Anyone going on the european highlights-super saver tour sept 2-16, 2006?

This is my first time to europe and I am a little worried about the hotels not being centrally located. If anyone has been on this tour and has tips for getting around I would appreciate it.

I have also been reading these boards and have noticed a lot of people taking all or most of the optionals offered. I've done a lot of research and plan on exploring mostly on my own, since there is so much I want to see and do (within the limited time frame) that is not included in optionals. I am hoping our tour director won't push the optionals on us, as I have read.

Also, anyone know what the weather will be like in Sept. for this tour? I am from Florida, so 75F is cool for us and I don't want to overpack, especially with the new air restrictions.

I would also like to know what the age range is for people going on this tour. I am 24, my sisters are 33 and 35, and my mom is, umm, older than us.

I recently did the European Highlights tour. Ages ranged from 12yrs to 75yrs, comprising about 8 teenages, a few single young women, young, middle aged and elderly couples. Some of the Hotels were a long way out of town. In particular Amsterdam, Rome, Florence. Paris is easy to get around as a Metro Station was nearby and the hotel had a free shuttle bus to the station. Innsbruck Hotel and Lucerne Hotel are the only ones in the centre of town. Some days the tour bus does not drop off at the hotel until very late as in Amsterdam it was about 10pm at night. The trip from London to Amsterdam was a long tiring day starting with wake up call at 4.15am, arriving in Amsterdam about 6pm. The option of a dinner cruise was not offered, just the cruise at 8pm. In Rome we were dropped off near the Spanish Steps and then picked up from Piazza Navona after dinner then taken to our Hotel. The Hotel restaurant was booking out so if you did not do the optional Rome Dinner on the second night you found only two outlets for dining. In Florence the Hotel is in an industrial area near the airport, rather isolated. In Weinheim the Hotel was near a railway station but I'm not sure where you could go and it was nearing dinner time when we arrived there.
Having said all that I did enjoy the tour but I took a lot of the options and for me I think that was the only way to go as I would have been lost on my own and without the TD knowledge I would not have understood the history or culture of the cities. My favourite city was Venice.

p.s. The weather was cool to mild expect for Rome which was hot. I found 3/4 pants, teeshirts and a light jacket the go. I took smart casual for dining but never worn them. Also an umbrella was used in Germany, Austria and on return to London (it always rains in London no matter what the season) I wore sandels one day, but found sneakers better, there is a lot of walking and climbing steep steps so need a good comfortable pair of shoes.

Thanks for your reply. The tips are really helpful, it sounds like it will be great trip!

My husband has a question regarding the European Highlights tour. As we don't fully understand the terms used regarding "see", "view", etc. he was wondering if this tour saw most things from the bus without actually stopping to take pictures of much of it. Did you find this to be true? He's afraid that he's going to end up spending a lot of time on the bus trying to take pictures through the window rather than actually stopping for a proper photo.

Hi Canadian Mom,

welcome to the Bulletin Board.

Insight define their usage of the "itinerary" terms like "see", "view", etc., on their website in the Travel Tips webpage. Here is what they state on that page:

quote:

TRIP TERMINOLOGY
At Insight, our approach to touring is planning a vacation the way you would do it yourself. And, in order to provide you with a balanced itinerary, we concentrate on some areas more than others. This glossary will help you understand the different terms used to describe your itinerary.

SIGHTSEEING TOUR: A guide will accompany the group to visit local areas of interest.

ORIENTATION TOUR: Places of interest are pointed out, and then you are free to explore on your own.

VISIT: This means the coach will stop with enough time to see a specific sight.

VIEW: A photo opportunity or brief stop of about 15 minutes.

SEE: Your coach will drive by the site.

TIME TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER: Free time to do as you please.

A DAY TO RELAX: No planned activities. Time for your own independent explorations.

TRANSFERS: Motorcoach or train transportation from the airport to your hotel or city center in the UK, Europe and North America.

LOCAL GUIDE: Professional guides with specialized expertise in a specific city or region, who guide you on a visit to key attractions.

TOUR DIRECTOR: Tour escort who manages your entire trip, and is responsible to see that your vacation runs smoothly. He or she travels with you, helping with everything from coordinating hotel check-in and language translation, to advice on the best restaurants and sights to see.

By the way, there are links to several tour journals written by past travellers on the European Highlights tour in the Where Are all the Tales? BB topic.

phil

This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

Hi Canadian Mom.

I can assure you and your husband you will really enjoy the tour and have ample time to get out and about and take photos. For instance - View Cologne Cathedral - we were dropped off near the Cathedral for a lunch stop, about 2 hours. It allowed us plenty of time to go inside the Cathedral, eat lunch in a cafe, shop for souvenirs without rushing. See Loreley Rock - this was on a boat cruise down the Rhine which is part of the tour, very relaxing, spectacular views.
See 'Mad' King Ludwig's Fairytale Castle - again a lunch stop allowed for plenty of time to take photo's eat lunch and walk around the village of Neuschwanstein. See Juliet's balcony, also a lunch stop. We brought lunch at an outdoor market stall, shopped for souvenirs and still found plenty of time to visit the balcony. Our TD was very good and tried to make sure we were on the road promptly each morning so we would have ample time for sightseeing.

Thanks Julie, I really appreciate your answer. As you look back on the trip, are there things that you would recommend that we do or not do as far as optionals, etc. I've been on a bus tour before, but my husband has not, so he's a bit more worried about the experience. Were you happy with the hotel choices? I don't expect ultra fancy, but I do expect clean. Any advice for us? Thanks again.

Oops, I apologize for calling you Julie. Thank you, Junie, for your help.

I did most of the optionals offered and was pleased I did. Not all optionals advertised are offered it is up to the TD to decide at the time. In Amsterdam, only the cruise was offered not the dinner and that was okay as it left us with time to wander the streets, this is where we used the ATM. I had changed some money over at the Dover terminal while waiting to board the Ferry - Don't do that as it cost me commission and on the Ferry they have an exchange desk commission free. Do the Red Light District walk, it's offered free, and a real hoot. Rhine Cruise is free and part of the tour.
We were not offered the Folklore show in Innsbruck but had plenty of time for sightseeing. Venice - we did not go to the Glass blowing demonstration as it was not of interest to us, glass is very expensive, we used that time to explore on our own. Take the lunch cruise to Burano Is if offered. The seaford lunch is superb and the Island has a lot to offer. Diffently do the Gondola ride, a photographer takes a photo of you from the bank
and they are produced next morning. In Rome we did the Vatican, Sistene Chapel, Colosseum a very long day, we didn't eat at lunch stop at Vatican nor the Colosseum but you can grab a bite from stall vendors. Rome was a fascinating place we loved it all Trevi Fountain, Piazza's, great. We didn't do the Roman Dinner, we went to a Pizza Restaurant around the corner from the Hotel, it was very nice and a lot of the tour also went there. Paris is best doing most of the options unless you are happy to use the Metro and explore for yourself. Because English is my only langauge I was a bit hesitant about wandering off on our own, but I found in hospitality nearly everyone spoke english and were helpful with advice. We were given a map of Paris and also in Florence I found following them easy. We didn't do the Paris Cabaret. There was a supermarket and shops behind the Hotel. We shopped there both nights for our meals - Chinese take out and chicken & rolls from the supermarket. Except for London there are no tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms so if that concerns you, take a mini electric jug, etc also an iron
although I managed without them. Only stop without a hairdryer was Amsterdam but you can borrow from reception. Bus stops frequently at roadside servo's where you can stock up on drinks nibblies etc. All of them served good quality food reasonable price, mostly self serve buffet style. Plenty of McDonald's for a quick easy bite. Don't forget to have coins for restrooms, no money, no go. Anywhere from 20c, 50c to 1 euro. Occassionaly just a donation. Hotels are mostly out of town, but by then you are only looking for a bed for the night. The days are pretty full. The only complaint is the the Amsterdam Hotel, way out, no aircon, old. Innsbruck, Lucerne, good, centre of town. Paris, very good, near Metro,
Rome, out of town but okay, pool outdoor bar was nice to relax by. Some breakfasts are just coffee & cake & rolls but on the whole most were very good buffet style all you can eat, We used to fill up at Breakfast. If buying Cuckoo-clock, cheaper in Austria, Switzerland very dear for souviners. Just hang on to your money belt in Rome & Paris, we didn't have a problem but we did have gypses and beggars annoying us. You will have a great time.