We have done one river cruise, one small ship and one land tour with Tauck in the last two years. Another river cruise scheduled for this June with Tauck. Also did a land tour in Türkiye in 2021 with Abercrombie & Kent. Over the years, I have traveled with Grand Circle, Oversea Adventure (partner), Odyssey’s Unlimited, Regent ocean cruises, and Crystal. Also I have travelled in small private group land tours focused on music in Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Central Europe. Have done three private safaris with the assistance of AMEX and “ andbeyond” travel based in South Africa. Twenty years ago hubby and I preferred independent travel, and we did several self drive tours in France and Italy. We just returned two weeks ago from a private tour to India.
Everyone’s comments are so interesting to me! I think we all change our style of travel and preferences with experiences and aging. I look back at some of the experiences/activities of years ago, and could never attempt them now. Personally I love to travel to experience people and cultures different from my own. Food as well, and we love wildlife and safaris.
Having done all this, lately our favorites are Tauck trips and Crystal cruises. I still love to plan all the details of independent travel, but India was a challenge. Thank goodness I have a wonderful TA in andBeyond!
IMO Grand Circle/OAT has had the best pricing. However, their hotels are far flung in location, and the food is mediocre. You get what you pay for, but for many folks, it’s perfect. They have one advantage in no single supplement. About 40% of my travel has been without my hubby. Odysseys Unlimited seems to be a step up, and my one trip to Peru 12 years ago was extremely active. Nice location of hotels, decent food, but the worst, most inexperienced TD ever.
We really enjoyed our Marco Polo Türkiye tour with A&K. It was supposed to be a max group of 16, but we had only 9 plus a fabulous TD. ( mid COVID) Hotels were all 4/5 star, food was great and the tours were fabulous. We did two Regent cruises many years ago and both wonderful, but we are thrilled with Crystal’s rebirth with A&K.
We are both in our early 70’s now and have a happy issue….we have visited most of the places in the world we have wanted to. However, my wanderlust never seems to wane, and as long as I can, I plan to continue to travel. And spoil myself as much as possible!!
Marla526 I concur. I just traveled in January with Crystal (12 prior voyages before the new ownership) and the service, food, accommodations, lectures, and excursions curated by A&K were better then ever! Fabulous. Love Tauck for their land tours and small ship cruises. (180 to Iceland on Ponent.)
Here's to Traveling!
@Stellie thank you!!! Thrilled to hear that Crystal is back on top. We travel October 2025 from Barcelona to Lisbon, with a few stops in places we have never been, including Morocco. Now considering a possible addition in the first half of next year, but we will see.
Marla 526 - I love your post. Yes, travel has changed. Gone are the days of backpacks and Europe on Five Dollars a Day. My husband no longer wants to drive in Europe so for us tours are the way to go. While Road Scholar offers great art, history, and culture in their tours, Tauck has them beat with superior hotels and Tauck's land tours offer better dining.
We've found that a happy compromise between our twenties and now is to add extra time before and/or after a tour.
I agree with you about Turkiye - such a great country for touring (and there were just 8 of us on our Road Scholar tour).
Barcelona - every time we return to that city we check out the progress of The Sagrada Familia. It's supposed to be complete in 2026 so you will be able to see it mostly finished.
Comments
We have done one river cruise, one small ship and one land tour with Tauck in the last two years. Another river cruise scheduled for this June with Tauck. Also did a land tour in Türkiye in 2021 with Abercrombie & Kent. Over the years, I have traveled with Grand Circle, Oversea Adventure (partner), Odyssey’s Unlimited, Regent ocean cruises, and Crystal. Also I have travelled in small private group land tours focused on music in Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Central Europe. Have done three private safaris with the assistance of AMEX and “ andbeyond” travel based in South Africa. Twenty years ago hubby and I preferred independent travel, and we did several self drive tours in France and Italy. We just returned two weeks ago from a private tour to India.
Everyone’s comments are so interesting to me! I think we all change our style of travel and preferences with experiences and aging. I look back at some of the experiences/activities of years ago, and could never attempt them now. Personally I love to travel to experience people and cultures different from my own. Food as well, and we love wildlife and safaris.
Having done all this, lately our favorites are Tauck trips and Crystal cruises. I still love to plan all the details of independent travel, but India was a challenge. Thank goodness I have a wonderful TA in andBeyond!
IMO Grand Circle/OAT has had the best pricing. However, their hotels are far flung in location, and the food is mediocre. You get what you pay for, but for many folks, it’s perfect. They have one advantage in no single supplement. About 40% of my travel has been without my hubby. Odysseys Unlimited seems to be a step up, and my one trip to Peru 12 years ago was extremely active. Nice location of hotels, decent food, but the worst, most inexperienced TD ever.
We really enjoyed our Marco Polo Türkiye tour with A&K. It was supposed to be a max group of 16, but we had only 9 plus a fabulous TD. ( mid COVID) Hotels were all 4/5 star, food was great and the tours were fabulous. We did two Regent cruises many years ago and both wonderful, but we are thrilled with Crystal’s rebirth with A&K.
We are both in our early 70’s now and have a happy issue….we have visited most of the places in the world we have wanted to. However, my wanderlust never seems to wane, and as long as I can, I plan to continue to travel. And spoil myself as much as possible!!
Marla526 I concur. I just traveled in January with Crystal (12 prior voyages before the new ownership) and the service, food, accommodations, lectures, and excursions curated by A&K were better then ever! Fabulous. Love Tauck for their land tours and small ship cruises. (180 to Iceland on Ponent.)
Here's to Traveling!
@Stellie thank you!!! Thrilled to hear that Crystal is back on top. We travel October 2025 from Barcelona to Lisbon, with a few stops in places we have never been, including Morocco. Now considering a possible addition in the first half of next year, but we will see.
Marla 526 - I love your post. Yes, travel has changed. Gone are the days of backpacks and Europe on Five Dollars a Day. My husband no longer wants to drive in Europe so for us tours are the way to go. While Road Scholar offers great art, history, and culture in their tours, Tauck has them beat with superior hotels and Tauck's land tours offer better dining.
We've found that a happy compromise between our twenties and now is to add extra time before and/or after a tour.
I agree with you about Turkiye - such a great country for touring (and there were just 8 of us on our Road Scholar tour).
Barcelona - every time we return to that city we check out the progress of The Sagrada Familia. It's supposed to be complete in 2026 so you will be able to see it mostly finished.