Best Of
Re: Not receiving requested catalogs
British and OurTravels34, I think there are openings in the next Progressive ad (about becoming our parents). 😁
If they'd just leave things like they were in the good old days.
Re: Not receiving requested catalogs
Before Tauck changed its web page a few years ago, it was much easier to see a list of tours than it is now. Now the website asks you where you want to go, which is less helpful to me, you sometimes don’t know where you want to go, you need ideas. I prefer seeing a list of tours to get ideas. Catalogues are nice, but boy must they be expensive to produce, especially the latest ones Tauck are producing. I certainly don’t get the number of Tauck catalogues that I used to get.
The other tour company I use has an online only catalog which is really detailed. It would cost a fortune to send that one out.
I used to get catalogues and flyers almost daily from Overseas Adventure Travel, I only used them once, did not like them. I had to tell them repeatedly to stop sending them. I’ve never traveled with Viking but I get stuff quite frequently from them.
Tauck has changed its strategy and no longer just relies on word of mouth, I’m seeing ads for them all over the place.
And yet, most people that I mention Tauck to have never heard of them. I spend half the time explaining how to pronoun Tauck.
British
Re: Side trips Athens- before May trip for Treasures of Aegean
@AlanS I will be doing this trip this year as well, and have a similar question. I note that you recommend visiting Plaka/Agora. I recently read a story about tourist traps in Europe, and Rick Steves is quoted as saying
"The Plaka is Athens' oldest neighborhood, reminiscent more of the style of the Greek islands rather than the busy city that it's in since most of its streets are pedestrian-only. It is also relatively more upscale than other neighborhoods in the Greek capital. Unfortunately, people who make their money off unsuspecting tourists flock here, and it's pretty much universally understood by travel bloggers and writers that it's an eye-roll-worthy tourist trap. Steves called it an "extremely touristy old quarter," and he's hardly the only person to think so.
Agree/disagree?
Thanks.
Re: Not receiving requested catalogs
I've received any catalog I've requested. I have noticed some catalogs are download only. I am an avid catalog reader. Many times, I have discovered a location and tour I hadn't even considered. I would not have found that on-line. I can then go on-line to dig deeper into the tour.
Re: Not receiving requested catalogs
I understand how relaxing it is sitting on your couch and flipping the pages of a Tauck catalog and ear marking the pages, or even reading an actual book instead of an e-reader which, surprisingly, I haven’t graduated to that level despite the fact how savvy I am on the computer. I’m just full contradictions.
Re: Tips, insights and observations for those taking Essence of Japan tour
Regarding taxis, when we left the hotel, we asked the doorman or concierge to get the taxi (often waiting out front) and tell him where we wanted to go. If at a restaurant and returning to the hotel, ask the hostess to get the cab for you and ask them to tell the driver which hotel. Also, tell them you need a cab that accepts credit cards.
Also, at any hotel, ask the front desk for a business card. It will have hotel name, address, etc in both English and Japanese. You can always show that to a taxi driver, or someone else, as needed. None of this is difficult.
And Tokyo is a very safe and walkable city.
BKMD
Re: Tips, insights and observations for those taking Essence of Japan tour
There is no guarantee that the taxi driver accepts credit card, most do. At some locations, it may not be easy to find a taxi.
Re: Trains in Japan
It's quite easy to buy metro tickets there. I'm not sure if Tauck still uses the Mandarin Oriental but it had an ideal metro stop because it was so easy to use. After a lot of walking the first day we used Tokyo Station's metro to get back to our hotel. It is huge; we felt like we walked miles underneath to get to the tram. After that, before and after our Tauck tour, I made sure that transfers were at the smaller metro stations. That worked much better.
Re: Tips, insights and observations for those taking Essence of Japan tour
To each, their own. I liked Tokyo. It waas c lean and offered everything you'd expect in a large city. I found Kyoto to be way overhyped as a beautiful city. While there were some nice areas, I thought it was ugly, for the most part, and the Philospher's Walk was nothing special either, despite the hype.
BKMD