Back to the Med Greece/Turkey in 2013! Complete!

[tinkerbelltwins]

How much would you tip for a family of four, say for the Montserrat/Cava tour?And Kim, do you know how they handle payment? Do you have to put a deposit down when you reserve?

 

[mindelmouse]

Oh I see, the day you leave, not the day you arrive. Definitely something to think about. Mindy, how was the day tour with this company? We might do that on arrival day just to get a good overview. Not sure what time our flight will arrive yet, guess I've gotta figure that out, even though flight bookings won't open up until August for next July.

The tour was good. They showed us all the highlights and we saw Kim. We were full of energy at first and petered out toward the ends...it was supposed to be like a 4 hour tour, we were done in 3 and we all opted to go to our hotels. We passed out for a couple of hours and then got up, had dinner and went to bed at 10.

 

[mindelmouse]

How much would you tip for a family of four, say for the Montserrat/Cava tour?And Kim, do you know how they handle payment? Do you have to put a deposit down when you reserve?

We put a deposit down when we reserved for the group last time and then we paid the tour guide. I think it had to be in cash. I don't remember what we tipped her but she was really good.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

The tour was good. They showed us all the highlights and we saw Kim. We were full of energy at first and petered out toward the ends...it was supposed to be like a 4 hour tour, we were done in 3 and we all opted to go to our hotels. We passed out for a couple of hours and then got up, had dinner and went to bed at 10.

Good to know. Remind me, were your kids nine when you went? We might end up spending an extra day after the cruise in Barcelona. It will all depend on how we are able to use Steve's frequent flyer miles.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Sorry - for some reason I thought you got in earlier in the day...so you're really only there for about 14 hours more than we are?

Pretty much. Flying out of Seattle at the crack of dawn could get us to Barcelona early that am, but that's a but much....Sean and Ash need a bit more time to convert time zones. I do ok, but I'm used to powering out nightshirts and having to function the next day (I can't sleep on planes). So, we'll arrive in the evening, taxi to apartment, walk, and get dinner. Stay up as late as possible, then try to sleep past 5am. Activity all day with zip car and BAM! Good night's sleep!

 

[mindelmouse]

Good to know. Remind me, were your kids nine when you went? We might end up spending an extra day after the cruise in Barcelona. It will all depend on how we are able to use Steve's frequent flyer miles.

They were nine when we went. We stayed the extra day last time on the tail end as well...we didn't do that much...but all met for dinner and gelati in the evening.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

I'm waiting to have Steve walk in the door with the twins and then we are headed off to our neighborhood pool. We had wicked storms here last night -- trees were down everywhere, so they had to clear the debris before the pool opens. So instead, I'm getting my next year's cruise fix thanks to the both of you!

About the cash payments, did you find that you had to travel with lots of euros on hand? Or did you use traveler's cheques? I need to read up on this!!!

 

[MinnieDiva]

We put a deposit down when we reserved for the group last time and then we paid the tour guide. I think it had to be in cash. I don't remember what we tipped her but she was really good.

They haven't yet asked for a deposit. The other tour was cash or travelers checks.

And 10% is standard for a good tour, from what I understand.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I'm waiting to have Steve walk in the door with the twins and then we are headed off to our neighborhood pool. We had wicked storms here last night -- trees were down everywhere, so they had to clear the debris before the pool opens. So instead, I'm getting my next year's cruise fix thanks to the both of you!

About the cash payments, did you find that you had to travel with lots of euros on hand? Or did you use traveler's cheques? I need to read up on this!!!

My aunt lives in Woodbridge and posted a pic of one of her trees on Facebook this am!

Travelers checks are hard to find in euros. You can use US dollar ones (or you could....). Atm's were easy to come by. Far easier for me to do it that way as I don't have a bank that will exchange euros. Dad does, and I'll probably task him with doing that for us. He did it for us last time, too.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Good to know. Thanks! Kids walk in the door so we're off to the pool. Very hot and humid here.

 

[mindelmouse]

My aunt lives in Woodbridge and posted a pic of one of her trees on Facebook this am!

Travelers checks are hard to find in euros. You can use US dollar ones (or you could....). Atm's were easy to come by. Far easier for me to do it that way as I don't have a bank that will exchange euros. Dad does, and I'll probably task him with doing that for us. He did it for us last time, too.

We got travelers checks before we left. We got them in Euros. I believe 500.

 

[mindelmouse]

Good to know. Thanks! Kids walk in the door so we're off to the pool. Very hot and humid here.

Hot and humid here as well. Most of NJ missed the storm but my friend who is down the shore said it hit so suddenly that the streets flooded on the island and her husbands car was under water and needed to be towed off

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hot and humid here as well. Most of NJ missed the storm but my friend who is down the shore said it hit so suddenly that the streets flooded on the island and her husbands car was under water and needed to be towed off

Yikes!

It was in the 60's and drizzly here . I went to REI (sale started yesterday) and bought a new tank top I likely won't get to wear until I get to NY.

 

[bigbootee]

Yikes!

It was in the 60's and drizzly here . I went to REI (sale started yesterday) and bought a new tank top I likely won't get to wear until I get to NY.

We'll keep it hot for you....

 

[drlaurafsu]

HA! Its been over 100 for the last 3 days. Just brutal....need a melting smilie.

DH is getting more serious about the trip. I finally got him to understand that we can put down a refundable deposit to reserve our room...duh. I think I've said this 3 times before now and it finally sunk in. So getting closer.

In the meantime I've been working hard on stuff for our fall Disney trip. Printing out iron on transfers and stuff for banners. DS is going to love it!

 

[MinnieDiva]

We'll keep it hot for you....

Yeah, thanks for that. 80's would be just fine...

HA! Its been over 100 for the last 3 days. Just brutal....need a melting smilie.

I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt right now...

DH is getting more serious about the trip. I finally got him to understand that we can put down a refundable deposit to reserve our room...duh. I think I've said this 3 times before now and it finally sunk in. So getting closer.

It's that "Y" chromosome. Affects hearing.

In the meantime I've been working hard on stuff for our fall Disney trip. Printing out iron on transfers and stuff for banners. DS is going to love it!

Too fun! I get to do on-line check in and Palo/Remy/Spa razzes tonight for our trip...Anything to feed the planning beast!

 

[MinnieDiva]

And Kim, do you know how they handle payment? Do you have to put a deposit down when you reserve?

They haven't yet asked for a deposit. The other tour was cash or travelers checks.

And 10% is standard for a good tour, from what I understand.

I finally got the final confirmation today and they had a link for the deposit...to PayPal. It was $50E, the rest to be paid in CASH at the tour end. Paypal converted it to US$, and it ended up being $64, I think. So I gather that it'll be a no-international transaction fee? Hm, I'll have to pay attention to the CC statement.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I love how excited you are for this! I'm also really hoping I'm on the ship with you. We are tentatively planning (saving) to go! We won't know until probably January if we are going to take the plunge or not but I am going to go ahead and reserve our Barcelona hotel rooms because I am thinking positive darn it!

I've also already started to look into what new things we can do at the ports that are repeats from last year.

So exciting!

 

[MinnieDiva]

I love how excited you are for this! I'm also really hoping I'm on the ship with you. We are tentatively planning (saving) to go! We won't know until probably January if we are going to take the plunge or not but I am going to go ahead and reserve our Barcelona hotel rooms because I am thinking positive darn it!

I've also already started to look into what new things we can do at the ports that are repeats from last year.

So exciting!

Love that! If you just believe!! It is Disney, after all!!

 

[mindelmouse]

Ok kim. Now were doing Disney quotes????