Aw, shucks!

[beansf]

I just found out that the trip we wanted to book in October in Australia is full. We were hoping to go to Australia in 2007, but we postponed. Now, it seems we have an obstacle for 2008, because I really had my heart set on ABD, and I don't want to have to do all the planning myself.

Anyway, I am on a waitlist in case there is a cancellation. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. We wanted to spend our 3rd anniversary by being on this trip.

 

[Pixmaus]

Sorry to hear your trip is currently full. Hopefully someone will cancel and you guys can go.
Australia sounds like a wonderful tour.
Good luck!

 

[msec]

Hi -

Our first choice of dates was sold old too - we were looking to book the June 21st Germany tour and we were very suprised to find out that date is completely sold out!! Luckily we ere able to book another date that worked for us - so I guess the moral of the story is not to wait too long to snag your dates!!! Hope your wait list comes through!!!

 

[carebear95]

Man! don't tell me that! June 21st Germany is what we've been mulling over!
I'm so surprised that they've already sold out. Do we know the maximum number of people in each tour? Just curious.

 

[Pixmaus]

I read somewhere that the maximum for tours is 40 people, but please take this with a grain of salt, because I can't remember where I read this info...

 

[beansf]

It seems I read that the max number on a tour was 40, but anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I think part of our problem was that we wanted to go on the "adults only" tour and there are only 2 of those for Australia vs. 12 for families that include children.

 

[Pakey]

I'd read out here that the adults-only filled up fast last year too. So as soon as the dates were published, I booked the adults-only London/Paris. However, DH and I had already discussed and we were fine going on one with children if we couldn't get the adults only. We just didn't want to take up a kid's spot if we didn't have to.

 

[beansf]

Well, I am not sure when the dates were published, but I called the day after I had knowledge of them and it was already too late. I guess I am just going to have to go back to my original idea of my husband & I going by ourselves with me doing all the planning. Yuck, I hate planning this type of vacation. It gets rather complicated when you want to see a few different areas and you are flying to and fro.

 

[Pakey]

I'm sure Australia filled fast because it was new this year. I booked in August sometime for London/Paris, don't remember exact date. I, too, am trying the Disney tour to avoid having to do ALL of the planning, reservations making, etc. We did multiple-city Italy on our own 2 years ago and I felt like I'd already taken the trip before we even left from all of the planning!!!!

 

[beansf]

Now that I know when the dates are released, I could keep my eyes out in '08 to attempt to book a trip in '09, but we already postponed our '07 trip due to tax bills and if we don't go soon, I am afraid my husband is going to freak out on me.

 

[Pakey]

You have the opposite problem than me. I was so afraid that I would miss getting the tour that I booked it without even discussing it with my DH. We take our two dogs out for a walk each night and I did the "oh by the way, we are going to London/Paris next September--I booked it today". And it was his turn to pick the vacation location. Plus I told him that if we like this one, we are going to do the China one next year. So I guess he gets to pick in 2010!!!!! He really doesn't care all that much. I think he figures that as long as he doesn't have to do any work to go, he'll just tag along anywhere.

 

[beansf]

I am glad to hear your husband was okay with your trip plans. I should have done that, too. I waited a day to mull it over and now I regret that, but whose to say that day would have made a difference.

I am tempted to just book all the same places the tour goes to on my own. The downside for my hubby is he will have to do the "wrong side of the street" driving. Scary!

 

[ImprovGal]

... but you have to wait until January 2009 to go.

A friend and I just booked the Jan 24, 2009 Australia ABD and not only was there still space available, but we were able to get the early booking discount as well.

It's pure coincidence that the departure date is also my birthday.

 

[lonegungirl]

I haven't gone on any of the ABD yet, but I have heard they are comparable to Tauck Tours. I did the Tauck tour of Australia/New Zealand and it was fabulous! I wasn't that enthused about going to Australia (how different could it be, I thought? They even speak English!) but it turned out to be our very favorite trip of all.

I've been to a lot of different places, but that's one of the places where I could take the exact same tour, and not have a problem with it. It was that much fun, and the food was that good.

 

[beansf]

... but you have to wait until January 2009 to go.

A friend and I just booked the Jan 24, 2009 Australia ABD and not only was there still space available, but we were able to get the early booking discount as well.

It's pure coincidence that the departure date is also my birthday.

Thanks for the suggestion. What is the early booking discount, if I may ask? It seems like an awfully long time to wait for a vacation. We might go for it, though.

 

[ImprovGal]

Thanks for the suggestion. What is the early booking discount, if I may ask? It seems like an awfully long time to wait for a vacation. We might go for it, though.

I don't remember the exact figure. It's up on the rates & dates page for the itinerary, though. I think for value season early booking discount was around $600-$800 pp.

 

[InstImpres]

Thanks for the suggestion. What is the early booking discount, if I may ask? It seems like an awfully long time to wait for a vacation. We might go for it, though.

January is value season so the cost is $3999 pp or $3199 with the early booking discount.

Enjoy

 

[beansf]

Thanks for the information! I decided to go ahead and put down a deposit for January. What is 3 more months in the scheme of things?

 

[3pirates]

Thanks for the information! I decided to go ahead and put down a deposit for January. What is 3 more months in the scheme of things?

You will probably enjoy Australia in January...a nice Summer vacation!

 

[beansf]

You will probably enjoy Australia in January...a nice Summer vacation!

I think you are right! Don't ya' just love a thread with a happy ending?