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Post by danaswasko on Sept 17, 2014 16:46:05 GMT
How are the optionals set up during the trip? I imagine you would do the sightseeing tour and then perhaps the optionals would be presented? And then does everyone split up and meet back somewhere? What if you choose not to do an optional?
I have no idea what to expect, so if anyones been on a tour, id love a general outline of what happens during the day and how everyone gets from here to there.
Thanks!
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Post by danaswasko on Sept 17, 2014 16:47:44 GMT
Oh and also, do you ever stop back at the bus during the day? Is there wver a chance to retrieve things, i.e. shoes, jacket.... or is it basically a take everything with you for the day kind of deal?
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Post by Boop on Sept 17, 2014 17:46:27 GMT
How are the optionals set up during the trip? I imagine you would do the sightseeing tour and then perhaps the optionals would be presented? And then does everyone split up and meet back somewhere? What if you choose not to do an optional? I have no idea what to expect, so if anyones been on a tour, id love a general outline of what happens during the day and how everyone gets from here to there. Thanks! Hi danaswaski! During the 1st few days of the tour, the TD will hand out a sheet of optionals that will be available. You can select one or all of them and pay by cc or cash within the time frame given by the TD. If you choose to do an optional the TD will give you the time and location for pickup, likely depart and return from/to the hotel you will be staying at. You don't have to worry about any arrangements, the TD will take care of all that. If you choose not to do a specific optional, then you will have time to shop (yay) or do whatever you want. When you choose not to do an optional, getting from here to there is your responsibility. |
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Post by Boop on Sept 17, 2014 17:51:54 GMT
Oh and also, do you ever stop back at the bus during the day? Is there wver a chance to retrieve things, i.e. shoes, jacket.... or is it basically a take everything with you for the day kind of deal? When you are dropped at a tour site, the bus will be locked and unless the driver remains with the bus you would be unable to return to and take anything from the bus. Take what you need with you on the bus for the day (in a small daypack) and when you depart the bus make sure you take what you need with you. Any valuables should be in the hotel safe or placed in your main luggage under the bus when you depart the hotel (if not returning to the hotel that day). You won't be away from the bus for an entire day, usually when the tour bus stops at a site you won't be away from the bus for more than a few hours. |
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Post by danaswasko on Sept 18, 2014 0:45:06 GMT
Thank you so much! This is a perfect answer. I really appreciate it!!
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Post by tassiedevil on Sept 19, 2014 1:24:18 GMT
Danaswasko, this is based on my experience of the European Delight tour that I took in 2012.
We had a welcome meeting at 5pm at the hotel on the first day and the list of optionals were given out then. We had to make an immediate decision on the first optional as the bus was departing at 6pm for it. The optional was a variance on the Roman Delights optional. It was a nice meal (not a light dinner) in a restaurant directly across the road from the Colosseum and only checked out the sites around Colosseum not all of Rome.
The second day we started with Vatican Museums and Colosseum. The people not doing the optional visited St Peter’s with the TD and then had some free time. All got on the bus and went to the Colosseum. People doing the optional went into the Colosseum, others had free time. Something like Intro to Rome and Piazza Navona was offered in the evening. I didn’t do any of the optionals that day as I had been to all those places. I used the bus as transport into Rome and made my own way back to the hotel in the evening by train.
Michelangelo’s David and Renaissance Highlight was offered the afternoon we arrived in Florence. Pisa was offered the following morning and that evening had the Tuscan Dinner. These were two different optionals.
In Venice we had free time in the morning, Gondola Serenade at noon followed by Lagoon Cruise with Lunch. The Gondola Serenade was supposed to be the previous afternoon but was raining so had included glass blowing instead.
Mount Stanserhorn and Lake Cruise got changed to Mt Pilatus and cruise due to weather and the Folklore and Dinner followed straight after as Folklore and Lunch due to them being double booked. Had afternoon free.
The Seine Cruise and Paris by Night was offered the first night in Paris. Versailles and Moulin Rouge were offered the next day. I only did Moulin Rouge as I had been to Versailles and done a cruise.
Hope this might help you.
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Post by danaswasko on Sept 19, 2014 12:47:55 GMT
Oh how wonderful. Thank you for recounting your trip for me! It seems like ill have more free time than i thought, which is a good thing. There are many optionals i will do, as i have never been to these places. The only one i am stuck on is that i want to go to the lourve so bad, but probably wont have time if i go to versailles! So stuck! Wish that were an optional to. So many things I look forward to! Thank you for getting me more excited! !  |
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Post by danaswasko on Sept 19, 2014 12:59:44 GMT
Danaswasko, this is based on my experience of the European Delight tour that I took in 2012 Oh by the way, since you were there- what is the weather like in swizerland in October? I don't know when you went, but based on your experience? I'm not packing heavy but I don't want to be teeth chattering either lol |
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Post by Boop on Sept 19, 2014 16:57:07 GMT
Danaswasko, this is based on my experience of the European Delight tour that I took in 2012 Oh by the way, since you were there- what is the weather like in swizerland in October? I don't know when you went, but based on your experience? I'm not packing heavy but I don't want to be teeth chattering either lol I was on Best of Switzerland from 01-10 October and it was very warm..too warm for fleece. Travelling through one of the mountain passes did require fleece during the comfort stop, but we weren't there very long and it wasn't a scheduled stop. Other than that, we experienced above normal temperatures. Here is a link for you.... www.accuweather.com/en/ch/zurich/316622/october-weather/316622 |
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Post by chech on Sept 19, 2014 17:07:29 GMT
Yeah, I don't think it'll be teeth chattering cold. If I was going, I might wear my light fleece just to have it in case it turns cold or if the evenings are cold. I don't take sweaters or anything so I only have the fleece to cover me in those eventualities (light weight, doesn't take up a lot of space). The shoulder season can be unpredictable - I learned that on the Bohemian Highlights where it was in the 30s for most of the destinations the two week before I left...but four days into the tour, the temps plummeted and were between 11 and 15 for several days. So, except for tours where cold whether is a near impossibility (like Panama in November), I always throw in my light fleece. I did for my tour of Israel in Dec 09 and needed it in Jerusalem where it was 15 in the day (but 28 at the Dead Sea). I also like the fleece on the plane - it's warm if the plane is cold and if it's not, it makes a great pillow. The other option is to see how it goes and if you see colder weather coming, pick up a souvenir fleece or sweatshirt and you're not only covered, you have a souvenir. That way, if you luck out with great weather like Boop did, it's one less thing to take.  |
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Post by tassiedevil on Sept 20, 2014 6:30:01 GMT
I was there early June and Mt Pilatus had snow! It was very cold and windy. Mount Stanserhorn was worse which is why it was changed. Lucerne itself was warm enough for t-shirts.
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