Best Of
Re: When to go and flights for Jordan/Egypt tour
We did the Jordan & Egypt small group this year in February. It was a fantastic time of the year to travel. Most of the time we were in long sleeves and even wore a jacket early in the morning or evening. (see attached photo of our group) We flew business class on British Airways through Heathrow. Yes, Heathrow can be challenging but we had a long layover. We landed in Amman after midnight and our Tauck escort was waiting for us and helped us get our VISA quickly. Our daughter had the same concerns about us flying over there and tracked our flight. (see attached Flight Aware) We all thought it was interesting to see how the pilots avoided questionable air space. We felt safe the entire time we were traveling through Jordan and Egypt. Security is extremely tight at all of the hotels. Our coach would pull up at our hotel and be stopped at the hotel's gate. A dog would walk around our coach and check it out before we could proceed onto the property. At the hotels, our luggage would go through an x-ray machine and we were also screened like TSA would do at an airport in the US. We had an armed guard with us as we travelled but we never had an issue anywhere. It was a fabulous trip!!!
TNVFL
Re: River Cruise Laundry Service
I have done laundry in the sink daily on several river cruises, without using a sink stopper. (I bring my own bar soap.)
MCD
Re: Booking airfare
When I bought my own rooms I would call the hotel to make sure that I was booking the same category room as Tauck … the ‘on your own room’ probably will not come with breakfast unless you pay for that option. And, all hotels have some ‘bad’ rooms that they normally assign to airline crews, but if you succeed in getting an inexpensive room you will sometimes get what you paid for. Ultimately, I decided the savings was not worth the bother, and occasionally the room is a big surprise. We book a tour where almost every detail is arranged. Why screw it up with complications?
Sealord
Re: Tour guides
On my Riverboat cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam one of the tour guide was knowledgeable but dry as unbuttered toast. One of the tour guides was funny as heck. So what my solution was I switched channels on my VOX and listened in to the funny one, Easy Peary !
RGM2
Re: Whisky on Day 2 England, Scotland and Wales tour.
Reminds me of a story:
When my kids were young, we went to Colonial Williamsburg and spent a day at Busch Gardens. At the end of the day, we went on the tour of the Budweiser brewery. At the end, they had tastings. My wife wasn't a beer drinker, so it was just me. She asked me how the beer was. I said, "Budweiser is just as bad fresh as it is in the can."
BKMD
Re: Solo Traveler on the May 2025 Canada Capital Cities Tour.
Thank you. I also booked an extra night in Toronto.
Nannette
Re: Things to do in Edinburgh
Thanks toriliz
I’ll skip High Tea, had it in Vancouver, BC and was not impressed with cucumber sandwiches, but the whiskey tasting sound like a winner. The ex Royal yacht sounds interesting. I have 1 1/2 days before the tour but meeting up with a lady friend from a Tauck tour 2 years past.
I’m afraid Haggis does not appeal to me after reading it includes lung! I have done a Yelp search for local restaurants but will keep your suggestions in mind.
RGM2
Re: Solo Traveler on the May 2025 Canada Capital Cities Tour.
I think the both of you will love this trip...we sure did. The Fairmont properties are wonderful, especially the Frontenac in Quebec City.
kfnknfzk
Re: Things to do in Edinburgh
Have a great time, RGM2! I've been going to Scotland since I was little and Edinburgh is my favorite city.
I'm not sure how much time you have in the city, but seconding the National Museum, Calton Hill, and the Britannia, alongside the castle and palace of course. If you do a bus tour, you'll get a great feel for the city center, which is very walkable once you have your bearings. If you can see the castle, you're never lost. The city tram is also extremely convenient (especially coming from the airport), along with the city buses.
Would also recommend (depending on your fancy) either high tea at the Balmoral Palm Court or a whisky tasting in the Balmoral whisky bar. My favorite cocktail spot is the Bon Vivant and if you're a gin lover, Heads & Tales is great. And the Grassmarket or Rose Street pubs definitely scratch the Scottish pub itch. The Spence restaurant in the Gleneagles Townhouse is also excellent. Don't let anyone scare you off Scottish food, it's wonderful.
If the Tattoo seating has been taken down off the castle esplanade, the Cannonball Restaurant (the one upstairs, not the lounge) has a great view of the castle at dinner time. Their haggis bon bons are also an easy way into trying haggis. But the best way to eat haggis is in the traditional full Scottish breakfast.
I know you'll be seeing the castle but make sure to give yourself ample time in the War Memorial, it's incredibly moving and emotional.
toriliz