Get Social: Europe Express (Winter)

There’s more here than over-priced handbags and unoriginal poses under the Eiffel Tower. And to prove it, we’ve given you a full 24 hrs to discover the REAL Paris. Our suggestion? Spend your free day ticking off the bucket listers (and keeping those calves warm) on an optional bike tour. Then: explore the backstreets with the gang. Hunt down the best patisseries in town. Or uncover the city’s secret underworld at Catacombes de Paris. Want an alternate angle? Grab a takeaway chocolat chaud and settle in for an optional river cruise down the Seine. Tonight, get to know the gang better at our welcome dinner. And later, there’s an optional cabaret show on the cards – just to really round things off. You’re in the home of the can-can after all.

Disclaimer: today is a bit of a drive day. But you already guessed that, right? Strap in. Get to know your trip mates better. And bust out some bangers as the most jaw-dropping, snow-capped scenery wizzes past the window. They don’t have views like this back home. Proud owner of the ‘Top of Europe’, rushing waterfalls and one of the largest nature conservations in Switzerland – tonight we're bunking down in the jaw-dropping Swiss Alps. Sit back in the fresh (read: freezing) alpine air with a steaming cup of glühwein and crack open that new pack of playing cards. Dealing in mittens? Best of luck.

This place is Disneyland for outdoor enthusiasts. And you’ve got a full free day to experience every second to the fullest. Snow-hiking. Skiing. Snowboarding. Skydiving. Helicopter-ing. It’s all here. But if you identify as a thrill-dodger, there’s plenty to get excited about too. Jump aboard the Jungfraubahn railway and get all the white-washed summit views (minus the effort). Or engage explorer mode and go chasing waterfalls. Fact: TLC were wrong. And when the sun goes down, there’s an optional night sledding experience to get on board with. Tonight, if you haven’t had cheese fondue yet, do it NOW!

Take one last peek at the peaks – we’re rolling into Italy later today. Welcome to Venice, Topdeckers! You know it as The Floating City, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). So, don’t waste a second. Check out the usual suspects on a walking tour with our Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. Then: the rest is up to you. What delicious carb-laden Italian meal have you been dreaming about? Order two.

You wanted the freedom to do your own spontaneous-this-is-what-I-came-here-for thing. So here’s a free day we prepared earlier. Need some suggestions? Float past the famous Rialto Bridge on an optional gondola ride. Spend your time seeking out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop. Or forget all the above and hunt down the perfect gelato (who says you can't have brain freeze in winter too?). Get lost. Find yourself. Then grab a macchiato overlooking the canal and watch the gondoliers guide their vessels through the fog. This place is magic. Later, rally the troops and score a cheap meal at Osteria Al Portego, or fill up on alllll the drool-worthy Italian pastries (no judgement here).

Order one last espresso in poor Italian (hey, you tried!). Next up? A country where beer is officially considered an essential food group (right next to sausage and sauerkraut). Kick things off with a walking tour, then: it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: an appropriate occasion to wear lederhosen. Head to the 428-year-old Hofbräuhaus for a royal Happy Hour experience or find a toasty local pub for a stein-sesh with your trip mates. Prost!

Dust off those crumbs from this morning’s group brekkie – today we’re making tracks to fairytale Heidelberg. This place is all about hilltop ruins, cobblestone old quarters and super-smart Nobel Prize winners (must be something in the water here *downs glass*). Plan for this arvo? It’s totally up to you. Take the cable car up to the Palace for some unbeliEVABLE views. Or find a local haunt to chow down on a head-sized pork knuckle – this is Germany after all.

Quick maths – we’ve only got two days left. But the adventure sure as hell isn’t over yet! Plug ‘The Dam’ into the GPS – we’re making tracks to the Venice of the North. Once we arrive, it’s time to don your beanie and hit the cobblestones to scope out the city. Check out the likes of the Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the National Monument. This place is a foodie’s dream – so you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to settle in for dinner. Tonight, round up the fam and head to Proeflokaal Arendsnest for a selection of over 100 Dutch beers (and all the cosy vibes).

This is our last full day. FFS don’t hang about – join the locals and get on your bike! Check out Amsterdam's iconic canals, bridges and parks on an optional bike tour. History buffs should pay a visit to the Anne Frank House (don’t forget to book in advance!). And for the culture fiends – the Van Gogh Musuem and Rijksmuseum. Fight off that winter chill with a cone of hot chips and mayo (practical and delicious). Get lost amongst backstreets of the different districts – each one’s got a unique vibe and plenty to explore. Or strap on your skates and hit the ice rinks. Just make sure you’re back in time to toast the final night of our express-adventure at tonight’s included dinner.

Amster-DAMN that was good. But now it’s time to head back across the Channel to London Town. Blast the Trip Song one last time. And get planning – that reunion trip won’t book itself! Where to next?