Adult Exclusive vacations

[tgeorge]

Hi all!

I'm new to the threads, but I have been lurking for awhile reading all of your wonderful posts and travel reports.

I have looked at the Italy adult exclusive trips and am very interested in them. The hard part may be trying to decide which one to take! They all sound amazing.

I'm a huge Disney fan, my DH, not so much. I'm going to sell it as an amazing experience, with wonderful guides and exclusive things that are only included using ABD. From what I've read they don't really play up Disney all that much on these trips because they want you to experience your destination. Is that the case? I'm fairly certain I can sell this to him as long as Mickey doesn't greet us in Tuscany

I am so happy I've found this board. Thank you to all who can answer my question.

~Tonia

 

[sayhello]

Hi, Tonia, and welcome to the DISBoards and the ABD Forum! What you've said is completely correct. The trips have Disney quality, and access that the Disney name can give you, but that's it. There are no Disney characters involved. The only real nod to Disney is that each day of your ABD will have a theme, and you will get an exclusive pin for each day, based on that theme. Other than that, they are not "Disneyfied". They do want you to experience the location & the culture, not characters. Selling it as "an amazing experience, with wonderful guides and exclusive things that are only included using ABD" would be spot on! No Mickey in Tuscany...

Sayhello

 

[tgeorge]

sayhello....THANK YOU so much for the info. That is what I figured, but I wanted someone who knew to provide me with the correct information. I really appreciate your response.

If you don't mind me asking one more question. On average, how many people are on these trips? I know that each one varies depending on the number of people participating, but I didn't know if ABD had a range of people in which they'll say the trip is a go and how many people they cap it at.

Thanks again. I'm very excited to be a new member of the boards. The trips sound amazing and well worth the premium charge. Very excited to get my first trip completed and I'm sure look at others in the future.

 

[carpenta]

If I may? The cap of people is 44. We have done 3 trips so far and the trip(s) had 30, 32 and 44 people respectively. Never noticed any difference in 1st class service only the number of empty seats on the buses. In our opinion the "premium" cost is worth the security of knowing you will receive a stress and worry free vacation.

 

[tgeorge]

Carpenta....thank you for your input. I'm glad to know that they don't allow too many people on the trips. It seems like a great number. I've heard that they will cancel trips if there is not enough interest and was curious what that magic number was. However, with two adult exclusive vacations twice a year they may not have to worry about not getting enough participation. It appears as though there is enough interest.

I'm all for a stress free vacation and allowing others to do all the planning so I can show up and enjoy myself. Agree. The 'premium' price is definitely worth it to me.

You have all been great with answering my questions. Really appreciate it.

 

[sayhello]

sayhello....THANK YOU so much for the info. That is what I figured, but I wanted someone who knew to provide me with the correct information. I really appreciate your response.

If you don't mind me asking one more question. On average, how many people are on these trips? I know that each one varies depending on the number of people participating, but I didn't know if ABD had a range of people in which they'll say the trip is a go and how many people they cap it at.

Thanks again. I'm very excited to be a new member of the boards. The trips sound amazing and well worth the premium charge. Very excited to get my first trip completed and I'm sure look at others in the future.

I'm not sure if they use a different formula when looking at number of people for the Adult Only trips. They are usually in the "shoulder seasons" - May or September (which is when I prefer to travel, anyways!) so they get less people, in general. My 3 Adult Only trips ran with 15, 14 and 18 people. The only non-Adult Only trip I took was the Add-On to the Mediterranean cruise, and that one had 39 people. But, as carpenta said, there was no decrease in the service level, just a more crowded bus. And slightly longer potty and gelato breaks. (I had one other Adults Only ABD, which was a DIS-exclusive trip and ran with 33 people. But that's a different animal, since it was an "exclusive" trip. But even with those, 14 is the magic number.)

No-one besides ABD really knows what that "magic" number is for "regular" trips, but it appears to be fairly low. I did have one trip cancelled for lack of people, but only 3 people signed up (it was right after the economy tanked in 2009). And ABD was amazing about re-scheduling me and taking care of all the associated costs.

Sayhello

 

[Bronxboy52]

Hi all!

I'm new to the threads, but I have been lurking for awhile reading all of your wonderful posts and travel reports.

I have looked at the Italy adult exclusive trips and am very interested in them. The hard part may be trying to decide which one to take! They all sound amazing.

I'm a huge Disney fan, my DH, not so much. I'm going to sell it as an amazing experience, with wonderful guides and exclusive things that are only included using ABD. From what I've read they don't really play up Disney all that much on these trips because they want you to experience your destination. Is that the case? I'm fairly certain I can sell this to him as long as Mickey doesn't greet us in Tuscany

I am so happy I've found this board. Thank you to all who can answer my question.

~Tonia

My wife and I have been on 2 adult-only ABD trips. We did the Viva Italia in May, 2010, to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and did the Cowboys and Canyons this past May. They were both incredible in their own right. Italy is a fantastic place and being with a group of one's peers is so much fun. ABD manages to keep the "Disney Magic", while at the same time catering to a more "mature" crowd. We had folks from all over the country and the ages ranged from mid-20's to mid- 60's.
The same was true with the Cowboys and Canyons this year.The scenery and natural beauty is indescribable. The youngest person was 19, who was with his mother. We also had folks who were in their 70's. A great group of people. I really feel that you are less inhibited with only adults. While I love kids (having raised 2 of them), it is really nice just to hang out with adults.

 

[tgeorge]

Thanks bronxboy52 for the info. It seems there is typically a large age range which is great! We love kids too, but we don't have any of our own which is why we try to do adult only vacations when possible. However, I do have a Disney vacation planned with our niece and nephew which should be a blast!

Now I just have to figure out which Italian adventure to do. I'm sure they are all fabulous. Or maybe I will have to do all three and then it's only a matter of deciding which one we do first.

 

[Jousey]

Wow this is all great info. Me and DW have been talking Germany for a while and we figured out earlier this summer that we may be able to do back to back ABD in Germany right around Oktoberfest. The info here was great, Thank you.

 

[KathiL]

First ABD - Sep 14, 2013. We are so excited about this trip!

 

[tgeorge]

B2B in Germany during Oktoberfest...now that sounds amazing!

KathiL...where is your trip? I'm sure you will have a fabulous time.

I really like that the adult only trips are during shoulder seasons because that is when I really like to travel.

Would you guys recommend buying airfare on your own or through ABD? Just curious what everyone's experiences are.

 

[sayhello]

B2B in Germany during Oktoberfest...now that sounds amazing!

KathiL...where is your trip? I'm sure you will have a fabulous time.

I really like that the adult only trips are during shoulder seasons because that is when I really like to travel.

Would you guys recommend buying airfare on your own or through ABD? Just curious what everyone's experiences are.

It's kind of 6 of 1, half a dozen of another. If you book through ABD, they just act as your Travel Agent, making the booking. There are no negotiated or bulk airfares like with cruiselines. So what you can do is call them up, tell them exactly the flight you want, and if it's still available, they'll book it for you. Advantages: If your trip is (hopefully not!) cancelled, it's easier to get your stuff re-booked to a new trip (although ABD will cover the cost either way (within reason). It's just easier if they book it.

The disadvantage is the same as with any TA -- you lose a certain amount of control over the reservation.

I've done it both ways.

Sayhello

 

[KathiL]

It's kind of 6 of 1, half a dozen of another. If you book through ABD, they just act as your Travel Agent, making the booking. There are no negotiated or bulk airfares like with cruiselines. So what you can do is call them up, tell them exactly the flight you want, and if it's still available, they'll book it for you. Advantages: If your trip is (hopefully not!) cancelled, it's easier to get your stuff re-booked to a new trip (although ABD will cover the cost either way (within reason). It's just easier if they book it.

The disadvantage is the same as with any TA -- you lose a certain amount of control over the reservation.

I've done it both ways.

Sayhello

Good morning! We are doing Emerald Isle Sep 13. Can hardly wait!

 

[sayhello]

Good morning! We are doing Emerald Isle Sep 13. Can hardly wait!

Congrats! I haven't done that trip, but everyone that I've heard who has done it absolutely loves it! Have you read JacksGirlz Trip Report? She just got back from the Ireland ABD, and her report is wonderful!

Sayhello

 

[tgeorge]

Say Hello...thank you for the information. I know that some tour companies (like Perillo) offer a set rate for the airfare and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It's similar to the cruise lines I believe.

It is good to know that if you book it through them though and the trip is cancelled that they handle rebooking.

I think all of my questions have been answered, at least for now

Thanks everyone