First overseas trip, traveling solo

Since it's your first trip and you are maybe feeling a little unsure, I'd encourage you to do the Rick Steves Paris and Heart of France tour which includes Normandy. It does have some of the big sites as well including some chateaux, Mont Saint-Michel and the Giverny gardens. It also stops at a few smaller towns so you get a good feel for some less touristed areas. I did this one as a solo traveler and had a wonderful time!

You'll be at the lower end of the age group on a Road Scholar tour. I've done 12 and have #13 coming up in a month but Rick's tours teache you more about how to travel independently! If you decided to go with Road Scholar I'd recommend you do the Brittany and Normandy tour. I've done that one (solo, of course) and it was fantastic. It has 2 days in the Normandy area instead of just one day at the DDay landing sites.

I had local experiences on both trips - the 2 that come to mine are the wine tasting with the winery owner at Selles-sur-Cher and the apple juice/pommeau/cognac tasting with the owner of that orchard. Both were very fun and personal.

You can, of course, book this all on your own and folks here will help but the tours are pretty fun. I learn so much from the guides!

I'm not big on cruises so have never done one. I know many enjoy them.

What an exciting time ahead for you!

I have traveled with the RS tours with my husband and also by myself. I also have planned many independent itineraries that my husband and I did, and also some I did solo. All of that to say, I have a good idea of the pros & cons of each. We haven’t taken a river cruise or a cruise in general because we like to be active and would get really antsy feeling “trapped” on the river or boat and not out exploring and enjoying the food at the outdoor restaurants. We took the boat ride down part of the Danube River during an afternoon and were so ready to be off and going again - LOL!

For your first time, I would highly recommend taking a Rick Steves tour. And I have heard good things about Road Scholar, also. They will maximize your experience, and you truly can just go & enjoy! I felt like we learned so much about the places we visited with Rick’s tours and also a lot about how to travel wisely.

Since you mentioned Normandy Beach, a good option would be the Paris & Heart of France.

Okay, thank you for the advice. I will check out that RS tour for sure!

I'd really recommend a RS or Road Scholar organized trip first. You'll learn so much regarding your likes and dislikes. The RS tours offer a lot of free time for your personal exploration on your own, to get a taste of independent wandering. [I've never taken a Road Scholar Tour, so can't comment.] It's alot less stressful not having to plan every detail in advance by yourself. In my experience, the RS tours do have single travelers, and the couples are very welcoming to singles. Also, the other travelers and the RS guides have very helpful feedback for future trips.
Perhaps do a RS Tour to a non-English speaking country, then venture out on your next trip to the UK, or a country with a high level of English-speakers, like Switzerland.

I'm excited that you're doing this, and all sorts of adventures await!

If you decide on that tour, definitely arrive a couple of days early to get over jet lag before your tour begins. And, it will give you a short experience of doing it independently. There’s so much to do in Paris that the time will go quickly!

I'm going to be the lone person, but I definitely think you can plan something yourself especially as RS and Road Scholar do the tourist attractions. Saying this as a lone 50 year old female traveler and independent traveller.

I know it's scary but part of the fun is planning what you want to do. Once you decide where you want to go, I usually go online and google those cities/countries as well as the books/forums of RS and TripAdvisor. I've found some wonderful hotel and restaurant advice in the TripAdvisor forums. If you feel you want to take a tour, there are always walking tours and battlefield tours like Normandy.

Personally, as a solo traveler I like having the option of scuttling plans if I don't want to go somewhere or sleep a bit later on vacation.

"We took the boat ride down part of the Danube River during an afternoon and were so ready to be off and going again - LOL!"

That's funny Jean! I felt the same way doing an afternoon boat ride on the Rhine from St Goar to Bacharach. Time to have a drink, look at some castles and I was more than done after 2 hours or so.

I started my solo travels 11 years ago at 46 and haven't looked back...I have never done a guided tour and kept my first trip simple--6 days in London. Worked up to 2 countries, then 3, then 4, for up to 2 weeks, as I gained skills and confidence. You can plan something fabulous all by yourself--we are here to help! Pick a country or two and then start researching what activities and sites might appeal to you. Or, as others suggest, you might like a RS tour to start.

I certainly agree with the advice that if you do take a tour, it’s a good idea to arrive in the country a bit early so as to get over jet lag before the tour starts. I’d also encourage you to stay a bit extra after the tour. That way, you can use the mad travel skills you just learned, see some things you missed earlier, and chill out a bit before you go home. As it happens, I have plans to take the Paris and the Heart of France tour, preceded by three extra nights in Paris and followed by time in Chartres and Chantilly.

The first thing I would do is go to Youtube and look at some Rick Steves videos of any area of interest (if you have not yet done so - that may be how you ended up on the forum). In particular the Travel Skills videos are good primers on how to embark... whether on a tour or on your own. Then, as Rick notes, remember that you will be back so you don't have to do it all at once. In Europe when you go into a restaurant the table is usually yours for the night... you can sample several courses and sample several wines. Treat your trip(s) to Europe as equivalent to a culinary experience. So many people try to do too much on a single trip. Of course, you want to see everything, but sitting in cafe in Paris looking over the Seine, or in a town on the Rhine, or on the Danube reading a book or writing a postcard can be something wonderful too. Cruises/tours organize lots of things for you which makes parts of it easy, but do that for a week and then find your own comfort zone afterwards for at least several days. That is the experience you will count on when you plan to come back.

There is a lot to be said for taking a supervised tour as your first experience with international travel. You delegate all, or at least most, of the logistics to the tour company while getting your feet wet and having a less stressful time learning the ins and outs of getting around. Most tours leave some time for independent sightseeing. I did this for my first European trip, doing a multi week BOE (not RS's). And I'm glad I did. With RS guidebooks in hand I was able to see quite a bit on my own during these free periods and my self confidence really grew. Since then all of my European travels have been independent.

But if you really want to go it alone, I'd recommend going somewhere that will be easy to understand the local language. So the UK would likely be the most familiar. Or, if you are fluent in another language, go where that is spoken. Especially important if you want to be off the beaten path and the locals wouldn't be expected to understand a lot of English.

Every time I think about taking a RS tour, I just can’t get past the fact that I would be on someone else’s schedule. I like to get up super early and go to bed early. I don’t like to eat my meals late. So, make sure you’d be ok with having no control over the scheduling. If you really like a place and want to stay longer, I guess you are out of luck. And, there’s always a place or two on the itinerary that does not interest me.

I’m 48 and will be taking my first solo trip in June to Switzerland. I was just there in Sept. with my sister and bro in law and it was so easy to get around. They have a travel pass and with that you can hop on all trains, buses, trams, some cable cars without having to worry about buying tickets. I felt completely safe in Switzerland and had no language issues as most everyone spoke English. I would think France as a first trip would be difficult unless you happen to speak French. We took a couple of day trips to France and we ran into some language issues. So, just be aware of that.

Have fun planning.

First of all, I've been traveling on my own for 40 years, it's simple, nothing to fret about. I always meet more people than when I travel with friends or family, or with a tour, although my first tour (many years after traveling elsewhere in Europe) was with RS (Rick Steves, not Road Scholar). In those days RS was a younger crowd; not sure about now. Wherever you choose, I suggest focusing on one region, even part of one country. I've never understood the appeal of those "If this is Tuesdsy..." tours. I like independent travel for reasons others have cited and besides I hate castles, palaces and fortresses...when you've seen one....So I recommend doing your first trip on your own & saving tours for Asia/Africa/more exotic places. Scandinavia is particularly recommended for solo travel. I speak French, but I wouldn't be scared away from France, probably my favorite country and arguably the best food, Italy being #2. Enjoy!

Would you say that you would like to plan your own trip but you lack confidence and you need me to tell you it is ok to plan your own trip? For example no matter how old I am my mother is mortified at me for traveling; after I convinced her that travel isn't necessarily dangerous, she tried talking me into only traveling with a whole-trip guided tour. Actually I have a syndrome associated with feeling guilty or stupid for making major decisions my mother doesn't like, even though I know I do good research in advance and I am 38 and I am obviously a compentent adult living on my own. The idea that I must be nuts for not listening to my mother given these observations is nonsensical and irrational. There is nothing wrong with you planning your own trip. You should plan your own travel. Of course you may not know where to start. Just read enough guidebooks, write yourself a supposed day-by-day itinerary. See how much time you need in each location, make a list of all the things you will need to spend money on. Make your own reservations online. I understand that there is such a thing as using a travel agent; I haven't used one yet. For unidentified reasons I like planning my own travel. It takes some effort that I don't dislike. Maybe if I had kids I would be so busy that if I wanted to travel with my kids I would use a travel agent but I would still travel without a whole-trip guided tour.

I am a solo single-man. I have taken 5 solo trips to Europe; also I traveled to a park in northern Michigan; to Florida, and Quebec in 2015. So far I have panned all my own travel. My trips worked out ok with minimal problems that I managed to work out. For example my worst problem in travel might have been when I showed up to my hostel in Athens. The employee knew I had a reservation but gave my room to somebody else because he couldn't validate my credit card. My fault for forgetting to update my credit card number on booking.com; I had to get a new card after I made my reservation and before my trip.

My top reasons for planning my own travel might be avoiding having to worry about how much to talk to fellow tour members, feeling out of place on a whole-trip group tour if I am the only single person and/or if I am much younger than the others in the group, having to sit in restaurants for group meals with the group.

One has to be ready to spend a multitude of hours planning a non-guided trip. If you work in a stressful job 60+ hour a week, I think planning your own trip wold be added stress. However, if you love to plan and research , and find the process stress-relieving, then a solo trip could be perfect for you.
Safe travels!

OP ... There is no "best" way to go except the way that leaves you wanting to go again.

Would you go to New York alone? Or Miami? Then you can do Europe alone.

Why some people like cruises -- you are not hotel hopping. You can visit 3 countries, 5 major cities, in one week and never change rooms. The ship travels at night while you are asleep and you don't have to mess with trains. They offer guided tours, or time on your own. IF you our outgoing enough, you may find someone to tour with.

Why some people don't like cruises -- I think primary reason rigid schedule and your choices are more limited.

Organized Tours -- I can't stand the thought of following the lady with a paddle, herding me onto my bus every day for 10 days. But there is a lot to be said for guided tours and they pick your hotels. But again, there is a somewhat rigid schedule.

Planning does not have to be time consuming if you maintain your flexibility. Pick a major destination and keep your trip to that area.

Don't try to do too much. Pick cities like London or Paris. Easy for the solo traveler and it would take a month to run out of things to see.

Consider a hybrid. 2 days on your own, 3 days on a organized tour, 5 days on your own.

I absolutely respect everyone's right to choose the way they want to travel. Tour, no tour, combination. It needs to make you happy.

It does irk me when people who haven't been on a Rick Steves tour throw out descriptions they think might fit them.

No, there no paddles to be followed on a Rick Steves tour. You do follow the guide but it's up to you to keep him/her in sight.

No name tags either. It's up to you to learn your tour mates names. Some guides do a name game circle toward the beginning of the tour, some do not.

Rick tours generally have free time built in as well so you are not doing group activities every minute of every day. In cities they often will walk or take public transportation so no being "herded onto buses" every day.

Only about half your dinners are with the group so if you want to go to bed early you certainly have plenty of opportunity. I, too, am an early riser. Sometimes I'll go out for a walk before breakfast, sometimes not. Sometimes I'll opt to skip dinner on a free night and turn in early. It's up to you. In general, I'd say the group meals are not that late although I have not taken a Rick tour to Spain and my impression is they are later...but I don't know for sure. The exceptions would be the welcome meal and the farewell meal and those tend to go on a bit longer because everyone is having fun. You'd be free to leave sooner if you wanted. The guides are excellent at making sure everyone knows how to get back to the hotel.

You are also able to skip meals or activities if there is something you'd rather do. Generally the restaurants are local and often picked by the guides who build relationships with the owners/managers.

One of the nicest things about a Rick tour is that you sign a pledge that you understand "no grumps" are allowed. Yep, that's right. No b*tching/whining/complaining. If you are unhappy you should address your complaints to the guide privately to see if there is a solution and of course address it on your evaluation.

I hope OP will be able to figure out what will work for her!

I concur with the post about it being exhausting and time consuming to plan your own trip. And, I am the person who does that anyway. Maybe because I am just finishing a plan for travel end of month.
OP should seriously consider a guided tour. So much easier. And, you will like it. Since it will be your first time in Europe, it will all be new without a personal comparison.
This is the way it goes for your own planned travel.
Where do I go? Why? What is the main attraction for that/those places?
How long? What time of year?
Which cities? How long in each one and what to see?
Those would be your basics. Sounds doable. But remember that you have to then filter through all sorts of flight and hotel choices from there. Each city, new hotel, which one and why.
All that history you are interested in. Research on when where, how? Let’s see, need a bus to get there, which one, when? Need tickets. Maybe bought in advance for certain days and times. Bus/train back. Another puzzle. This, over and over. Then of course, a guide of some sort. Or else you are just at the site, but learn nothing.
Rent a car, busses, trains. How to get from here to there even when arriving in a city. Train station to hotel. Airport to hotel. And the reverse.
What’s the budget?
On a tour ALL that is taken care of. I am not a tour guy, only did 2x in last 20+ years. But I did like them. They are easy. Maybe too easy, but they get the job done.
As far as the schedule of a tour that many people noted and are against, well, you will need to be some what regimented doing things on your own too. Trains times, museum times. Sights times. The real world will demand you adjust to things like that.
OP. At the present time you don’t know what you don’t know. Both good and bad there. If this is not foreseen as a one lifetime trip, you can mix or match as you see fit. However, just by posting here I think you show a bit of trepidation at undertaking a do it yourself trip.

It does irk me when people who haven't been on a Rick Steves tour
throw out descriptions they think might fit them.

I hear ya Pam. 😊 On the other hand, I think those that are big fans of the RS tours might not be quick to point out any of the negatives of taking a tour.

For me, I just don’t think they would work. I like to eat my big meal, my “dinner,” around 2:00 as it just is not good for my body to eat hours before I go to sleep. So, I would want to skip all the dinners. 😊

Another factor is the rooms if you are a single. You will pay a supplement, which I completely get and have no problem with. But I think you still end up in the super small rooms, the closet rooms as I call them. I would gladly pay extra to get a normal size room, or a double room. And, maybe that is an option. I had just read some complaints about the rooms for singles.

And of course, if I ever went on any tour I would be nice to everyone, be flexible and not be a grump. 😊 I would love to do the Best of Ireland Tour in 14 days, and I might still do it someday. I would have to get past my little hang-ups and see I could make it work.

Travel style is certainly a personal choice and I don’t see any right or wrong, just what’s best for each traveler.

I took my first trip to Europe last year and absolutely loved it. I have 5 trips planned for the next 2 years. So, I would just say, no matter how you plan to travel, get yourself to Europe and enjoy it!!! 😊

vennachiok

Welcome to the forum. Come back and ask any questions you come up with.

There's always a back-and-forth here between people who favor independent travel versus organized tours. I've done both, and do not hesitate in recommending an RS tour for a first-time solo traveler to Europe. Dont just compare the up front cost of the tour, but recognize that a guided tour has a lot more efficiency built into it, letting you enjoy more and learn more. I've been to some of the same places on my own and on the RS tour, and no question but had a much more enjoyable experience with the tour. Dont worry about forced socializing or group dinner time etc. The dinners are not "an event" just a pre-arranged meal. There will likely be other solo travelers and there's plenty of free time built into the itinerary. Any activity you want to skip, you can.

The Paris and Heart of France tour sounds like it fits your thoughts perfectly. You can always go a couple of days early (recommended due to jet lag) or stay a few extra, to see things like the Eiffel tower or Versailles that are not on your tour. The HOF tour covers the Normandy beaches and you'll see some smaller towns as well. The Venice/Florence/Rome tour is also a good one for seeing a lot.

I'd give this same advice to anyone who is considering the same question. I like to say the difference between independent vs tour is like the difference between cooking your own dinner vs eating in a restaurant. Sometimes you want someone else to do the work, and just enjoy the meal.

I have lived overseas for 9 years and traveled to 78 foreign countries.

I suggest that you take a guided tour for your first European trip. If you choose to do it yourself and plan your own, then plan every phase of your trip including hotels/B&Bs, short tours and transportation.

My travel experience was that initially, I focused on major cities as well as historical and cultural sites. Later in life, I still enjoy those places, but also have enjoyed scenic places like Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, a cruise around the Horn of South America, Norwegian Fjords, Hawaii, Fiji, the Panama Canal and more.

Take note that cost can be a factor and that some areas of the World are more expensive than others. Europe is more expensive than South America. Large cities are more expensive than smaller towns and cities. In Europe Switzerland and Scandinavia are the most expensive countries. Also, northern Europe is generally more expensive than the Mediterranean countries and eastern Europe is generally less expensive than Western Europe.

River cruises are great, we have done four, but I would not recommend one for your first trip. River cruises are confined to rivers and don't cover enough area. Also, they tend to be more expensive than bus tours. Still, it that is what you want, know that there are many great river cruise companies and prices vary considerably. It is best to compare several companies like Viking, AMA Waterways, Emerald, Unworld, Avalon, Crosi and Gate 1. I recommend Gate 1 for the best prices.

If you love art, I recommend you consider Italy. The History and Art is amazing in that country. Rome, Florence and Venice all contain great art and history. Rome has the ancient Roman cites as well as the incredible St. Peter's Basilica as well as the Sistine Chapel. Florence and the statue of David by Michelangelo as well as wonderful Renaissance history. Venice is a special city, unlike any in the World.

More scenic places in Europe are Switzerland, Austria and southern Germany as well as Norway and Greece. The countryside of Great Britain is special as well as London, but so is that of France, Germany, and other countries.

Plan at least for two weeks in Europe, if you are going to spend the many dollars to fly there, make it three weeks if you can.

Research using guidebooks and the internet. TripAdvisor is a great source.

Compare tours for what you get for the money. Price should always be a factor, but check reviews.

OP have sent you a PM.

Interestingly, none of us has asked about the OP travel budget. where is it on the range of frugality to luxury?

Is this your once in a lifetime trip or the beginning of an annual reward to yourself?

Do you want to see it all, or just see a City/Region? For some, the dream is a certain place and they don't care about the rest.

The more you want to limit the geographic area, the more you can do this alone.

Another, albeit maybe pricey, option is to consider a private tour guide. For example, if you have 6 days in Paris, they can meet you on day 1, day 3 and day 5, leaving you other days to explore on your own.

You could work out both, take a tour, be it RS or Road Scholar, or any of the other choices and after that , go on your own. If one has no health or mobility issues, anything that would adversely affect a solo trip, I normally recommend for the first trip going solo.

Absolutely no problem doing that alone, as long the trip is well planned with some flexibility factored in. My first trip luckily was a long one, (12 weeks), I went solo and two years after that, the second was only half the duration of the first. Again, I went alone, minus the first week.

I do suggest doing a river cruise, never took one myself but know people who have. They were not Americans.

...Adding my opinion to all the others who have given very thoughtful answers. I have done trips several ways...except solo. My husband and I have done one river cruise, independent travel, travel with another couple, Road Scholar, and Rick Steves tour.
Vennachiok: You said, "Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the options. From where to go to whether I should take a land or river tour. Being someone interested in history, I would like to see the beaches of Normandy and most cities appeal to me. Would like more off-the-beaten path, and local, experiences as opposed to top tourist attractions." Do not do a river cruise now. You will be the age of people's children!
I think you would really benefit from a Rick Steves Tour because of all the reasons that Pam stated earlier. The "No grumps" policy is really great. No one complains when things don't go according to plan. You are taught to "make the best of unexpected situations."
*No one will coddle you. You have to get yourself to the first location on the tour. You have to manage your own bags, from the bus to your room. Sometimes the bus can't park close to your hotel. (Road Scholar helps with the bags).
*You are taught to be an independent traveler; how to navigate public transport, as well as tips and information at each location .
*I love history too, as well as off-the beaten path experiences, which is part of Rick's philosophy. Guides will give you historical information.
*You have free time as well as group time.
I think you would benefit from a "Best of...Tour," because you get to experience different places; and then on later trips return to cities and towns you were exposed to (We have done that). Also, if time and budget allows, it's great to arrive a few days before the tour begins...as well as extend your trip after the tour, by either staying in the last location....or making plans to go somewhere else. After taking the tour, you will have the confidence to travel independently.
Good luck! Europe awaits your visit!

As this is your first trip, you could do a tour. That would be easy. I took one RS tour and it was great.

However, you could plan an easy trip: London and then train to Paris. If you feel comfortable after researching that, add on Normandy with a day tour or two from Bayeux. London and Paris are great cities for wandering, and easy way to get your travel legs so to speak.

I find the most stressful part about solo travel is the travel days, so to start I would pick easy base changes, which the above three cities are. For two weeks, 3 locations like these are sufficient and there is so much to see and it is an easy start to your future travels.

Thanks to everyone for the replies and advice. It's been very helpful. I've traveled to lots of states and cities on my own in the US so I'm thinking now maybe I will do a solo trip - at least for part of the trip. I'm thinking maybe starting with London. I could take the train to Paris, too. Though I don't speak much French but have time to learn some. Then I was thinking of spending a few days on the way back in Ireland. My initial thought for a budget is $5k but it's early so that could increase. Time wise I'm thinking 2 - 3 weeks. I'd like my travels to Europe to become a regular thing and I'm excited to get started.
I'll continue to do research including reading the RS boards. All advice is welcomed and appreciated!

Good that you are going to Paris.

I remember a conversation with a French woman who taught English at the junior college level in southern France. How else could I have communicated with her. This was in 1984 and my third trip in France but only in the greater Paris area.

When I told her that I found a trip going solo into the interior of France challenging, daunting, etc , not knowing the language which was just about zero then, she just put a blunt question to me, as if my opinion annoyed her: "What are you afraid of? " Hearing that I immediately understood what she was implying

When I plan my solo travels, I'll often get the Rick Steves book from the library and use the tour itinerary (available on the RS website) for the region as a rough starting itinerary.

Knowing the amount of time the tours allocate gives me a guide: I typically double (often more) the amount of time spent in a location because I can't be as time efficient as a tour and because I like to see more at a more relaxed pace.

The walking tours in the RS books are another great way to build your own trip, or take a local walking tour if you want to meet other travelers and learn from a guide.

I'm glad that you feel like you have a plan coming together. That is great!

I wanted to mention that as an independent solo traveler I find it helpful to plan to break up my trip with day tours periodically. Usually these are to places where transportation might be more challenging or I would really appreciate the knowledge of a guide. I also like to know that there will be some significant social interaction with others from time to time.

I think the D-Day beaches/Normandy that you had mentioned earlier would be a great place for a tour like that.

As a side note for future reference: RS Tours as a single traveler are also fun. I have never been put in a "closet type" room described by an anti-tour person above. My rooms are often just the same the others. Sometimes they have a twin bed, often just a regular double. I wanted to dismiss that misconception.

described by an anti-tour person above

Just so there’s no confusion, I’m certainly not anti-tour. I just happen to think a group tour is not a good fit for me.

I think the RS tours are a great option for those who want to take them. I like to look at the pros and cons. I was merely pointing out that for some, including myself, there might be some cons to taking a group tour.

I respect everyone’s opinion and their right to choose whatever option works best for them. I think the important thing is to get out there and travel. And not criticize those who may prefer to travel in a different way.

There’s no right or wrong, but I’m another “do it solo” voice. I’m about to turn 60 (yikes!!) and have been traveling (mostly) solo since my early 20s, including a year backpacking around the world when I turned 30.
Planning all my travels and the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had are ... well, just the best!
Perhaps start off doing some planning on your own and researching, and if you enjoy it and have the time, stay solo. But if you find yourself overwhelmed or just not enjoying the research, a tour may be best.
(If you do land on a solo trip to France and Normandy, feel free to DM me for tips, as I’ve been several times.)

Thanks everybody! I've decided to do a solo trip to London for maybe 10 days. I've been doing a lot of research and this looks totally doable. I am thinking of taking the Chunnel to Paris for a few days after London. I would love to see my favorite sculpture, The Waltz, at the Musée Rodin. Plus, I could take a day trip to see the beaches in Normandy which I would really like to see.

Thanks again!

Kim

Congratulations on your choice. It is what I did on my first "solo" trip to Europe. London and Paris. That was over 30+ years ago.

In those days, no one spoke English in Paris. Today its a lot different You will hear English in most places. But it's always nice, and you'll get a better response, if you know a few words of French.

On that trip, I spent more time in London and followed much of Rick Steves advice. I traveled all over the sights on London. I took day trips to Bath and York. (Long days.) The Channel Tunnel (no one calls it the Chunnel) wasn't finished so it was train and ferry. That was a full day. Today, it's a little over two hours on Eurostar. Breakfast in one city, lunch in the other.

To save time, and money, look into flying "open jaw." Thats flying into one city and flying home from another. I flew into Paris and home from London. You do this by choosing the multi-city option on the airline's website. Not two one way tickets.

While in London, take a look at London Walks. They offer guided walking tours as well as out of town tours that are highly rated. I've taken many and if you search this forum you will see they are highly rated by others.

Hopefully, this will be a start to many wonderful trips to the other side of the pond.

If you have questions once you start planning, you have plenty of people here to help you. Just ask.

About Normandy....it can be done as a day trip....but I would suggest making it a two night stop. A good escorted tour of Normandy is a full day. If you base in Bayeux, where most of the tours start, you can also visit the WWII Museum, The Bayeux Tapestry, and the cathedral. Bayeux is a simple two hour train trip from Paris.

vennachick1. Your journey is now halfway planned. The destination!

For Normandy, search a couple of these threads. Lots of opinions exist but there was a suggestion for a private tour guide. You might find useful given that you might be on a tight schedule. We did without, but we had a rental car and time.

So far as France, we found the best opening was Bon Jour. If you greeted people in French, they would revert to English. If not, they acted like they knew no English. A couple times I slipped up and said Bueno Dias. oops. But I was no longer the ugly American.

Have Fun! Safe journeys

One bit of advice - one of the harder parts of traveling solo for me was eating alone at dinner. I’m fine for breakfast & lunch, but dinner seemed awkward at first. What I have learned over a couple of solo trips is that I either prefer to just pick up some veggies & protein at a nearby market for a casual dinner in my room. Gelato or similar outdoors in the evening can be eaten before or afterwards! Or, I like to put on a dress or nice outfit and purposely enjoy a meal out. For France, know how to say “Good evening. I would like a table for one, please.” in French with pleasing confidence as soon as you make eye contact. It’s much preferable to the “Only one?” type questions. And, I really like to review my day’s photos on my phone while I’m waiting for the dinner to arrive. Enjoy your trip!