Best Of
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
Re: Time on the bus for Canada's eastern capital cities tour
We haven't been on this tour but have family in Canada and have driven all three legs. The time between cities depends upon whether they take the highway or smaller roads and what sights they plan on seeing along the way. According to our Rand-McNally road atlas Toronto to Ottawa is 263 miles, Ottawa to Montreal is 128 miles and Montreal to Quebec City is 158 miles.
The hotels on this trip are all Fairmonts. I have a preference for Ottawa and Quebec City because they are small cities. The Chateau Laurier in Ottawa is adjacent to Parliament Hill and walkable to markets and the art museum. The old town of Quebec City is like a European city. You can find some really nice French Canadian restaurants.
Every place in the northeast is close to each other. If you are coming from the West or the Midwest you don't realize how close everything is. The distance between NYC and Boston is just over 200 miles.
Kathy M
Re: Bridges Cruise on Rhone
@DavidElsila - thank you for posting! I will be on the MS Emerald in a couple months on the Savoring France river cruise (Paris —> Lyon —> Cruise the Rhône) and I am very excited!
Autumn Along the Rhine... Munich's Oktoberfest 2024
Hi We are headed to Amsterdam ahead of our Rhine River/Oktoberfest Tour starting Sept. 22 2024. Any good tips for dining/fun while in Amsterdam? This is our first trip to Europe.
Re: Naples Capri Amalfi
Got back a few days ago from this trip. What an awesome experience. We did visit the Museo Sansevero and the Archeological Museum as part of the trip. I got a lot of great tips from here. We ate at Pulaulli in Capri, my wife had sandals made in Anacapri and I bought linen shirts in Sorrento. The Blue Grotto was not included and apparently is a waste of time. The boat captain who picked us up for our island cruise said he had taken a group to Blue Grotto that morning and they sat and waited for over 3 hours to go through. Our first but definitely not last Tauck tour.
Re: Things to do in Edinburgh
I agree that the Queen’s boat is a wothwhile tour. I liked it better than the castle. I know she was very upset when they took her boat away.
Sealord
Re: Elegant SA at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
I have recently taken Uber on my own from The One and Only to the store, Tribal Trend and Tribal Collection. I always felt safe and it was just a mere 4.00 each way. The sales people at Tribal waited outside with me until I was seated in the Uber. Restaurant dining is very inexpensive in South Africa. You will love it.
Re: Elegant SA at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
I know this question is from a while agi but since this is still a concern... we are on SA Elegant Adventure right now, about to leave Fairlawn. Last night was the "on your own" dinner night and we took Uber to and from Marble. It was an absolutely fantastic meal and a very reasonable price. Uber was flawless and easy to get. Marble is in an upscale neighborhood with a number of nice restaurants in a row so cars are constantly there for pickups and drop offs. We were, however, the only ones in our group who went "off campus." We needed a bit of a break and wanted to see more of the area and have dinner for just the two of us.
Re: Couple of questions re: upcoming river cruise
On a recent Tauck river cruise I mentioned to the cruise director that I was a little disappointed that they did not have Maker’s Mark onboard. They went out and got some.
Sealord