Unlike big bus tours, there’s no rush to get people out the door and on the bus at the crack of dawn. Small group tours usually begin their day the way most independent travelers do: with a leisurely breakfast before heading out around 9:00 am (most museums and other sights don’t open before then anyway). With at least two or three days in most locations, you’ll have time to savor the unique character of each place before moving on.

First off — yes, your room will always have a private bathroom.

Secondly, we’ll take a half-timbered inn over a Holiday Inn™ any day. Small groups are able to use the kind of charming hotels that those big bus tourers can only dream about.

Whether it’s a woodsy chalet high in the Alps, an old olive mill that has been converted into an elegant B&B in the hills of Tuscany, or a boutique hotel in the heart of a big city, accommodations capture the spirit and character of each place.

Food is a very important part of any tour experience. It is a basic expression of the people and culture you’re visiting.

Breakfast in Europe is not, and should not be a hard roll and coffee (the “Continental” breakfast offered by many big tour companies). Most boutique hotels offer a buffet, with local varieties of breads, cheeses, eggs, fruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee and tea.

For included dinners, small groups are able to use local-style restaurants with a casual atmosphere, where the focus is on good service and excellent food. Unlike large groups, small groups of 10 or less don't need to pre-arrange a set meal for the entire group, so you'll usually have free choice from the restaurant’s normal menu.

The tour companies we feature concentrate on culture, art and history, but refuse to be stuffy and monotone when it comes to museums. With a passion for the people and stories behind the history, they bring the past to life, put it in context with world events at the time, and relate it to our modern world.

Small group tours tend to attract a fascinating, eclectic mix of couples and singles – people who are open-minded, flexible, and interested in learning. Many are well-traveled, though there are a fair number of first-timers as well.

Travel should not be a mad dash from one sight to another. After years of leading tours and talking to travelers, it’s clear to us that what people remember most about their trips are the people they meet, and the experiences they have along the way. Small group tours emphasize real places, real people and real history, by-passing tourist pseudo-sights that are famous just because they’re close to a freeway and able to handle large tour buses. You’ll still see the important sights, but you'll also go places that big tours, with their mammoth buses and steam roller schedules, simply can’t go.