Best Of
Re: Scandinavia May 20 tour
Looking forward to meeting you! Finally someone is out there! See you in Stockholm
Re: Scandinavia May 20 tour
My husband and I are from Philadelphia (Main Line) and are excited to join this trip. We arrive in Stockholm on the 19th.
BethHaas
Re: So far, not happy with 2 of the 3 hotels...
BKMD you have the right to vent. if the tour was not Tauck quality. - we pay a lot of money to go on these tours.
mil
Re: So far, not happy with 2 of the 3 hotels...
Regarding energy consumption and like MCD mentioned, more and more countries are limiting cooling and heating in government buildings and in hotels. It makes no difference the quality of the hotel, it's the law. Europeans also have a much different mindset regarding protecting the environment. The aforementioned is in no way meant to be a political statement--just a fact.
kfnknfzk
Re: So far, not happy with 2 of the 3 hotels...
I'm so sorry, but some of the towns don't have 5 star options like we would expect from Tauck (1st world problems) - but please know that Heat and AC temperature is controlled my the EU gov't - we actually learned about this on our Tauck Ultimate Alps & Dolomites tour. Whether this is true or not, I'm not sure, but with the price of electricity in Europe, I doubt Tauck can ask a hotel to turn on the AC.
One reason we did Venice, Florence, Rome with Rick Steves over Tauck is for the reasons you mentioned - we noticed many of the Rome highlights were not included with Tauck, but were with Rick Steves.
In October, we go with Tauck to the Tuscany & Umbria tour - we already know some of the hotels may not be 5 star the way many of Tauck's are as some of the towns are tiny - we still hope for amazing sites, learning, and food. I'm sorry this tour hasn't met up to your expectations - it is hard when the prices are SO high and they seem to be cutting back on things too.
That said, we just go back from The Swiss Alps River Cruise and it was so well done. We have 3 more tours booked.
Re: Blog of "Treasures of the Mediterranean" tour/cruise, May 2-11, 2024
I haven't commented before, but I noticed that in several of the threads, people have lamented the fact that Tauck no longer visits Istanbul. I wanted to point out that on the Tauck website, there is a small ship tour beginning in 2025 called Aegean Voyage: Athens to Istanbul, which includes three nights in Istanbul, and also includes a stop in Bodrum, among other places.
EricNJ
Re: So far, not happy with 2 of the 3 hotels...
BKMD - When my daughter and I did the Switzerland tour last May, it was uncomfortably warm, and by law, the air conditioning could not be turned on until June 1. However, we could -- and did -- ask for fans, and did receive them.
MCD
Re: Christmas Market
You cruise at night, so the side of the ship doesn't matter. You will be out of your room early in the morning and it gets dark at 4 in the Winter, so you will rarely see the outside from your cabin. On rare cruising during daylight, you'll want to be in the Panoramic Lounge so you can see both sides of the river. We take this cruise almost every 3 years and we've been on both sides - it doesn't matter at all.
If you've traveled with Tauck before, you get a GIFT OF TIME which is one free pre or post night in a hotel - I'd take that in Vienna as their hotel is amazing there. You must ask for this and there is a deadline.
In Nuremberg, def HOTEL VICTORIA - we stay there every other year. It is quaint, privately owned, free breakfast, an easy walk to the markets, and right across the street from the train station - you can actually walk underground to get there. Also, Tauck will pick you up from the Train Station for free, so that makes it so easy - just walk across the street and meet them.
Check HOTEL VICTORIA out on TripAdvisor, but book directly with the hotel - book ASAP - it may already be booked for this year as it is so easy, nice, clean and close to the markets and within the OLDE TOWNE wall. I don't recommend the Hotel Tauck uses in Nuremberg - it is far from the Markets, not within the OLDE TOWNE wall and it is nothing special.
Re: Blog of "Treasures of the Mediterranean" tour/cruise, May 2-11, 2024
@Smiling Sam Thanks for the clarifications. I've been to Istanbul a couple of times on non-Tauck tours. The most recent was in 2022. I agree there's a lot to see there.
So far, not happy with 2 of the 3 hotels...
[vent on] Currently on day 6 of tour. Our first hotel in Sorrento, while nice, was in a terrible location. FWIW they offered a shuttle bus from the hotel to the center square during a free evening. Meanwhile, we've been paralleling a small groups tour and their hotel was in the heart of town.
Just arrived in Perugia, late afternoon, where outside temp is upper 70s. Opened up the door to my room, which is facing into the sun, and it's 80+ in here. They won't be turning on the AC for another 2 weeks, per TD. And this is supposedly a 5 star hotel (Sina Brufani).
Also seems like they've cheapened the tours since Covid - fewer included sights (no Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, etc. in Rome) and fewer meals included. Not a happy camper at this point. Fifteen tours (including 2 upcoming) and my tenure with them may be coming to an end. [vent off]
BKMD