Insights Vacations ??? TOO MANY CITIES FOR ONE TRIP OR....DOABLE?
Jul 11th, 2015, 02:45 PM
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Insights Vacations ??? TOO MANY CITIES FOR ONE TRIP OR....DOABLE?
Hi! We are wondering if anyone can give us feedback regarding Insights Vacations? (specifically - Highlights of Eastern Europe: Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague) It seems like an awful lot of territory to do in 15 days. Are we really going to "see/ experience" the cities or just be able to say that we have been there?
We are hoping to have good tour directors who speak a clear, articulate English.
We are hoping that the bus rides are not too long. (over 2-3 hours per day)
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CANDID RESPONSES!
THANK YOU!
SUZY
We are hoping to have good tour directors who speak a clear, articulate English.
We are hoping that the bus rides are not too long. (over 2-3 hours per day)
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CANDID RESPONSES!
THANK YOU!
SUZY
Jul 11th, 2015, 02:53 PM
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I haven't done an Insight tour, but we did a Globus trip in the area. If your first move is from Vienna to Budapest, it will be a much longer ride than 2 or 3 hours. Ours was through Slovenia and Croatia. We did Prague and Cesky Krumlov and a couple of days in Vienna on our own before the tour began.
Jul 11th, 2015, 02:56 PM
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6 cities in 15 nights is 2.5 days per city, less after deducting transportation time. That's enough to see the tippy top highlights of each place but not much else. And frankly, there's nothing wrong with that, but you can't reasonably expect to "experience" a big city in such little time (could you truly experience New York City in just 2 days?).
Jul 11th, 2015, 03:55 PM
#4
Here is the link:
https://www.insightvacations.com/us/...?tab=itinerary
It does have mostly 2 night stays. But there are really long drives in between. Warsaw to Berlin is a 6+ hour drive plus stops. Berlin to Prague takes 4+ hours. Budapest to Kraków will likely take close to 7 hours on a coach w/ even just a very short lunch break and one or two photo stops.
So basically you'll have one full day in each city -- nearly as much travel as 'being' anywhere. That is a LOT of butts-in-seats time and me personally, I would hate it.
>>We are hoping that the bus rides are not too long. (over 2-3 hours per day)<<
Just not realistic on multi city/multi country coach tours. They MUST have really long travel days to make it work.
https://www.insightvacations.com/us/...?tab=itinerary
It does have mostly 2 night stays. But there are really long drives in between. Warsaw to Berlin is a 6+ hour drive plus stops. Berlin to Prague takes 4+ hours. Budapest to Kraków will likely take close to 7 hours on a coach w/ even just a very short lunch break and one or two photo stops.
So basically you'll have one full day in each city -- nearly as much travel as 'being' anywhere. That is a LOT of butts-in-seats time and me personally, I would hate it.
>>We are hoping that the bus rides are not too long. (over 2-3 hours per day)<<
Just not realistic on multi city/multi country coach tours. They MUST have really long travel days to make it work.
Jul 11th, 2015, 04:14 PM
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I think it is odd that the itinerary doesn't tell you how long each bus ride will be. When I have checked some other tour itineraries, I have seen that listed which gives you a better picture of what you are signing up for.
Jul 11th, 2015, 04:28 PM
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Hi
We have used Insight twice and can highly recommend them. Tour Directors are professional and speak English well (did I say that right?). The first coach tour we took (Trafalgar Tours) started in Rome and finished in London. Way too hectic! So this is my reservations about your itinerary i.e too many countries in too little time. I call these tours "tasters". It gives you an idea what places you like so that you can return next time. Trouble is we never did
. We have since undertaken other coach tours but these have concentrated on touring one country only. Far less hectic, far more immersive. I suggest narrowing down the places you'd really love to go to and selecting an itinenary accordingly.
We have used Insight twice and can highly recommend them. Tour Directors are professional and speak English well (did I say that right?). The first coach tour we took (Trafalgar Tours) started in Rome and finished in London. Way too hectic! So this is my reservations about your itinerary i.e too many countries in too little time. I call these tours "tasters". It gives you an idea what places you like so that you can return next time. Trouble is we never did
. We have since undertaken other coach tours but these have concentrated on touring one country only. Far less hectic, far more immersive. I suggest narrowing down the places you'd really love to go to and selecting an itinenary accordingly.
Jul 11th, 2015, 04:34 PM
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No - this tour will not give you what you want. There will be a lot of hours sitting on the bus and you will miss many important sights.
I haven;t examined the itinerary in detail so don;t know hotels (probably will be at the end of hell and gone) and for many of these trips the bus will take much longer than a train would.
Read the itinerary carefully, keeping in mind that:
View - means seeing a sight from the bus window as you drive by
Stop - means a 5 minute photo op in front of a sight
Visit - means you will actually go inside the sight - but doesn;t say for how long or how much you will see (tour groups often spend 2 hours at a 3 or 4 hours sight)
You should look at hotels and find out how far they are from the center f the city and what type of ratings they have.
And check out - using viamichelin.com - how long the bus rides will be - it's easy to get specifics.
IMHO you would do much better to plan your own trip (and cost less) - but you should cut back on the number of cities. In 15 days I would do 3 or at most 4 - 6 is just not going to give you the chance to see much.
I haven;t examined the itinerary in detail so don;t know hotels (probably will be at the end of hell and gone) and for many of these trips the bus will take much longer than a train would.
Read the itinerary carefully, keeping in mind that:
View - means seeing a sight from the bus window as you drive by
Stop - means a 5 minute photo op in front of a sight
Visit - means you will actually go inside the sight - but doesn;t say for how long or how much you will see (tour groups often spend 2 hours at a 3 or 4 hours sight)
You should look at hotels and find out how far they are from the center f the city and what type of ratings they have.
And check out - using viamichelin.com - how long the bus rides will be - it's easy to get specifics.
IMHO you would do much better to plan your own trip (and cost less) - but you should cut back on the number of cities. In 15 days I would do 3 or at most 4 - 6 is just not going to give you the chance to see much.
Jul 12th, 2015, 03:50 AM
#8
You will find little enthusiasm for group bue tours on this site, for reasons already given. That said, you will get a taste, but only a taste, for the many places on the tour. In exchange for not having to do planning, you will have no opportunity to follow your own desires, and you will spend a large portion of your trip in transit, waiting to assemble the group for the next bus ride, and visiting touristic souvenir "sights" for the benefit of the commission to your guide.
On the other hand, I would not be a traveler now if I hadn't been on such a tour 50 years ago (8 countries and ?? cities!). I have been back independently to most of the places I tasted then.
On the other hand, I would not be a traveler now if I hadn't been on such a tour 50 years ago (8 countries and ?? cities!). I have been back independently to most of the places I tasted then.
Jul 12th, 2015, 08:06 AM
#9
<Are we really going to "see/ experience" the cities>
I would say "no". How can you when you're moving around so quickly, covering so much ground, and with an organized tour group?
But like most others here I'm a self-planner. I'd say make your own itinerary (plane, hotel reservations) and join day tours in various cities to get an overview.
I would say "no". How can you when you're moving around so quickly, covering so much ground, and with an organized tour group?
But like most others here I'm a self-planner. I'd say make your own itinerary (plane, hotel reservations) and join day tours in various cities to get an overview.
Jul 12th, 2015, 08:15 AM
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I think you see what you get, it's kind of obvious that if you visit 6 cities in 15 days and they aren't that close, you will get a taste of each. the itinerary should clearly state how long you are in each city. It should also detail the transportation methods.
I've done a couple tours and enjoyed them, but the itinerary was fairly clear how long in each city, and if you've traveled at all you kind of know about how long to get from one to another by whatever method they list.
All tours are not created equal, it is not by definition that if you take a tour "you cannot follow your own desires" and you spend a lot of time waiting for groups on buses. Neither of mine were like that and that's why I chose them, but you can tell from the itinerary. Are all meals included or not? Do you have 3 days in a city and the tour only includes one introductory tour the first morning, etc. Mine did not include hardly any meals, you were on your own. Most tours give you options to do things, but you don't have to. Mine did, the kind of things you may even do on your own (ie, dinner in a folkloric restaurant, etc). You don't have to do them iof you don't want to, I did a couple and enjoyed them. Also, some day bus tours were not included but you could choose to pay for them or not (ie, when we were in Scotland, you could do a day bus tour to the highlands, which I enjoyed).
The tour you described has too many major, big cities in 15 days to do them justice IMO. The ones I took weren't like that, they did 3 major cities in about the same time frame, and a few stopovers in-between in smaller places on the route in one case. There was a flight between two of the cities and so of course that took up at least half the day, but that's the way flights are (getting to the airport, the flight, getting to hotel after, etc). If you had a tour of 12-15 days with only 3 of those cities, it might be good.
I've done a couple tours and enjoyed them, but the itinerary was fairly clear how long in each city, and if you've traveled at all you kind of know about how long to get from one to another by whatever method they list.
All tours are not created equal, it is not by definition that if you take a tour "you cannot follow your own desires" and you spend a lot of time waiting for groups on buses. Neither of mine were like that and that's why I chose them, but you can tell from the itinerary. Are all meals included or not? Do you have 3 days in a city and the tour only includes one introductory tour the first morning, etc. Mine did not include hardly any meals, you were on your own. Most tours give you options to do things, but you don't have to. Mine did, the kind of things you may even do on your own (ie, dinner in a folkloric restaurant, etc). You don't have to do them iof you don't want to, I did a couple and enjoyed them. Also, some day bus tours were not included but you could choose to pay for them or not (ie, when we were in Scotland, you could do a day bus tour to the highlands, which I enjoyed).
The tour you described has too many major, big cities in 15 days to do them justice IMO. The ones I took weren't like that, they did 3 major cities in about the same time frame, and a few stopovers in-between in smaller places on the route in one case. There was a flight between two of the cities and so of course that took up at least half the day, but that's the way flights are (getting to the airport, the flight, getting to hotel after, etc). If you had a tour of 12-15 days with only 3 of those cities, it might be good.
Jul 12th, 2015, 08:24 AM
#11
>>I think you see what you get, it's kind of obvious that if you visit 6 cities in 15 days <<
It isn't 15 days -- the <i>entire trip</i> is 15 days including travel to/from Europe. So in 'real life' it is 12.5 days on the ground . . . well, not on the ground so much as mostly on the bus.
It isn't 15 days -- the <i>entire trip</i> is 15 days including travel to/from Europe. So in 'real life' it is 12.5 days on the ground . . . well, not on the ground so much as mostly on the bus.
Jul 12th, 2015, 08:33 AM
#12
<<We are hoping that the bus rides are not too long. (over 2-3 hours per day)>>
From the proposed itinerary I'm pretty sure they would have to be (longer than 2-3 hours a day). Those cities are simply not that close together.
From the proposed itinerary I'm pretty sure they would have to be (longer than 2-3 hours a day). Those cities are simply not that close together.
Jul 12th, 2015, 02:32 PM
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"Are we really going to "see/ experience" the cities or just be able to say that we have been there?"
IMO, the latter. One might see the highlights of Warsaw in just 2 days, but the rest of these cities easily merits 4 or 5 or even 6 days. JMO.
IMO, the latter. One might see the highlights of Warsaw in just 2 days, but the rest of these cities easily merits 4 or 5 or even 6 days. JMO.
Jul 13th, 2015, 01:04 AM
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I think it is not enough to have a very thorough tour. And transportation takes up a huge chunk of your time. Not just from city to city but also within the city itself. You need to drop some cities off that list. Maybe go for 4 only.
Jul 13th, 2015, 05:40 AM
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HI Suzy - Warsaw is really far away from the other cities you mention. Do you really need to see it given the time it would take to get there? Perhaps you can get a different 2 week tour that concentrates on fewer of these places.
I don't know how old you are or what your budget is, but I found this RIck Steves' tour. It makes sense in the time it actually gives you to see places AND the hotels are centrally located.
<u>Best of Berlin, Prague & Vienna in 12 Days Tour</u>
11 nights accommodations <b>(all but two are 3-night stays)</b> in memorable, <b>centrally-located hotels
All breakfasts and half your dinners
All tips for guides and driver
"A small, friendly group of 24-28 people — half the size of most tour groups"
"All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 19 group sightseeing events"
</b>On the way from one city to another you will stop at various places of interest. Having been to many of these places, it sounds like a really good itinerary to me. Maybe check it out:
<b>https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/eas...-prague-vienna
I don't know how old you are or what your budget is, but I found this RIck Steves' tour. It makes sense in the time it actually gives you to see places AND the hotels are centrally located.
<u>Best of Berlin, Prague & Vienna in 12 Days Tour</u>
11 nights accommodations <b>(all but two are 3-night stays)</b> in memorable, <b>centrally-located hotels
All breakfasts and half your dinners
All tips for guides and driver
"A small, friendly group of 24-28 people — half the size of most tour groups"
"All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 19 group sightseeing events"
</b>On the way from one city to another you will stop at various places of interest. Having been to many of these places, it sounds like a really good itinerary to me. Maybe check it out:
<b>https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/eas...-prague-vienna
Jul 13th, 2015, 07:03 AM
#17
Just my €0,02. I see "Day 2" played out regularly here in Vienna. Those on almost any tour shuffle into Schönbrunn Palace at their allotted time for an audio-guided walk through the rooms, and then shuffle of the palace. Almost no time to see the gardens or the Carriage Museum (currently on display are some of the carriages used by the Tsars and other royals during the Congress of Vienna, and they are spectacular), or have a coffee and strudel in cafe. The remainder of Vienna sightseeing on that day seems to be devoted to slogging through traffic and around the Ringstraße to snap pictures (hopefully) of buildings and monuments that aren't blocked by other tour buses doing the same thing. You can accomplish the same Ringstraße tour on the trams, hopping on and off at will.
Day 13 makes me laugh. Just yesterday DH and I "crossed the border into Austria" from the Czech Republic (coming from the Cesky Krumlov area) and into the "agricultural region of the Waldviertel" for two hours' worth of drying hayfields, a few patches of sunflowers and some spinning windmills on our way home. During this stretch DH accelerated to 120 (speed limit is 100) so we could get through it faster.
As a Pole, there is no such activity as a "degustation" of dumplings. (Day 6) Pierogi are a peasant food enjoyed at all times of the day, simply and without fuss. Drop into any pierogi restaurant and try all of the offerings for a more authentic experience. As for becoming a master at making them, I've been working at it for over 20 years, and I'll never make them as good as my grandmother did.
Day 13 makes me laugh. Just yesterday DH and I "crossed the border into Austria" from the Czech Republic (coming from the Cesky Krumlov area) and into the "agricultural region of the Waldviertel" for two hours' worth of drying hayfields, a few patches of sunflowers and some spinning windmills on our way home. During this stretch DH accelerated to 120 (speed limit is 100) so we could get through it faster.
As a Pole, there is no such activity as a "degustation" of dumplings. (Day 6) Pierogi are a peasant food enjoyed at all times of the day, simply and without fuss. Drop into any pierogi restaurant and try all of the offerings for a more authentic experience. As for becoming a master at making them, I've been working at it for over 20 years, and I'll never make them as good as my grandmother did.
Jul 13th, 2015, 07:20 AM
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I have done a few Insight tours and have always had a great tour director which I cannot say about other tours.
The long drives are always broken up with pit stops, breaks and lunches. Maybe even a visit to somewhere not on the itinerary.
You won't have a whole lot of time in each city but enough to see the highlights. If I have been somewhere I really love I always return on my own or with friends.
The hotels are always great and close to the city centers.
They are the only tour group I have been on where the tour director is always buying candy or local foods for the group as we travel and I really think that is nice.
I don't know that they all do , the ones I have had did.
I would recommend them highly.
The long drives are always broken up with pit stops, breaks and lunches. Maybe even a visit to somewhere not on the itinerary.
You won't have a whole lot of time in each city but enough to see the highlights. If I have been somewhere I really love I always return on my own or with friends.
The hotels are always great and close to the city centers.
They are the only tour group I have been on where the tour director is always buying candy or local foods for the group as we travel and I really think that is nice.
I don't know that they all do , the ones I have had did.
I would recommend them highly.
Jul 13th, 2015, 09:10 AM
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I don;t think anyone is suggesting that you are held captive on the bus and never allowed to get off. Of course, they stop for potty breaks and lunch - but the distances between cities mean there just will be very ong days on the bus.
