The Eternal City,” Rome is one of the most visited places in Europe. From perfectly brewed coffees and imposing ancient structures to hand-pulled pasta, the city has a lot to offer. Individuals can go through the many tour packages and choose one that fits their budget.
• Antalya
  Many travel to Turkey to experience its medieval and modern culture, visit some of the world’s most famous museums, and enjoy food that never ceases to amaze. To make the most of this country, people can book all-inclusive holidays to Turkey from a reputed travel company. Those who want to go on a hot-air balloon ride should check if their itinerary includes that. If not, they can book a separate Cappadocia tour. One might have to book this tour way in advance because slots fill up quickly.

Some other unmissable travel destinations include Zakynthos, Greece, and Côte d’Azur, France. Both cities are perfect for those who want to spend a few days unwinding from work.

Package tours
A week-long tour to Zakynthos typically includes double hotel rooms, complimentary breakfast, direct flights, money-back vouchers, and a host of activities for travelers to enjoy. The cost of packages like these typically hovers between €1,200 and €1,500. Before booking this holiday package, individuals can check out the Zakynthos travel guide to learn more about the location.

Other than this, one can also look at Athens beach vacation packages and Heraklion boat tours. Some of these can be a bit expensive, so it is best to plan ahead and save up. Other great plans include an eight-day holiday trip to the Red Sea in Egypt or trips to Mallorca in Spain.