This trip was great, lots of ground covered in just over 2 weeks. Be prepared for long days on the road in some areas due to traffic and driving time with the mandatory legal driver breaks included (restrictions on how long a driver can go in Europe before having to stop for specific times)
Accommodation was varied but mainly good. Included meals the same. Trip leader Hayley and driver Chris were standouts. Hayley was super genuine, heaps of valuable travel recommendations given, highly organised, spread the good vibes and felt like she went above and beyond for us. Driver Chris was also great, he navigated us around the tiny streets of Europe professionally and had some good banter.
Must haves for the trip: the Topdeck app, has maps of the area with info and you need it to book the optional activities. Need Cash, lots of extras that our Trip leader organised where we needed cash. Also you need some coins for the toilets in Europe, especially francs for Switzerland rest stops.
Bring a micro fibre towel! You have to pay for towels at some hostels, min was 6 euro which is a lot if you add it up over 2 weeks.
Download WhatsApp as we had our group chat in there. Facebook for our group page and Photocircle for group pics.
I think there needs to be more included experiences for the price of the trip overall, like an activity such as Paris bike tour would be a great one to throw in, loved that experience. The only experience inclusions are things that Topdeck doesn’t have to pay extra for such as driving tours and walking tours which they pay the driver and trip leader for with wages anyway. Please add something else!
Accommodation: worst breakfast was Mije Marais in Paris, no nutritional value or selection. Some rooms are very cramped with 8 people at times, Bilbao was the worst, Hostel Quartier. Too small for the group size, even the shared bathroom facilities were minuscule and could hardly close the door in toilet due to legroom. Need to rethink this hostel choice. Best hostels: Anda Venice hands down. Great rooms, facilities, Brekky. Generator Barcelona great, Raffaello Hotel in Florence great, Meininger Bordeaux also.
Trip overall, need another night in Florence. Also doing a walking tour in the evening of arriving to Rome after a walking tour in the morning of Florence was too much. Tipsy tapas tour in Barcelona is overpriced and no one in the group did it for this reason, need a cheaper option.
MUST DO: Jungfrau in Switzerland, yes pricey but worth it. Bike tour Paris, guided Colosseum tour in Rome, gondola ride in Venice.
September is the perfect time to go, only rained once or twice. I’d travel with Topdeck again if all the Trip leaders are quality like Hayley
