European Focus Private Tours

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European Focus Private Tours Starting as a genealogical photography business in 1989, with private tours of all types from 1995. Owner James Derheim does the work, you enjoy your vacation.
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European Focus Private Tours takes the mystery and the work out of foreign travel, with a concentration on Europe where the owner has three decades of experience. European Focus is a boutique company serving discriminating clients from around the world who wish to experience the best of Europe without the hassles and the many hours of planning required. Tours are custom-designed and created for each individual client and are led by James, who has his attention on you. European Focus is the polar opposite of the 'If it's Tuesday, this must be Paris' type of run-run-run itineraries forced on hapless souls by the big bus companies. If you want an experience, rather than just checking things off a list, then you have found the right person in James to create for you the Trip of a Lifetime.

10/06/2026

From our friends at Azienda Agricola Passo Della Palomba

One of the best laugh out loud movies of all time. Takes place in a remote Irish village.
09/28/2026

One of the best laugh out loud movies of all time. Takes place in a remote Irish village.

I’m James Derheim—your dedicated trip planner, organizer, booking agent, driver, guide, and chief explainer. I’m even yo...
09/24/2026

I’m James Derheim—your dedicated trip planner, organizer, booking agent, driver, guide, and chief explainer. I’m even your ride to the airport, train station, or river cruise ship when the adventure concludes.

For 37 years, I’ve been living and working in Europe, spending 31 of those years based right here in Germany. As a native Minnesotan I still pinch myself.

Every single journey I design is carefully constructed around your interests, abilities, and timeline.
That means:

🚫 No mixing and matching with incompatible strangers

🚫 No rigid itineraries that force you to compromise

🚫 No mandatory 7:00 AM wake-up calls to get on a big bus

I personally lead just 10 to 14 trips per year, typically lasting about two weeks each.

If you want your next journey to Ireland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, or any of the other 13 countries I cover to be fun, unforgettable, and entirely stress-free, let's connect!

Drop me a line today using my easy, no-obligation website. I’ve placed the link in the first comment below. 👇

See you soon over here!

(Photo taken outside the famous Dick Mack’s haberdashery and pub on September 8, 2026—midway through the 370th custom-designed tour of my career)

November is a fine month to visit . The weather is cool and the crowds are slightly less. Hotels adjust their pricing t...
09/18/2026

November is a fine month to visit . The weather is cool and the crowds are slightly less. Hotels adjust their pricing to low season levels and there is a crispness in the air which makes day touring more enjoyable. I’m available from October 28. Please share this with friends who have been trying to decide on when they travel to Bella Italia.

As good as it looks. I know what you’re thinking. “I wish I was there.” I get it.
09/17/2026

As good as it looks. I know what you’re thinking. “I wish I was there.” I get it.

Tour #370 of my career is now in the rearview mirror. Joe and Cyndi are on their way back to Pittsburgh, to busy lives ...
09/16/2026

Tour #370 of my career is now in the rearview mirror. Joe and Cyndi are on their way back to Pittsburgh, to busy lives and a thriving business.

Over the course of 2,200 kilometers and 13 days, Joe and Cyndi saw the best that Ireland has to offer, without the hassles of trying to drive on the left, find places to eat, figure out where to stay and structure their time. This was all figured out during many hours of planning on my end. All Joe and Cyndi had to do was get on the airplane. I used the experience of 30 years worth of traveling around Ireland to show them places both known and unknown. (They loved the unknown places the best)

Here are a few rewinds of just a sampling of what we saw and did from Sept 3 - 16.

To have an authentic Irish experience without the big bus or the hassles, contact me today. My final season of providing tours on the Emerald Isle will be 2029.

A few shots between the garage I chose in crowded Dublin and Trinity College. To be honest - Dublin is my least favorite...
09/16/2026

A few shots between the garage I chose in crowded Dublin and Trinity College.

To be honest - Dublin is my least favorite place in Ireland. Insanely crowded, difficult to park, dirty and the traffic is ridiculous. September 15, 2026 marks the final time I will ever drive in or out of this mess. I have earned that after three decades. I am so relieved.

The verdict on The Book of Kells? Unanimous. Far too crowded, lighting so dim (understandable to preserve the 1,200 year-old book) that it makes it difficult to see, an overall disappointing experience. My advice after hearing many complaints is to buy a coffee table book about the Book of Kells.

And so, after a record of 0 clients who say “I loved Dublin” and all clients saying “I could have done without Dublin” the verdict is in. I’ll leave Dublin to the independent tourist who doesn’t mind the panhandlers and pickpockets or the bus tourists who are wondering how much longer they have to listen to the babbling guide droning on and on about this or that. Take me away to the countryside, to the colorful small towns and villages where everyone is always happy and relaxed and where you can breathe. Oh, the Guinness is two Euro less per pint, as a bonus.

Address

1748 Independence Boulevard, Ste F-6
Sarasota, FL
34234

Telephone

+19417064508

Website

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