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Five Days With Rabbies in Devon and Cornwall

Five Days With Rabbies in Devon and Cornwall

Old Nov 17th, 2014, 02:37 PM
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Five Days With Rabbies in Devon and Cornwall

I've been a member here for 10 years and have never written a trip report. Oh I've always had good intentions, but my propensity for procrastination ( arguably another term for laziness ) has always interfered. By the time I get home, unpack and plunge into normality, all pretense of doing a report has disappeared. However, there have been questions recently about Rabbies tours and, although, I have done day trips with them and like others on this forum have recommended them, this past summer was the first time for a trip of any length. I hope this report answers some questions and proves helpful for any wanting more information about Rabbies and their tours.

The Beginnings: Why would an independent traveler do a tour?

Like most on this forum I consider myself an independent traveler.I have done a number of tours so have some knowledge as to how they operate. I lived abroad ( Australia, South Africa and Germany ) for nearly 8 years due to husband's job. About a year after returning home, I was ready for another dose of travel. I headed to Europe for five weeks with a Eurail Pass and a vague idea of where I wanted to go, I've been traveling ever since.

I've always considered myself an intrepid traveler, but that first solo trip was nearly 30 years ago. Now reaching a certain maturity :-& and having had a bout with cancer, I've found I'm not quite as intrepid as I once was. I still get great satisfaction knowing that I can usually keep up with those 20+ years younger, but also recognize that keeping my trips as stress free as possible and less itinerary loaded is important. Not too many years ago, I used to jog up the stairs and escalators while negotiating the underground. The past couple of years, I'm quite happy to stand to one side and read the mini billboards. At least a few concessions need to be made when one reaches a certain age. Not that I'm old by any means.

For my 2014 trip, I decided to intersperse my independent travel with a tour of some kind and Rabbies seemed to fit the bill. A tour would provide a respite between my other travels. A time to just sit back, relax and enjoy. The hardest part was in allowing someone else to take control of the sights I'd be visiting and the places I'd be staying. A bit of type A personality. With any plan I think there has to be compromises, and I quickly decided that I'd be fine with someone else making the decisions after all that was the point. By the time I was ready to commit to a tour, my independent itinerary had me in northern Scotland and my dates were not terribly flexible. I looked at the Edinburgh and Glasgow departures but nothing really excited me. Having traveled in the UK for more than 25 years, it became a case of been there, seen that. While I often enjoy returning to places I've been, I just couldn't get too excited about any of my options. I then looked at London departures and the Devon and Cornwall trip did appeal. I have been to both Devon and Cornwall. I was at Exeter for a conference several years ago, had spend Easter weekend one year near Polperro and remember being at Lands End during a hasty trip through Cornwall. Time to see Cornwall /Devon again. Having read reviews of the tour, I easily decided that this was the one I wanted to do.

One more point about taking a tour instead of doing this by myself. We covered a considerable area on this tour. If I had been driving, there is no way I could have seen as many places as we did. In fact, unless one is familiar with the roads in Cornwall, including the back roads which we frequented, I don't think anyone could have managed this itinerary. Another plus with not having to drive was that I didn't have to rely on road maps or GPS ( which I often find doesn't work well on back roads ). I didn't have to worry about traffic, traffic jams and overly large tour buses trying to make their way through impossibly narrow streets. Dave our driver/guide handled it all with the patience of Job, and I was able to sit back, relax and listen to Dave point out and comment on all the sights along the way.

Breather: Then back with more on our itinerary and the ins and outs of a Rabbies tour.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 03:03 PM
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I'm looking forward to hearing about your tour! I'm also more open these days to looking into this type of travel.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 03:42 PM
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I've never heard of the tour company so i was a bit confused by the title. I thought you were on a tour with rabbis or you had rabies...glad to know the later is not the case!
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 04:58 PM
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Hi HISORYTRAVELER,

Thanks for describing your Rabbies Tour of Cornwall and Devon. I believe that I was one of those who requested it on another of your posts.

WELLTRAVELEDBRIT, indeed the company has an unusual name, but I believe it refers to that quintessential Scot, Robbie Burns.

Looking forward to your adventure...
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 05:48 PM
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Over the past few years, I have supplemented my solo trips to Scotland with tours from Rabbies. I can't recommend them enough. We see so much on their tours and don't have to worry about all the things you've mentioned. I have been thinking of trying a tour from London so looking forward to hearing more.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 06:20 PM
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IMO you would be doing some people around here a HUGE favor if you would tell us just how old you really ARE. Why? Because it might do just a little to vanquish the many who think life and travel stop after age 40. Thank you for the consideration.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 06:39 PM
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Very much looking forward to hearing about your experiences!
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 06:48 PM
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I think we have a name for a rock group Rabbis and Rabbits with Rabies.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 07:03 PM
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some of my best friends are rabbits!
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 07:19 PM
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Thanks for the comments. latedaytraveler is right. The company takes its name from Robert Burns' nickname Rabbie, Scots for Robbie.

Okay Dukey1, I'll fess up. I had my 69 th birthday this past August, but I don't look a day over 58. I am pretty fit and proud of it. I did marathons in my 40,s and 50's and triathlons well into my 60's. The reason I quit participating in theses events was because I got tired of getting up at 4:00/4:30 in the morning in order to get to event site. I didn't like getting my stuff organized ( putting bike together etc. ) in the dark with just a flashlight and the worse part other than getting up so early was getting in the water for my swim when the sun was just rising...often freezing standing there in your swim suit in the predawn.

Still keep active just revamped my exercise program much as I've done my itineraries.

More on a Rabbies and Cornwall/ Devon....
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 08:25 PM
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Oh -- this will be great. Rabbies is such a good company, but until I'd read one of your posts a while ago, I'd never really thought about them for down south.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 08:30 PM
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A Rabbies a Tour: What's included and what's not

The price for this years tour of Devon and Cornwall during the summer season is £ 299 for a concession and £ 319 regular. This does not include accommodations, meals or admissions, but, I think that's one of the beauties of the tour. They allow for a great deal of flexibility regarding one's budget. They gave me 5 options for lodging...4* Hotel, 3* a Hotel, B&B ensuite, B&B and Hostel. The site is currently giving a cost estimate of Guest House B& B at 30/45 £'s, Hostel at 15/20 £'s. When I signed up a 4* Hotel was 80 £s per person, per night. They also state that a single supplement may be applied.

As any savvy traveler knows, the number of stars a hotel has only pertains to the amenities they offer and not necessarily to the quality of the room. I have no need for a fitness room, a swimming pool, a conference room etc. A lounge/ bar is nice as is a restaurant for those nights when there's a thunderous down pour and one doesn't feel like trying to find a restaurant in adverse conditions. I've stayed in B & B's where the rooms were nicer than 4/5 * hotels and 3* hotels that were much nicer than 4* but, having to make a decision, I chose 4* as my first choice and B & B en suite as my second.More later on the hotels, suffice to say I was very happy with their selections as was everyone else on the tour.

Meals are not included either but, again, I liked the idea that one had a choice. Whether you just want a sandwich, a pub meal or prefer a 3 course dinner, it's your choice and your budget. You must also pay any admission fees. We actually didn't have very many and, again, you never have to visit a site if you don't want to. The driver gives you all the information you need regarding the various sights and places of interest and often includes a map. Then you are on your own. I especially liked this aspect as it's definitely geared to the independent traveler. You can visit the museum, castle or whatever the main tourist attraction is, or you can shop, explore a place on your own or have tea and scones. It's your choice. No need to become a lemming and follow a guide crocodile style.


So what does the tour include?

Short answer is an expert driver and guide. I've already expressed my enthusiasm for leaving all the hassles of driving to some one else. Our driver, Dave, was very knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. I've never been much of a fan with guides other than blue Badge or those on a London Walks. Most guise are efficient at getting people organized, into their hotel rooms etc. but usually fall short when it comes to actually providing relevant information. I remember a Tauck trip when most of those arriving in Rome had very lengthy flights due to bad weather. When we finally got underway for our trip to Sorrento, our guide briefly gave us the pertinent information as to hotel, dinner time etc. she added that since she knew most of us were exhausted from our flights, she would be quiet and let us sleep only pointing out a few things enroute to Sorrento. She then proceeded to talk non stop for the next three hours. Having arrived in Rome a day early, I wasn't tired, but I could not remember anything she talked about. She talked a great deal but really had little to say.

Most trips involve getting from point A to point B. With Rabbies, certainly on this tour, there were numerous points of interest between A and B. Without a guide such as Dave, one would have missed most of them. He gave us a short lesson in geology before we got to the Dorset Coast and a plethora of local history through out the tour. In short, I found our guide very well informed.


Coming up next...an itinerary and a note about fellow travelers.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 08:36 PM
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Rats! Please forgive the typos. My fault and auto correct which it apparently is not...that is correct.
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Old Nov 17th, 2014, 09:02 PM
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janisj, I never knew about the London departures until I started my trip search. They also have tours out of Dublin and our guide mentioned that they want to start doing tours in Europe.
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 01:27 AM
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HISTORYTRAVELER, enjoying your report. Just curious, what type of lodgings did most of the group choose?
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 03:30 AM
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69????? Hey, you're just getting started and thanks for the so-far great report!!!
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 03:37 AM
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hi HT, I remember your planning thread so I'm really happy that you've come back to tell us about how the tour worked out.

more please!
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 05:09 AM
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Since my spelling is not so good I thought we were going to have dogs foaming at the mouth, ah well
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 05:16 AM
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lo, bilbo, no rabies here. Even I got the Rabbie Burns reference!
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Old Nov 18th, 2014, 06:38 AM
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Sounds like my kind of tour! How large was the group?
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