Size does matter, and smaller is better.

 Many people don't feel safe in crowded environments, and that feeling is compounded when you are in unfamiliar surroundings. I don't have a problem with crowds, but given a choice, I prefer a more intimate gathering. I would rather go to a concert with a few friends in a small venue than with 50,000 people in a stadium, and I think its prudent to plan accordingly.

Sometimes you can't avoid them, but there are ways to be smart and minimize the effect of crowds on your vacation happiness. A Friend in Europe only takes 2 - 6 people per tour. I think this is just the right size for maximum comfort and agility, affording us a flexibility that  larger, slower tours can only dream of.

 Bus tours create their own crowd, and I make it my business to know when the bus tours arrive at various sites and plan accordingly. There are also certain days and times when some sights are more crowded than others. With our small group, we don't look like tourists and we don't attract attention. We know what we are doing, and we don't need a big support system to do it. When you are touring with A Friend in Europe, we don't require table seating for 48 or place for the bus to park. Our size allows us to fine tune our itineraries for maximum efficiency without compromising our sightseeing.

 A Friend in Europe's goal is to expose as many Americans to European travel as I can, and hopefully promote a little more understanding of other cultures at the same time. My tours are value packed and most economical guided tours I know of. All other guided tours are crowded and cost more, and any non guided tour gives you much less. All my tours include breakfast, sightseeing, local transportation, air, hotel and most importantly, a full time, objective guide (me) that's looking out for your best interest.