Germany
(19 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Patrick McGill
Jamestown, NC
Europe and United Kingdom Travel Specialist
Welcome! I'm Patrick McGill, your dedicated travel expert specializing in custom-crafted journeys across Europe and the United Kingdom. My unwavering passion for exploration and deep appreciation for the rich and diverse cultures of these magnific...
Welcome! I'm Patrick McGill, your dedicated travel expert specializing in custom-crafted journeys across Europe and the United Kingdom. My unwavering passion for exploration and deep appreciation for the rich and diverse cultures of these magnificent destinations ensure that your travel dreams become reality.
My Mission:
My mission is to craft bespoke journeys that allow discerning adventurers to truly connect with the heart and soul of Europe. I believe travel is a transformative experience, and my role is to unlock the hidden wonders that ignite the passion and curiosity of each individual traveler.
My Vision:
I strive to be best known for curating life-enriching explorations across the UK and the Continent. By seamlessly blending guided experiences with independent discovery, I aspire to deliver unforgettable memories that foster lasting bonds between you and your immersive experiences in the historic, scenic, artistic and cultural aspects of Europe.
My Values:
- Personalization: I see each traveler as a unique individual, and meticulously tailor every element of the journey to align with their distinct interests, desires, and aspirations. No two trips are identical.
- Discovery: Travel is an opportunity to venture beyond the obvious, to learn new things and broaden our perspective.
- Connection: My role is to facilitate profound encounters - whether with places, people, or one's inner self - that cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world.
- Integrity: Honesty, transparency, and a steadfast commitment to excellence guide every interaction, ensuring my clients can entrust me with crafting their most cherished travel memories.
- Passion: I approach my work with an unwavering enthusiasm, driven by a genuine love for travel and a desire to share its transformative power with each and every guest.
My Services:
- Tailored Itineraries: Each journey is expertly designed to suit your unique interests and desires. I invest time in understanding what inspires you, ensuring your travel itinerary is a true reflection of your aspirations—from tranquil countryside escapes to vibrant city adventures.
- Cultural Immersion Experiences: I provide access to hidden gems, rare historical sites, and unique cultural activities. There's nothing quite like a cooking class in Tuscany or a private tour of a Scottish castle to enhance your appreciation of a destination's history and traditions.
- Personal Connections and Insights: I focus on Europe and the United Kingdom because of my extensive time living, working and traveling through this part of the world, and I am happy to share my experiences with you.
- Seamless Travel Planning: From the moment you dream of departure to the day you return home, I manage every facet of your travel experience. This includes bookings, transportation, and accommodation, ensuring your journey is as smooth and carefree as possible. Your peace of mind is my top priority.
- Supportive Travel Partner: My commitment doesn't end the moment you book your trip. I see to it that you have ongoing support while you are traveling.
A Unique Perspective on European Travel:
Traveling to Europe is not merely about "getting away"— it's about "getting in touch" with the world and the people around us. Connecting with different cultures helps us better understand ourselves and enriches our lives. This is the true essence of European travel: making meaningful connections that leave a lasting impact.
The Where and Why will determine the "How":
I believe that what you want to experience will have a large impact on how you travel. So whether your travel plans include a river cruise, ocean cruise, escorted tour, or a custom independent travel, I will create the itinerary that best meets your needs and desires.
Let’s Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality:
My goal is to help you make meaningful connections and ensure your European adventure is everything you've imagined and more. Let’s create priceless memories and enrich your life through extraordinary travel experiences.
Can Be Reached At
1-336-681-2970
This post will be a bit different, because this isn't part of a trip that I took. Instead, it is a collection of my time living in Germany and later working there. And as a result, some of the pictures in the album associated with this post are not mine, but they do represent places I have personally visited in Germany.
I'll start with one of my favorite cities in the world: Munich. After World War II, the cities of Germany went in different directions - they either restored or modernized. For example, Frankfurt modernized. Munich restored. Munich is also a convenient place to start, because it is easy to get there, and convenient to other locations. You can reach Munich directly from several major international airports in the US, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington-Dulles. From Munich, you can very easily visit Salzburg, Austria, Neuschwanstein Castle, Dachau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden, and Switzerland by car or train.
Munich is a very easy city to visit. Like most German cities, Munich has a large pedestrian zone, where vehicular traffic is extremely restricted. Included in this area is the Marienplatz - the large central square bordered by the "old" and "new" city government buildings. From this location, you can also visit the Deutsche Museum and the English Gardens. The Olympic Village is just a short subway ride away, as is also the grounds where Oktoberfest is held each year.
A little farther north, about 3 hours by car, is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is one of the oldest walled cities in Germany, and gives a very vivid picture of life in Germany in the 1500 - 1700's. We lived about 40 minutes away from Rothenburg, and would go there for an afternoon.
The next stop in your travels here is Heidelberg. It is located along the Neckar River is a popular stop for River Cruises on the Rhine. Heidelberg has the oldest University in Germany, and the Heidelberg Castle ruins.
Moving again north, into the Nordrhein-Westphalen region are Cologne and Duesseldorf. The main attraction in Cologne is the Cathedral. At one time in history it was the largest structure in the world. The cathedral is an engineering marvel, in that construction was started in the 1200's, and construction took over 300 years. It predates the discorvery of North America and the creation of Protestant Christianity. To see that this structure was made with medieval technology is amazing. The cathedral is so large that Allied bombers would use it as a landmark on their missions into Germany. Also located in Cologne is a Roman museum, showcasing some of the Roman artifacts found in Cologne.
Just north of Cologne is Duesseldorf. The "Altstadt" (Old City) part of this city is a great way to spend the day. It is full of restaurants, and nicknamed "The Longest Bar in the World". Duesseldorf is also known s the fashion capital of Germany. Along the KönigsAllee (King's Street), you can find shops like Versace, Burberry, Prada and Gucci. There are several very nice hotels in Duesseldorf as well. And, from Duesseldorf, Amsterdam is a very convenient drive.
Other places to visit in Germany include Berlin, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Frankfurt and Hamburg.