This isn't a 'trip report', just some of my PERSONAL viewpoints/observations from our recent trip. Yes, we liked it very much but after last years London/Paris ABD trip, I felt this was a notch or two lower.
One area that truly needs attention is the meal selections. I really think some better variety should be provided. Where ABD included lunch/dinner, it was invariably batter fried chicken and batter fried fish and batter fried schnitzel (veal or pork). My granddaughter ate pasta for 4 days running as the selection was not much. We had strudel for dessert most days and the kids all had ice cream. I just felt it really should be upgraded to a bit better cuisine choices. Now I will say that the buffet on night 1 in Vienna was outstanding! It was by far the best buffet I have ever seen with huge varieties of everything including a chocolate fountain which thrilled the kids! Everything tasted good too. Frankly, every meal after that went downhill.
On our final night, the food (again batter fried chicken) was served family style but wasn't hot at all - barely warm. The entertainment was OK at best. The venue was a Best Western dining room which was quite lavishly decorated in medieval decor and suited the entertainment.
The two video screens on the bus worked somewhat sporadically. Regulating sound was almost impossible. Many adults slept and several kids did too. People on the drivers side of the bus had a hard time even seeing the screen - especially those in the rear of the bus.
Prague was interesting, but packed with people - (think MK on Easter and you get the drift!). Apparently, according to the guides, it is like this all of the time! We tried to get across the Charles Bridge in the afternoon (free time on our only day in Prague_ but after literally PUSHING ourselves forward for 25 minutes we had only gotten to the middle of the bridge so we gave up and returned. We had a phenomenal view (after a 15 min walk on our own in the evening) of the Old Town and of the castle. Was Prague worth a 6 hour bus trip? In my view "no.' With so much more to see in Vienna and Salzburg, I think the time would have been better spent divided between those two cities. It seemed as though we gave up a whole day just to travel. There was so much more to see/do ie. Lipizzaner stallions, salt mine tours, crystal caves, Salzburg fortress, Hapsburg palace, Alps etc. (some of which we did on our own as it wasn't on the tour). Don't get me wrong - am I glad I saw Prague - YES, would I go back - No.
It seemed to me that the time in the cities could have been better spent and better allocated. Some of the attractions seemed to be 'second tier' selections, while very nice, there were many other things we would have preferred. When we did have free time, it was usually at 3PM and we had a tour group dinner in the evening, so it didn't leave much time to see the sights, shop, or whatever.
In the plus column - the guides were wonderful and worked incredibly hard. I do admire them very much. The photos they took and then distributed in the booklets to the kids was an exceptionally nice touch. Many of the tour stops were oriented towards the kids which was really nice and not available on other tours such as Tauck. Surprisingly, some of the stops for the kids were much enjoyed by the adults when they saw them too!
I don't know if this is a plus or minus - but the tour seemed more sedate than the London/Paris tour which had so very much to see jammed into it.
I have looked at next year itineraries, and have also looked at Tauck's. Haven't decided yet - this year it was automatically ABD after the super tour last year. Next year I will do further investigation as to me - this one was somewhat of a letdown. even though good in many respects.
One area that truly needs attention is the meal selections. I really think some better variety should be provided. Where ABD included lunch/dinner, it was invariably batter fried chicken and batter fried fish and batter fried schnitzel (veal or pork). My granddaughter ate pasta for 4 days running as the selection was not much. We had strudel for dessert most days and the kids all had ice cream. I just felt it really should be upgraded to a bit better cuisine choices. Now I will say that the buffet on night 1 in Vienna was outstanding! It was by far the best buffet I have ever seen with huge varieties of everything including a chocolate fountain which thrilled the kids! Everything tasted good too. Frankly, every meal after that went downhill.
On our final night, the food (again batter fried chicken) was served family style but wasn't hot at all - barely warm. The entertainment was OK at best. The venue was a Best Western dining room which was quite lavishly decorated in medieval decor and suited the entertainment.
The two video screens on the bus worked somewhat sporadically. Regulating sound was almost impossible. Many adults slept and several kids did too. People on the drivers side of the bus had a hard time even seeing the screen - especially those in the rear of the bus.
Prague was interesting, but packed with people - (think MK on Easter and you get the drift!). Apparently, according to the guides, it is like this all of the time! We tried to get across the Charles Bridge in the afternoon (free time on our only day in Prague_ but after literally PUSHING ourselves forward for 25 minutes we had only gotten to the middle of the bridge so we gave up and returned. We had a phenomenal view (after a 15 min walk on our own in the evening) of the Old Town and of the castle. Was Prague worth a 6 hour bus trip? In my view "no.' With so much more to see in Vienna and Salzburg, I think the time would have been better spent divided between those two cities. It seemed as though we gave up a whole day just to travel. There was so much more to see/do ie. Lipizzaner stallions, salt mine tours, crystal caves, Salzburg fortress, Hapsburg palace, Alps etc. (some of which we did on our own as it wasn't on the tour). Don't get me wrong - am I glad I saw Prague - YES, would I go back - No.
It seemed to me that the time in the cities could have been better spent and better allocated. Some of the attractions seemed to be 'second tier' selections, while very nice, there were many other things we would have preferred. When we did have free time, it was usually at 3PM and we had a tour group dinner in the evening, so it didn't leave much time to see the sights, shop, or whatever.
In the plus column - the guides were wonderful and worked incredibly hard. I do admire them very much. The photos they took and then distributed in the booklets to the kids was an exceptionally nice touch. Many of the tour stops were oriented towards the kids which was really nice and not available on other tours such as Tauck. Surprisingly, some of the stops for the kids were much enjoyed by the adults when they saw them too!
I don't know if this is a plus or minus - but the tour seemed more sedate than the London/Paris tour which had so very much to see jammed into it.
I have looked at next year itineraries, and have also looked at Tauck's. Haven't decided yet - this year it was automatically ABD after the super tour last year. Next year I will do further investigation as to me - this one was somewhat of a letdown. even though good in many respects.
I did one of my trips back in the 80;s as solo
I wish i booked an extra day but i feel i would be lost on my own or not have enough to do or plan myself for the day.
