diann24

I have researched on here but most reviews are old and pertain to China. I am seriously looking into a Eastern Europe package for late Spring (April) It seems like a great time to travel there. The countries Warsaw, Prague, Vienna Budapest and one other. I think the weather would be nice and warming up. It is for 15 days. Has anyone done this particular tour? I am very interested and need to make a decision by the 18th of Sept. I see many complaints pertaining to the $300 deposit not being returned but it does clearly state it is non refundable. Thanks for any replies.

thursdaysd

Any special reason you want a tour? Those cities are very easy to visit on your own. And five cities in 15 days (which is probably really 13 if you discount arrival and departure days) is a bit fast for my taste. I hope that's the end of April, not the beginning.

diann24

Yes it is April 19th-May 7th I believe. I was going to ask for people to PLEASE not suggest the doing it on your own. I always see that on here, and that is NOT what I asked with all DUE respect. Yes it is a Busy tour but at my age I want to see all that I can see. We don't want to lug suitcases etc. or get off and on trains as most suggest. We are seniors. Vibrant seniors I might add but choose not to have lot of stress involved. Of course it could still be stressful. I mostly am interested in Budapest. If I were to choose one city that would be it---

thursdaysd

Two weeks split between Budapest and Vienna would be a great trip, and only one train ride. Two weeks in either would be fine, too.

In Budapest I can highly recommend an apartment from these people:
http://budapestvacationrentals.com/S...n_Rentals.html

adrienne

You won't find many people on this board who take tours. You can get advice but it's best to give a link to your tour to help responders.

I think this is the tour you're looking at:

http://www.smartours.com/europe.shtml

You really only have 12 days in Europe and it's way too much to visit 6 cities (that are not close together) in 12 days. You don't have much time in any place. I guess the tour is OK if you want a very superficial look at these cities but about half your time will be sitting on the bus getting to the next location. I'd rather spend my time sightseeing or sitting in a cafe soaking up the ambiance.

<< (April) It seems like a great time to travel there >>

Not a great time for these cities IMHO as it will be cold/cool and April is still the rainy season.

I will respect your opinion and not suggest you do this on your own but will strongly suggest you find a better tour.

<< Yes it is a Busy tour but at my age I want to see all that I can see >>

Running around and spending lots of bus time is definitely not seeing all that you can see. A highway is a highway all over the world. Please take a good look at the itinerary before you make a decision.

Take a look at the tours offered by Road Scholar, a very reputable organization. There are several that include Budapest.

http://www.roadscholar.org/Programs/...ryCode=Hungary

thursdaysd

What adrienne said.

Besides losing all of days 1 and 15 to travel to/from the US, you will be jet lagged on day 2. So you effectively have part of a day in Helsinki (which isn't Eastern Europe), one day in Warsaw, one day in Krakow, two days in Budapest, one of which you spend in a very, very touristy village nearby, and two and a half in Vienna and Prague. All of those cities are worth much more time. I don't see any information on the hotels used, often on this type of tour they are not central. You will also be traveling with a large group on a big bus.

adrienne

Allow me to explain some things about this tour any why I'm recommending something better:

Day 3 - the tour does not take you inside any buildings. The afternoon is on your own so you need to figure out, in advance, what you want to see and get there and back on your own.

Day 5 - you only look at the castle (see), you do not go in. You go into St. Mary's but in the morning (clearly specified morning) so the amazing altarpiece will be closed. You're on your own in the afternoon (see advice above).

Day 6 - you're driving all day; it's about a 6 hour drive.

Day 7 - Budapest - see Warsaw and Krakow above - same things apply.

You can go through the rest of the days and see what they offer. There's very little of being guided on this tour.

janisj

ditto everything adrienne says. Tours do have their place sometimes and it sounds like you really prefer doing one. However - a tour like this one is <u>ghastly</u> IMO.

If you can afford it, look at higher end/smaller group tours.

Or maybe consider a river cruise. They solve you 'not handling the luggage' requirement but w/ a lot more leisure/sightseeing time and no long distance bus schlepps.

tomboy

Why not just watch a travelogue?

You know, those movies/DVDs you can get at the library: "Rick Steves does Budapest", etc.

That's about the extent of Euro-immersion you'll get on that tour. Witness the phrases from the tour's website itself:

"see the Royal Wawel Castle" doesn't say you go inside

"Experience the city’s glorious past on a panoramic tour taking you along the Ring Boulevard, past Emperor Franz Josef’s Hofburg Palace and the ornate State Opera" BUT, it doesn't say you go IN the Palace, or IN the Opera. Just watch it go past (if you're on the correct side of the bus).

I suggest you decide what you REALLY want. Some people go on tours because "they meet nice people". Well, you can do that in a bus station. My brother-in-law is like that; he couldn't care less about the culture, history, or people in a country. They travel with a couple they like, largely (I think) to add another notch in his gun; so they can say they've been to __. When I asked him what he liked about Russia, he said, 'the food on the boat'...nothing more. About Argentina, he said, 'actually nothing'. I asked why he even went...he likes this other couple. Oh well.

Yeah, travelogue sounds good. Think of the money you'd save.

kybourbon

Tour lingo:

See - means drive or walk by, not enter.

Visit - means you actually go inside the site.

>>>I don't see any information on the hotels used<<<

The hotels are listed:
Warsaw - Sofitel Victoria Hotel
Krakow - Novotel Centrum Hotel
Budapest - NH Budapest Hotel
Vienna - Renaissance Hotel
Prague - Angelo Hotel
Helsinki - Scandic Hotel

With this tour, you really only have 13 days (including arrival which will be jet-lagged). I think that is too many hotel changes in such a short time. I would look for a tour with a couple of less city/hotel changes.

diann24

We went to Rome and did a 12 day tour with cruising the med islands. We flew into Rome leaving new York city early p.m. we were met in Rome by a private tour guide and spent the day doing the Vatican the sight of Rome jet lag??? We went all day that night had dinner in a lovely café up for so many hours. Tired? NO Jet lag not at all!!!! We should have been but we were to excited just being in rome which was my favorite place EVER!! I loved it. Almost to tired to sleep. The hotels are listed so I don't know what you are talking about in which I checked out all ready. My only concern it is may be bit to busy. MY DH is Hungarian. I would like to spend more time there then this tour allows. Many r busy like this. I would fly into one city and stay there for 5 days like Hungary. I checked the weather and they say all say April is a lovely time of year to go Europe!!!

thursdaysd

"they say all say April is a lovely time of year to go Europe!!!"

Not sure who "they" are, but Europe is a big place and April is certainly NOT lovely everywhere. Might be nice, might be chilly and wet. See, for instance: http://www.wunderground.com/history/...lyHistory.html but the next week was better.

Since it sounds like you've made your mind up, not sure what you're asking.

P_M

A good friend of mine has taken a few tours with Smartours and she speaks very highly of that company. It is typical to have a non-refundable deposit for most tour companies.

IMO April is a bit chilly for most parts of Europe but that depends on your tolerance for cold weather.

diann24

"they" is simply the weather channel reporting with a graph the highs and lows for april from a historical standpoint. It is apparant that you have nothing to offer here, so there is no reason to continue this conversation. Nay sayers is not what I was asking and I asked for not that type of the usual comments of do it yourself from the very beginning. If you have not experience with this tour company than there was no need to comment with negative thoughts.

P.M Yes I have read positive comments about the tour company. Thanks.

thursdaysd

With that kind of attitude, I hope you freeze. And if you think a graph for "Europe" is of any use for the weather in Prague or Helsinki, you quite likely will.

diann24

http://www.holiday-weather.com/budapest/averages/april/

What does this say??? Does it not say how nice springtime is in Budapest?? I did not look for Prague specifically. Remember this was late April---in fact it went into May.

janisj

Since you know everything including what the weather will be on your specific dates - what info are you looking for??

(Historic averages mean absolutely nothing BTW - an 'average high of 51F and average low of 43F means it could easily be freezing)

adrienne

51 degrees is just perfect weather - pack a lot of sun dresses!

kybourbon

The weather doesn't matter when you are doing a drive-by tour since you will be on a bus most of the time instead of out in the weather.

thursdaysd

Of course, it's clear what the OP's problem is. She's already decided on this tour and just wants positive reinforcement. After my first post we didn't say "don't take A tour", we said "don't take THIS tour".

SHE was worried it was too fast paced, we agreed. Obviously we weren't supposed to agree with her, we were supposed to tell her what a great idea this was. It isn't a good idea for most people who post here, but for someone who usually takes cruises or AIs in the Caribbean, it's likely good enough.