Oct 1, 2007
Staying on your own in a European home or apartment is what Untours regards as an "un-tour" -- a unique and rewarding experience
A great many Americans dream of renting an apartment in a tiny Greek town or a house in the Tuscan countryside but are intimidated by the details, worried about getting a lemon, or concerned about throwing themselves into an independent vacation where they don't speak the language or understand the local customs.
That's where Untours fits in (tel. 888-868-6871; www.untours.com). Founded in 1975, it supplies you with a private home or apartment in Europe for two weeks (usually in a small town, like an Alpine village), throws in a self-drive car (or train pass) as well -- and most important, provides you with a nearby local contact to show you the ropes. It's a far easier business than working with an international real estate broker to rent such a property, especially since most of the latter will require a lease of more than two weeks.
Untours' local rep will meet you at the airport to drive you to your new temporary home, show you the good local shops so you can start cooking in your kitchen, and give you guidebook-like literature to the region. The rest of your time, you're on your own, though your local "guide" remains on-call to answer questions and overcome emergencies.
Rentals are available in any of two-dozen of Europe's most popular cities and regions -- Provence (two weeks for $1,799, including both the home/apartment and a self-drive car) or Prague ($1,459 for two weeks of the same), Andalusia ($1,669 for two weeks) or Greece ($1,299 for two weeks), Switzerland ($1,399 for two weeks) or Sicily ($1,949 for two weeks). Also on tap are the slightly more expensive Barcelona ($2,269), Salzburg ($1,599), Tuscany (from $1,889), Paris ($2,169), Venice ($2,089), Leiden (from $1,369), and more. Those prices are per person based on double occupancy (though most of the rental units can easily accommodate three to six people), and do not include airfare to Europe, which is for you to arrange (best done by consulting an airfare aggragator like kayak.com, sidestep.com or mobissimo.com).
Untours has also recently started offering "Sampler" trips that allow you to split the stay between two destinations, spending one week in each -- take one week in Umbria, another in Rome ($2,189); or spend a week in a 14th century Bavarian castle followed by one on the Rhine River (from $1,792).
I've been following Untours for quite some time, have frequently met with its founder Hal Taussig, and have the highest regard for the organization and its program. They offer a sensible and popular method of living like a European resident, and thousands of loyal customers have repeated the experience time after time.
Write and read comments about this post.
That's where Untours fits in (tel. 888-868-6871; www.untours.com). Founded in 1975, it supplies you with a private home or apartment in Europe for two weeks (usually in a small town, like an Alpine village), throws in a self-drive car (or train pass) as well -- and most important, provides you with a nearby local contact to show you the ropes. It's a far easier business than working with an international real estate broker to rent such a property, especially since most of the latter will require a lease of more than two weeks.
Untours' local rep will meet you at the airport to drive you to your new temporary home, show you the good local shops so you can start cooking in your kitchen, and give you guidebook-like literature to the region. The rest of your time, you're on your own, though your local "guide" remains on-call to answer questions and overcome emergencies.
Rentals are available in any of two-dozen of Europe's most popular cities and regions -- Provence (two weeks for $1,799, including both the home/apartment and a self-drive car) or Prague ($1,459 for two weeks of the same), Andalusia ($1,669 for two weeks) or Greece ($1,299 for two weeks), Switzerland ($1,399 for two weeks) or Sicily ($1,949 for two weeks). Also on tap are the slightly more expensive Barcelona ($2,269), Salzburg ($1,599), Tuscany (from $1,889), Paris ($2,169), Venice ($2,089), Leiden (from $1,369), and more. Those prices are per person based on double occupancy (though most of the rental units can easily accommodate three to six people), and do not include airfare to Europe, which is for you to arrange (best done by consulting an airfare aggragator like kayak.com, sidestep.com or mobissimo.com).
Untours has also recently started offering "Sampler" trips that allow you to split the stay between two destinations, spending one week in each -- take one week in Umbria, another in Rome ($2,189); or spend a week in a 14th century Bavarian castle followed by one on the Rhine River (from $1,792).
I've been following Untours for quite some time, have frequently met with its founder Hal Taussig, and have the highest regard for the organization and its program. They offer a sensible and popular method of living like a European resident, and thousands of loyal customers have repeated the experience time after time.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: accommodations
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