Best Of
Considering the Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand trip
Hi all. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions/experiences. My husband and I took a completely different tour a few years ago that included 3 commercial flights. We felt a lot of time was wasted waiting around airports (including one 12 hour airport appreciation day !). On the Australia/New Zealand tour, they were all private charters, and were very efficient at getting us to our next destination.
Are these commercial flights on this tour ? Did they in general go well ?
Many thanks again !
Re: Travel adapters for Kenya & Tanzania
If you go to the page for the tour, you will find this
I’ve taken the tour a couple of times but also others in Africa, the tour is totally casual, just safari type clothes suffice and the duffel is plenty big enough. If you booked through a travel agent, you may have missed out on this information
Air Information and Luggage Restrictions
AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.
TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.
AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.
Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour
All guests will receive a special medium-sized duffel bag before departing their home (including international guests). In order to provide you with them, Tauck must have your email, contact phone and address for shipping for all guests traveling on the tour.
These journeys include multiple internal flights on smaller planes, so guests (both domestic and international) will be issued a duffel bag for the journey; this duffel will be your only piece of checked luggage used during specific intra-tour flights on your tour.
While larger suitcases are prohibited, each guest is allowed a small carry-on, in addition to their duffel bag. To help with your packing, Tauck will provide you with a duffel bag that has been specially designed to provide more than adequate space for essential items needed while on safari on days 4-8.
Duffel bags will be used on Days 4 - 7 and 11 - 13 of your tour, when your group will be traveling to the Serengeti and Maasai Mara on intra-tour flights via a small to mid-sized aircraft, with limited luggage storage. Please know, casual attire is acceptable on this tour, and all lodges offer laundry service.
Upon receipt of the Tauck duffel bag, PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING IT WITH YOU ON TOUR. Beyond what is available for guests outside the continental U.S., we do not have a supply of bags available on tour for every guest on tour. If you forget your duffle bag at home, one will not be provided for you on tour.
Your primary luggage will be safely stored in Arusha until your arrival on Day 7 Your primary luggage will be safely stored in Nairobi Serena Hotel until your
arrival on Day 13
In addition, you are limited to one soft-sided, carry-on bag per person not to exceed 11 lbs. (5 kg) that is no larger than an average knapsack.
IMPORTANT: Duffel Bag Notice and Usage for Tauck Guests on Intra-Tour Flights: If you reside in the mainland of the United States, Alaska, or Hawaii, the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks before your departure for Tanzania.
If you reside outside of the continental U.S., you will receive your duffel from your Tauck Director while on tour. Upon receipt of the Tauck duffel bag, PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING IT WITH YOU ON TOUR. Beyond what is available for guests outside the continental U.S., we do not have a supply of bags available on tour for every guest on tour. If you forget your duffle bag at home, one will not be provided for you on tour.
Dimensions of duffel bags that are mailed directly to guests residing in the mainland of the United States, Alaska, or Hawaii (in inches): 24" x 12 ½" x 13"
Dimensions of duffel bags for international guests who will receive duffel bag on tour (in inches): 18" x 12.5" x 12"
Checked Luggage – General
Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one medium-sized duffel bag (provided) per person weighing no more than 44 pounds (20kg) and with overall dimensions (24" x 12.5" x 13") and one soft-sided carry-on weighting no more than 11 lbs. (5 kg).
Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.
Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.
Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.
Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for safari vehicle travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern safari vehicles offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.
For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, valuables, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage truck, and will be inaccessible during daytime travel
British
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.
