Best Of
Just back from Jordan and Egypt
Outstanding trip. Not a hint of issues from problems in the area. Security was with us…..but not needed in my view. Small group due to reduced travel in these countries so we had many features virtually empty from visitors. If your reluctant to go,….don’t be… you’ll love it.
Re: Roommate needed for Singapore to Bali trip
It has been about 10 days since I asked the Tauck community for a roomate. Thank you all so much for your replies. I had no idea I would get so many wonderful responses. All of the opinions are the same...I will pay for a single supplement when I decide to go on the trip vs risk it. Happy New Year to all!
Review Bergen to Oslo
We have just completed the Norwegian Fiords and Coastal Treasures tour . Starting in Bergen
This was our fifth Tauck/Ponant cruise
I’ll divide this into several parts.
First the ship… this was by far our favorite ship experience because the captain and crew and all the Tauck directors were truly exceptional. Aside from being tall, dark, handsome, young and charming and FRENCH, the captain fully engaged with all the people and even gave us three very informative talks about navigation of the ship and so on. We could tell all the Tour directors got on very well. We had taken two previous tours with one and a tour each with two others. There was also a TD learning about the tour ready to lead it next year.
Each of the five Tour directors gave very good informative lectures during the Tour. The French tour director we had also had before. She was fun, and organized several quizzes There was a class with the pastry chef and a number of us made banoffi pies.
The three dancers were very good and interacted with us. The change here was that instead of shows beginning at 9-30 pm, apart from one, the others were performed before dinner so they would be better attended. There was a solo singer along with the dancers. The many slick costumes changes for the dances were impressive. There were man and wife singers which appears to be the norm on these trips.
There was a dance lesson and a karaoke evening which a number of people took part in, it was fun. My husband sang three songs and I joined a group of us to sing a couple of songs.
The welcome captain’s dinner had the majority of people dress up, varying from jackets for some men. The women, short dresses or slacks. No long formal gowns or anything like that. Other dinners, people either dressed up a bit or didn’t bother.
We had one very rough night at sea and I felt seasick all night which is not like me.
The food was French style and generally very good. The standout for me was duck which was the tastiest I’ve ever had. A fish with an outstanding risotto accompaniment was also a standout. Some people were disappointed with slow service at times, we were fine with it. The delightful waiters were a pleasure to interact with.
The excursions….we had an exceptional local guide for our Bergen walking tour. Emma, she owned the local tour guide company. All the places listed in the itinerary in this area were interesting. We had rainy weather but it was ok.
Lake Loen & Kjenndalen Glacier allowed spectacular views. Our excursion that afternoon was the one with the Troll car ride. When we got off the carts, there was quite an uphill walk to the base of the glacier. The ship has a few hiking poles for walking….this day, some may appreciate them.
Geiranger Fjord & the Mountains….we chose the all day coach trip which had many stops for viewing, we really enjoyed that day.
Ålesund…we chose the architectural walking tour. The old pharmacy had an amazing museum with some of the most beautiful Art nouvelle style furniture I have ever seen
Stavanger…it poured with rain and probably our least favored day too.
The seaport town of Arendal was probably our favorite and sailing out of the fiord was so picturesque.
Göteborg, Sweden….this was a busy port with an incredible amount of construction going on. Lots of attractive brick decorated apartments. So different from Norway.
We chose to visit Botaniska, Goteborg's Botanical Garden, one of the largest in Europe and a stop at the trendy 'Haga' neighborhood
I have to point out that apart from the local tour guides in Bergen and Oslo, the others were mediocre at best..something we have never experienced on a Tauck tour before.
More to follow
British
‘Tis the Season
Whether you light the first candle on your menorah this evening to celebrate Hanukkah, or decorate your tree to celebrate Christmas, or do something else, or have a more secular viewpoint, embrace it all.
May the year ahead bring us peace, harmony and, most of all, tolerance.
Enjoy the season and may your travels in the new year be rewarding.
kfnknfzk
Re: Mobility
Also strongly suggest she consider her impact on fellow travelers, and choose a different experience more in keeping with her abilities.
YiyaK
Re: Advice/Support on managing 6 hotels in 13 days
I'm not a big fan of packing cubes - mostly because I travel carry-on only and they take up space. I do use one for my underwear and one for my tops and maybe one pair of slacks fits in too. I'm not one to plan out my daily outfits, either. I pack for a week, no matter how long I'm traveling for - I'm ruthless 😁. I lay everything out on the bed, and make sure everything goes with everything else. If I can't see a way to wear something at least twice it's out. And I resist mightily the urge to bring something "just in case." I roll my clothing so it wrinkles less, and I can see what things are without moving a bunch of stuff. I put my bag on the luggage rack and work out if it - I don't use hotel drawers. I do hang a few things up, if I have an occasion I need them for. I only use the toiletries I brought through TSA - if I run out I buy more. I don't wear makeup and don't use a lot of hair products, so I don't have to worry about that. I know some people radically simplify their makeup and hair routines for travel - that helps too. I find it's pretty easy to manage just taking out what I decide I want for a day, and putting it back at the end of the day or the next morning. I'm 72, and I wouldn't have a problem managing a new hotel every 2 or 3 days - my secret is keeping things simple and properly corraled at all times. Oh, and scarves. They take up almost zero room, and make all my other things more interesting and flexible.
YiyaK
Re: Review of the Yuletide Spirit
My wife and I originally booked the Yuletide Spirit River cruise for December 2020 and were finally able to go on the December 6, 2022 southbound cruise. It was well worth the wait; we had a fantastic time!
First let me say, we agree with the comment by mfrancis in her review above when she wrote… “This is not a traditional Christmas Markets cruise; rather it is a holiday tour of cities and towns in The Netherlands and Belgium, some of which have markets.” We have been on Tauck’s Rhine River Christmas Markets cruise in the past and it was equally fantastic. I think Tauck’s overview and description of Yuletide Spirit cruise on its website is spot-on! If you are looking for traditional European Christmas Markets, definitely travel to France and Germany. If you want to enjoy the many things the cities of The Netherlands and Belgium have to offer, with a Yuletide theme in some cities and definitely on the MS Grace, this trip is a great choice.
Part of what made this trip so grand was our Cruise Director Nick and the three Tauck Directors Sanja, Joeri and Felix. All four of them went above and beyond throughout the trip to make this a truly enjoyable experience. Day 4’s presentation by Joeri on the Secrets of the Ghent Altarpiece and day 6’s presentation by Sanja on the European Union shouldn’t be missed!
I won’t repeat the detail that mfrancis provides in her review above (great job Mary recapping the trip), but will touch on some of our recommendations for future travelers:
If time permits, definitely spend a day or two extra in Amsterdam. A beautiful city that is incredibly easy to navigate. Highly recommend the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House and strolling along the cobblestone lined canals.
Zaanse Schans was a unique experience and shouldn’t be missed.
Walking tour of Rotterdam, with its architecture, food tastings and its modern central Markthal were fantastic.
Bruges is a quaint medieval city; wish we had more time here!
In Ghent, don’t miss St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece. Another city we wish we had more time to visit.
In Antwerp, you’re docked within walking distance of the city square. Definitely spend time exploring on foot.
Brussels is an activity packed day… lots of walking, a real mix of architecture, and don’t miss Grand Place.
Wear comfortable and warm walking shoes… lots of cobblestone. Don’t pass up the Liege waffles!
One negative on the trip (hopefully Tauck is reading this). The Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise was a total bust! I believe the issue was Tauck’s choice of vendors. The canal boat we were on had an aft section that had glass side windows, and a forward section with vinyl side windows that were covered with condensation that obscured any reasonable visibility. This was compounded by very limited seating space. A glass enclosed canal boat would work much better (even if it means forgoing inedible hors d’oeuvres and drinks).
Overall, we highly recommend this trip. Great mix of activities and Tauck’s MS Grace and their people won’t disappoint!
DMPLMP
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