bACK FROM TOUR
Nearly two and a half thousand miles, twelve days, eleven nights, four countries later - I am back from the first of the Britain and Ireland series on Trafalgar's 2006 programme. Interesting to compare it with the last of the 2005 series which i also did (certain kudos there in taking the first and last tours out - but neither had many people so earning opportunities limited).
The HOTELS generally improved or equal - more central in Cardiff, better hotel (worse location) in Dublin, plenty of Holiday Inns in Uk which are usually quite good but not always in good location. Trafalgar Tours (TT) has cut out the visit to Wedgwood centre and the dinner in Edinburgh which people liked but programme otherwise much the same and optional excursions largely unchanged.
OPTIONALS are important for a tour but some people think more should be included up front. Many people sign for all the excursions but some make a selection. Very few do none - usually those who expected everything to be included in price they paid in Australia, US, Canada, etc. Does give people a chance to fashion their own tour - some prefer to go shopping/exploring, others like to see everything and want choices made for them. Generally not a problem as long as people do not think they are being pushed into buying excursions or abandoned if they do not.
Only major prob on this tour was with driver ... who I normally get along fine with, but I said to some passengers that we would drop them off at hotel in Heathrow which is not an official hotel for company. We had a very easy last day and I did not hink it would take long but Ian was not amused especially when I offered to drop off some at Oxford train station as well! I just hate chucking people onto the street at the end of the tour to get a taxi. Seems silly to look after people for twelve days and then abandon them just for the sake of finishing a few minutes earlier. But atmosphere a bit frosty at end of tour, especially when one of those we dropped off failed to tip! (Major cloud over front of coach after that.)
Schedule changed to do extra (unpaid) prep work on future tours for company - agreed through gritted teeth. In fact, my reaction to this pretty much like that of driver to my extra drop offs - work for nothing without reward. Pot and kettle, I suppose.
E
The HOTELS generally improved or equal - more central in Cardiff, better hotel (worse location) in Dublin, plenty of Holiday Inns in Uk which are usually quite good but not always in good location. Trafalgar Tours (TT) has cut out the visit to Wedgwood centre and the dinner in Edinburgh which people liked but programme otherwise much the same and optional excursions largely unchanged.
OPTIONALS are important for a tour but some people think more should be included up front. Many people sign for all the excursions but some make a selection. Very few do none - usually those who expected everything to be included in price they paid in Australia, US, Canada, etc. Does give people a chance to fashion their own tour - some prefer to go shopping/exploring, others like to see everything and want choices made for them. Generally not a problem as long as people do not think they are being pushed into buying excursions or abandoned if they do not.
Only major prob on this tour was with driver ... who I normally get along fine with, but I said to some passengers that we would drop them off at hotel in Heathrow which is not an official hotel for company. We had a very easy last day and I did not hink it would take long but Ian was not amused especially when I offered to drop off some at Oxford train station as well! I just hate chucking people onto the street at the end of the tour to get a taxi. Seems silly to look after people for twelve days and then abandon them just for the sake of finishing a few minutes earlier. But atmosphere a bit frosty at end of tour, especially when one of those we dropped off failed to tip! (Major cloud over front of coach after that.)
Schedule changed to do extra (unpaid) prep work on future tours for company - agreed through gritted teeth. In fact, my reaction to this pretty much like that of driver to my extra drop offs - work for nothing without reward. Pot and kettle, I suppose.
E
posted by tourguideddie at 8:16 AM
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