Anyone else notice the reduction of meals in the 2017 trips?

[scottmel]

Maybe that is why they cut costs. On your own a lot for meals...

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I did notice that it looked like fewer meals were provided which is a shame since that was one of my favorite parts on previous Adventures.

 

[emilymad]

We were looking at the San Francisco long weekend and it doesn't include breakfast on any of the days.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

I noticed that too. I also noticed a number of the trips have almost quadrupled the amount of free time. If you look at the Australian trip, the few days in Sydney has very few "scheduled" things to do. TONS of on your own time. I think it's on the first full day of "touring" where you have the morning on your own, then you do a lunch harbour cruise followed by touring the opera house, then you're on your own for the rest of the day. If I'm spending that much on an ABD, I want to actually do some touring.

 

[scottmel]

We were looking at the San Francisco long weekend and it doesn't include breakfast on any of the days.

Same here. Looking at that trip. Last summer we were on Backstage magic and had a big sit down breakfast every day buffet style that I did think was a bit of a waste but still ON my own? Bring a bag of bagels???

 

[Cousin Orville]

I noticed that too. I also noticed a number of the trips have almost quadrupled the amount of free time. If you look at the Australian trip, the few days in Sydney has very few "scheduled" things to do. TONS of on your own time. I think it's on the first full day of "touring" where you have the morning on your own, then you do a lunch harbour cruise followed by touring the opera house, then you're on your own for the rest of the day. If I'm spending that much on an ABD, I want to actually do some touring.

Except for the eliminated morning bike ride, last year's Sydney itinerary was similar with the amount of OYO time. We got back from the Opera House tour at 5:00p. There wasn't much left of the afternoon. It was more dinner OYO. On the next day, it looks like they switched the Bondi Beach morning and lunch for a Sheep Farm afternoon and dinner. I'm glad to see them switch up some activities, but I think Bondi would probably be more interesting than the Sheep Farm. One of the arguments for having some significant OYO time is to do the bridge climb which most guests in my group did. They also have the zoo the first day. There was nothing (other than the hotel welcome dinner) the first day of last year's ABD.


Just to get back on topic, I looked at Australia's meals. The new itinerary is one day shorter, and by my count has 2 fewer lunches and 1 less dinner. On the other hand, the dinner in Uluru is at a nicer restaurant, and 2 of the lunches have switched from boxed lunches on the plane to sit down cafes. Plus, the welcome dinner is at Taronga Zoo (rather than the usual ABD hotel conference room). Finally! These catered ABD welcome dinners in a back room of a hotel are always forgettable. I'd say a net improvement in meals.

I looked at some of the other ABD's I'm familiar with. BSM, Ireland, China and SE Asia all look pretty similar in terms of the number of meals provided.

 

[TXTransplant]

The Germany itinerary appears to be untouched. They did change the hotel in Heidelberg, but the number of meals that are included is the same. The only thing that's missing is specific mention of the trip to the Hercules Monument on Day 5. Buy, I honestly don't remember this being described on our itinerary, even though we did do this activity. It's actually where the guides get one of the iconic trip photos that ends up being used in ABD promotions.

This ABD is probably one of the better values. The opening day price is typically <$4k, and it's still a 9 day/8 night trip.

I kind of have mixed feelings about the meals. I found that breakfast plus one other meal (either lunch or dinner) was more than sufficient on our trip. There is just SO MUCH food at every meal, and the guides are constantly providing snacks! On the days when we had 3 full meals, I felt miserably stuffed. And I'm one of those people who hates to waste food, so I feel compelled to eat everything in front of me whether hungry or not. However, our Italy - Amalfi Coast trip this summer has 2 days (out of 7) where the ONLY meal that is provided is breakfast. I booked it last year knowing that would be the case, but I still feel a little gypped, only because these trips are so expensive (and breakfast doesn't really cost ABD anything, since it's provided by the hotel).

 

[meryll83]

If you're already booked onto the 2016 equivalents do you still get all the originally advertised meals?

 

[Cousin Orville]

If you're already booked onto the 2016 equivalents do you still get all the originally advertised meals?

Yes. Sometimes there are subtle changes. Maybe a slight change in restaurant or activity, but I've never had the number of meals changed.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

If you're already booked onto the 2016 equivalents do you still get all the originally advertised meals?

Any itinerary changes do not affect 2016 trips. These trips now state "previous itinerary" so the itinerary you booked under is the itinerary that your trip will follow.

 

[pinksand]

Could fewer meals be because the new trip itinerary is shorter? It took me forever yesterday to realize the new Italy itinerary was 1 day shorter - I kept thinking things looked different than what I had booked, but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I noticed it, too. The China trip has two fewer dinners, but in that case the loss isn't as bad because they've added things as well (Shanghai Disney). Don't like the trend toward fewer days and fewer meals for the same cost though--the reduction to the Scotland trip last year was horrible. One of the things I LOVED about the Nat Geo trip I took was that every meal except for one was included and could be ordered off the menu.

 

[ImprovGal]

I had been looking at a couple of the "long weekend" trips -- Nashville and New York. 2016 itineraries for both of these had started at breakfast on arrival day with activities that day as well. It seemed like you really needed to travel in the night before and book an extra hotel night for the trips. 2017 itineraries for both now start with a welcome dinner on arrival day. So they clipped a whole day of activities from the tours, not just a meal or 2.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I noticed it, too. The China trip has two fewer dinners, but in that case the loss isn't as bad because they've added things as well (Shanghai Disney). Don't like the trend toward fewer days and fewer meals for the same cost though--the reduction to the Scotland trip last year was horrible. One of the things I LOVED about the Nat Geo trip I took was that every meal except for one was included and could be ordered off the menu.

I don't like the reduction of days. Italy lost a day (from 8 nights to 7 nights). Australia lost a day (11 nights to 10). Scotland lost a day last year? Not good.

ABD does need to continue working on their food. However, I do see improvement. For Australia, Sydney got a huge dinner improvement. Uluru got a much better restaurant. For China, Beijing got a better restaurant. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm concerned more with each individual restaurant selection being excellent, than having every meal provided. I like having some nights off where we can find our own restaurant and breakaway from the larger group a bit. What irritates me is eating at a mediocre restaurant when better options are available. Beijing is a good example. We ate at The Royal Restaurant which was fun, because we dressed up in silly imperial costumes, but the food was completely forgettable. For 2016 they selected Duck de Chine. Now I haven't eaten there, but it's very highly rated on tripadvisor, and is on several top Peking Duck restaurant lists in Beijing. Seems like a great move. On the other hand, they had to drop M on the Bund in Shanghai which was a good meal.

 

[scottmel]

I had been looking at a couple of the "long weekend" trips -- Nashville and New York. 2016 itineraries for both of these had started at breakfast on arrival day with activities that day as well. It seemed like you really needed to travel in the night before and book an extra hotel night for the trips. 2017 itineraries for both now start with a welcome dinner on arrival day. So they clipped a whole day of activities from the tours, not just a meal or 2.

I am comparing the 2016 NYC vs. 2017 and you lose 2 hotel breakfasts and Ellens Stardust Diner for breakfast and different hotel and Tribecca Grill for dinner though they do dinner elsewhere not sure where. you lose central park but gain top of trade center. They really shuffled the activities up but those are the differences I see.

 

[White Rose]

The Germany itinerary appears to be untouched. They did change the hotel in Heidelberg, but the number of meals that are included is the same. The only thing that's missing is specific mention of the trip to the Hercules Monument on Day 5. Buy, I honestly don't remember this being described on our itinerary, even though we did do this activity. It's actually where the guides get one of the iconic trip photos that ends up being used in ABD promotions.

This ABD is probably one of the better values. The opening day price is typically <$4k, and it's still a 9 day/8 night trip.

I kind of have mixed feelings about the meals. I found that breakfast plus one other meal (either lunch or dinner) was more than sufficient on our trip. There is just SO MUCH food at every meal, and the guides are constantly providing snacks! On the days when we had 3 full meals, I felt miserably stuffed. And I'm one of those people who hates to waste food, so I feel compelled to eat everything in front of me whether hungry or not. However, our Italy - Amalfi Coast trip this summer has 2 days (out of 7) where the ONLY meal that is provided is breakfast. I booked it last year knowing that would be the case, but I still feel a little gypped, only because these trips are so expensive (and breakfast doesn't really cost ABD anything, since it's provided by the hotel).

They removed steiff for adults and for the whole month of sept...shame, that is part of why I was going to do the trip In the first place.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Oh, man. Steiff was the main reason I was looking at that particular trip...

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Good thing we weren't planning on doing Germany since we only travel on Adult Exclusive trips and the Steiff Museum would have been a major thing for us as we both love teddy bears.

 

[White Rose]

We don't drink...but they are doing a private beer tent in Munich/octoberfest instead of the steiff visit. Sigh.

We are going to ask for some help to do a steiff visit instead of watching people drink beer. My hubby already booked us for the last one in Sept next year....sigh. They removed the steiff part but kept dress up in fairy tale clothes? And children's stories? I just don't understand. Steiff bears are not really children's toys, they are mohair collectibles?

Anyone have any clue why they would remove steiff, but keep other children's activities in the adult itinerary?

 

[Grifdog22]

I kind of have mixed feelings about the meals. I found that breakfast plus one other meal (either lunch or dinner) was more than sufficient on our trip. There is just SO MUCH food at every meal, and the guides are constantly providing snacks! On the days when we had 3 full meals, I felt miserably stuffed. And I'm one of those people who hates to waste food, so I feel compelled to eat everything in front of me whether hungry or not. However, our Italy - Amalfi Coast trip this summer has 2 days (out of 7) where the ONLY meal that is provided is breakfast. I booked it last year knowing that would be the case, but I still feel a little gypped, only because these trips are so expensive (and breakfast doesn't really cost ABD anything, since it's provided by the hotel).

I'm with TXTransplant and Cousin Orville on this one. I like a little less on the meals, and a little reduction in the costs. The majority of the meals we have had on the old South Africa, Costa Rica, Peru trips were sumptuous, and many were events unto themselves. I prefer a few of these to marginal meals at mediocre restaurants when a large group descends...when there are choices and we split, it's a better use of time and money. I like the balance I'm seeing now.

I really do prefer eating with the group at least once a day - it's part of the fun of the trip. But three heavy meals takes so much time, and saps my energy for the more active aspects of any trip. I second Cousin Orville's remarks on Australia; please give us better hotels, better meals, and drop a couple of the mediocre. We booked Australia on the first morning of AI access, and I'll let you know when we return. While we always wanted to see Tasmania, we think ABD made a reasonable change to the activities and plans given that we are there in the dead of winter and ocean watersports and zip lining in the cold may not be fun. We will try New Zealand on our own either before or after, since we are already there and the trip is slightly shorter. We've got a year to work it out.