Seeking transportation help for family as big as 12 :)

Renting a bus is very expensive and hard to drive in those major cities. You should fly Berlin to Stockholm, Stockholm to Italy, Italy to Amsterdam (or Paris or Brussels.) Then take the train between A-dam, Brussels, and Paris. Ryanair is cheap. Other cheap airlines can be found here: http://www.whichbudget.com Fares on Ryanair are around 50€ for Stockhom-Rome on some dates. Check others yourself: http://www.ryanair.com Check Thalys for train fares between destinations above. http://www.thalys.com/nl/en/ $750 each must be the price for a global railpass. Too much $.

Thanks for your reply!! I figured that flying is really cheap in Europe. And we plan to do so. But my most concern is to travel point A to point B like going to attraction sites, airport to hotel, or train station to the site etc. For example we are planing to stay in Italy for 4 days; and we would like to cover most of the major cities like Napoli, Rome, Venice, and Milan. What do you recommend for interstate travel?

are you only doing 4 days in Italy and trying to do 4 cities? That is a really bad idea
you don't want to rent a car or van or bus

"For example we are planing to stay in Italy for 4 days; and we would like to cover most of the major cities like Napoli, Rome, Venice, and Milan." Well, with 4 days, I'm sure you'll have time to see Florence, the Dolomites and Lake Como, and maybe take a leisurely drive around Tuscany as well. And why not Sicily? ;) ;) If you go to Rome, you'll need at least 3 days there, not counting any travel time - so maybe 4 nights. Or you could maybe see Venice and Milan in 4 days. But you simply cannot squeeze a 2-week trip into 4 days. "I figured that flying is really cheap in Europe. And we plan to do so." Then why did you ask about trains and cars and not even mention flying? And you're in charge of a group of 12? Whew. It will probably take 3-4 hours a day just for meals. That's 25% of the time you'll be awake. It's more than 700km from Venice to Naples, close to 600 to Rome. Your plan leaves time to ride in a car or on a train, eat, shower, and sleep. That's it. Actually, you might not have time to dry off after the shower. To figure out how to reach the places you want to see, the hotels, etc., you must plan your trip, and read what the hotel or the museum tells you about getting there by bus or on foot or whatever. You need to educate yourself on travel in Europe a little more before creating a travel plan. Get a guidebook. I understand Rick Steves sells them.

Wow, you're planning a trip to Europe for 12 people! To be totally honest you've taken on a challenge that is very difficult and will be thankless, and if anything goes wrong or somethings not what someone else had expected you're the one that will take the blame. So! I highly recommend finding a professional travel agent, someone who has the expertise to put something like this together, they will guide you and help you focus on what is doable and what is not. A trip like this is going to be in the 5 figure range (over 10000) easily and quickly, arifare alone is probably going to be $15,000.00 for 12 people, and you haven't even touched on accomodations, that will also be difficult to arrange on your own. You've thought a bus, though it would serve you well with that many people the cost will be a budget buster, not only the cost of the bus but you'll paying for a driver for that amount of time, any fees the bus will incur crossing borders,using certain roads, permits, fuel, you'll probably have to pay for the drivers food and accomodations, and say for instance, you get the bus in Paris but go your separate way with it in Rome you'll still have to pay for it for its trip back to Paris, hopefully you get my point. Trying to keep that many people on a set schedule it going to be difficult to say the least, especally since they're relatives and might not be as punctual as with a structured tour. Your trying to cover too much territory, to make this work you need to narrow your desired destinations. If there is any option it would be getting vans that holds maybe 8 people, and even that isn't going to be cheap, there are what is called drop off charges. So again, get a travel agent!!!

Shakil, As the others have pointed out, some aspects of your trip are going to be VERY difficult (if not impossible) to achieve. There's no way you'll be able to "cover most of the major cities like Napoli, Rome, Venice, and Milan" in four days! It's almost impossible to provide more specific advice without having further details on your trip. For example: > What is the total time frame? > When is this trip taking place? > Is this a first trip to Europe for any / all of you? > What type of budget are you working with? > What prompted this trip (ie: what are you all hoping to see)? > Is everybody in the group going to be paying their own expenses? Using a Travel Agent is certainly one option, but I'd suggest doing some research before getting to that point. What you're basically trying to do is arrange a tour for a group that's about half the size of a typical Rick Steves tour. A LOT of planning and organization is going to be needed!!! With further information, I'm sure the group here can offer some really good suggestions. Good luck with your planning!

Is it possible that this is another troll thread? Does even the most naive person think they can visit a different city every day with a group of 12?....

.... beep beep beep!!! Troll alert!

Thanks everyone! And thanks to rick for this website. Ken I will start with your question. This is how it started: Our relative lives in to those countries that I mentioned. We were getting invitation but never thought going there. So finally we sat and decided to go to primarily those countries where we will get local help. But at the same time we don't want to be any ones burden. > What is the total time frame? We have 15 days all together. We understand it's not going to be easy so we are not going crazy. Like we don't have to see everything, or every major city, we have plans but if time doesn't permit we will scratch it off. > When is this trip taking place? End of june. > Is this a first trip to Europe for any / all of you? This is first trip to Europe for all of us. Couple people have been to England. > What type of budget are you working with? I estimated a rough cost of $7000.00 for 2 people including air fare. > What prompted this trip (ie: what are you all hoping to see)? Like I said we will be happy if we can travel around of most popular site. Like coliseum, Eiffel tower, Venice. We are flexible, and don't have must see thing in our list. You can say mainly it's a trip to our relatives but we will make some time for attractions too. > Is everybody in the group going to be paying their own expenses?
Yes. There are 2 family 5 members each and me and my wife. But we will stay close.

Just to make one thing completely clear. You can NOT rent or drive a van in Europe that holds more than 9 persons including the driver. Anything bigger is not regarded as a passenger car but as a bus and will only be available to licensed bus drivers. It will be virtually impossible to get permission to drive such a vehicle for "ordinary" people.

I say either skip Italy or just do Italy and Paris. Look at rail passes - maybe there are deals for larger groups. Realize that you will have to split up some - meals and sightseeing is difficult when you need to accommodate 12. Also hotels - start working very very soon as that is prime time and it's not easy to find family rooms to accommodate 5. Get a travel agent.