Anyone have any dealings with Unsight Vacations out of Anaheim, CA?
Opinions appreciated.

Sorry, It's Insight vacations!!

Not yet, but I'm planning on taking a trip with them in September. We are looking at the Britain & Ireland Explorer. Then we are doing Paris on our own before or after!

Our family of four did a whirlwind three week tour with Insight in 2002. We saw a lot and it was a great way to get a taste of many different places. The hotels were all excellent; the guides were knowledgeable and everything went very smoothly. It was a very stress-free way to travel as they handled all our luggage and itineraries. I must say I prefer our subsequent "on our own" trips, but this was a fantastic way to take the worry out of European travel and ensure we saw the best of what was to see of the tourist sites. I recommend using them. They were very professional.

Hi; If you decide to use Insight Vacations, consider the following. Check prices on their web site and then go to these discounters of Insight Vacations and perhaps get a better price. www.pavlustravel.com or www.affordabletours.com/ Richard

I just checked with Insight regarding our plans and was told if we don't buy their insurance plan and have to cancel, then no deposit refund will be given even if the planned trip is for a year in advance. Even the cruise lines give a full refund if you have to cancel outside 75 days. With Insight, NOTHING. YOU LOSE IT. Not the company I want to do business with.
Opinions welcome!

If you get travel insurance but not through Insight, would that cover the refund? That sounds similar to the policy at Trafalgar and Cosmos'. Please remember that it's likely easier to sell a cruise cabin than it is to sell a tour seat. I wouldn't be too upset by that policy. I had vacation insurance and it covered I believe all non-refundable costs. I don't remember who it was through unfortunately.

My suggestion would be to check into outside travel insurance prior to purchasing anything with Insight (or any other tour) as insurance must be purchased within a certain time frame of the original purchase.

kamaolleman: That is what travel insurance is for. MANY companies have a no refund (or only partial refund) policy.

Why do you want a tour anyway? You'll pay more than doing it on your own.

Very good point Janis.

Kam, I have taken many trips to Europe, some independent, and several on tours including three with Insight (Portugal/Northern Spain, Paris/Provence, and Switzerland). I thoroughly enjoyed each and am taking another to the British Isles with Insight in June. In my view, they provide a good value with very agreeable hotel accommodations and knowledgeable guides. They are a bit more expensive than Globus and Trafalgar but not as pricey as Tauck and Abercrombie, both of which are beyond my budget.

I did purchase the travel insurance for my June trip. In the old days, I would forgo this protection, but not now. On one trip, a gal on our tour fell off the edge of the bed in Salzburg suffering a broken hip (you know those fluffy Swiss quilts that make the bed look larger than they are). She was hospitalized and had to fly home later – along with her companion – at great expense. She filled me in on details later in an email. Unfortunately, she did not have insurance.

In any case, I recommend Insight if independent travel does not fit your circumstances. Happy travels…

The deposit is $200, I believe with Insight, but travel insurance should cover your out of pocket expenses. I wasn't planning on taking Insight's insurance because I don't think it covers airfare unless purchased from Insight directly.

I agree with JanisJ about a tour company for the UK. If you go independently you can enjoy the sites in a more indepth manner. For example if you go to London in August or September while the queen is not in residence you can take an inside tour of Buckingham Palace and Parliment rather that just driving by. You can base yourself in London and use the excellent train system to visit all of England as well as Scotland and Ireland.Don't get me wrong I used a tour company for Egypt, China and Turkey where language is a problem but not in the UK and actually had the best trip ever.

We (a group of 10 Canadians) had an excellent experience with Insight Vacation on a trip to Eastern Europe beginning in Vienna. The hotels (except for Prague) were excellent, the driver extremely helpful in finding the most picturesque routes, and the Tour Guide was superb. We are planning a fall trip for Spain and look forward to it. All of contacts with Insight have been very personable.

Hi Janis: When will you be in Folsom again? I would like to meet and talk with you. I have lots of questoions about our upcoming trip to Europe.

Warm regards,
Larry

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