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Post by Tonnet on Aug 22, 2015 21:37:17 GMT
While 2016 seems a long way off (4 months), it creeps up very quickly.
My first event for 2016 is a 16 day coach tour of New Zealand - 8 days on each island. It is scheduled for February, the very best time to travel there.
Although I have circumnavigated both islands I have never had the opportunity to do much exploring. The tour is organised by Casey Australia Tours in conjunction with Grand Pacific Tours of New Zealand - very comprehensive coverage!
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Post by tiffany on Aug 26, 2015 11:43:41 GMT
I’m off to Eastern Europe at the end of September, 2016, with a stop in London on the way there. I already paid my deposit in order to take advantage of Trafalgar’s promotion and pay the 2015 prices. I hope to be able to pay early in order to get the additional 10% off, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that after paying for Greece and then Christmas. We’ll see.
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Post by lainie on Sept 2, 2015 3:40:29 GMT
We've just booked trafalgar's Amazing Ireland for next year. A bit early but taking advantage of early discounts. Now we just have to wait to see if it's a definite departure.
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Post by tiffany on Sept 8, 2015 11:57:16 GMT
I loved Ireland Lainie, and hope to get back there someday. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Let’s hope your tour date becomes definite.
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Post by lainie on Sept 8, 2015 21:04:59 GMT
We have 14days in Ireland and then 9 days in London. This is our 5th Trafalgar tour and we've never had one cancelled yet. So here's hoping this one won't be.
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Post by tiffany on Sept 9, 2015 11:58:56 GMT
I’ve only had one tour cancelled on me out of 12, which was the Best of Holland tour, but I knew it was not a definite departure when I booked it. Trafalgar gave me the option of cancelling, transferring to the same tour leaving the week before, or transferring to another tour all together. I transferred to the tour leaving the week before, and, as it was cheaper, I got a refund, which allowed me to spend an extra night in Amsterdam. They even paid the cost of changing my flight, as I booked it through them. I normally book my own flight, but I do recommend booking through Trafalgar if your tour is not a definite departure.
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Post by skippynz on Oct 5, 2015 6:18:22 GMT
Hi all, Jill & I did 3 Trafalgar trips and an Avalon Waterways river cruise back in 2013 a total of 3 months and we both thought that would be it. But we had the bug and so we are back to Europe next year. We have booked 3 Trafalgar tours, Bohemian Highlights, Secrets of France and Secrets of Italy. We will be away for nearly 2 months in August and September, with another wedding anniversary to celebrate in Europe, last time in Lucerne next year in Baveno. Will also spend about 3 weeks doing our own thing in France. Have got the tours at 2015 prices and all the available discounts. Looking forward to it and enjoying the research that I am doing. Cheers Ross & Jill
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Post by californian on Oct 5, 2015 15:19:45 GMT
That's great, Ross and Jill, and congratulations celebrating another wedding anniversary, I am here sitting at the computer a little green with envy; enjoy the plans, the preparations and the trip.
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Post by poodlegirl on Oct 11, 2015 22:40:42 GMT
I hope to put a deposit down next week for Trafalgar's Iceland tour. Had a very small taste this July with an Iceland air stop-over.
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Post by chech on Oct 12, 2015 9:15:40 GMT
If you can, I highly recommend extra time there to do some of the amazing excursions around Reykjavik....going down inside a volcano...walking through a lava tube...horseback riding through a lava field....whale watching...and more.
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Post by poodlegirl on Oct 12, 2015 15:23:05 GMT
Thanks for the advice, Cheech! Will certainly want to add on as much time as I can afford.
Hope your feet are co-operating and keep enjoying down-under.
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Post by chech on Oct 13, 2015 8:45:31 GMT
The toes are cooperating! Those gel sleeves are amazing.
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Post by Tonnet on Nov 1, 2015 22:05:46 GMT
I am always looking for unusual destinations and have just discovered a very interesting one for next July.
I'm off to Mauritius and Madagascar especially designed for photography and enjoying the various cultures (7 main ethnic groups in Madagascar) with a featured trip to Lemur Island. Bonus is that the tour is restricted to 10 members only with two guides escorting us from Perth. It promises to be a very interesting trip!
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Post by Tonnet on Nov 1, 2015 22:07:58 GMT
My third expedition for the year is Canada in August - full details not set in stone at the present.
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Post by chech on Nov 1, 2015 22:24:13 GMT
Madagascar!! Take me with youuuuuuuuu!!! LOL I was just mulling what to do in the spring and was thinking of a round-the-world-whirl that goes St. John's-Victoria BC-Seoul-Bangkok-Perth-Dubai-Toronto-St.John's....with a few days in each spot. I can get around the world with fewer flights than it took to see Australia (18). Just mulling. End of tour mulling. 2 months, 4 day to Cuba otherwise.
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Post by purvis on Nov 2, 2015 3:58:58 GMT
Hoping if all goes well and my health holds out I can book Trafalgar's 8day tour of Ireland " Secrets of Ireland" in June of 2016. At 81yrs. of age I won't book the tour until at least 3-4months in advance. As the saying goes " At 80 years of age you don't buy green bananas. My sons are thinking their mother has lost it but we'll see. What Irish descendant with name Patricia wouldn't want to spend several nites in an Irish castle . Purvis
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Post by chech on Nov 2, 2015 4:26:21 GMT
Nope. You haven't lost it. I've been on tour with people well into their 80s...and only one of them should have stayed home (only cause she was suffering from severe memory issues and was travelling alone!). In Panama, one woman was 85 and we didn't think she was a day over 65. In Iceland (a physical tour) we had a 90 year Battle of the Atlantic veteran who didn't seem a day over 70. In the hot Yucatan, a mother and daughter were there and the mother was 89. Never though for a moment she was over 80 (and only cause her daughter was 62). And in Vietnam...one couple were both 89. I could have sworn they were 18. And one tourmate said she had done a tour with a 96 year old. Nothing surprises me anymore. As they say, keep on trekkin'
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Post by jinxie on Nov 2, 2015 23:51:32 GMT
We have booked Trafalgar's European Impressions in July. We are going a week ahead of time and will see a bit of London. Right now we are deciding on a couple of days in Brighton or Wales as well. That changes day by day! After the tour it is back to England and up to Lincoln and Leeds to explore where my family lived. Then, up to Scotland for a few days and then home. 28 days in all.
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Post by Tulips on Nov 4, 2015 0:42:37 GMT
I'm very close to booking Africa for 2016. Just mulling which tour.
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Post by Tulips on Nov 5, 2015 3:02:40 GMT
So, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia it is.
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Post by bet on Nov 5, 2015 4:44:24 GMT
So, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia it is. What a great adventure Tulips. I've heard great reviews of Botswana.
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Post by bet on Nov 5, 2015 4:49:54 GMT
Turkey and back home to NZ are on my agenda for 2016.
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Post by tiffany on Nov 5, 2015 12:31:31 GMT
Turkey and back home to NZ is on my agenda for 2016. You’ll love Turkey Bet. Have you decided on a tour yet?
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Post by chech on Nov 5, 2015 19:40:45 GMT
So, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia it is. Cool. Which company and tour did you decide on?
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Post by bet on Nov 6, 2015 11:27:31 GMT
Turkey and back home to NZ is on my agenda for 2016. You’ll love Turkey Bet. Have you decided on a tour yet? I'm really looking forward to Turkey. I've always wanted to go but have never made it, so here's hoping to 2016. Im hoping too the world doesn't get any crazier in the meantime. I'm looking at 2 tours but not with Trafalgar. I will decide in the new year after my Christmas holiday.
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Post by tiffany on Nov 6, 2015 12:14:24 GMT
You’ll love Turkey Bet. Have you decided on a tour yet? I'm really looking forward to Turkey. I've always wanted to go but have never made it, so here's hoping to 2016. Im hoping too the world doesn't get any crazier in the meantime. I'm looking at 2 tours but not with Trafalgar. I will decide in the new year after my Christmas holiday. I hope it happens for you Bet. I know you’ve been wanting to go to Turkey for a while now.
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Post by Tulips on Nov 6, 2015 22:38:07 GMT
So, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia it is. Cool. Which company and tour did you decide on? Goway and the Magic one. I had extensive discussions with numerous people and it was felt the train would be a disappointment because you would see Africa and the animals whizz by. The world in one country only had a half day game drive and the other one I was looking at had long days on the bus and didn't include Chobe or Victoria Falls. The be one I chose has at least 4 game drives and two water safaris, has an optional to Robben Island, spends a couple of days at Victoria falls etc.
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Post by chech on Nov 6, 2015 23:28:28 GMT
Good choice. It's giving you the best of the region for sure - Kruger, the Cape and the Falls region. And you might get to do more game drives on your own. Look for early mornings when you are free. I did two extra cause my morning departure wasn't until 10 or 11 and you can do 5 am to 9 am game drives to catch the animals when they're just getting up. This tour is pricier than I expected. Almost triple the cost of World in One Country. Wonder why that is....airfare was dirt cheap down there. Must be the Kruger and Chobe choices of accommodation. Can't beat a floating hotel! LOL When are you going? Adding extra days on the end? (More game drives! LOL)
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Post by Tulips on Nov 6, 2015 23:40:04 GMT
Good choice. It's giving you the best of the region for sure - Kruger, the Cape and the Falls region. And you might get to do more game drives on your own. Look for early mornings when you are free. I did two extra cause my morning departure wasn't until 10 or 11 and you can do 5 am to 9 am game drives to catch the animals when they're just getting up. This tour is pricier than I expected. Almost triple the cost of World in One Country. Wonder why that is....airfare was dirt cheap down there. Must be the Kruger and Chobe choices of accommodation. Can't beat a floating hotel! LOL When are you going? Adding extra days on the end? (More game drives! LOL) It's pricey because it's all inclusive and it is high end accommodation. I hemmed and hawed. I really did, but when I took a step back and told my TA (who is a personal friend and photographer like me) what I wanted, she took the time to go through each itinerary and tell me the pros and cons of each based on what I told her. I was also told I would not really miss out by not doing the Garden Route. So, in then taking your advice to not choose a trip based on price, I picked my "holiday of a lifetime"
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Post by chech on Nov 6, 2015 23:48:09 GMT
LOL...why not? It's still a reasonable price compared to what you'd pay in some European countries. Given that it's so cheap there, you'll find the accommodations should really be way up there. And you get a piece of the Garden Route with the visit to the Cape of Good Hope area....and if you do the Winelands tour, you'll see a bit of it as well. (I skipped it because I used that day to see Robben Island). Will you try to get up to Table Mountain? We got up on the way back from the Cape drive...the weather was good so we went (the next day the cable car was shut down due to wind). We took a taxi back to the hotel and the cabs are dirt cheap - $2 got me down to the waterfront from my hotel - about 8 km or so.
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