Best Of
Re: Trip Report - Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand - October, 2025
Part 2
Day 8: Cambodia - a 9:30 am departure for a 12:30 pm flight to Siem Reap. We arrived around 2:00 pm and drove to Tonie Sap Lake (with a snack on the bus). There we had a boat tour of the Lake and two floating villages. It was nice and cool on the Lake and the water level was high. The smaller village can be moved during low water season. The other village is permanent. A very interesting and enjoyable tour and a great local guide. The group then checked into the beautiful Raffles Grand Hotel. Very nice room and the pool area was gorgeous. We had time for a swim and then an excellent group dinner and Cambodian dance performance.
Day 9: Perhaps my favorite day of the tour. In the morning, the group had a walking tour of Angkor Thom, the ancient capital city, and the Temple of Bayon. Lots of uneven steps. In addition to the local guide, we were accompanied by two helpers who provided assistance. They also knew a lot about the sights and were good photographers. Then visited the Ta Prohm temple (the so-called Tomb Raider temple). Loved it!
Then, a very good lunch at a restaurant near the River in Town. My husband and I walked back to the Raffles along the River. The group (minus 2) met up at 2:45 pm to head to the main event, Angkor Wat. A fabulous visit. We walked over the large moat toward and into the temple complex. We toured the first two levels of the temple. And then six of us, accompanied by our two helpers, hiked up steep stairs to the third level, the Bakan Sanctuary. Great views and some hidden Buddhas. The group then had a leisurely walk out the rear of the complex. A memorable day. Back at the Hotel we did have time to once again enjoy the lovely pool, and then included dinner at pre-reserved times.
Day 10: Thailand - a 7:00 am departure for Siem Reap Airport. Flight to Bangkok, and then connecting flight to Chiang Mai.
Certainly our longest travel day. We arrived in Chaing Mai around 2:45 pm, and had a driving tour of the City on the way to the fabulous Four Seasons. Large, beautiful room. We went for a swim in the beautiful pool, overlooking rice field. Excellent group Thai dinner that evening.
Day 11: Elephant Sanctuary visit. A fun and interesting visit and lots of up close interaction with the elephants. We ate a Four Seasons boxed lunch at the sanctuary. Then, a visit to the local tribal village. Interesting and an excellent shopping opportunity. Back at the Four Seasons, I was able to use the Yoga mat that I asked to be delivered to the room. Then some quality time at the pool. That night, included dinner at either the Thai or the Western restaurant. We chose the Western, which was very good (but the Thai was better).
Day 12: Lovely morning drive through the national park up to the Doi Suthep Buddhist Temple. Nice views and a good tour of the Temple. The local guide gave the group the option of going to a jade store. About half chose that option. The rest of us
went back to the Four Seasons immediately. My husband and I had a quick lunch and then I had a 90 minute Thai massage. It was wonderful. Afterwards, I had time for yoga and then we headed for the pool. For the last night, we had our included dinner in the Thai restaurant. It was excellent.
Day 13: An 8:00 am departure for the airport for our 10:10 am flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, at the lovely Rosewood Hotel, we had a very good group lunch and were given our room keys during the lunch. Very nice room with great City view. That afternoon, the group met up with the local guide, and we took the Skytrain (accessible from the Hotel) to the Jim Thompson House. We toured the house and learned about his importance to the silk industry. Then we had time to visit the gardens and the gift shop. Time for a swim and yoga. That evening, included dinner at the Chinese restaurant at pre-reserved time (the whole group decided to eat together). Outstanding meal.
Day 14: A good day of touring. Morning boat ride along River to the famous Temple of Dawn. There, we had a walking tour and then some time on our own to walk up to the second level and around the temple. Afterwards, back on the boat, we went through a lock to the canals of Old Bangkok. Interesting touring - old and new houses, water monitors, temples and a giant Buddha. Then, back on the River, a nice ride on the river back to the waiting bus. Back at the Rosewood, yoga and a refreshing swim in the very nice pool. That night, the whole group participated in an optional activity, for $50 a person. Our local guide accompanied us to an area on the River with shops, restaurants, attractions. There, we had time to eat, shop, whatever, before a 7:10 pm Calypso show. Four of us ate at a Thai restaurant and then did a little shopping. The show was very entertaining, and only about an hour. It was a great night out.
Day 15: Buddha day. First, we visited the impressive Temple of the Golden Buddha. Then we walked through a flower market. Then we had a Tuk Tuk ride through Chinatown. Late morning, we visited the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the surrounding complex. Touring ended early afternoon, and my husband and I walked over to a nearby food court for some pad thai. It was very good and we ran into our local guide, also eating there. The local guide did then accompany some of the group on a shopping excursion - I did not participate. I was happy to have time for a swim and yoga, and to do most of our packing. That night, great cocktail party on the top floor - with beautiful views. Then an excellent dinner in a room on the pool level.
Day 16: We had a very early departure along with for others from the group.
We flew ANA (booked through United. On the way, Chicago to Tokyo/Narita to Hanoi. Home was Bangkok to Tokyo/Narita to Chicago. Very good experience and would fly them again.
Re: Tanzania: Serengeti to Zanzibar, June 2024
The migration is continuous. It is just a matter of where you may find it. One of the Tauck tours follows the migration. The BIG deal about the migration is catching the massive crossing at the Mara river. We caught it once out of our three tours … at the same time of year. This year the migration (the tail) was in the Serengeti. You cannot plan it. It just happens or it doesn’t. On our first K&T our TD recommended that we skip the trip to the Mara, a long ride, and just do a game drive cuz nothing was happening. We voted to go to the Mara. The massive migration/crossing started just as we arrived … it was amazing. Our next two trips had other highlights, but we never saw another crossing of the Mara.
Sealord
Trip Report - Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand - October, 2025
My husband and I returned from this excellent, fascinating tour last week. I think it is a well thought out tour and the hotels and food were outstanding.
On tour flights were handled very well. With one exception, bags were checked in and boarding passes handed to us upon arrival at the airport. We did not need to claim bags - they were taken to the Hotels. And we frequently were quickly escorted through expedited lines. We had two flights on Vietnam Airlines, one each on Air Cambodia, Thai Smile and Bangkok Airways. The flights were timely, comfortable and short.
Weather: For the most part, excellent. Not too cold or hot in Hanoi. We had some rain in Central Vietnam, to be expected during rainy season. Some, but minimal, impact on touring (we were lucky). And the partly cloudy skies kept it cooler. Very good weather in Cambodia and Thailand - not too hot.
Pretour: We arrived two nights prior to the start of the tour. Really nice room. The morning after our arrival, we had time for a leisurely breakfast and a walk around the area of the Sofitel and the hotel itself. At 9;30 a.m. we were picked up for our pre-arranged day tour to Halong Bay. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our own boat, a cave visit, a great lunch and lovely views. We were happy that we came an extra day early to enjoy this tour. After we arrived back at the Sofitel, we enjoyed a light dinner and drinks on the 7th Floor (access included with our Tauck rooms).
Day 1 of Tour: Prior to the start of the tour at 6:00 pm, we enjoyed independent time in Hanoi. At 7:20 am, we were picked up for a pre-booked Backstreets Jeep Tour. It was excellent, including touring the City by jeep, walking some back streets, stops at Train Street and the B52 Museum (outside only) and an excellent lunch. We had enough time back at the Hotel to enjoy the nice pool and then met our group for cocktails and then a very good dinner at Le Beaulieu, the French restaurant at the Sofitel.
Day 2: Morning buggy (electric carts) ride through the Old Quarter. Then an interesting visit to the Hanoi Hilton and a very good lunch at Le Club. Afternoon visit to Ba Dinh Square, site of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where we saw the changing of the guards. Then a nice walking tour of the Botanical Gardens and by the Presidential Palace, a visit to the House on Stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. We then went to the Water Puppet show, which was cute. Back to the Sofitel, where we had time to swim and then another light dinner on the 7th Floor. Some folks did go out to dinner to various restaurants. This was the one night when we had to have luggage out the night before our early morning flight.
Day 3: A 6:00 am departure for a 7:45 am flight to Danang. Then we drove to Hue, and had an interesting walking tour of the Tomb and Summer Palace of Emperor Tu Duc. There was sporadic light rain, so a travel umbrella and light weight rain jacket were handy. Then check-in and very good lunch at the La Residence Hotel. Lovely property with attentive staff. At about 3:00 pm, we left the hotel for a fun cyclo ride (in the rain) to the citadel and Forbidden City. There, we had an excellent walking tour. That evening we enjoyed the cocktail lounge at the Hotel and included dinner at prearranged reservation times.
Day 4: This morning, the group was unable to take the planned dragon boat cruise to the Tien Mu Pagoda and Buddhist monastery, because the water levels in the Perfume River were too high for the boats to make it under the bridges. So we went to the Pagoda and monastery by bus and had a very nice tour (again, on and off rain). There were ramps and steps and some of the group skipped this visit. The group then drove to Danang for our two night stay at the beautiful Furama Resort, where we had beachfront rooms. Lovely rooms and we had left the rain behind us. My husband and I enjoyed a long walk on the beach (too rough to swim) and then a swim in the Lagoon pool (one off two pools). Included dinner at one of the three restaurants. We ate at the Asian restauant, which was very good. Most of the group went to the Italian restaurant.
Day 5: Enjoyable morning tour of local farming village, including visit to former Mayor's house. Then, a fun tour of Hoi An, first by cyclos and then a walking tour and visits to the Assembly Hall and the Merchant House. We had independent time to walk around, have lunch, shop. While there, we observed that the River was rising. We returned to the Hotel and had time to take another long beach walk, go for a swim, and work out. That night, we (and most of the group) had dinner in the Asian restaurant, because Friday night is fish buffet night. It was outstanding - point out what fish you want, and it was cooked fresh for you.
Day 6: A 7:45 am departure for an 8:55 am flight to Saigon. Upon arrrival, we drove to the Cu Chi tunnels, eating a boxed lunch on the way. A very good time saving and traffic minimizing strategy. Loved the tunnels visit - very interesting, and a few of us did go down into and walk through the last section of the tunnels (not very far). Afterwards, we drove to the beautiful Park Hyatt Hotel. Lovely room and enough time for a swim in the very nice pool, have a cocktail in the beautiful bar and enjoy included dinner at the Square One restaurant at the Hyatt (I had delicious lobster). Because it was Saturday night, some key streets near the Hotel were designated pedestrian only, so we took a nice walk after dinner, enjoying the lights, the buskers and lots of people watching.
Day 7: A very full and fun day. We had a walking tour of the Ben Tanh market and the Presidential Palace (familiar to many for the tanks crashing through the front gates at the end of the Vietnam War). Then we went to the area of Notre Dame Cathedral (closed for restoration work) and the Post Office. We had time to take photos of the former American Embassy, famous for the helicoptor lifts from the roof, and to visit the beautifu Post Office Building. Then back to the Hyatt for an included lunch at the Opera Restaurant. I understand that because it was Sunday, it was even more special than usual.
That morning, our local guide had offered the group the option of visiting the War Remnants Museum after lunch. Four of us took her up on that offer and at 2:00 pm she accompanied us by van to the Museum, oriented us, and waited for us (about a 45 minute visit). I had read about this museum and was glad to have the opportunity to visit. It was an worthwhile visit, and sad. A very interesting section focusing on journalists who died during the War, a gallery dedicated to Agent Orange and its impact on the Vietnamese peope as well as the U.S. soldiers. Afterward, the local guide accompanied us back to the Hotel.
We had time to for another quick and refreshing swim before our 6:00 pm meeting time for the VESPA foodie and nightlights tour. This was a blast. Much to my surprise, I was not at all hesitant or frightened. It was fascinating driving amongst all of the scooters. People were waving and smiling at us. Our first stop was a rooftop bar for a drink and photos of the City lights. Stop 2 was at an outdoor restaurant for Vietnamest food (including frogs) and a beer. On the way to stop 3, another restaurant, it started raining. The drivers pulled over and provided us with rain ponchos and, like everyone else, kept going. The second restaurant, also outside, but covered, was also good. At that point, some of the group went back to the Hyatt (one person had skipped the entire Vespa experience). Five of us continued on to the final stop, a night club with live music. The visit was not very long, but we had one beer, enjoyed two different bands and some dancing. A very memorable evening! To be continued...
Re: Updated Activity and Pace Levels
Thank you so much for pointing this out. I’ll try to post it here. This MAY cut out a lot of people if they bother to find out.
Understanding Activity & Pace on Tauck Journeys
Tauck offers a wide variety of journeys – from relaxed river cruises to adventurous safaris, immersive small ship cruises to culturally rich land tours. Some are more physically active or fast-paced, while others offer a gentler rhythm.
To help you choose the experience that best suits your interests, comfort, and travel style, we've created two simple ratings:
Activity Level — how physically demanding your experience will be
Pace of the Tour — how full or fast-moving your days will feel
Starting with our 2027 journeys, each tour or cruise will be rated on the following scales from 1 to 5 to guide your planning. If you have any questions, our Reservations team or your travel advisor will be happy to help walk you through the details of any itinerary.
Activity Level
How much walking, standing, and physical effort is involved daily
WHAT TO EXPECT
1 Light
(Tauck Baseline) Walking approximately 1–2 miles per day (~2,000–4,000 steps), often on flat or paved surfaces. Includes standing for 30–60 minutes during guided experiences. Guests should be comfortable navigating stairs, cobblestones, and gangways.
2 Moderate
(Some Days) On some days, walking extends to 2–3.5 miles (~4,000–7,000 steps), with occasional stairs, hills, or uneven surfaces. Standing periods may last up to 90 minutes, but this level still includes breaks and lower-effort days.
3 Moderate
(Most Days) Most days involve walking in the 2–3.5-mile range (~4,000–7,000 steps), with frequent stairs, cobblestones, and standing for 90+ minutes. Activity is consistent across consecutive days, requiring stamina and balance throughout the itinerary.
4 Active Most days require — or offer the option to engage in — longer or more strenuous walking (often 4+ miles or 8,000+ steps), extended standing, or varied terrain such as hills, sand, or cobblestones. Guests should be comfortable crouching to climb into and out of more rugged vehicles or small planes frequently. Some days may also include active excursions like biking, kayaking, horseback riding, or water sports. While less demanding alternatives may be available, the core experience typically involves sustained physical effort and is best suited to guests comfortable with a consistently active pace.
5 Highly Active Strenuous activity is built into the core experience. Expect frequent high-effort excursions and limited opportunity to opt out. Tours at this level often include prolonged time in challenging environments such as altitude or wilderness terrain. Activities may involve hiking, biking, rafting, snowshoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, or snorkeling/swimming, sometimes over consecutive days. Designed for travelers who thrive on adventure and are prepared for a physically demanding itinerary.
Pace of the Tour
How full your days are, how often you change locations, and the rhythm of your journey
WHAT TO EXPECT
1 Relaxed
(Tauck Baseline) Two guided experiences on most days, but with a calm rhythm and regular downtime. Includes multi-night hotel stays or continuous nights on a river or ocean cruise. Early starts before 9:00 AM are rare.
2 Balanced
(Typical Tauck Pace) A steady daily tempo with 2–3 guided activities. Most days include early departures balanced with rest periods or scenic downtime. Transitions between cities occur every 2–3 days.
3 Full but Flexible Full days with little downtime. Select days may offer opt-out opportunities or lighter alternatives. Ideal for travelers who want to stay engaged, but with some room to pace themselves.
4 Full & Structured Full days with multiple guided activities. Early mornings are common, and participation in most experiences is expected. Includes a mix of one- and two-night stays.
5 Fast-Paced Dense itineraries with long drives, internal flights, and back-to-back excursions. Early mornings are frequent, and several consecutive one-night stays are possible. Designed for immersive, efficient travel with a faster rhythm and minimal rest time.
British
Re: Updated Activity and Pace Levels
Know Before You Go: What to Expect on Every Tauck Tour
Our journeys are designed to connect you to the real world — not just look at it through a window. That means walking through city centers, navigating local terrain, and experiencing life as it's lived in each destination.
MOBILITY EXPECTATIONS: A TAUCK-WIDE BASELINE
To fully enjoy a Tauck tour, you should be able to:
Walk ½ mile to 1 mile at a time (sometimes over cobblestones or uneven ground)
Navigate stairs without handrails, mild inclines, or historic sites with uneven stairs
Stand for 30–60 minutes during guided visits
Climb on and off coaches, boats, and small aircraft independently
Be outdoors in heat, humidity, or rain depending on season and region
Sit comfortably for extended periods of time during motor coach rides, scenic rail journeys, or other modes of transportation (often 1-3 hours at a stretch, sometimes longer)
CRUISING CONSIDERATIONS
To fully enjoy a Tauck cruise, you should be able to:
Walk up and down gangways (which can be steep depending on water level)
Navigate uneven or sloped docks
Walk through other riverboats with additional gangways and stairs (known as double-docking)
Board a tender, a smaller boat used to transport passengers to and from the shore on some small ship cruises
Reach pedestrian-only town centers (up to 1 mile from dock)
Walk up and down stairs, as not all decks are accessible via elevator and not all ships have elevators
REGIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
(these will vary by tour, please contact our Reservations team or your travel advisor for more details)
Europe: Historic cities often have pedestrian-only centers. This may require walking from the coach drop-off point (up to 1 mile), and exploring on foot over cobblestones and uneven pavement.
Africa/Asia: Some regions feature bumpy or unpaved roads, walks over sandy terrain, and experiences that may involve caves, tunnels, or uneven pathways. Guests may also travel by safari vehicles, tuk-tuks, small boats, or other local transport options that require crouching, flexibility and sure footing to get in and out of.
Climate: Summer heat and lack of air conditioning in older buildings can intensify physical strain, even on leisurely tours. In winter climates, slippery or icy conditions may occur, especially in mountainous or northern regions.
Altitude: Select destinations – particularly in the Andes, Alps, national parks or parts of Africa – may involve time at elevations above 6,000 feet. Guests with respiratory, circulatory, or mobility concerns should consult with a doctor before traveling.
British
Re: Aloha!
Yup, been back for a few weeks now! Better late than never! 
Day 9, Tuesday, Sept 30
Our brief visit to Kauai ended early today with a 6:45 departure for Lihue Airport and flight to Maui.
After landing we boarded a bus for a short trip to see the 'ʻĪao Needle and nearby waterfall. (It was interesting but somewhat of a time killer) The 1200 foot tall volcanic pinnacle is a famous landmark known for its "unique" or symbolic (male) 
shape and as the site of the historical Battle of Kepaniwai, a decisive battle fought there in 1790 where the forces of King Kamehameha I fought and defeated the Maui army, a key step in his campaign to unify the Hawaiian Islands.
Speaking of volcanic activity- as most of you know, the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity but, you may not know they were formed over a tectonic plate "hot spot." The islands are slowly moving to the northwest and as they move farther from the hot spot a new island is formed. The Big Island is the youngest of the islands, but an even newer island is slowly forming at the site of a volcanic seamount southeast of Hawaii.
Next up was a guided visit to the Maui Ocean Center (small aquarium) and lunch (preselected choice) at the adjacent Seascape Restaurant. Following that we traveled southeast along the coast to an exclusive area of the island where hotel, the Fairmont Kea Lani, was located. All rooms were suites! From our balcony we had a beautiful view of the islands of Lanai and Kaho'olawe the tiny island (partial caldera open to the sea) of Molokini, a popular snorkeling and diving site. This area and further north between Maui and Lanai and Molokai is popular for whale watching In season December - April (peak: February and March)
Factoid: Larry Ellison, entrepreneur who co-founded the software company Oracle Corporation, owns about 98% of Lanai. He purchased the majority of the island, including its two resorts and golf courses, in 2012. The remaining 2% is owned by the state of Hawaii or individual homeowners.
Two notes about hotels on this tour. They were all excellent, especially the last three, however-
Except for the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki, and to some degree, the hotel on Maui, the tour hotels on the other islands were not located in resort 'areas' so engaging in any off-site activity or dining could require significant travel.
Except for the Royal Hawaiian, hotels on other islands are all 'low rise' since Hawaii code restricts their height. To get enough rooms for anticipated guests, these hotels were built outward with multiple adjoining wings. What that means is you must be prepared for long hikes to the lobby, dining areas, pool, etc.
Dinner on Tauck tonight was in KO's or Nick's Fish Market. (in one tonight and the other the following night). Reservations were taken at an earlier time, like most dinners.
Day 10, Wednesday, Oct 1
Today was a day of leisure (yes, there was plenty of leisure time or time to do your own thing, on this tour!! With one exception, I'm not sure what we did, but whatever it was it wasn't picture-worthy. We did have one optional and interesting activity- we met Maui Artist and Sculptor Dale Zarella for a tour of his sculptures on the hotel lobby (mostly around the atrium). He had some incredible large samples of his work on display. He has worked on and sold commissions to quite a few rich and famous people. He is best known for his statue of Saint Damien of Molokai, created for the Damien and Marianne of Moloka'i Heritage Center in Waikiki. A second copy of the statue, done in bronze, was later presented to Pope Benedict XVI in commemoration of Father Damien's canonization. He was a very interesting person the talk to- check him out.
Day 11, Thursday, Oct 2
The best laid plans . . . Today we were supposed to ride to the top of the Haleakala volcano summit, but the government shutdown got in the way. Technically the park was 'supposed' to be open, but not the bathrooms nor visitor center, and there would be no Park Ranger. Since there was ample warning, our TD and Tauck HQ were prepared. (we had been to the summit before so were not disappointed)
Tauck substituted a very interesting visit to the Maui Gold Pineapple Company, one of the last operating pineapple plantations in the islands, located on the north slope of Mt. Haleakala. I am not a fan of most fruits, I rarely eat them, and have NEVER knowingly eaten pineapple- it would be the last thing I would eat if stranded on a desert island- I literally hate it. That being said, while on a short excursion into the fields, our docent sliced and offered us small samples of fresh Maui Gold pineapple. I was very hesitant to say the least, but gave it a taste. It was amazing, incredibly tender, juicy and sweet!, and nothing like any pineapple I had tasted before. Because of lower labor costs, most US pineapples are now imported, so to last longer during transit and in stores, they are often not ripe when picked and sold. However . . . unlike many fruits and vegetables, pineapples don’t ripen any further once they’re picked!!!! This small plantation barely survives on pineapple tour ticket sales, souvenir sales, pineapple sales to locals, tourists and limited exports. They also sell various by-products to a local brewery, candy makers, and farmers for cattle feed, etc. Nothing is wasted. We were each gifted a boxed pineapple to take home. By the way, it takes 18 - 24 months for a planted "crown" to grown into a pineapple that is ready to harvest.
Tonight we had a private luau with buffet, music, hula dancers, and a fire twirler.
The yellow color is artificially induced and not a reliable indication the pineapple is truly ripe!
Day 12, Friday, Oct 3
Homeward bound. Flights on smaller planes with standard 1C seats leave from Maui for the mainland, but to get to our destination on the East Coast, we would need to stop at LAX, SFO, etc. Instead, we booked a Hawaiian Air flight back to Honolulu where we caught a Delta flight with lay-flat seats in business class that took us non-stop to Atlanta. I picked the 'correct' (left) side of the aircraft to get parting shots of Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Mānana Is. ("rabbit Island) and Kāohikaipu Islet Seabird Sanctuary at the southeast end of Oahu.
A few parting remarks. This tour only provides a brief look at the Hawaiian Islands and its people. It may not be for folks who have been there before, unless, like us, you have a special attachment or a reason to go (or go back.) We honeymooned there 50 years ago and have visited two times since. At least five other couples on our tour were celebrating anniversaries!! - almost half of our small group of 26. The tour also gives a deeper dive into and appreciation for the Hawaiian culture, history, and some sites, than you might get otherwise. We truly enjoyed it. It has changed over the years, but we love Hawaii and it will always have a special spot in our hearts.
AlanS
The Best Of Ireland - Small Group
9/6 – Arrived at the College Green Hotel in Dublin around 10 AM and to my surprise they had my room ready, beautiful room overlooking the Atrium.
I unpacked for the few days stay, had a cup of tea and walked to Christchurch for which I had bought a ticket; it has the Magna Carta written in 1215, among many other interesting items like a mummified cat and rat found inside an organ when it was refurbished.
After afternoon tea I walked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a Bon Jovi music concert for which I had purchased tickets.
9/7 – After breakfast which was excellent, I walked to Trinity University to see the Book of Kells and the library, both amazing (Tauck did not include) I was very lucky as I was the only one in the room with the book, suggest going early.
Walked to the Epic Immigration Museum, very well done and very interesting, walked back to the hotel and attended the Welcome dinner, the food was ok.
9/8 – First day of the tour, we visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle after which I stayed in town to visit the Chester Beatty Museum, all worth visiting. With a free night, I joined another traveler and we went to a dinner and Irish music show at the Irish House Party, surprisingly the food was good and the music and dancing excellent.
9/9 – Drove to Belfast and visited The Titanic Museum (very touching), then we took a bus tour of Belfast, arrived at The Merchant Hotel which was very nice, I have to say that for the first time in all my tours all the hotel rooms I had were excellent including the Bridal Suite at the Old Grounds Hotel.😁
We had a 5 course dinner at the hotel fashioned after the meals served to 1st class passengers in the Titanic, food was excellent.
9/10 – Drove to the countryside, with stops along the way for photo ops. Had lunch at Bushmill Inn with sticky toffee pudding for dessert and continued to Giant’s Causeway, spectacular views. Dinner on our own went to the Cloth Ear Pub, good Irish food.
9/11 – Drove to Derry with many murals depicting “the troubles”, we visited the Ulster American Folk Park which depicts life in the 1800’s, very interesting and the boat who carried 40% of immigrants to the US. Arrived at Lough Eske Castle, dinner at the hotel.
9/12 – There were 2 options drive to Donegal to visit the Bellek factory or stay at the hotel, I opted to visit the factory, beautiful porcelain after which we visited Donegal Castle.
9/13 – Long day on the bus but the scenery made up for it.
Visited Drumcliffe Monastery site with the High Cross from 547 AD and where W. B. Yeats is buried, had a scone and tea at the Yates Country Inn and continued to Connemara to visit Kylemore Abbey and gorgeous walled garden. Arrived at Ashford Castle welcomed by a gentleman playing the pipe.
Had dinner at Cullin’s at the Cottage located in the castle grounds. Have to say I never had a bad dinner, lunch or breaksfast on this tour.
9/14 – Slow day, I went to a wine tasting and a boat ride which was disappointing as it was supposed to dock at an island where it is said that St, Patrick is buried but because of bad weather all we did was go around the lake.
I went for a walk to town (Cong) where the film The Quiet Man was filmed, very small quaint town Dinner at George V tonight.
9/15 – Drove to Galway where there is a memorial to President Kennedy, visited Lynd’s Castle, walked around town and as a group we went to Fitzgerald’s Bar where we made Irish coffee.
We continued on the bus to the Cliffs of Moher, spectacular views 60 miles per hour wind, rain on and off but it worth it. Arrived at the Old Ground Hotel, had dinner with Irish music entertainment.
9/16 – Drove to Molanna to visit a dairy farm where we also had lunch, turkey, homemade potato salad and coleslaw, from there we drove to Killarney and went on a horse and buggy ride through Killarney National Park. Dinner at Rozzer’s in the Chateau Potelle as a group. Staying at Aghadoe Heights Hotel.
9/17- Drove around the Ring of Kerry a very scenic drive, stopped for Irish coffee and a demonstration of how a collie (beautiful dog) manages the sheep.
We stopped for another awesome view of the Ocean and a statute of the virgin Mary, had lunch at Adam’s Kitchen and views of the 3 lakes of Killarney, did not go to dinner as the bus ride upset my stomach.
9/18 – Driving to Kilkenny today, stopped in Middleton for a tour of Jameson’s factory and a whiskey tasting.
Had lunch at The Park Hotel and visited Jerpoint Abbey a medieval Cistercian Abbey with Romanesque to Gothic Architecture founded in the 12th Century, it’s been declared a National Monument, with the tombs of many past Bishops. Arrived at Lyrath State Hotel and Spa.
9/19 – We toured Kilkenny and visited Candice Church, free time to walk around town and after we visited Kilkenny Castle. We returned to the hotel and had a lesson on falconry for me one of the best if not the best highlight of the tour. Got ready for our farewell dinner.
Our tour director was Noelle Kierse, born in Ireland, one the best tour directors I’ve had, she was sensitive, informative, communicated by email prior to the tour and was always available to help. Quite a few people were sick on the trip with a stomach flu and she hired a van which took them directly to the hotel one day.
Not counting the GOT day all dinners were included except for 2.
Romantic Capitals: Paris to Prague (Extra)
My other two posts about this trip were general information. For those who are interested, here's my account of my personal highlight:
One of our earliest stops was in Koblenz. I had taken some photos of the big monument at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. It started to rain, so I pulled my umbrella out of my pocket. A few minutes later, I attempted to take another photo, but did not have my phone. I realized that it must have dropped out of my pocket when I was busy raising my umbrella. I walked back to where I had last taken a photo and looked all around, but the phone was not there. I was resigned to the fact that I had lost the phone, but determined that I was not going to let it ruin my trip. (Really!!)
Back on the riverboat, I approached Katalin, one of the TDs, and asked for her assistance in putting the connection to the daily schedule on my iPad mini, since I no longer had my phone. She sprang into action! She was able to see where my phone was located by using an app on my iPad, and noticed that it was moving. By that time, Sofie and Kristyna had joined us. Katalin called my phone on her phone, and a man answered. Sophie got on the phone and asked whether he preferred to speak in German or English, and when he said "English," she gave the phone back to Katalin, who told him that one of the TD, Elwira, was still on land, and near him. One of the TDs called Elwira, who then called my phone, spoke to the man, and arranged to meet him. She did meet him, and retrieved my phone. I still cannot believe how fortunate I was that it all worked out so well, thanks to the dedication of the Tauck team. Katalin later gave me a lanyard for my phone -- obviously, she didn't want to have to have through that experience again!
MCD
Re: Tauck - it's time to bring back the SPAM flag!
...and delete the ones that get posted.
