Someone on the Tauck Travelers facebook page (not a group run by Tauck) posted a new gift they got in the mail - drink coasters and wine glass markers. By what I can read of the enclosed letter they are for having taken 5 tours. Someone else had received a lovely green lambswool blanket for 10 tours. Nope - never got those.
Our most recent tour to Scandinavia was my 15th and the TD did pull me aside towards the end to tell me about the 15th tour gift which she had delivered to our hotel room. She said she paid attention during the tour to the kinds of things I was interested in and I can say she did an outstanding job with her selections. A wooden Dala horse from Sweden, a cute Danish kitchen towel with a Hygge theme and a cheese knife from Norway. I did noticed on this tour that there weren't a lot of extra gifts. Everyone got a carved wooden knife for spreading cheese or butter. Also a few food treats. Maybe they are reducing these on tour gifts to fund the other things. It was my husband's 14 tour so it will be interesting if he gets something during next years tour.
I also got a nice luggage tag several years ago when a cruise coincided with my birthday.
We've never gotten one of the letters saying they would take off some much per trip taken on the cost of another tour. That I'd be interested in.
I also received the Irish lambswool blanket, plaid in Tauck colors, for my 10th tour. The TD gave me some local souvenirs at the end of the Romantic Capitals this summer. Curious to see what comes next.
We received the luggage tags and memory box yesterday. Last year we got the packing cubes. We have taken 7 Tauck tours. I’m not sure if there is any one criteria they use to send these items! Next trip in 3 weeks!
I would like a 5% - 10% off these trips as a seasoned Tauck traveler, instead of the gifts that get stored, re-gifted or never used. Again, I am not unappreciative; just very practical.
While I like our packing cubes, Rick Steves has, IMO, a more practical reward system for loyalty. When you book a tour you get $50 off the price for each prior tour. So, for those of you with 20 Tauck tours under your belt, you’d get a $1000 off on your next one if they had such a program. And if you book two of his tours in one year you get an additional $100 off the second. And, if you pay by check, you get a 2% discount
Taken 8 trips, some solo some I’ve taken others, and have booked 2 more, all were longer out of country trips and have never received a gift except for a required duffel due to itinerary limitations for luggage and of course the gift of time. No idea how they chose to send out the traveler gifts. Honestly, don’t need the stuff they send but just interested in the gifting protocol.
The gift protocols are a mystery. We have done eighteen trips, and have three more booked. We have been gifted four luggage tags. We have received a few surprises that were not ‘gifts’.
SeaLord, I can only think that those of us who have a good number of trips under our belt are obviously loyal customers and will contributey to travel gifts or not.
For me, I'd rather have certain "benefits" than gifts. There are really no "things" that I want or need - so those small gifts usually wind up being given away or thrown away. What would be a real gift is free laundry once during a tour.
Maybe at 20 tours you get one free laundry in any tour and at 25 tours you get two in any tour over 7 days. Other people could probably think of other benefits that they would appreciate.
British mentioned a special phone number to call if you're 25 tours or more. That would be nice. Special attention to the guests who have spent a lot of money with Tauck.
The phone number also applies to those people who have taken 20 trips. (I've used it.) Like others have mentioned, I don't need more things that my children will have to discard when I'm gone or move to assisted living.
Whether contemplating your one hundredth tour or your first tour, Tauck will do something special for you; “special” not necessarily being the expectation of a tangible gift.
When we took our children on the Bridges Tours many years ago they received backpacks, water bottles etc. But the best gift was the tour patches. I wish Tauck did that for every tour. A patch and a sticker or something personal,small, collectible, and not very expensive.
For our 15th Tauck trip, we were treated to lunch at the restaurant where Julia Child had her first French meal (in Rouen, France). The restaurant served the same entrees etc. that Ms. Child and her husband had. We were joined by one other couple on their 16th trip. We thought it was a nice gift and certainly happy it wasn't something we had to pack to take home.
I am with British! I wish credits were given for the trips for my adult kids that I have paid for! The next tour is 3 rooms and 5 people ! We are coming on number 18. We have been given gifts of $100 each . Each tour director handles it differently. Some buy gifts, some give gift shop credits, some want receipts and give you cash back. Initially I thought it was ridiculous, but each gift has turned out to be a wonderful memory. I still think they should give discounts for loyalty. I also wish they would stop sending travelogue emails which I never read and would never get me to take a trip I wasn’t planning on already unless they had an embedded discount code!
Regarding gifts, I had an interesting dilemma on my last trip. Being in the 15+ trip category, the TD left a little bag for me on my seat on the bus one day. When I got back to the room, I read the very nice card, then opened the gift. The gift, purchased in Oberammergau, was a wood carving with a religious theme - JC on a cross. Only issue was it wasn't my religion. So, I discussed it with a few people, including my forum go-to guy, Smiling Sam, to find the best way to handle it, Concensus was speak to the TD. So I did. She apologized, saying that never occurred to her, and then asked what I wanted instead. I didn't think we'd find any menorahs on this trip (Alps/Dolomites), so I asked for a beer stein. Exchange done.
We got 2 coins and some stem wine glass trinkets in addition to luggage tags (too large and heavy), some packing cubes (too heavy for travel but I use them to pack away my sweaters in the summer).
I would rather Tauck takes these few $$ and gives to a community in need.
I honestly do not need any of these extra items. At this point in my life - I try to declutter, not acquire hehe.
All these ‘gift’ things have only begun happening in the last few years. We got nothing for being multi time travelled before that. In fact, we cannot recall being given anything apart from little gifts if it has been our anniversary…like luggage tag….not like the current ones. Apart from our last Africa tour when the TD surprised us with a lovely Africa shaped silver pendant with a tanzanite stone it.. But then we have taken at least 40 tours. That TD had traveled with us before so he knew our Africa passion and so it was perfect. Whoever had this idea at Tauck, I don’t know. Yes, give us 5 or10 % off a tour after maybe 10 tours.
I wrote a long nice letter to the higher ups at Tauck explaining for us what a dilemma it was receiving two lovely but very cumbersome gifts from two back-to back one week tours while traveling only with carryon luggage. The TD should really understand this. Yes, I would rather receive a nominal discount for future trips.
Perhaps we should be careful what we wish for. There is a concept of those who pay more get more. If the new client is paying more money, who is going to get the better room … just for an example. I know the hotel assigns the rooms but I know that is not always true.
After our recent fifth Tauck Tour, we just received wine glass trinkets and coasters….made in China . At least you would think as an American company we could get something from the USA. As others have noted, I would much rather have a discount on a future trip or an extra night (besides the GOT) at a hotel. I will send Tauck an email.
I get the impression that this gift thing is relatively new on Tauck's part. I agree that a discount or second GoT would be much more appreciated. I'm not a collector of "stuff."
Comments
British -- Yes, it's the "1925 Circle" at that address.
Someone on the Tauck Travelers facebook page (not a group run by Tauck) posted a new gift they got in the mail - drink coasters and wine glass markers. By what I can read of the enclosed letter they are for having taken 5 tours. Someone else had received a lovely green lambswool blanket for 10 tours. Nope - never got those.
Our most recent tour to Scandinavia was my 15th and the TD did pull me aside towards the end to tell me about the 15th tour gift which she had delivered to our hotel room. She said she paid attention during the tour to the kinds of things I was interested in and I can say she did an outstanding job with her selections. A wooden Dala horse from Sweden, a cute Danish kitchen towel with a Hygge theme and a cheese knife from Norway. I did noticed on this tour that there weren't a lot of extra gifts. Everyone got a carved wooden knife for spreading cheese or butter. Also a few food treats. Maybe they are reducing these on tour gifts to fund the other things. It was my husband's 14 tour so it will be interesting if he gets something during next years tour.
I also got a nice luggage tag several years ago when a cruise coincided with my birthday.
We've never gotten one of the letters saying they would take off some much per trip taken on the cost of another tour. That I'd be interested in.
I also received the Irish lambswool blanket, plaid in Tauck colors, for my 10th tour. The TD gave me some local souvenirs at the end of the Romantic Capitals this summer. Curious to see what comes next.
We received the luggage tags and memory box yesterday. Last year we got the packing cubes. We have taken 7 Tauck tours. I’m not sure if there is any one criteria they use to send these items! Next trip in 3 weeks!
All these gifts seem to be a new thing in just the past couple of years. I guess it’s why the tours have gone up by thousands of dollars.
After our first tour in 2017 (A Week in Amalfi Coast, Capri & Rome) - we received a Coffee Table Book about the Vatican a couple weeks later.
We received the packing cubes before our 2023 Trip and we just got the Memory Box and Luggage Tags.
I would like a 5% - 10% off these trips as a seasoned Tauck traveler, instead of the gifts that get stored, re-gifted or never used. Again, I am not unappreciative; just very practical.
While I like our packing cubes, Rick Steves has, IMO, a more practical reward system for loyalty. When you book a tour you get $50 off the price for each prior tour. So, for those of you with 20 Tauck tours under your belt, you’d get a $1000 off on your next one if they had such a program. And if you book two of his tours in one year you get an additional $100 off the second. And, if you pay by check, you get a 2% discount
Taken 8 trips, some solo some I’ve taken others, and have booked 2 more, all were longer out of country trips and have never received a gift except for a required duffel due to itinerary limitations for luggage and of course the gift of time. No idea how they chose to send out the traveler gifts. Honestly, don’t need the stuff they send but just interested in the gifting protocol.
The gift protocols are a mystery. We have done eighteen trips, and have three more booked. We have been gifted four luggage tags. We have received a few surprises that were not ‘gifts’.
SeaLord, I can only think that those of us who have a good number of trips under our belt are obviously loyal customers and will contributey to travel gifts or not.
For me, I'd rather have certain "benefits" than gifts. There are really no "things" that I want or need - so those small gifts usually wind up being given away or thrown away. What would be a real gift is free laundry once during a tour.
Maybe at 20 tours you get one free laundry in any tour and at 25 tours you get two in any tour over 7 days. Other people could probably think of other benefits that they would appreciate.
British mentioned a special phone number to call if you're 25 tours or more. That would be nice. Special attention to the guests who have spent a lot of money with Tauck.
The phone number also applies to those people who have taken 20 trips. (I've used it.) Like others have mentioned, I don't need more things that my children will have to discard when I'm gone or move to assisted living.
Mike I agree with you, free laundry during one tour or two, I would appreciate more than the little gifts. Going on my 30th tour soon.
@gladysorlando984 - Wow, 30 tours. Tauck SHOULD do something special for you.
Whether contemplating your one hundredth tour or your first tour, Tauck will do something special for you; “special” not necessarily being the expectation of a tangible gift.
When we took our children on the Bridges Tours many years ago they received backpacks, water bottles etc. But the best gift was the tour patches. I wish Tauck did that for every tour. A patch and a sticker or something personal,small, collectible, and not very expensive.
For our 15th Tauck trip, we were treated to lunch at the restaurant where Julia Child had her first French meal (in Rouen, France). The restaurant served the same entrees etc. that Ms. Child and her husband had. We were joined by one other couple on their 16th trip. We thought it was a nice gift and certainly happy it wasn't something we had to pack to take home.
I am with British! I wish credits were given for the trips for my adult kids that I have paid for! The next tour is 3 rooms and 5 people ! We are coming on number 18. We have been given gifts of $100 each . Each tour director handles it differently. Some buy gifts, some give gift shop credits, some want receipts and give you cash back. Initially I thought it was ridiculous, but each gift has turned out to be a wonderful memory. I still think they should give discounts for loyalty. I also wish they would stop sending travelogue emails which I never read and would never get me to take a trip I wasn’t planning on already unless they had an embedded discount code!
Regarding gifts, I had an interesting dilemma on my last trip. Being in the 15+ trip category, the TD left a little bag for me on my seat on the bus one day. When I got back to the room, I read the very nice card, then opened the gift. The gift, purchased in Oberammergau, was a wood carving with a religious theme - JC on a cross. Only issue was it wasn't my religion. So, I discussed it with a few people, including my forum go-to guy, Smiling Sam, to find the best way to handle it, Concensus was speak to the TD. So I did. She apologized, saying that never occurred to her, and then asked what I wanted instead. I didn't think we'd find any menorahs on this trip (Alps/Dolomites), so I asked for a beer stein. Exchange done.
We got 2 coins and some stem wine glass trinkets in addition to luggage tags (too large and heavy), some packing cubes (too heavy for travel but I use them to pack away my sweaters in the summer).
I would rather Tauck takes these few $$ and gives to a community in need.
I honestly do not need any of these extra items. At this point in my life - I try to declutter, not acquire hehe.
All these ‘gift’ things have only begun happening in the last few years. We got nothing for being multi time travelled before that. In fact, we cannot recall being given anything apart from little gifts if it has been our anniversary…like luggage tag….not like the current ones. Apart from our last Africa tour when the TD surprised us with a lovely Africa shaped silver pendant with a tanzanite stone it.. But then we have taken at least 40 tours. That TD had traveled with us before so he knew our Africa passion and so it was perfect. Whoever had this idea at Tauck, I don’t know. Yes, give us 5 or10 % off a tour after maybe 10 tours.
I wrote a long nice letter to the higher ups at Tauck explaining for us what a dilemma it was receiving two lovely but very cumbersome gifts from two back-to back one week tours while traveling only with carryon luggage. The TD should really understand this. Yes, I would rather receive a nominal discount for future trips.
I would like to receive an additional free pre or post nite!
Perhaps we should be careful what we wish for. There is a concept of those who pay more get more. If the new client is paying more money, who is going to get the better room … just for an example. I know the hotel assigns the rooms but I know that is not always true.
After our recent fifth Tauck Tour, we just received wine glass trinkets and coasters….made in China
. At least you would think as an American company we could get something from the USA. As others have noted, I would much rather have a discount on a future trip or an extra night (besides the GOT) at a hotel. I will send Tauck an email.
Fifth tour! Wow, ok never got anything like that years ago, on the other hand their tours were much cheaper even taking inflation into account.
I get the impression that this gift thing is relatively new on Tauck's part. I agree that a discount or second GoT would be much more appreciated. I'm not a collector of "stuff."
If we're going down the 'free wish' street, then I wish they'd give free airfare. 😂
Sam - they have a basic econ seat next to the rear bathroom wiating for you