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Post by Boop on Jun 29, 2015 19:08:15 GMT
Hey tiffany! I am really looking forward to this one as I was meant to go last year. Big surprise, I already have one bag packed and will be doing a few more trial packs before I go and, big surprise, I've already done a bit of research (shopping) and I have my shopping lists prepared for Prague, Vienna and Budapest!! For sure, I will fill you in on all the details! I'm spending a few extra days in Prague at the Grand Hotel Prague which is right across from the clock tower so I'll be right in the midst of all that shopping...yess!! I do exactly the same, I'm already packed for my Christmas market tour & I'm working on my shopping list. Mariahilferstrasse is a pretty good street to shop in Vienna. Love the shopping in Prague, would love to go back one day just for the Christmas markets Thanks Bet! I've just added Mariahilferstrasse to the shopping areas in my moleskin. I'm going to have to do a huge amount of shopping in Vienna to compensate for the lack of shopping in Budapest. We get to Buda sometime on Dec. 24th but the stores and markets, I think, all shut down at noon and, of course, are closed on Dec. 25th. I'm not sure about openings on Dec. 26 but if they are open, between the tour and personal shopping I am going to be exhausted. I leave for home on the 27th and have to be up by 3:30 to be at the airport so what's the point of even going to sleep?? LOL! By the time I arrive home I'll be delirious and seeing stars!!
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Post by Boop on Jun 29, 2015 19:09:13 GMT
Enjoy Switzerland Chech, I hope you don't get the same TD as what I got on this tour. And I really hope his name isn't Paul.........
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Post by Boop on Jun 29, 2015 19:16:01 GMT
You do want to know about the shopping, yes? LOL! I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip and shopping excursions when you get back! I’m sure you’ll have a great time. You pack a lot earlier than I do. I usually start a week before I leave. Excitement always seems to get the best of me, especially when I've bought new fleece, cozy new boots and other assorted clothing items for my trip. Eager to see if everything fits, excluding the cats!! hehehehe
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 19:16:10 GMT
Nope, not Paul. It's Vincenzo. And from his picture, he looks like a guy with a great sense of humour.
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Post by Boop on Jun 29, 2015 19:18:20 GMT
Nope, not Paul. It's Vincenzo. And from his picture, he looks like a guy with a great sense of humour. Awesome! I'm so happy for you ! Do all tour-mates now receive an email and picture from the TD on TT's? Are they just saying hello or are they giving out specific information?
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 19:22:22 GMT
Yeah, I got a similar email from TT for Norway that said the same thing. Gives all the information necessary for arrival for the transfers (even where we can spend time if we arrive early...like a Mall in Zurich's Terminal 3). This email also gives the timing and location of the welcome dinner. Now, doesn't he look like a fun guy?
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Post by Boop on Jun 29, 2015 19:30:11 GMT
Yeah, I got a similar email from TT for Norway that said the same thing. Gives all the information necessary for arrival for the transfers (even where we can spend time if we arrive early...like a Mall in Zurich's Terminal 3). This email also gives the timing and location of the welcome dinner. Now, doesn't he look like a fun guy? Yup........indeed! Thanks for the info.......now all I need to shopping advice for Buda Pest, on the off chance that a store or two will be open when I'm there!
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Post by bet on Jun 30, 2015 2:04:24 GMT
I do exactly the same, I'm already packed for my Christmas market tour & I'm working on my shopping list. Mariahilferstrasse is a pretty good street to shop in Vienna. Love the shopping in Prague, would love to go back one day just for the Christmas markets Thanks Bet! I've just added Mariahilferstrasse to the shopping areas in my moleskin. I'm going to have to do a huge amount of shopping in Vienna to compensate for the lack of shopping in Budapest. We get to Buda sometime on Dec. 24th but the stores and markets, I think, all shut down at noon and, of course, are closed on Dec. 25th. I'm not sure about openings on Dec. 26 but if they are open, between the tour and personal shopping I am going to be exhausted. I leave for home on the 27th and have to be up by 3:30 to be at the airport so what's the point of even going to sleep?? LOL! By the time I arrive home I'll be delirious and seeing stars!! Christmas in Budapest should be great, its a place I'm stil yet to see. I'll be in Vienna early December on my own but on a tour over Christmas in Austria, all up its 5 weeks away so I can't go too silly. I know the Christmas markets sells some good quality stuff and plenty of made in china junk as well, but the atmposphere is a highlight in itself. Mariahilferstrasse is the longest shopping street in Vienna, its all mainstream stuff, if thats what your after, its near the West train station (Westbahnhof).
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Post by Boop on Jun 30, 2015 16:45:48 GMT
Thanks Bet! I've just added Mariahilferstrasse to the shopping areas in my moleskin. I'm going to have to do a huge amount of shopping in Vienna to compensate for the lack of shopping in Budapest. We get to Buda sometime on Dec. 24th but the stores and markets, I think, all shut down at noon and, of course, are closed on Dec. 25th. I'm not sure about openings on Dec. 26 but if they are open, between the tour and personal shopping I am going to be exhausted. I leave for home on the 27th and have to be up by 3:30 to be at the airport so what's the point of even going to sleep?? LOL! By the time I arrive home I'll be delirious and seeing stars!! Christmas in Budapest should be great, its a place I'm stil yet to see. I'll be in Vienna early December on my own but on a tour over Christmas in Austria, all up its 5 weeks away so I can't go too silly. I know the Christmas markets sells some good quality stuff and plenty of made in china junk as well, but the atmposphere is a highlight in itself. Mariahilferstrasse is the longest shopping street in Vienna, its all mainstream stuff, if thats what your after, its near the West train station (Westbahnhof). I will definitely be checking to see where goods are made, if its not made locally, its not for me! When I was in Prague it seemed everything was readily made in Prague, especially the wooden items I bought. They have a couple of marionette shops I could spend half a day in! In Vienna I'm not even going to mention Swarovski, which I collect, but expect chocolate to be a huge draw and in Budapest 1/4 of my suitcase will be filled with paprika......doesn't get much more local than that
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Post by marielouise on Jun 30, 2015 16:49:57 GMT
Lol about the paprika, DH loves the real Hungarian one. I wonder what the sniffer dogs will think of that.
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Post by Boop on Jun 30, 2015 17:17:40 GMT
Lol about the paprika, DH loves the real Hungarian one. I wonder what the sniffer dogs will think of that. Hopefully they won't be trained to sniff out paprika!!
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 1, 2015 4:55:58 GMT
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Post by Boop on Jul 1, 2015 17:12:13 GMT
Thanks tassiedevil!! Into the moleskin it goes......restaurant section!
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Post by marielouise on Jul 6, 2015 19:24:22 GMT
We are just back from signing up on insight's easy pace Budapest, Vienna and Prague tour, sept 24. We are staying 2 extra days in Prague at the end of the tour. I have only been to Vienna ages ago and Dh has only been to Prague when he was very young. I hope they will have the optional to Bratislava where DH also went to visit family at age 12. Boop we may also be bringing paprika back!
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Post by Boop on Jul 6, 2015 19:38:39 GMT
We are just back from signing up on insight's easy pace Budapest, Vienna and Prague tour, sept 24. We are staying 2 extra days in Prague at the end of the tour. I have only been to Vienna ages ago and Dh has only been to Prague when he was very young. I hope they will have the optional to Bratislava where DH also went to visit family at age 12. Boop we may also be bringing paprika back! Hi ML! I'm looking forward to your thoughts on this tour as you're doing the opposite direction! I'm doing 3 extra days in Prague at the Grand Hotel Praha just across from the clock tower before my tour starts so I can get some good quality shopping in!! My daughter stayed there in May and couldn't say enough. In fact, its the first time ever she has done a hotel review (Trip Advisor). I, too, am anxious to find out about the optionals and lets hope they don't have paprika sniffing dogs at the airport..lolol!!
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Post by marielouise on Jul 7, 2015 17:23:47 GMT
I will write a short tale. I think I remember you saying that you have been to Prague and Vienna, have you been to Budapest? Christmas time should be lovely and I hope stores will be open in Budapest. often Christmas Eve is also celebrated in many parts of Europe. I am not a shopper probably we will only buy paprika, maybe some strong alcohol if DH likes it and if I see something for my grand daughter. About 10 years ago I travelled on a Trafalgar tour with my daughters at Christmas and New years. It was beautiful and not very cold for us, lots of Christmas decorations. I hope it will not be too hot and humid for our trip at the end of Sept and early Oct.
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Post by Boop on Jul 7, 2015 19:15:13 GMT
I will write a short tale. I think I remember you saying that you have been to Prague and Vienna, have you been to Budapest? Christmas time should be lovely and I hope stores will be open in Budapest. often Christmas Eve is also celebrated in many parts of Europe. I am not a shopper probably we will only buy paprika, maybe some strong alcohol if DH likes it and if I see something for my grand daughter. About 10 years ago I travelled on a Trafalgar tour with my daughters at Christmas and New years. It was beautiful and not very cold for us, lots of Christmas decorations. I hope it will not be too hot and humid for our trip at the end of Sept and early Oct. I've been to Prague but not Vienna or Budapest so I'm looking forward to that! The problem is arriving to Buda on the day of Christmas Eve which will not, I don't think, give me a lot of time to shop while there. We have the night of the 24th, 25th and 26th in Buda so I really hope I can squeeze in some shopping on the 26th! (And I am hoping for cold and snow, lots of snow)
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Post by tiffany on Jul 8, 2015 11:45:15 GMT
Christmas in Europe will be great, and I can’t wait to hear about all of your trips! I hope to get to Europe over Christmas some day!
I hope you are able to get some shopping in while in Budapest Boop!
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Post by Boop on Jul 8, 2015 16:31:05 GMT
Christmas in Europe will be great, and I can’t wait to hear about all of your trips! I hope to get to Europe over Christmas some day! I hope you are able to get some shopping in while in Budapest Boop! Where there's a will, there's a way tiffany! I really hope the stores and markets will be open on the 26th and if not, I guess there is always the airport!!
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Post by chech on Jul 8, 2015 16:47:58 GMT
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Post by tiffany on Jul 8, 2015 17:02:35 GMT
The 26th is St. Stephen’s day in a lot of Catholic countries, so it’s a holiday, however, some of the stores in the tourist part of the city may open. I hope so for your sake!
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Post by Boop on Jul 8, 2015 17:05:53 GMT
Guess I could go to the Zoo but after watching the first few episodes of this series............I think not! Well that is disappointing, but I'm sure Trafalgar will have something going on, hopefully. Thanks for the info!
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Post by chech on Jul 8, 2015 17:36:55 GMT
The day we were in Budapest, it was Sunday and all the shops were closed. The optional to St. Andrews (think it was St. Andrews....have to check the blog) meant we went somewhere where the shops were open.
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Post by marielouise on Jul 8, 2015 18:32:01 GMT
Guess I could go to the Zoo but after watching the first few episodes of this series............I think not! Well that is disappointing, but I'm sure Trafalgar will have something going on, hopefully. Thanks for the info! When we were on the France xmas tour, the tour ended New Years Day, we stayed another 4 days. Just about everything was closed except for the Eiffel tower and something else. It was really crowded at the Eifffel tower, so we decided to walk up, queue was nearly non existent, kids were worried about my heavy breathing. Hopefully your TD will organise dinners end activities for you in Budapest. Many restaurants were closed and it was very quiet where we ate our included xmas day dinner. Many of the local people were at the cathedral in Lyon. It was interesting to experience. Also at any markets you go to there will be special festive foods etc. All the small towns had decorations on the main street. I would like to go back at xmas time again.
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Post by Boop on Jul 8, 2015 18:41:53 GMT
Guess I could go to the Zoo but after watching the first few episodes of this series............I think not! Well that is disappointing, but I'm sure Trafalgar will have something going on, hopefully. Thanks for the info! When we were on the France xmas tour, the tour ended New Years Day, we stayed another 4 days. Just about everything was closed except for the Eiffel tower and something else. It was really crowded at the Eifffel tower, so we decided to walk up, queue was nearly non existent, kids were worried about my heavy breathing. Hopefully your TD will organise dinners end activities for you in Budapest. Many restaurants were closed and it was very quiet where we ate our included xmas day dinner. Many of the local people were at the cathedral in Lyon. It was interesting to experience. Also at any markets you go to there will be special festive foods etc. All the small towns had decorations on the main street. I would like to go back at xmas time again. We have a "Be My Guest" dinner on Christmas Day which should be interesting but I do hope its a good one as the only other included meal is the welcome reception and on any other tour I've ever been on we were lucky if we got an hor's d'oeuvre and a 2nd glass of wine...."they" kept a close eye on the welcome drinks..........wasn't very welcoming.
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Post by marielouise on Jul 8, 2015 18:49:12 GMT
I thought it strange that we got turkey on xmas day, it was very good but there was no stuffing or cranberry sauce, a little different. The whole meal was good and we got some chocolates or something, it was nearly 10 years ago with Trafalgar. The tour was discontinued a few years later. In turkey we arrived back in Istanbul on the last day of Ramadan which is a celebratory day, we were supposed to go to the Grand Bazaar but it was closed, so the o the Spice market which unfortunately was closed too, so we were taken back to the hotel.
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Post by marielouise on Jul 8, 2015 19:02:01 GMT
When we were on the France xmas tour, the tour ended New Years Day, we stayed another 4 days. Just about everything was closed except for the Eiffel tower and something else. It was really crowded at the Eifffel tower, so we decided to walk up, queue was nearly non existent, kids were worried about my heavy breathing. Hopefully your TD will organise dinners end activities for you in Budapest. Many restaurants were closed and it was very quiet where we ate our included xmas day dinner. Many of the local people were at the cathedral in Lyon. It was interesting to experience. Also at any markets you go to there will be special festive foods etc. All the small towns had decorations on the main street. I would like to go back at xmas time again. We have a "Be My Guest" dinner on Christmas Day which should be interesting but I do hope its a good one as the only other included meal is the welcome reception and on any other tour I've ever been on we were lucky if we got an hor's d'oeuvre and a 2nd glass of wine...."they" kept a close eye on the welcome drinks..........wasn't very welcoming. I checked your trip and am surprised you only get 2 included meals, you are going with Trafalgar I guess. Also I wasn't able to find the optionals but I think they will have several optional dinners. On our tour we get 4 meals and we will take some optional dinners if they sound good and optional trips. Ours is Easy pace which means less is included so that you spend more time doing whatever interests one. I have to do a lot more research this way. On our winter tour at the end of Feb of Italy we had 5 included dinners for the same length, 11 days which is really 9 days and then I think there were optional dinners every night except for Rome. Our welcome dinner which was supposed to be light was very good and filling, we were given a drink as we arrived and then wine with the meal, some had refills. This was with Insight which we prefer because of the legroom.
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Post by Boop on Jul 8, 2015 20:30:29 GMT
We have a "Be My Guest" dinner on Christmas Day which should be interesting but I do hope its a good one as the only other included meal is the welcome reception and on any other tour I've ever been on we were lucky if we got an hor's d'oeuvre and a 2nd glass of wine...."they" kept a close eye on the welcome drinks..........wasn't very welcoming. I checked your trip and am surprised you only get 2 included meals, you are going with Trafalgar I guess. Also I wasn't able to find the optionals but I think they will have several optional dinners. On our tour we get 4 meals and we will take some optional dinners if they sound good and optional trips. Ours is Easy pace which means less is included so that you spend more time doing whatever interests one. I have to do a lot more research this way. On our winter tour at the end of Feb of Italy we had 5 included dinners for the same length, 11 days which is really 9 days and then I think there were optional dinners every night except for Rome. Our welcome dinner which was supposed to be light was very good and filling, we were given a drink as we arrived and then wine with the meal, some had refills. This was with Insight which we prefer because of the legroom. I suspect there are fewer dinners on this TT because it spends 3 days in each city and is a very relaxed pace, which I prefer. I also prefer seeking out my own meals therefore being able to taste more of the local cuisine. I will be letting TT know my likes and dislikes of this particular tour, especially with spending 3 days in a city (Buda Pest) in which all the shops and most restaurants are supposedly going to be closed. And yes, I will be sending this together with my trip critique...direct to Trafalgar...lol!
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Post by purvis on Jul 8, 2015 22:45:37 GMT
Boop: I took the Vienna,Prague,Budapest Trafalgar tour a few years ago and it was lovely . The optional dinner from Budapest was in the village of St. Andrew and the charm of this village at that time was the many hand-craft stalls lining the main street. I don't know if these shops will be open during the holidays but they were well worth shopping at. Vienna is a marvelous city and like London it has so much to see . We were let off to explore Prauge on our own and unfortunately got lost and finally had to get directions after 3 hrs of wandering around . We had a city map but it was very small and the street signs were up so high you couldn't read them . Budapest has a lovely Jewish synagogue which is worth visiting if you have the time. All in all you will certainly enjoy these three wonderful cities. Purvis
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Post by Boop on Jul 9, 2015 20:53:14 GMT
Boop: I took the Vienna,Prague,Budapest Trafalgar tour a few years ago and it was lovely . The optional dinner from Budapest was in the village of St. Andrew and the charm of this village at that time was the many hand-craft stalls lining the main street. I don't know if these shops will be open during the holidays but they were well worth shopping at. Vienna is a marvelous city and like London it has so much to see . We were let off to explore Prauge on our own and unfortunately got lost and finally had to get directions after 3 hrs of wandering around . We had a city map but it was very small and the street signs were up so high you couldn't read them . Budapest has a lovely Jewish synagogue which is worth visiting if you have the time. All in all you will certainly enjoy these three wonderful cities. Purvis Apparently, one of our two included dinners (if the welcoming dinner turns out to actually be a dinner instead of one appetizer) is dinner on Dec. 25th "dinner of authentic cuisine at a family run restaurant and winery". There's always the wine, I suppose, if I'm not too keen on the authenticity! It sounds like it should be good though, and after all, it will be our Christmas dinner...........please, NO goose or duck! Also the itinerary states for this same day...."enjoy free time shopping for Hungarian embroidery and fine porcelain", but that won't be happening, I guess. And on this same day we also have a walking tour of old Buda which includes the Synagogue, St. Matthias Church as well as the Fishermen's Bastion. I'm still crossing my fingers hoping for at least a souvenir shop along the way on this day! I was in Prague for a week in 2012 and I'm adding on 3 extra days there before the tour starts so I'm pretty comfortable with getting around the city. I just may get so tired of shopping there it won't matter much by the time I get to Budapest!!
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