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Post by chech on Oct 1, 2014 1:19:53 GMT
Yeah, there's a section on a train. The biggest difference with Insight is the legroom on the bus. I've found the hotels to be comparable to TT.
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Post by marielouise on Oct 1, 2014 3:45:32 GMT
I enjoyed your tale, Tiffany, it was too bad that your TD wouldn't let you do what you wanted to do.
I would like to take the Insight tour one day and I do enjoy the extra leg room, being tall. I think sometimes more things are included with them and the food may be better. I have done more tours with Insight than Trafalgar.
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Post by Boop on Oct 1, 2014 6:04:07 GMT
Last question, I promise..............are Insights prices comparable to Trafalgar's?
Thanks!!
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Post by tiffany on Oct 1, 2014 11:49:50 GMT
I normally prefer to go to one country at a time, as I feel like you see more that way, and looked at The Best of Switzerland tour. The problem is that Trafalgar doesn’t offer a Best of Austria tour, and if you want to see Austria, you need to see it with either Switzerland or Germany. As I have already been to Germany, I decided to do this tour. Overall this is a good tour, but I felt like it was too rushed and should be a day or two longer in order to properly see everything on the itinerary. Of course, that would increase the price of the tour.
It’s too bad that Bet didn’t get this link before the Trafalgar forum closed. She was supposed to go on this tour, but when her tour date didn’t become guaranteed, she transferred to Insight's Best of Switzerland tour. I would have liked to have read about her tour.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 1, 2014 12:01:00 GMT
Hi Boop, I’ve gone on two Insight tours, and I do find them to be a bit more expensive than Trafalgar. Because they have more leg room on the coach, they have less seats to sell, so I guess they have to charge more to make up for the money lost by selling less seats. I think the maximum seats on an Insight coach is 40 or 41.
I do think that Insight does include more than Trafalgar. As an example, when I was in Spain with Insight, there was a Trafalgar group at the Alhambra Palace at the same time as us. We, however, had an included visit of both the Palace and gardens, while the Trafalgar group only had a guided tour of the Palace, and had to pay extra if they wanted to see the gardens during their free time. Also, while in Portugal with Insight, our tour of the Jeronimos Monastery included the cloisters, which you have to pay to see, while my Trafalgar tour only included the monastery, and this was a First Class tour, not a costsaver.
I’ve also heard that Insight stays at hotels that are closer to the city centre, but I’m not sure if this is true. I’ve been on Trafalgar tours where there were Insight groups staying at the same hotel and vice versa. Maybe they have one or two better hotels, but overall, I think they use the same hotels as Trafalgar.
As I’m only 5’5”, I don’t have a problem with the leg room on the Trafalgar coaches, however, I can understand why taller people would prefer Insight. I will usually look at Trafalgar first, and, if they don’t offer what I want, I’ll look at Insight.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 1, 2014 12:05:01 GMT
Hi Boop, if you did go back to Switzerland, I think your chances of getting Miranda as a tour director are pretty slim. She told us that Trafalgar was trying to push her out, as she was close to retirement, however, she was hoping to get hired for two or three tours a year. I’m not if Trafalgar will bring her back next year though. She did ask us all to give her an excellent review in our review, so that they would hire her for a few tours next year, but I don’t know if that will be enough for them to bring her back. Personally, I think it’s time for her to retire, but maybe she needs to keep working.
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Post by chech on Oct 1, 2014 13:25:52 GMT
Last question, I promise..............are Insights prices comparable to Trafalgar's? Thanks!! Yeah, as Tiffany notes, they can be a bit more but they have those little extras....but not exorbitantly more. All my Insight tours were outside continental Europe (Israel, Jordan, Iceland and Canyonlands USA) so they're locations where it's hard to comment on centrality of hotels. I do know the hotel we had in Moab and Bryce in the US were mucho better than the TT one (the TD showed us where they were staying). We waved...and smiled as we passed by. Insight also limits their numbers to 40 (though I've never had that many on any of the 4 I did). Compare the two Swiss tours. The Insight one is the longest offered by both companies but a little research will show what you're paying more for. For me, just having a full 15 days inside one country is worth every penny.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 1, 2014 14:06:01 GMT
I agree Chech. If affordable, the 15 day tour of Switzerland with Insight would be my recommendation as well. If I could do it over again, I think I would have looked into the Insight tour instead of the tour I just did. Maybe I’ll go back again someday.
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Post by Boop on Oct 1, 2014 16:47:33 GMT
I normally prefer to go to one country at a time, as I feel like you see more that way, and looked at The Best of Switzerland tour. The problem is that Trafalgar doesn’t offer a Best of Austria tour, and if you want to see Austria, you need to see it with either Switzerland or Germany. As I have already been to Germany, I decided to do this tour. Overall this is a good tour, but I felt like it was too rushed and should be a day or two longer in order to properly see everything on the itinerary. Of course, that would increase the price of the tour. It’s too bad that Bet didn’t get this link before the Trafalgar forum closed. She was supposed to go on this tour, but when her tour date didn’t become guaranteed, she transferred to Insight's Best of Switzerland tour. I would have liked to have read about her tour. Yes, I agree that doing one country at a time is preferable. I think increasing the number of days and the price accordingly would be a good decision for the Best of Switzerland. I would have loved having a couple more days....to shop! LOL!!
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Post by Boop on Oct 1, 2014 16:53:41 GMT
Hi Boop, if you did go back to Switzerland, I think your chances of getting Miranda as a tour director are pretty slim. She told us that Trafalgar was trying to push her out, as she was close to retirement, however, she was hoping to get hired for two or three tours a year. I’m not if Trafalgar will bring her back next year though. She did ask us all to give her an excellent review in our review, so that they would hire her for a few tours next year, but I don’t know if that will be enough for them to bring her back. Personally, I think it’s time for her to retire, but maybe she needs to keep working. Yeah, if I didn't get Miranda I'd likely end up with the TD I had and then I'd be forced to jump off the nearest mountain...as for the reviews, I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable filling another one out.
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Post by Boop on Oct 1, 2014 16:57:13 GMT
Last question, I promise..............are Insights prices comparable to Trafalgar's? Thanks!! Yeah, as Tiffany notes, they can be a bit more but they have those little extras....but not exorbitantly more. All my Insight tours were outside continental Europe (Israel, Jordan, Iceland and Canyonlands USA) so they're locations where it's hard to comment on centrality of hotels. I do know the hotel we had in Moab and Bryce in the US were mucho better than the TT one (the TD showed us where they were staying). We waved...and smiled as we passed by. Insight also limits their numbers to 40 (though I've never had that many on any of the 4 I did). Compare the two Swiss tours. The Insight one is the longest offered by both companies but a little research will show what you're paying more for. For me, just having a full 15 days inside one country is worth every penny. Thanks! I think 15 days would be blissful in Switzerland, I think the Glacier Express alone would be worth it! It looks like a very good tour and I like the fact that my 5' 9" would have more room on the bus!!
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Post by tiffany on Oct 1, 2014 17:38:21 GMT
Hi Boop, if you did go back to Switzerland, I think your chances of getting Miranda as a tour director are pretty slim. She told us that Trafalgar was trying to push her out, as she was close to retirement, however, she was hoping to get hired for two or three tours a year. I’m not if Trafalgar will bring her back next year though. She did ask us all to give her an excellent review in our review, so that they would hire her for a few tours next year, but I don’t know if that will be enough for them to bring her back. Personally, I think it’s time for her to retire, but maybe she needs to keep working. Yeah, if I didn't get Miranda I'd likely end up with the TD I had and then I'd be forced to jump off the nearest mountain...as for the reviews, I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable filling another one out. Hi Boop, Miranda wasn’t all bad, she was just a bit of a control freak and didn’t manage our time very well. She was very good, however, with the women on our tour who had mobility issues (and really shouldn’t have been on coach tour). This women also got a chest infection at the end of the tour, and Miranda went out of her way to help this women. That being said, I would not want her as my tour director again. It sounds like the tour director you had on the Best of Switzerland tour was worse that Miranda.
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Post by solaria on Oct 1, 2014 20:36:04 GMT
I do think that Insight does include more than Trafalgar. As an example, when I was in Spain with Insight, there was a Trafalgar group at the Alhambra Palace at the same time as us. We, however, had an included visit of both the Palace and gardens, while the Trafalgar group only had a guided tour of the Palace, and had to pay extra if they wanted to see the gardens during their free time. hi there what year was thIs? we were on a tt tour 2011 and both alhambra and the gardens were included so perhaps with feedback they changed it? I chose that tour because of Alhambra I saw on a travel documentary and it was extra special as we toured it on my birthday! cheers J
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Post by tiffany on Oct 2, 2014 0:48:30 GMT
I do think that Insight does include more than Trafalgar. As an example, when I was in Spain with Insight, there was a Trafalgar group at the Alhambra Palace at the same time as us. We, however, had an included visit of both the Palace and gardens, while the Trafalgar group only had a guided tour of the Palace, and had to pay extra if they wanted to see the gardens during their free time. hi there what year was thIs? we were on a tt tour 2011 and both alhambra and the gardens were included so perhaps with feedback they changed it? I chose that tour because of Alhambra I saw on a travel documentary and it was extra special as we toured it on my birthday! cheers J Hi Solaris, I was there in 2008. I guess Trafalger changed it's itinerary if you saw the gardens while there in 2011.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 2, 2014 9:41:30 GMT
Thanks Tiffany! I really enjoyed your tale.
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Post by mary on Oct 4, 2014 2:25:42 GMT
I really enjoyed your tour tale. Too bad about the Tour Director. Maybe someone was left behind on her tour at one time, maybe someone was lost and held up the group or maybe she is just a control freak. I'm glad you had a good experience despite the Tour Director. There's likely a good reason TT wants her to retire.
Mary
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Post by tiffany on Oct 4, 2014 16:31:07 GMT
Thanks Mary. I too think that Miranda lost someone on a past tour, and that's why she didn't want anyone to go off on their own. I can't think of any other reason she'd be like that. Overall I had a great time, but I still think the tour should be at least one day longer.
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Post by bet on Oct 6, 2014 9:26:31 GMT
Hi Tiffany, I haven't long returned and fortunately found this forum. What a shame that the S&A tour didn't live up to expectations and the tour director wasn't the best, if its any consolation I had a similar experience with my Insight's Country Roads of Switzerland Tour including a rather bad tour director. Its disappointing as im a big Swiss fan and have been to Switzerland many times before and the tour didnt do Switzerland justice. From my experience I doubt I will travel with Insight again, not worth the extra $$. There were only 25 on tour but not one left satisfied because of the guide. On the other hand my Trafalgar Costsaver Spain, Morocco and Portugal tour was fantastic including a wonderful travel director. In fact it felt that my Costsaver tour was the premium tour and not my Insight, despite the obivious drawbacks like having 51 people on my costsaver..... Im considering writing a tour review, it will be good to compare it with your S&A tour and Trafalgars Best of Switzerland tour.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 6, 2014 11:49:33 GMT
Hi Bet, I’m so glad you found this forum. I just mentioned you the other day, and was wondering how your Insight tours was. I’m sorry it wasn’t very good, and that you had a bad tour director. I wouldn’t give up on Insight though just because of this one bad experience. I’ve been on two Insight tours, and have no complaints about either of them. It just goes to show how the tour director can make or break the tour. What, in particular, did he/she do wrong? Was he/she a control freak like my tour director?
You should write a tour tale if you have time. I’d love to read it and compare it to my tour. Overall I enjoyed my tour, despite the issues I had with our tour director, but I still feel like the itinerary needs to be slightly modified. Both Austria and Switzerland are great countries, and while I don’t expect to go back to Switzerland anytime soon, I do plan go going back to Vienna some day.
I’m glad you enjoyed your Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour, even though it was a costsaver. If hope you write a tour tale about that tour as well. I’m slowing reading people’s tour tales, reading a day or two every morning.
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Post by chech on Oct 6, 2014 13:04:58 GMT
Bet...what was the guide's name?
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Post by Boop on Oct 6, 2014 17:11:32 GMT
What is it with Switzerland and TD's that were of poor standards? An odd coincidence I suppose...but that's three including the not so great one I had on BOS...
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Post by tiffany on Oct 6, 2014 17:39:13 GMT
That’s right Boob. You had a not-so-great tour director during your Best of Switzerland tour. Maybe Trafalgar/Insight has a hard time finding people to work these tours, although I don’t know why that would be the case. The tour director I had during my Germany tour was wonderful, and he also does tours of Austria and Eastern Europe, although he’s never done the Best of Switzerland or Switzerland and Austria tour.
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Post by Boop on Oct 6, 2014 21:58:10 GMT
That’s right Boob. You had a not-so-great tour director during your Best of Switzerland tour. Maybe Trafalgar/Insight has a hard time finding people to work these tours, although I don’t know why that would be the case. The tour director I had during my Germany tour was wonderful, and he also does tours of Austria and Eastern Europe, although he’s never done the Best of Switzerland or Switzerland and Austria tour. I can now say I've been called a Boob...LOLOLOL!!
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Post by bet on Oct 6, 2014 23:51:01 GMT
Hi Tiffany - There were a few minor issues about the guide that when combined resulted in an overall disappointing experience, but nothing major. He wasn't a control freak like your guide, but with my guide it was more about what he didn't do rather than what he did do. He was also generally disinterested, disorganised and just a real bore despite clearly being very knowlegable. He did the very bare minimum, except for working hard selling the optionals. Some of the included sightseeing didn't happen and in the Isola Bella optional he was our guide eventhough on the optional list it stated a local guide would be used, no biggie, but we were rushed through the palace and gardens, all within 10 mins, so that he had plenty of time to have lunch at one of his self proclaimed favourite restaurants. In fairness he did improve over time but for many people it was too little too late.
While he was disappointing I didn't let it get in the way of enjoying Switzerland and made the best of the situation and made sure I had a good time. Others were very angry but I didn't see the point in that. There were a few couples that had travelled with Insight several times before along with other companies and they all said that he was by far the worst guide. Although I knew something wasn't right at the time I didn't have anything to compare against until I did the Costsaver tour, and then the differences between the guides were obivious. I can't speak highly enough of my Costsaver guide.
I had read all the tales on the tour on the Insight forum before I left and some of the TD's have great reviews so I was hoping to get one of them, but I wasn't in luck this time, but at least it appears that there are some good Switzerland TD in existence.
I wouldn't judge Insight from my experience as I know most guides are great but unless there was a unique itinerary on offer I highly doubt I will be a repeat Insight customer.
Hi Chech - His name was Philip.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 7, 2014 1:54:20 GMT
That’s right Boob. You had a not-so-great tour director during your Best of Switzerland tour. Maybe Trafalgar/Insight has a hard time finding people to work these tours, although I don’t know why that would be the case. The tour director I had during my Germany tour was wonderful, and he also does tours of Austria and Eastern Europe, although he’s never done the Best of Switzerland or Switzerland and Austria tour. I can now say I've been called a Boob...LOLOLOL!! Sorry about that Boop. I didn't even notice! I did get a good chuckle when I read your comment though!
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Post by Boop on Oct 7, 2014 3:56:37 GMT
I can now say I've been called a Boob...LOLOLOL!! Sorry about that Boop. I didn't even notice! I did get a good chuckle when I read your comment though! LOL....it's a good thing I wasn't drinking tea at the time.....snort....
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Post by tiffany on Oct 7, 2014 11:52:02 GMT
Hi Tiffany - There were a few minor issues about the guide that when combined resulted in an overall disappointing experience, but nothing major. He wasn't a control freak like your guide, but with my guide it was more about what he didn't do rather than what he did do. He was also generally disinterested, disorganised and just a real bore despite clearly being very knowlegable. He did the very bare minimum, except for working hard selling the optionals. Some of the included sightseeing didn't happen and in the Isola Bella optional he was our guide eventhough on the optional list it stated a local guide would be used, no biggie, but we were rushed through the palace and gardens, all within 10 mins, so that he had plenty of time to have lunch at one of his self proclaimed favourite restaurants. In fairness he did improve over time but for many people it was too little too late. While he was disappointing I didn't let it get in the way of enjoying Switzerland and made the best of the situation and made sure I had a good time. Others were very angry but I didn't see the point in that. There were a few couples that had travelled with Insight several times before along with other companies and they all said that he was by far the worst guide. Although I knew something wasn't right at the time I didn't have anything to compare against until I did the Costsaver tour, and then the differences between the guides were obivious. I can't speak highly enough of my Costsaver guide. I had read all the tales on the tour on the Insight forum before I left and some of the TD's have great reviews so I was hoping to get one of them, but I wasn't in luck this time, but at least it appears that there are some good Switzerland TD in existence. I wouldn't judge Insight from my experience as I know most guides are great but unless there was a unique itinerary on offer I highly doubt I will be a repeat Insight customer. Hi Chech - His name was Philip. Hi Bet, I’m sorry you had such a lazy tour director. I’ve been very lucky, and until this tour, I’ve never had a bad tour director with either Insight or Trafalgar. I hope you complain to Insight about him, especially if some included sightseeing didn’t take place. I’m also surprised that he was allowed to guide you through the palace at Isola Bella. Usually tour directors aren’t allowed to do so, and you have to have a local guide. As this was an optional, you paid for a local guide and should have had one. I’m sure he didn’t get his full tip from many people. I’m glad you didn’t let him get in the way of enjoying Switzerland though, as I know how much you love that country, and I’m glad you enjoyed your Trafalgar Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour. If you have a chance you should write a short tour tale about both tours. I too usually look at Trafalgar first, as their tours are a little bit cheaper, however, if they don’t have the itinerary I want, I’ll look at Insight. I don’t really need the extra leg room, so Insight is not my first choice.
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Post by bet on Oct 8, 2014 4:09:26 GMT
Hi Tiffany your right about how a TD can make or break a tour. I'm glad you liked Vienna and the Viennese Concert optional as that was one optional I was really looking forward too had I stayed with the S&A tour. I'm still planning to do both Trafalgar's Christmas Markets tours next year so hopefully that optional will still be offered then. I'll try to write the tour tales this coming weekend.
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Post by tiffany on Oct 8, 2014 11:57:22 GMT
Hi Bet, I really enjoyed the Viennese concert, and would do this optional again if I went back to Vienna. Of course, I love musicals, theaters and plays, so this optional was a must do for me. Some of the men on our tour only went to please their wives, and even they said they enjoyed the concert.
I’d love to go on a Christmas Markets tour some day, but as my family lives far away from me, I need to use my vacation to go and visit them in December. My boss wouldn’t like me taking time off at the beginning of December, and again during Christmas. This is also a very busy time of the year for me at work, so taking time off before Christmas is very difficult. Maybe once I’m retired I’ll get to go on one of these tours.
Looking forward to reading your tour tales once posted.
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Post by bet on Oct 17, 2014 13:08:11 GMT
Hi Tiffany, just take your family with you, but I can imagine being in winter and the cold its not exciting for you as spending the summer in Greece. For me its the opposite and a thrill as its summer at Christmas time. Getting there though depends on work of course. Im lucky in that I can take leave when I want but as I work in a small team only 1 person is allowed leave at a time and sometimes we change teams so leave can be a problem. I just have to put my leave in early and hope for the best.
Im looking forward to going to Greece hopefully one day soon, so im keen to hear all about it when you go there. Ive been too busy lately to write up any of my tour tales but I will at some stage if people are interested
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