ABD has changed their deposit and cancellation policy effective 1/1/16

[Rapunzellover]

This was a Tauck rep, not a TA. And yes, she had the demographics, apparently. She did explain herself. But I found it offensive. Most high end group travel skews older, and I see no reason why I should be dictated to in terms of what I will find enjoyable. I will probably never use Tauck, which is a shame. They have some wonderful itineraries.

 

[carpenta]

.......you should give them another try.....you may have been talking to a sub-par rep. With every tour company I have spoken with the reps. have run covered quite a spectrum of quality.

 

[kaseyC]

I'd just like to point out that Tauck asks for 600 dollars a person deposit, which is virtually the equivalent of 10 percent.

Not quite true. Depends on the itinerary. Our upcoming 2016 Majestic California with TB deposit is $350pp.

edited. should have read the whole thread before posting. oops.

 

[DCPhotoGal]

I'm just catching this thread... what a bummer. We have 2 ABDs booked for 2006 and I like the flexibility of the booking. With school-aged kids, we don't often know their schedules so far in advance and it's nice to be able to adjust the trip dates. Thanks so much for the head-ups, Kevin!

 

[AquaDame]

Good to know about Tauck skewing older... we are very interested in going to Africa with a group, but we don't have kids and are in our mid thirties. :/ How will we know which group to book with? I really want to go to Kenya/Tanzania so was thinking of Tauck, but not with that large an age difference...

 

[carpenta]

Good to know about Tauck skewing older... we are very interested in going to Africa with a group, but we don't have kids and are in our mid thirties. :/ How will we know which group to book with? I really want to go to Kenya/Tanzania so was thinking of Tauck, but not with that large an age difference...

Tauck has two programs. "Tauck Bridges" is the program which is set aside for families. Most of the other trips they offer are basically for adults. Check out their web site.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Good to know about Tauck skewing older... we are very interested in going to Africa with a group, but we don't have kids and are in our mid thirties. :/ How will we know which group to book with? I really want to go to Kenya/Tanzania so was thinking of Tauck, but not with that large an age difference...

I am taking my adult son (he'll be a week shy of 25 when we return) on the Italy / Switzerland trip this summer. We also did the Central Europe trip a few years ago. We very much enjoyed the company of everyone in the ABD group as I hope we will this year.

With respect to African safaris, there are SO many companies to choose from depending on your budget. One that sounds very intriguing (but doesn't fit our schedule) is National Geographic. Tauck Bridges also has a few good options as does Thomson Family Safaris. AMA does river cruises blended with safaris (even one that visits Victoria's Falls and S. Africa). When it comes to safaris you can really suffer from information overload. If you go to the TA forum and search for Tanzania safaris they have compiled quite a large list of companies that specialize in safaris and have received several positive reviews.

For our trip I have pretty much narrowed it down to Abercrombie and Kent (I have been wanting to try them for a long time and they have a trip that fits our schedule very well) and a private safari by African Dream Safaris (who have been AMAZING to deal with so far). Now I just have to decide if we want to be by ourselves (and have my teenage daughter suffer from lack of company her own age as well as lack of social media lol) or be with a group that may not share our interests. Decisions, decisions...

 

[AquaDame]

Tauck has two programs. "Tauck Bridges" is the program which is set aside for families. Most of the other trips they offer are basically for adults. Check out their web site.

Right, the concern I have it that Bridges wouldn't be right since we don't have kids, and the regular one it sounds like skews far too old for us. I have no problems with those 70+, but I think it would move way too slowly for us, and a week with those two generations removed from ours probably wouldn't be much fun for anyone.

I am taking my adult son (he'll be a week shy of 25 when we return) on the Italy / Switzerland trip this summer. We also did the Central Europe trip a few years ago. We very much enjoyed the company of everyone in the ABD group as I hope we will this year.

With respect to African safaris, there are SO many companies to choose from depending on your budget. One that sounds very intriguing (but doesn't fit our schedule) is National Geographic. Tauck Bridges also has a few good options as does Thomson Family Safaris. AMA does river cruises blended with safaris (even one that visits Victoria's Falls and S. Africa). When it comes to safaris you can really suffer from information overload. If you go to the TA forum and search for Tanzania safaris they have compiled quite a large list of companies that specialize in safaris and have received several positive reviews.

For our trip I have pretty much narrowed it down to Abercrombie and Kent (I have been wanting to try them for a long time and they have a trip that fits our schedule very well) and a private safari by African Dream Safaris (who have been AMAZING to deal with so far). Now I just have to decide if we want to be by ourselves (and have my teenage daughter suffer from lack of company her own age as well as lack of social media lol) or be with a group that may not share our interests. Decisions, decisions...

Maybe I am getting hung up on the term "family" - do you think without kids they would be wrong for us? Definitely going to go browse through the TA forum - I have never gone in there before, thank you! I hope you have a great time in Italy with your son!

 

[carpenta]

I (we) did an Italy trip with Tauck and there was two middle aged sisters who were part of the group and they blended in quite well. Also there were a few "grandparents" who were treating their grandkids to a trip of their choice. After the second day it seemed to blend into two groups adults in the front of the bus and kids in the rear. I think you will blend in quite nicely in a "Bridges" tour.

 

[Rapunzellover]

Do you think a solo would be okay on the bridges tour? I've wondered.

 

[carpenta]

I would think it would be welcomed. On our Bridges river boat tour we ended up most nights dining with a "grandma" ( not in physical ability or spirit but because she was treating her grandsons to the trip) while the kids had their own tables. As ABD it turns into one big family as the trip goes on.

 

[k5jm]

This thread has ventured way away from the OP's topic.