Nervous groups and the Ireland paradox

Have you planned your next vacation yet? Now that Easter is over, summer is just around the corner in Europe and I must have been asked three times in the last week where I am going on holiday.

This year, we took a decision to try somewhere completely new to us - Estonia. This is an area I've never been to before and I am really looking forward to it: somewhere off the beaten track, a little different and (hopefully!) a bit quieter than some of the major European destinations can be!

This got me thinking. As we are fairly unique as a receptive operator in the fact that we offer tours across the whole of Europe and not just one or two countries, we see some very interesting trends. Have you had a group go to Ireland this year? The chances are that you have. You and everyone else, it seems! Ireland is one of our favourite destinations, but this year it has gone crazy. For the first time, we are seeing hotels reaching saturation levels.

So, all the groups that have been to Ireland this year will soon be coming home and looking for their next adventure somewhere safe, cost-effective and culturally rich - just like Ireland.

There are also groups that are looking to travel to Europe but are nervous about travelling to large cities, for reasons we can all understand.

So, what destinations will you suggest to the returning groups? Where may nervous groups feel a little more comfortable about travelling to?

Our list below outlines our top five countries that offer stunning destinations for groups whilst being a little quieter and perhaps a bit different.

1) Portugal - often shoehorned into an itinerary with Spain, Portugal itself offers amazing scenery, culturally-rich towns and cities (such as Lisbon and Sintra), great performance locations and fabulous prices. Wine and culinary tours are a great way to explore this country for adult groups, whilst student groups can learn about Portugal maritime history and exploration of the Americas from cities like Lisbon and Porto.

	Lisbon, Portugal's beautiful capital city
	The wine region of the Douro

2) Croatia - perhaps not so quiet as it used to be, Croatia is still a relatively new destination for many. Its stunning scenery is its main draw, along with incredible historic towns like Dubrovnik (as featured in Game of Thrones) and Pula, with its spectacular Roman ruins.

	Dubrovnik - one of Croatia's most stunning towns
	The Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia
	No, not Rome, but Pula!

3) Switzerland - perhaps best known for its mountains and (in our office, at least) its chocolate, we've seen Switzerland become increasingly popular. Its picture-perfect towns offer huge amounts of history, and its churches offer some of the best musical performance locations in Europe.

	Bern - the Swiss capital, dates back to the 12th century
	Lucerne - located on Lake Lucerne amidst snow-capped mountains...

4) Denmark - literally the bridge between northern Europe and Scandinavia, Denmark has a wealth of history and stunning locations. Perhaps its most famous son is Hans Christian Andersen, and the iconic statue of the Little Mermaid is one of the most visited attractions in Copenhagen. However, there is much more than just fairy tales in this friendly country!

	Copenhagen - the Danish capital and home to its royal palaces
	Egeskov Castle - Europe's best preserved Renaissance moated castle

5) Hungary - this Eastern European country has increased in popularity recently, in part due to the rise of the river cruise. The districts of Buda and Pest make up Hungary's capital city, and highlights include the Old Town, the Fisherman's Bastion and the 13th Century Matthias Church.

	Budapest and the Danube
	The Hungarian Parliament building, Budapest

As for Estonia, I'll let you know when I get back!

Nervous groups and the Ireland paradox

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