Doc Holiday: Is there a stress-free way to plan a UK and Europe summer holiday?

A holiday during the European summer is an amazing experience, but is there a stress free way to plan it?

For France and Italy, look at G Adventures’ seven-day Paris to Rome: Picnics & Pizza tour, or for a more detailed approach, check out the offerings from Trafalgar.

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

My 19-year-old daughter and I are planning a June 2024 trip to England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as France and Italy. More than happy to do a tour but struggling to organise this trip. Can you give me some tips?

That sounds like fun. I’m not sure what your budget is, or how much time you’ve allocated, but there are several ways you can go about planning your trip. The more expensive but convenient option is to piggyback group tours: one which covers England, Ireland and Scotland, and the other which focuses on France and Italy.

For Old Blighty (and beyond) it’s worth looking at Trafalgar’s 20-day Britain and Ireland Grandeur, which takes in the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from $8550 a person (based on June/July 2024 dates). Cosmo Tours’ Best of Britain and Ireland is a 15-day tour which also takes in Scotland and is priced from $4499 a person, while Collette offers a 14-day Exploring Britain & Ireland tour from $6699 a person. Some of these tours have limited availability (summer in the UK, as you can imagine, is a popular time to visit) so you’ll need to act quickly.

For France and Italy, you could look at G Adventures’ seven-day Paris to Rome: Picnics & Pizza tour, priced from $2199 a person, or if you prefer a more detailed approach to each destination, check out the offerings from Trafalgar. Just note that costs can quickly add up (their nine-day Wonderful France is priced from $4850 a person, and their 11-day Italy Bellissimo is priced from $5575 a person, for example).

For mainland Europe, I would buy a Eurail pass and get busy booking accommodation through booking.com that offers free cancellations. As long as you don’t mind dealing with day-to-day logistics, not only is it far more economical, it’s also infinitely more flexible. Again, given your timing, I recommend booking all attractions well in advance.

One of the most popular things to do in Cairns is to enjoy a day trip to Fitzroy Island.

My sister and I are doing back-to-back cruises later this year and I’m wondering if you have suggestions for places we can enjoy in both Cairns and Christchurch?

I love it when emails like yours allow me to forget about the Sydney cold momentarily and travel (in my mind) to tropical places where many of the attractions are free, the seafood plentiful and everything is a short amble away.

I know you’ve already visited Kuranda Village, near Cairns, and I would have recommended going there if only to eat lunch at La Fonda Latina, a traditional Latin American cafe at the markets. That tip is for every other reader headed that way. One of the most popular things to do in Cairns is to enjoy a day trip to Green Island or Fitzroy Island.

While you can book half-day tours, you have to ask if you have time for a 45-minute transfer each way? If not, other great options include taking a 20-minute Uber ride to the Crystal Cascades swimming hole, hitting up Cairns Wake Park, and if the heat is doing a number on you, checking out the galleries and museums: Cairns Museum, Bulmba-ja and Cairns Art Gallery. You could also take advantage of the free walking tours around Cairns Botanic Gardens. Some of my favourite things to do are pounding the waterfront and taking a dip in the Esplanade Lagoon before eating at the fishing trawlers known as Prawn Star Cairns, or at Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant.

Over in Christchurch, a tram and punting on the Avon combo ticket is an excellent introduction to the city, but I also recommend looking at a tour which incorporates its highlights, as well as the gourmet delights of Canterbury Wine Country. If you search “Christchurch Food and Wine Tours” on the same site, you’ll find a few half-day options. Of course, the International Antarctic Centre, following your taste buds around Riverside Market, and shopping in the historic New Regent Street Precinct, are all fantastic options too. For a solid serve of adrenaline, try jet boating along the Waimakariri River. Just don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for all of that amazing street art.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: Is there a stress-free way to plan a UK and Europe summer holiday?