River travel is probably one of the most comfortable and stylish ways to travel, and going on a river cruise in Europe will be the experience of a lifetime for you, whether you go alone, with one or more friends, with your significant other, or decide go with members of your family.
Compared to seaborne cruising, there is much more inland territory you can cover on a river trip, and compared to car-borne holidays you won't have to experience the discomfort of constant hotel changes. Plus who has ever heard of a river traffic gridlock?
Also, don't think that riverboats are devoid of comfort just because they are smaller then seagoing vessels. You will find that the rooms are functional but spacious, and that your cruise boat will also feature comfortable common areas such as eating and lounging spaces, as well as viewing spaces to soak in the scenery, of course.
For the preparation, before looking at the specific trip, you should determine the length of the voyage, the area you want to see and also the general level of comfort that you would expect.
Concerning the length, one or two weeks is standard but there are also short break offers for a weekend, and on the other end of the scale, six week Rhine-to-Danube extravaganzas for people with a lot of leisure time.
There are several great locations that you can choose from. Major countries for European river travel are Austria-Hungary-Romania (Danube river), Germany (Rhine, Elbe, and their tributaries), Holland (Rhine delta), France (Seine and Rhone), Spain-Portugal (Douro), Italy (Po and the Venice laguna) and Russia (Volga and the lakes around Petrograd)
Another crucial thing to consider is the season of the trip. The south of France or the flower-growing areas of Holland are great for a late spring or summer trip, for instance.
Trips in Germany are great in the winter months, especially if you like a traditional Christmas atmosphere and homely cooking and baking.
Concerning the level of comfort, you will find that there are a great number of alternatives, from Spartan drive-your-own houseboat hires to luxury cruse ships that have a lot in common with high-end hotels, but that retain an individual character.
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