Trafalgar tours
Apr 15th, 2013, 07:49 AM
#21
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Well just reading xyz123's comments about the food would be enough to put me off tours (if I even ever considered them, which I wouldn't).
I have stayed in many places in Italy, all of them with excellent breakfasts, good coffee (not our North AMerican style brown water) is important to me as is fresh fruit, some fresh bread, a bit of cheese or yogurt. By the way, that red orange juice is made from blood oranges which are delicious, I buy them here at home and squeeze them for juice.
And as for the AutoGrills, we found them to have some very good food at good prices as well as interesting displays of packaged foods.
For me travel is partly about the opportunity to eat really good food, and I like to go to good local restaurants for dinner especially, not eat some bland crap dished out for a tour group.
kris11, you and your mom are both young and I'm sure you could plan a trip on your own, I understand wanting the ease of a tour but you would have a better time doing it on your own.
I have stayed in many places in Italy, all of them with excellent breakfasts, good coffee (not our North AMerican style brown water) is important to me as is fresh fruit, some fresh bread, a bit of cheese or yogurt. By the way, that red orange juice is made from blood oranges which are delicious, I buy them here at home and squeeze them for juice.
And as for the AutoGrills, we found them to have some very good food at good prices as well as interesting displays of packaged foods.
For me travel is partly about the opportunity to eat really good food, and I like to go to good local restaurants for dinner especially, not eat some bland crap dished out for a tour group.
kris11, you and your mom are both young and I'm sure you could plan a trip on your own, I understand wanting the ease of a tour but you would have a better time doing it on your own.
Apr 15th, 2013, 07:58 AM
#22
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Kris 11 -
I don;t think you need to talk about other options. You need to learn to read the tour brochure (practically memorize it) so that you understand exactly what you will get on your tour. No agent will do this for you - they don;t have the time - or know what you and your mom MUST see.
I would make a list of you must dos and then compare them with the tours available - to see if any can meet your needs - or if you need to do a package instead (you can buy air, hotels - that you pick - transfers and half day city tours - but spend as many days as you want in each place).
I don;t think you need to talk about other options. You need to learn to read the tour brochure (practically memorize it) so that you understand exactly what you will get on your tour. No agent will do this for you - they don;t have the time - or know what you and your mom MUST see.
I would make a list of you must dos and then compare them with the tours available - to see if any can meet your needs - or if you need to do a package instead (you can buy air, hotels - that you pick - transfers and half day city tours - but spend as many days as you want in each place).
Apr 15th, 2013, 08:10 AM
#23
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You might want to check out Rick Steves tours - they will be pricier but I think they are about the best tour option out there. He is committed to giving travelers in depth experience. Their gourps are smaller too, stay at smaller hotels and have either the opportunity to eat local or provide local food.
Most likely you will see more on a tour but it will be a different experience than country immersion. If you end up wanting to do it yourselves, choose 3 or 4 places that you want to see most, try to have at least 3 nights in each place, and leave some sights / places for next time!
Most likely you will see more on a tour but it will be a different experience than country immersion. If you end up wanting to do it yourselves, choose 3 or 4 places that you want to see most, try to have at least 3 nights in each place, and leave some sights / places for next time!
Apr 16th, 2013, 07:05 PM
#24
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I would find another company. We booked a Trafalgar european tour five months in advance, paid in full, and near the travel date Trafalgar cancelled the entire trip. Other tours had already sold out leaving us screwed. So far they ruined my plans, still have my money, and no resolution.
Apr 16th, 2013, 07:13 PM
#25
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This has become a problem with all tour operators. It used to be some tours were marked as guaranteed departures in the brochures and the advice was always to sign up with a guaranteed departure.
Because of the downturn in the economy, some of these guaranteed departures were going out with 8 or 9 clients. So they changed the description to preferred departures or something like that but make a note they cannot guarantee any tour will definitely go. Not defending them in particular but it happens with all tour operators un fortunately.
Perhaps we should add this as a con for tours!
Because of the downturn in the economy, some of these guaranteed departures were going out with 8 or 9 clients. So they changed the description to preferred departures or something like that but make a note they cannot guarantee any tour will definitely go. Not defending them in particular but it happens with all tour operators un fortunately.
Perhaps we should add this as a con for tours!
