Tours help first-timers find European gems
Q. We are planning a trip to Europe in March to visit our daughter. Her husband was recently given a nice promotion. Last June, they moved to Germany, then the corporate headquarters were moved to Switzerland as of Jan. 1. So we plan to visit them and see London for three days and Glasgow, Scotland, for three days, Paris for three days and the rest of the time in Forel, Switzerland, which is where they are living.
We wonder if you have some ideas for the high points of each place that we could see in such a short time. We have not been to Europe before, so this s a totally new experience. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
A. Seeing Europe for the first time is special, and if your daughter is living there, you'll be able to go again and again. That's great!
You mention the three major cities you plan to visit in addition to Switzerland. My first recommendation is to take an all-day tour of each of the three cities on the first day. That way you will visit the main attractions -- the high points -- in each location. On the second and third days in each city, go back on your own to the places you selected to visit in depth.
Take London, for example. There's much to see so you will have to make some choices: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussaud's, the British Museum, the Tate Gallery (art museum), the London Eye, shopping at Harrods and lunch or dinner at a pub. The Original London Sightseeing Tours and the Big Bus Company offer London tours on a hop-on, hop-off basis on a ticket that is good for 24 hours. Check the Web site www.visitlondon.com for complete information. Especially useful links are the TravelCard, which offers discounts on city transportation, and the London Tourist Information Centres, where you can pick up such publications as the "London Planner."
This formula works for all three cities on your agenda. From London you can reach Glasgow by train, although renting a car and driving through northern England and Scotland might be more rewarding. Glasgow is an industrial city on the River Clyde, but it does have some attractions -- notably its cathedral, which dates from the 1100s. If you're into architecture, Glasgow is the city for you with its many Victorian buildings. Stop at the Willow Tearoom and enjoy designs by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow's noted architect. The Web site is www.seeglasgow.com.
What is available in Paris? Many things, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre. Start in the heart of Paris at the Champs-Elysees, with the Arch de Triomphe at one end and Place de la Concorde at the other. Stroll through the Tuileries, a lovely park on the Right Bank of the River Seine, and continue on to the Louvre and Notre Dame. Be sure to visit the Left Bank with its many cafes and shops. Paris flea markets are fun and interesting. Ask the concierge for directions to one near your hotel. He or she will also have information on city tours or day trips (such as to Versailles, the royal apartments of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette). Check the Web at www.parisinfo.com and its many links.
Your daughter will have all kinds of information for you on your Swiss visit, but if you want to get a head start, go to www.myswitzerland.com. Have a great trip.
Send your questions at leastsixweeks prior to travel toMadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box280, Arlington Heights, IL60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.