TRAFALGER TOURS
Feb 10th, 2006 | 01:43 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
richlois,
Yes, I did the "Best of Italy" tour with Trafalgar a few years ago and was happy with the tour and the dealings with the company. The tour included one day in Lugano. The majority of travellers were American plus 5 Australians and we all seemed to have a wonderful time. The coach was spotlessly clean, the tour guide had a wealth of knowledge and the driver was very careful(& cute). They both had a passion for what they did and were proud to show off their lovely country. My friends and I found it good value for money and I personally would use them again.
The hotels were a mix of ratings and all were pretty good. Hope this helps.
Yes, I did the "Best of Italy" tour with Trafalgar a few years ago and was happy with the tour and the dealings with the company. The tour included one day in Lugano. The majority of travellers were American plus 5 Australians and we all seemed to have a wonderful time. The coach was spotlessly clean, the tour guide had a wealth of knowledge and the driver was very careful(& cute). They both had a passion for what they did and were proud to show off their lovely country. My friends and I found it good value for money and I personally would use them again.
The hotels were a mix of ratings and all were pretty good. Hope this helps.
Feb 10th, 2006 | 02:29 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
In general, this board is biased against coach tours and many on this board make it clear they think independent travel is far superior to that offered on a coach tour.
Having said that, I have taken several tours with Trafalger and they are excellent and deliver exactly what they promise. The hotels are usually first class although somewhat out of the centre of the big cities, there are some long days of travel on the buses but they are very comfortable or as comfortable as a bus can be. There are stops every 2 hours to exercise calls to nature, buy water and refreshments and sometimes to see some sights...
Be aware of what the brochure says and escorted tour language. See such and such means that as you whiz by on the motorway the tour director will say there is such and such. There you saw it. Visit such and such means they take you inside. Included dinners while not bad are usually bland to account for everybody's tastes (that means lots of chicken of course)...optional tours will add to the price and they are usually very good.
Trafalger is an international company and most of their tours will have a mixture of Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders (don't know if kiwi is an acceptable term for NZers...forgive me if it isn't)...you can make friends for life.
The td's in general are excellent, the coaches are clear, the bus drivers very skillful.
For more info, you might follow some links to the trafalger bulletin board at www.trafalgertours.com and you might be able to find specific information on your specific tour posted by somebody who actually did it.
Having said that, I have taken several tours with Trafalger and they are excellent and deliver exactly what they promise. The hotels are usually first class although somewhat out of the centre of the big cities, there are some long days of travel on the buses but they are very comfortable or as comfortable as a bus can be. There are stops every 2 hours to exercise calls to nature, buy water and refreshments and sometimes to see some sights...
Be aware of what the brochure says and escorted tour language. See such and such means that as you whiz by on the motorway the tour director will say there is such and such. There you saw it. Visit such and such means they take you inside. Included dinners while not bad are usually bland to account for everybody's tastes (that means lots of chicken of course)...optional tours will add to the price and they are usually very good.
Trafalger is an international company and most of their tours will have a mixture of Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders (don't know if kiwi is an acceptable term for NZers...forgive me if it isn't)...you can make friends for life.
The td's in general are excellent, the coaches are clear, the bus drivers very skillful.
For more info, you might follow some links to the trafalger bulletin board at www.trafalgertours.com and you might be able to find specific information on your specific tour posted by somebody who actually did it.
Feb 10th, 2006 | 02:34 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
BTW about 3 or 4 weeks ago, I wrote an excellent posting on what happens on an escorted Trafalger tour. I forget the thread it is in but if you click on my name above, you will find all the outstandings posts I have written full of correct information and that one was no exception.
Feb 10th, 2006 | 04:58 AM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,622
Likes: 0
A slight typo in the post above to be corrected: the URL is www.trafalgartours.com (trafalgar is spelt with three 'a's, not just two.)
I have little experience with tour companies but I've enjoyed reading the opinions of those who have taken such trips on that messageboard and another, similar one: www.insightvacations.com.
Tours versus independent travel each offer their own pros and cons. I'm assuming that you are not interested in taking mountain walks or hiking in Switzerland, for in that case you would be better off either trying to find a tour company that specialized in outdoor-style vacations, or going the independent route.
I have little experience with tour companies but I've enjoyed reading the opinions of those who have taken such trips on that messageboard and another, similar one: www.insightvacations.com.
Tours versus independent travel each offer their own pros and cons. I'm assuming that you are not interested in taking mountain walks or hiking in Switzerland, for in that case you would be better off either trying to find a tour company that specialized in outdoor-style vacations, or going the independent route.
Feb 10th, 2006 | 06:03 AM
#6
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
I have taken two trips with Trafalgar. One was the Sound of Music tour, through Austria and into Bavaria. The other was an 18 day tour throughout Europe highlights (Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Venice, Munich, Lucerne and Paris) and we stopped in other cities (Sienna, Pisa) to see a few sites. I am really big on organized tours because they take me to the big sites and are inclusive with hotels and some dinners, but they also allow you some time on your own. Plus, the extra side trips are nice as well. We went to Burano on the 18-day tour.
The guides and drivers are excellent and alot of fun. There were some nights we would meet up with the tour guide at the bar in the hotel afterward a night out.
My parents have taken three tours with Trafalgar (one was a European Jaunt, another was the Sound of Music Tour, and one to Ireland). In March, they are taking a tour to Italy with the company.
You will not hear (read?) a bad word about Trafalgar from me. I have always enjoyed the tours and have met some very nice people. A few I still keep in contact with.
I do agree that they are a bit fast paced, with alot of traveling, but that gives you time to rest! Well, at least I slept on the bus most of the time. Sometimes it seemed we were a bit rushed in a city, but I still wouldn't trade my experiences.
The guides and drivers are excellent and alot of fun. There were some nights we would meet up with the tour guide at the bar in the hotel afterward a night out.
My parents have taken three tours with Trafalgar (one was a European Jaunt, another was the Sound of Music Tour, and one to Ireland). In March, they are taking a tour to Italy with the company.
You will not hear (read?) a bad word about Trafalgar from me. I have always enjoyed the tours and have met some very nice people. A few I still keep in contact with.
I do agree that they are a bit fast paced, with alot of traveling, but that gives you time to rest! Well, at least I slept on the bus most of the time. Sometimes it seemed we were a bit rushed in a city, but I still wouldn't trade my experiences.
Feb 10th, 2006 | 11:24 AM
#7
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
I agree with all of the above especially the bit about tours being fast paced - you will be up at 6:00am, have breakfast at 7:00am and be on the road at 8:00am on non-rest days. I think tours in general are designed to give you a "taste" of what a place is like to whet your appetite to come back at another time. I was nervous of going to a non-english speaking country so being with a tour group gave me a sense of security plus the tour company took care of all the arrangements. Now that I have seen the "lay of the land" I would go back as an independant traveller.
