Best Of
Suggestions for side experiences and restaurants during free time?
Can anyone suggest side experiences and restaurants to partake of during free time from the tour? We are on the Sicilian Odyssey April 18, 2025.
Re: 2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
We take this trip about every 2-3 years. Def add days to Vienna as there is basically no Xmas Market time with Tauck there other than about one hr at the VERY crowded Rathaus Market at night. There is also no time to see St. Stephans or any of the other amazing Cathedrals there.
Don't miss these other markets while you are there on your own.
Maria Theresa Platz
Rathaus/CityHall - Tauck will take you there for about 1 hr at night
St. Stephans Cathedral Market
Art Advent/Karlsplatz - locals fav - also very close to the hotel Tauck uses if you stay there (Hotel Imperial Wein)
Spittelberg Market
AmHof Market
Tauck will take you to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, so you will get to see their Private Xmas Market.
The Private Market in Regensberg at the Thurn & Taxis Palace is amazing and if you see things you like there, get them as you may not see them again. It has amazing products.
If you want a cheaper place to stay than the Tauck hotel, we love Hotel Das Tyrol - it is walkable to most everything. We typically stay here for 2-3 nights, then move to the Tauck hotel for the last night for our FREE Gift of Time. Just depends on your budget
Def also extend in Nuremberg as the new itinerary doesn't allow any market time there and it is one of the best markets - the older itinerary had ample time in Nuremberg, but they have changed things and now there is no time and Nuremberg is a great city w/so much to see besides the markets.
We don't care for the hotel Tauck uses in Nuremberg as it is far from the Markets, it is NOT within the old city wall - so we stay at Hotel Victoria - you can read reviews and see photos on TripAdvisor, but we book direct with the hotel. It is the #1 hotel in Nuremberg and books fast so we email them and book early. We booked for this December 2025 in the Fall of 2024. It is quaint, local, a good FREE breakfast and walkable to everything.
Nuremberg's market is HUGE and we save it to buy most everything as we find it has a great selection.
We typically take the train to Munich and fly home from there as we can get a direct flight home from there.
I posted a review of this trip in 2022 you can read if interested. We are returning this December with 10 friends.
If you do go to Munich - PM me and I can recommend hotels and a great tour guide for Dachau & Third Reich if you are interested.
The markets there are good, but certainly no better than what you will see on your cruise - for us, it's just an easy way to get home.
You'll have no issues being a solo- people are so friendly and most all of us include the solos in meals, etc. You'll have ample invitations
Re: Yet another Tauck Freebie
Wow, 45 Tauck tours. I feel like a baby. I'm not even up to 20 yet. 
I wonder what the record is for number of tours.
Re: If you've thought seatguru has deteriorated to worthless...
The problem with using the airlines websites is some airlines don't show you the seat map until you book.
That's as stupid as tripadvisor buying seatguru, then letting it become worthless.
BKMD
Re: England, & The West Country
Hello from NJ,
Perhaps I can help, as my wife and I have scheduled this tour for Thursday, May 29, 2025. It is our first Tauck tour and our first non-business travel to the UK.
Tauck has revised our itinerary to start with (4) nights at the Gainsborough Bath Spa, followed by (3) nights at Fowey Hall Hotel and (2) nights at Bovey Castle. The final night is the Fairmont Windsor Park.
This possibly means some additional time on the tour bus, but we are promised to visit all the sites/attactions as advertised. Frankly, four nights in Bath sounds wonderful, as we enjoy cities and dining out and a glass or more of beverage.
We were initially concerned as described above about the arduous adventures at St. Michael and Tintagel. Our solution has been to step up our fitness level, lose some weight and get decent shoes. I'll report back in June whether we were successful in enjoying all the attractions.
Cheers!
Re: Cuba: A Cultural Odyssey 2024/2025
I took the tour in 2011 shortly after it was first offered. I found it to be very rewarding and rich in culture and history The Cuban people were very welcoming. We learned about their excellent educational and healthcare systems and many other aspects of their daily lives. Obviously, traveling to Cuba is very different than traveling to Europe.
Managing perceptions and avoiding pre-conceived notions of what 'should be' will enable you to have a much better experience. I can certainly understand and respect how some people—due to deeply personal experiences—have no desire to visit the country. I am glad I went. I see, however, that the itinerary has changed quite a bit. For those traveling this month, I would love to read about your experiences. Please consider posting a review afterwards. Safe and enjoyable travels.
kfnknfzk
Re: Not receiving requested catalogs
Update:
Dear fellow Taucktourians,
The same day (February 19th) as I wrote on this forum of my dilemma of not receiving requested Tauck catalogs, I submitted a similar message to Tauck via their website.
While I didn't receive a written response, yesterday I received a package containing each of Tauck's current catalogs. And while I have already booked two back-to-back Tauck river cruises in France for this summer, I am eager to soon select and book one or two trips for 2026.
Whereas most everyone on this forum is a fan of Tauck, I wanted to share with you that the company "heard" me and made things right.
88Grand
Denver to Salt Lake City by Rocky Mountaineer
Has anyone taken this trip and can give me any feedback on it? Thank you.
Re: French Escapade - Southbound
Thanks so much. Is there any where specific that you would recommend if we were to go to the Morais district?
sandy g
Re: England, & The West Country
I am also flying into London and spending a handful of days in the Coswolds and then flying to Florence to connect with A Week in Tuscany and then taking a train to connect with A Week in Puglia.
