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Sakura Seas: Japan and S. Korea
Hello--for anyone taking this trip, you should check with the tour guide or Tauck ahead of time for the day in Seoul. When we visited (late April this year), the excursion to Gyeongbokgung Palace got us there 30min. too late to see the performance by the costumed palace guards and attendants. This event is done a couple of times per day, and it's their equivalent of the "trooping of the colors" in London. 'Advice is to check the location website ahead of time, and confirm with the guide or Tauck that the arrangements with the bus will get you there in time. Being led around on the "palace grounds" is not a good substitute--and beware of the local "wardens" who police the places where you can and cannot rest or lean (weak knees or not). We do carry a collapsible stool for my wife, who is due for a 2d knee surgery, but before we could unfold it, one of them came at my wife, as if to physically shove her off one of the foundation stones. Fortunately, I was able to get in between them (as I did not want to spend the week in a Korean jail), and assisted her onto the stool. 'Hope this info is useful for anyone wanting to take an otherwise excellent , well-curated trip.
Re: Trip Cancellation - No Contingency Plans + Free Tickets for the Grand Palais in Paris
I just don't understand why Tauck is taking this approach. They really need to put their clients first.
Tauck has really changed. We used to tell people how wonderful Tauck was, but not any more.
Re: Danube River Cruise - Budapest to Amsterdam Credit Card or Euros???
Europe is very credit card friendly. We only use cash for small purchases like postcards or an ice cream. There are also ATMs everywhere. Just make sure its a bank ATM. Rick Steves website has great tips on money in Europe. We had some Hungarian money and I ended up trading it to one of our TDs who gave my a great exchange rate.
Re: GEAT WAVE EFFECTING YOUR CURRENT TRIP IN SUMMER 2026
We were asked if we wanted to join another tour that was in progress. I saw that several people, including me, signed up but nothing came of it. I think the tour directors were so overwhelmed with other matters, they would have had little time to connect us to other tours.We were informed the very first day that the boat was in shallow water. If Tauck knew this then, perhaps we should have been notified before we flew into Prague and have been given the option to cancel and not lose money on the flight.
Prague
Re: Trip Cancellation - No Contingency Plans + Free Tickets for the Grand Palais in Paris
Let me chime here. We had booked the return Eastbound version of this tour scheduled for June 28 departure starting in Paris. When the unfortunate situation that the moores experienced happened, I received a phone call from Tauck on the 23rd (ET) saying our trip was cancelled with the same reason the moores were given. They offered a full refund or full credit to another Tauck trip even though we had no Tauck insurance. We applied some of the refund to another existing booking and the balance was refunded to our credit card that day. Air travel was booked by me and the airline gave me an eCredit however I put in a claim with my travel insurer to see if I can get a refund on that (fingers crossed).
The point being that Tauck can be proactive when they know what the situation is for upcoming tours. If they knew the water was going to be a problem before the Westbound tour was to begin they would have cancelled that one too. I'm guessing they could have taken the risk and let my Eastbound tour ex-Paris go ahead as planned thinking that maybe the boat would have cleared the water to Regenberg and then just make a beeline to Trier to board our tour. But, it appears to be conservative based on the information they have, or don't have, access to and cancelled the Eastbound tour as well. Tauck does the best they can in a timely manner based on available information.
I hope the moores don't sour on Tauck travel based on this unfortunate experience. The unexpected happens on tours and in my experience the few times that they have happened Tauck has handled them very well.
Re: Aug.5-17 2026 Classic Safari: Kenya and Tanzania
Ellen26, Still waiting for our duffle bags. Tauck told me a few weeks ago to expect delivery "2 - 4 weeks prior to departure". I verified the mailing address as well. I will update this thread once they arrive .
Re: Paris, Dordogne & Bordeaux, May 2026, Trip Report
And we enjoyed meeting and traveling with you and Mrs. Folsomdoc. 😉 I agree that Biarritz was a good place to wind down after the more active parts of the tour and the unseasonably hot weather. And the sunset the last evening was a nice way to say goodbye.
Re: Question re Itinerary
I did this tour 10+ years ago when it had a different name, and probably a different itinerary. If the museum to which you refer is POLIN, it is an excellent museum. I spent an afternoon there during free time.
BKMD
Re: Trip Cancellation - No Contingency Plans + Free Tickets for the Grand Palais in Paris
New management, new Tauck.
BKMD
Re: Hidden Greece. Spring 2026
I bring my own washcloths that are worn and ready to be retired and just leave them. Also available are disposable wash cloths / tiny towels that take up no space in your luggage.
Goddess