I am feeling so excited about this up coming trip. We actually leave NZ on the 9 August and our trip is not until the 2 September.
Did you have much time between your tours?
Our schedule is a bit tight and I am worried that the airlines that I have booked in Europe might let us down. Ryanair, Thomasfly and Air Berlin and still need to sort out the Amsterdam flight. How did you find this side of your trip?
Looking forward to the lot, but I suppose my highlights of the trip at the moment would be Italy, Austria and Ludwigs Castle. As you said, that some areas might totally surprise me.
We are going to stay in Germany for a few days as we have friends there.
I am scared of highs, so how was the Switzerland excursion, did you do it?
How much did the extra excursions cost?
Did you stop often, or were you on the bus for quite long priods of time?
Did the TD and Driver say if they always do this tour - hopefully so as they sound great.
You seemed quite a small group - was the bus not full?
Was the hop on hop off bus in London good, as we thought of doing that also.
Many thanks for your great info.

we had 29 on our tour which had its pros and cons..pros were that seat rotation was never a problem and we just sat in different area of the bus the next day, also meant at times we all had the whole seat to ourself and everyone got to experience sitting in the front seats at least once and sometimes twice..cons were that we were unable to do the Lake Lucerne cruise or mozart concert because we didnt have the numbers. Our options cost $1600au for hubby and l to do eveything else on offer. The nights we didnt have an evening meal provided were when we had options including dinner..its all expensive in the UK and Europe no matter where you eat so was wise to do the options that provided a meal and drinks. YES l too am scared of heights and l did the railway and cable car rides up to the stanzerhorn in Switzerland. There is a revolving restaurant and views to die for at the top. Had the most wonderful weiner scnitzel there and apple strudel. We actually had snow still around but was so hot the day we went my hubby wore shorts and T shirt. The drive is always broken up into stops for meals including morning and afternoon teas so even on the long drive days you dont travel for much more than 2 hours without a stop. The tour director we had does Europe tours only but was heading off to do a 31 day European voyager tour after hours so they must swap the tours they do. Hope you get Brad..even for those who dont like history you will by the time the tour has finished..imagine having King Louis xvi of France described as a cross between Bill Gates and Elton John and you see even those with limited historical knowledge will picture a rich guy with ostentatious taste.
The hop on and off tour of London was well worth the 19 pound tickets.It also included a cruise of the Thames. It also gave you a couple of alternative routes that you could get on and off as you wished. We used it to see all the sights, including the tower of london, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, the National Gallery to name but a few. We went on three tours and spent extra days in London before each one started then flew home from Amsterdam to Tokyo to Cairns. Schipol airport is huge and l dont think you will have much problems with your flights think every airline possible leaves and arrives from here.

How did you find the hotels and meals that were included?
Have you any negative bits or advise for us?
What was it like the morning that the tour departed. I think this tour leaves about 6.45am. Did you have many not staying at the hotel? What time did you have to meet in the lobby and did you have a sort of get together the night before?
How long were you away and are you planning your next!!!

Sorry just reading some old comments and see that you stayed at the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, how did you find it? We are thinking of staying at the Thistle Euston Hotel.

sorry for the delay, have started writing my tour tales...have already posted days 1 & 2.
the thistle Marble Arch was terrific but be warned its expensive. We wanted to be close to Oxford street and of course its so close to Hyde park and the tube. We even walked from here to the westend to see a live theatre performance. All our meals were pretty good on the trip with the exception of one!.We informed our tour director just so that Insight can do something about it for other visiting groups. I think it was just bad luck on our part that we were served last on a night where there were lots of groups staying and they simply ran out of food before the could serve everyone. We basically got the smallest amount of meat and hardly any vegies. On the whole there really wasnt anything negative during this tour. i thank the tour director for that. We expected things to be different and they were. Thats why you travel.Our group bonded really well and we were a very diverse group. Nobody whinged so that made it easier for evryone to enjoy the trip. The thistle chain is very good.

I will have to have a look for your Tour Tales.
Which show did you see in London and where did you purchase your tickets?
What age group were on the tour?

hi Mainz, we went to see Mamma Mia...the hotel concierge booked the tickets for us and we chose our centre seats in the dress circle off the theatre plan..it cost a few extra pounds, not much extra but gave us piece of mind...we walked from the thistle Marble arch, travelling along Oxford street down Regent street to Piccadily then to Leceister square...shopping and taking in the sights as we went. Dropped in to Hamleys toy store and meandered our way towards the theatre area...we had a leisdurely lunch, spent a couple of hours at the National Gallery ( free entry here ), watched the pidgeons in Trafalgar square and soaked up the atmosphere. We attended a 5pm theatre session..we then walked back to the hotel still a buzz with all the Abba songs. was a wonderful day and a definite highlight of our time in London.
hmmm our group was aged from about 30 to 75 but when your touring it doesnt matter what age people are,,,seems like travelling crosses generation divides and everyone just gets along enjoying the same thing together.

That sounds great, I actually went to Momma Mia in Auckland but definitely want to see a show while in London.
We are early 50's, but quite young at heart as we bring up two grandchildren aged 4 and 5.
Did you find the days really tiring on the trip and what time did you have to be up and ready each morning?

im in my forties Mainz and we had early starts...6 to 6.30 every day and yes we found the trip tiring, the occasional power nap on the coach ensured you were ready to go again..but was okay...we did two more tours following this one and neither of them lived up to the European Adventure. Being first time travellers we were buzzing on Adrenaline as we crossed country borders and took in new sights.

Gosh, I just can't wait to fly out of NZ.
We booked last November and with this website and the Traveladvisor Website, it has made the preparation of the trip even more exciting. Instead of just booking and counting the sleeps!
Our travel agent must think us a pain though, as we check out every hotel etc first on the websites.
We would like to do a Canada and Alaska trip in a couple of years time also, so that is why we have are trying the two different tour companies.
Are you planning any future trips?
I wander why not so many people choose the European Adventurer Tour, it is hard to find anyone who has been on or is going? Maybe because it is abit dearer with going to Austria. But that is a highlight for us.