Our Pre-Tour Experience with HolidayMax’s Grand Europe Tour – The Journey Begins (Almost!)
We’re just days away from setting off on the HolidayMax Grand Europe Tour, and the excitement is building! This trip will take us through some of Europe’s most iconic cities—Paris, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, and beyond—and we can’t wait to share the journey.
But before the whirlwind begins, we thought we’d share a bit about our pre-tour experience: the good, the slightly frustrating, and what we’re most looking forward to.
Why We Chose HolidayMax
After looking at a range of Europe tours, HolidayMax’s Grand Europe Tour ticked all the boxes for us. It covers a lot of ground, includes key sights and experiences, and gives a great balance of structure and free time. It’s also excellent value for what’s included, and we liked the idea of having everything, accommodation, transport, and major activities, coordinated by one provider.
As first-time visitors to Europe, we knew we wanted a tour that offered maximum exposure to as many major sights as possible—without the stress of navigating unfamiliar countries on our own. The HolidayMax Grand Europe Tour stood out because it hits so many key cities and landmarks, offers a clear structure, and takes care of the logistics (hotels, transport, major sightseeing) so we don’t have to.
We also booked a few extra days at the beginning and end of the tour to explore at our own pace, which gives us a bit of breathing room and the chance to slow down or add personal touches along the way.
A Bump in the Road: The Itinerary Vanished
One hiccup along the way: not long after we booked, the specific tour we had signed up for was removed from the HolidayMax website to make way for a new version. While we understand that updates happen, it was a bit frustrating not being able to access the itinerary details we originally reviewed—and even more so knowing we wouldn’t receive the final version until just a few weeks before departure.
For anyone who likes to plan ahead (we definitely do!), that created a bit of uncertainty. It made it tricky to coordinate the extra days we’d planned before and after the tour, especially when trying to book hotels, trains, and other experiences. In the end, we managed—but it’s definitely something we’d flag for other travelers who like having all the information early.
What’s Been Great So Far
Despite that glitch, the rest of the pre-tour experience has been smooth. HolidayMax has sent through detailed travel packs and emails that helped answer most of our questions. The booking process was easy, and they provided helpful tips about travel insurance, visas, packing, and what to expect on the road.
We’re now finalizing our own mini-itinerary for the extra days, making restaurant reservations, and adding personal touches to the trip.
What We’re Excited For
- Seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle in person
- Floating through the canals of Venice
- Exploring ancient ruins in Rome
- Indulging in French pastries, Italian pasta, and Swiss chocolate
- Meeting fellow travelers and soaking up the local culture
- Getting lost (in a good way) during our extra free time
More to Come Once the Tour Begins!
This is just the start—we’ll be sharing our experience on the road, including honest thoughts on the tour itself, our favourite moments, and all the little surprises that come with travel.
For now check out the video below.
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