Tour Operators

* Image Tours, 800-968-9161, http://www.imagetours.com. Founded in Holland in 1939, Image has had a U.S. base since 1960. Escorted European tours are its specialty and include a 16-day "Heart of the British Isles" itinerary that takes you to Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. You must book through a travel agent.

* Go-Today, 800-227-3235, http://www.gotoday.com. Sets itself apart by offering vacation packages at affordable prices, including a six-day "London at Its Best" package and another independent tour that goes to the Lake District and Scotland.

Greece

* Homeric Tours, 800-223-5570, http://www.homerictours.com. "America's Number 1 Choice to Greece" has been in business since 1969, arranging Greek Island stays, cruise and land packages, air and tour deals, and independent, hosted and escorted tours. Also goes to Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan.

* Tourlite International, 800-272-7600, http://www.tourlite.com. Another longtime tour operator to Greece, Tourlite specializes in yacht cruises, honeymoon tours and Greek Isles packages, as well as vacations in the eastern Mediterranean.

Hungary

* General Tours, 800-221-2216, http://www.generaltours.com. Now in its 61st year, General Tours offers escorted, privately guided and small-ship tours worldwide. Six of its tours travel to Hungary, including an eight-day "Treasures of the Danube" luxury cruise that also stops in Germany, Austria and Slovakia.

* Kompas Holidays International, 800-233-6422, http://www.kompas.net. This specialist in central and Eastern European travel offers a number of escorted tours that take in Hungary, including the "Eastern European Panorama," which stops in Budapest. Tours for independent travelers also available.

* Tradesco, 800-448-4321, http://www.tradescotours.com. Operates escorted and hosted travel to central and Western Europe, and to parts of Africa. Among its Hungary tours, spa resort packages predominate.

Ireland

* Celtic Journeys, 877-361-0518, http://www.celtic-journeys.com. Escorted tours include an 11-day trip from Killarney to Belfast and a 10-day trip that includes stops in Dingle and Dublin. Also offers custom tours.

* Isle Inn Tours, 703-683-4800 or 800-237-9376, http://www.isleinntours.com. Since Ireland is its sole destination, this D.C. area company offers lots of options, including fly-drive vacations, castle rentals and custom golf itineraries.

* CIE Tours International, 800-243-8687, http://www.cietours.com. Motor coach tours of Ireland remain CIE's focus 75 years on, although packages to other European destinations are also available. City-stay deals, self-drive independent packages and escorted highlight tours of Ireland are among the options.

Italy

* Grand European Tours, 800-552-5545, http://www.getours.com. With more than three decades of experience, it excels at escorted (air-land and land-only) tours, offering 40-plus throughout Europe, including a 16-day "Grand Tour of Italy" trip. Itineraries usually allow at least two nights at each location.

* Perillo Tours, 800-431-1515, http://www.perillotours.com. This family operation, in business since 1945, plans fully escorted tours, mostly to such landmark locations as Rome and Florence. Another option is the "Roman Holiday," in which a traveler can sightsee on his or her own but consult daily with the company's expert, on-site at the hotel.