Finding a Good Travel Agent: Looking for Recommendations

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by kavm

You should know that you can easily travel from France to Germany with a direct train - Thalys https://www.thalys.com/fr/en. If booked in advance, the price can be quite cheap. One can fly into Paris and out of, say, Frankfurt without any penalty as it is an open-jaw ticket.

If I spoke German and French, I'd not bother with a travel agent. Heck, I don't and still don't bother. Hotels or Airbnb type places are easy to book online and you know how much you are spending up front. If you have hotel and long-distance transportation figured out, you are all set. Food can be cheap or expensive based upon your budget and preferences. Half the fun is to figure out how things work and what you'd want to see.

But, you seem quite invested in the wisdom of travel agents, and maybe it suits how you travel.

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

If Germany is on your agenda, be sure to look into:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dw....023/a-64037121

49 Euro train passes to be offered again in 2023 (thx to another C-d poster who is currently living in Germany, for informing us.). I've been able to pass this info on to several friends who have booked Germany this year. River cruises are very popular and nice, but quite slow. Great when retired or staying for a few months, or during fall foliage.

For trains, I ride the furthest distance overnight, then backtrack during the day light.

I lived in France for almost two years and have traveled all over Europe with a Euro train pass and by car, bullet train and subways (Metro/underground) so I can say for certain the transportation systems in Europe is a couple steps above the US and a lot cheaper.
Euro passes are the best as you can get off and visit any place at any point and get back on at any time until the next interesting stop. Traveled from Copenhagen to London on an Euro pass and from Paris to London on the bullet train thru the English channel tunnel.
If Germany is your destination I would suggest October for the Munich oktoberfest and don't forget the great German beer and Wiener Schnitizel and Schweinshaxe.

[DallasYankee]

Thanks everyone!
I doubt we'll be able to travel anywhere this year so we'll have plenty of time to research and plan accordingly.