Odysseys unlimited vs Tauck
 

WE've taken several Tauck tours (and loved them) and are considering Odysseys Unlimited. Has anyone taken both and can compare them? Thanks
Dick

We're considering booking a Tauck tour of the Aegean in Sept. '07. I've priced all the elements of their itinerary (same hotels and the Wind Star cruise) and I come up with a total that is $4,000 less than Tauck's price. This doesn't include the cost of transfers, meals in Athens and Istanbul or guided tours. I'm not adverse to spending the extra money for the Tauck tour, but I would like to know what they do that makes them worth it. Since you've traveled with Tauck, and are happy with them, I'm wondering if you can tell me why it's better to go with them than piece the trip together ourselves. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

The largest reason to buy any tour is comfort and peace of mind. Everything is taken care of for you - especially important in a foreign country (to say nothing about one where there is political unrest. That said, the qualityof the places you stay, meals you have and, most important, that of the guides you have make it worth it - at least for us. We've traveled on our own a lot but now prefer touring. If you have specific questions, let me know.

We will go on our 10th Tauck tour in Sept., having done two others this year. I know many other tour companies are less expensive, but I like that they are pretty much all inclusive, gorgeous top-notch ,in every way, meals are anything you want, mostly not buffet, and many times not in the hotels we stay in...guides have been well-versed in every part of the itinerary, more than helpful for those times that we are free to explore on our own. I do wish they'd include air and gratuities in their price. An example of one trip, last Sept. we did an Amsterdam-Budapest rivercruise and would not have spent another cent, except for a little wine, though I notice this year's rivercruise includes wine. I have looked at numerous other companies, most of our friends use Grand Circle and are well satisfied. I just think we get what we pay for, first class all the way. I am not at all adverse to using another tour company, just haven't done it. It always surprises me that so many others on our tours say they will never use another company, we all seem to be so happy with Tauck.