Where to start in Europe. England or Germany?

So you seem to have already answered your own question: Start with England and then move over to Germany. Some parts of San Francisco, New York City or Boston always remind me of London so that I can somewhat agree with the statement of England being more like the US than other European places. But if I were you I would also make that choice dependent on to/from where I could get the best/cheapest flights.

Thankyou Andreas for your input. I was thinking of flying "open jaw" from either Germany or England down to Italy and back up hitting other countries on the way. So the thought never occured to me to start in England and then go to Germany and head down from there! I need to think more outside of the box!lol Thanks again!

Ashley: Starting a very first trip to Europe in England is a good idea IMO. Rick has also recommended something like that in one of his books. It eliminates the language barrier, which can make things easier at first--although the British will sometimes kid you about your funny accent.

Ashley, from London you can take a bullet train via Brussels to Cologne and start your Rhine/Mosel river experience from there... Of course there're also plenty of low cost flights from London to several German and other Continental destinations... Maybe an open jaw from SEA/YVR to LON and back from FRAnkfurt might be an affordable option?

I've started a trip in Germany, and I've started a trip in England. I loved both experiences, but my recommendation would be to start in England just 'cuz it's easier.

Ashley, If you're referring to Rick's 21-day "flagship" tour, it begins in Amsterdam (actually, Haarlem, which is just a short distance from Amsterdam)

If you're planning to follow a similar route, I'd suggest starting in London. This will not only provide you with a "milder culture shock", but also allow you to get over jet lag and get sorted for the trip to the continent. You'll have to budget a bit more for the U.K., as it's usually expensive (depending on the exchange rates at the time).

From London you could either take the EuroStar to Paris for the next leg, or use a cheap flight to Amsterdam from Luton or Stanstead if you want to faithfully follow the RS tour route (and end in Paris). In any case, open jaw flights would be a good idea.

I'm never "disappointed" when travelling in the U.K. While it's somewhat similar to North American culture in many ways, there are still lots of differences. Be sure to review the "English language" section in Rick's books, as some of the expressions are very different. For example, DON'T use the phrase "Fanny Pack" in the U.K. or Australia!!!

Good luck with your planning!