If you're looking for a young, fun and well-organized experience, look to youth-based tour companies such as Intrepid Travel, Topdeck Tours and Contiki tours. These companies all specialize in the 18 to 35 age range and focus more on fun experiences and cheaper travel. They all travel various routes around Europe and the world.
These trips can start as low as $250, depending on tour type and length. Camping, hostels and lower end hotels are the ways these companies insure better prices for the traveling student, while the escorted tour gives security, organization, reliability and lots of fun.
Topdeck Travel
Level 2, 107 Power Road,
Chiswick, W45PY, UK
+(44) 208 987 3300
(800) 290-8687
http://www.topdecktours.co.uk
Intrepid Travel
PO BOX 2781
Fitzroy DC, VIC 3065
Australia
(800) 970-7299
http://intrepidtravel.com
Contiki Tours
801 E. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92805
(866) CON-TIKI
http://contiki.com
If the aim of your European travels is a relaxing, luxurious vacation, you should look to Insight and Trafalgar Tours. Both companies offer typical tour packages, but have premiere accommodations and an all-inclusive approach to traveling.
These experiences will cost you a little more with tours ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on duration, destinations and tour style. Both companies also have tours that include cruise and train traveling in addition to coaches.
Insight Vacations, Inc
801 Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92805
(800) 582-8380
http://www.insightvacations.com
Trafalgar
(800) 854-0103
http://www.trafalgar.com
Tours with an educational or cultural focus mainly cater to an adult clientele, but have family specific or cheaper versions of their tours for young adults. National Geographic Expeditions carries a unique set of tours with specific topics such as "Land of the Polar Bears" and "Exploring the Baltic's Historic Waterways".
Tours range up to $22,000, but you'll receive the best in education and experiences. Rick Steves, of the famous guidebook series, offers tours that are committed to your learning, seeing and enjoying Europe. For specific educational focuses, Martin Randall Tours hosts trips that focus on art, architecture, gastronomy, archeology, history and music in a variety of European locations.
National Geographic Expeditions
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(888) 966-8687
http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com
Rick Steves Tours
Europe Through the Back Door
130 4th Avenue North
PO Box 2009
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 608-4217
http://tours.ricksteves.com
Martin Randall Travel, LTD.
Voysey House, Barley Mow Passage
London W4 4GF, UK
+(44) 0 20 8742 3355
(800) 988-6168
http://www.martinrandall.com/
