Planning a trip can be half the fun — or it can be a real headache. Make sure it's more ecstasy than agony by using the tools and information I've assembled here. Over the past 25+ years of guiding tours and teaching seminars on European travel, I've answered a lot of questions about trip planning. I've developed a sixth sense about what people need to know, from the big picture questions — like choices between a guided tour versus independent travel — to the nuts and bolts of booking hotels, getting around by car and train, and understanding the sights.

Start off with my step-by-step guide to Planning your European Vacation, where I've gathered together the advice and resources I've used in planning hundreds of trips over the last 30+ years.

In this step-by-step guide I've brought together the advice and resources I've used in planning hundreds of trips over the past 25 years. We'll start at the beginning — getting or renewing a passport — and move through other pre-trip planning essentials, then on to stuff that will give you a soft landing once you actually hit the ground in Europe.