Other Options...

[tink1970]

I'm so happy it was helpful!

This doesn't necessarily apply to adult only travelers (or if so indirectly...)-
One thing I forgot to mention which also was a factor...ABD of course caters to families and it seems to families with possibly younger children so their hotels have pools. This means not staying in Florence, and in Venice on an island (well, all of Venice is composed of islands, I know...) that requires shuttling to the "main drag" as it were. Although we'll have DD (17) on our next trip it will be in December and she would prefer to be in the thick of the action vice hanging out at a pool. I think for families considering the two, time of year, age and temperament of their children would factor into decision making.
Geez, you'd think all I do is sit around and research vacations

 

[carpenta]

The breakfasts were wonderful. Full buffet that offers an omlett station. All the cappacino and espresso you want. In Florence the hotel has a roof top restaurant and bar that offers a great view of the city at night. We went up and took pictures on a walkway that extends across the roof and has a direct view of the Duomo. According to Conde Nast the Florence Westin we stayed in was one of their top 50 hotels in their magazine. If you go with TB and stay there ask the front desk for dinner reservations for they were very helpful and got us in a wonderful place.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I wanted to give an update on our Africa trip. I had to cancel the Tauck trip as I had miscalculated the return date and it cuts too close to the start of school (January 3rd for dd).

I was desperate to find another trip that would suit our interests and fit into our schedule -- since I had already booked the flights.

While reading a brochure from Micato, in their preamble (an insert in the front cover) I read about Butterfield and Robinson. While I have heard their name I don't think I had ever researched them. Anyway I went to their website and sure enough they have a scheduled family trip that is very close to our flights. I called and they were VERY helpful -- so nice (in complete contrast to my ABD agent who is crass and likes nothing more than to recite the rules and restrictions to me ). They even offered to help me book a trip to Victoria Falls after their journey finished (we will have 2 days and nights afterwards -- I can tell you, under NO circumstances would my ABD agent do this -- she ONLY does the ABD portion of the trip as she has told me).

The Elephant Camp, in Zimbabwe, which is where we wanted to stay, was showing as sold out for our dates. But the agent e-mailed me this afternoon and said he got us a room. He will also help coordinate the flights and transportation for us both ways. He is AWESOME.

Here is what I have found out about B&R: they are an active company -- this trip is multi-sport, which is great for me as I am a very athletic person, but I am a bit worried about dd who can be sluggish. The trip is guaranteed as soon as they have 1 booking. They cap their trips at 16 or 18 (the safari lodge in S. Africa only has 7 cottages). Their accommodations appear to be first class. Price-wise they are marginally less expensive than ABD. I am the sort of person who likes to be moving all the time so I think this will be a good fit for me. They don't have a set time frame for when you have to make a deposit. Once your name is on their list you have a spot booked. The agent made it sound as though you can wait a week or two to give them a $1,000.00pp deposit.

I just thought I'd put their name on "the list" in case there are others like myself who would like to combine exercise with traveling (I don't count walking as exercise, but I would consider hiking in the mountains as exercise).

 

[calypso726]

I wanted to give an update on our Africa trip. I had to cancel the Tauck trip as I had miscalculated the return date and it cuts too close to the start of school (January 3rd for dd).

I was desperate to find another trip that would suit our interests and fit into our schedule -- since I had already booked the flights.

While reading a brochure from Micato, in their preamble (an insert in the front cover) I read about Butterfield and Robinson. While I have heard their name I don't think I had ever researched them. Anyway I went to their website and sure enough they have a scheduled family trip that is very close to our flights. I called and they were VERY helpful -- so nice (in complete contrast to my ABD agent who is crass and likes nothing more than to recite the rules and restrictions to me ). They even offered to help me book a trip to Victoria Falls after their journey finished (we will have 2 days and nights afterwards -- I can tell you, under NO circumstances would my ABD agent do this -- she ONLY does the ABD portion of the trip as she has told me).

The Elephant Camp, in Zimbabwe, which is where we wanted to stay, was showing as sold out for our dates. But the agent e-mailed me this afternoon and said he got us a room. He will also help coordinate the flights and transportation for us both ways. He is AWESOME.

Here is what I have found out about B&R: they are an active company -- this trip is multi-sport, which is great for me as I am a very athletic person, but I am a bit worried about dd who can be sluggish. The trip is guaranteed as soon as they have 1 booking. They cap their trips at 16 or 18 (the safari lodge in S. Africa only has 7 cottages). Their accommodations appear to be first class. Price-wise they are marginally less expensive than ABD. I am the sort of person who likes to be moving all the time so I think this will be a good fit for me. They don't have a set time frame for when you have to make a deposit. Once your name is on their list you have a spot booked. The agent made it sound as though you can wait a week or two to give them a $1,000.00pp deposit.

I just thought I'd put their name on "the list" in case there are others like myself who would like to combine exercise with traveling (I don't count walking as exercise, but I would consider hiking in the mountains as exercise).

Glad you found a trip to suit your timing and thank you for sharing and adding to the list of other options. I was just curious, when you mention your ABD agent, do you mean a vacationista that answers the phone when calling ABD? Or, do you mean an authorized Disney Travel agent or other travel agent?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Glad you found a trip to suit your timing and thank you for sharing and adding to the list of other options. I was just curious, when you mention your ABD agent, do you mean a vacationista that answers the phone when calling ABD? Or, do you mean an authorized Disney Travel agent or other travel agent?

This is my ABD TA. I have always found the vactionistas to be friendly and helpful. I use this SM TA for the discount. The only reason I used her again is that she has the deposit from our cancelled BSM trip (I cancelled the trip, not ABD, just to clarify). I asked ABD if they could book the trip and use the deposit and they said no, it has to be booked through the same agent. So I either had to ask her to transfer it to another agency (and I'm fairly certain she would've been slower than ever to do this -- what would be her incentive to be efficient?) or lose the deposit. So I booked with her. Incidentally she recited more rules to me today when I asked to book the trip. No thank you, happy for your repeat business (this will be our 4th booked trip with her), just the rules and a paragraph response. Plus it really irritates me that I can't pick up a phone and call her -- everything has to be through e-mail. I had quite a few questions, so I had to call ABD, ask the questions, then e-mail her and wait for a response.

 

[calypso726]

This is my ABD TA. I have always found the vactionistas to be friendly and helpful. I use this SM TA for the discount. The only reason I used her again is that she has the deposit from our cancelled BSM trip (I cancelled the trip, not ABD, just to clarify). I asked ABD if they could book the trip and use the deposit and they said no, it has to be booked through the same agent. So I either had to ask her to transfer it to another agency (and I'm fairly certain she would've been slower than ever to do this -- what would be her incentive to be efficient?) or lose the deposit. So I booked with her. Incidentally she recited more rules to me today when I asked to book the trip. No thank you, happy for your repeat business (this will be our 4th booked trip with her), just the rules and a paragraph response. Plus it really irritates me that I can't pick up a phone and call her -- everything has to be through e-mail. I had quite a few questions, so I had to call ABD, ask the questions, then e-mail her and wait for a response.

Wow! For a second I thought it was a vacationista that was being crass and rude to you which would be way out of character. Every vacationista I've spoken with has been wonderful. Yeah, if my TA acted like hat I'd drop her like a hot potato, unless of course my deposit was being held hostage Your upcoming trip sounds very exciting! If we go the ABD route for Africa, we will definitely be adding a post or pre trip to Victoria Falls.

 

[sayhello]

This is my ABD TA. I have always found the vactionistas to be friendly and helpful. I use this SM TA for the discount. The only reason I used her again is that she has the deposit from our cancelled BSM trip (I cancelled the trip, not ABD, just to clarify). I asked ABD if they could book the trip and use the deposit and they said no, it has to be booked through the same agent. So I either had to ask her to transfer it to another agency (and I'm fairly certain she would've been slower than ever to do this -- what would be her incentive to be efficient?) or lose the deposit. So I booked with her. Incidentally she recited more rules to me today when I asked to book the trip. No thank you, happy for your repeat business (this will be our 4th booked trip with her), just the rules and a paragraph response. Plus it really irritates me that I can't pick up a phone and call her -- everything has to be through e-mail. I had quite a few questions, so I had to call ABD, ask the questions, then e-mail her and wait for a response.

You know, now that you have the trip booked, you can still transfer it to another TA (or have the reservation released directly to you). I did that last year. At this point, it's not a huge deal if it takes her a while.

Sayhello

 

[EllinK]

The Elephant Camp, in Zimbabwe, which is where we wanted to stay, was showing as sold out for our dates. But the agent e-mailed me this afternoon and said he got us a room. He will also help coordinate the flights and transportation for us both ways. He is AWESOME.

After reading your post, I checked out the B&R site. Which trip takes you to the Elephant Camp?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

After reading your post, I checked out the B&R site. Which trip takes you to the Elephant Camp?

Sorry if my post wasn't clear.

The B&R trip finishes in Johannesburg. We will be flying from Kruger to JNB, then on to Victoria Falls at the conclusion of the B&R trip. We will have 2 nights there before heading home via JNB and London Heathrow. The agent at B&R (who is beyond helpful) was able to arrange everything for us, including securing lodging at Elephant Camp, which was showing online as full and booking a walk with Sylvester, the cheetah ambassador (he is tame and this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us).

I am thrilled with this since our first choice for lodging was Elephant Camp and I really, really wanted to visit Victoria Falls which wasn't going to be possible with the Tauck trip.

 

[EllinK]

Thanks! And please post about the trip when you get back.

 

[Calfan]

So I know Japan has been a frequent mention on threads addressing where we'd like ABD to add a trip. We are planning on a Japan trip in 2020 for my DD's 18th birthday. (Yes, I am an obsessive travel planner and have our big family trips planned out through 2021 at this point, LOL!) So far, the only family-oriented trip I have been able to find for Japan is this one from NatGeo:

http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/tokyo-kyoto-nara-japan-family-tour/detail

I'm a big fan of the NatGeo trips after doing their England Coast to Coast trip last September with CaliforniaGirl09 (and looking forward to their Hiking the Emerald Isle trip this September (with my DH this time)). So this NatGeo Japan trip would definitely be one I would seriously consider. (My DS will be 16 that year, so I'm thinking a family trip is still probably best for us). But I like to have options, and would like to have at least a couple of itineraries to compare. I'm still hoping that between now and 2020, ABD will add a Japan trip. But if not, have any of you DISers done a family-oriented Japan trip that is on par (or at least close) with ABD or NatGeo that you would recommend?

 

[carpenta]

We are doing the Nat. Geo family trip to Iceland next summer. We too are quite impressed with Nat. Geo.

 

[tgeorge]

You know what I love about this board? Everyone plans exactly like I do-FAR in advance! I don't feel so bad now

Sorry, I just had to say that. I'm definitely very interested in Japan and NatGeo will probably be what I go with, but I'm very interested to see if anyone has done Japan with another group and was happy with it

 

[Bobo912]

Calfan, I'm considering the NatGeo Japan Family trip for next summer. I've traveled with NatGeo, as well, and it is the best company we've traveled with so far. I haven't been able to find anything else that was specifically listed as a family trip, but my son is about to turn 16 and seems to enjoy the company of adults, so it's not really a concern for me anymore. I like the Hands On Japan itinerary offered by Inside Japan, but there are no tour dates during our summer school break. They have some other itineraries I'm still considering. A lot of itineraries seem be a bit heavy of temple visits and I'm trying to avoid that. Not that I don't want to see temples, but I'm looking for a nice mix of activities. Trafalgar is also in the running. Tauck's Essence of Japan looks interesting too. I've traveled with them a couple of times and they are great, but I think, in this case, it's more than I want to spend. I'm just at the research stage like you are, so not very helpful. I hope you get some responses with first hand experience. I would love some feedback on specific trips too.

 

[aggiedog]

I've spoken at length with InsideJapan, and will most likely use them next summer for a private tour for our kids' graduation trip. If you do not like a specific itinerary, they can make pretty much any itinerary you want, at any cost level. You can have a private guide, or even just city guides if you are ok with being "by yourself" in the evenings.

 

[calypso726]

So I know Japan has been a frequent mention on threads addressing where we'd like ABD to add a trip. We are planning on a Japan trip in 2020 for my DD's 18th birthday. (Yes, I am an obsessive travel planner and have our big family trips planned out through 2021 at this point, LOL!) So far, the only family-oriented trip I have been able to find for Japan is this one from NatGeo:

http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/tokyo-kyoto-nara-japan-family-tour/detail

I'm a big fan of the NatGeo trips after doing their England Coast to Coast trip last September with CaliforniaGirl09 (and looking forward to their Hiking the Emerald Isle trip this September (with my DH this time)). So this NatGeo Japan trip would definitely be one I would seriously consider. (My DS will be 16 that year, so I'm thinking a family trip is still probably best for us). But I like to have options, and would like to have at least a couple of itineraries to compare. I'm still hoping that between now and 2020, ABD will add a Japan trip. But if not, have any of you DISers done a family-oriented Japan trip that is on par (or at least close) with ABD or NatGeo that you would recommend?

You know what I love about this board? Everyone plans exactly like I do-FAR in advance! I don't feel so bad now

Sorry, I just had to say that. I'm definitely very interested in Japan and NatGeo will probably be what I go with, but I'm very interested to see if anyone has done Japan with another group and was happy with it

You are not alone. We are planned out until 2021 as well. We know we will be going on the maiden voyage of the new Disney ship that year and the other one in 2023. 2022 is not planned out yet though. I am hoping ABD decides to do Japan some day. If so, we will definitely go on it. But I'd be interested top hear the experiences of others. Having heard so many great things about NatGeo we may give them a whirl at some point. Some of the photography focused tours look pretty interesting.

 

[disneyphx]

Feeling like a slacker because we have only planned do through to spring break 2019.....
I have looked at that trip because we went to Japan in Nov 2014 and loved it, and can't wait to return. We did it on our own - 3 days in Kyoto with a private guide (DH was at a conference ) then 3 days at Disney and a half day Tokyo tour.
The NatGeo trip looks great, to see some highlights. We actually stayed at the Granvia in Kyoto - good hotel, great location, not luxury. We are hoping to go back in Spring 2018 - cherry blossoms in Kyoto and back to the Disney parks in Japan and Hong Kong.
My profile pic is actually from the Christmas monorail at the Tokyo parks!

 

[Calfan]

Calfan, I'm considering the NatGeo Japan Family trip for next summer. I've traveled with NatGeo, as well, and it is the best company we've traveled with so far. I haven't been able to find anything else that was specifically listed as a family trip, but my son is about to turn 16 and seems to enjoy the company of adults, so it's not really a concern for me anymore. I like the Hands On Japan itinerary offered by Inside Japan, but there are no tour dates during our summer school break. They have some other itineraries I'm still considering. A lot of itineraries seem be a bit heavy of temple visits and I'm trying to avoid that. Not that I don't want to see temples, but I'm looking for a nice mix of activities. Trafalgar is also in the running. Tauck's Essence of Japan looks interesting too. I've traveled with them a couple of times and they are great, but I think, in this case, it's more than I want to spend. I'm just at the research stage like you are, so not very helpful. I hope you get some responses with first hand experience. I would love some feedback on specific trips too.

I will definitely look into Inside Japan, Trafalgar and Tauck. One of the reasons I've been focused on a family tour is that, like you, I'm looking for a good mix of activities and not just a steady diet of temples day after day. With my kids turning 16 and 18 in 2020, we could consider a non-family trip, and I will look at the ones you mentioned, but I'm a bit leery of ending up in a group where everyone but my family is a generation (or two, in the case of my kids) older than us. What has been your experience with the typical demographic on the other Tauck trips you have done?

I've spoken at length with InsideJapan, and will most likely use them next summer for a private tour for our kids' graduation trip. If you do not like a specific itinerary, they can make pretty much any itinerary you want, at any cost level. You can have a private guide, or even just city guides if you are ok with being "by yourself" in the evenings.

Thanks. I will check them out. Part of my problem in trying to plan Japan is that, unlike the trips we have done in Europe, I don't really know anything about Japan and don't have a good sense of what we should make sure we see there. So I don't feel like I have enough of a base to construct a custom itinerary. But I'll start looking at the spec itineraries to see if I can start compiling a list of our "must sees."

Feeling like a slacker because we have only planned do through to spring break 2019.....
I have looked at that trip because we went to Japan in Nov 2014 and loved it, and can't wait to return. We did it on our own - 3 days in Kyoto with a private guide (DH was at a conference ) then 3 days at Disney and a half day Tokyo tour.
The NatGeo trip looks great, to see some highlights. We actually stayed at the Granvia in Kyoto - good hotel, great location, not luxury. We are hoping to go back in Spring 2018 - cherry blossoms in Kyoto and back to the Disney parks in Japan and Hong Kong.
My profile pic is actually from the Christmas monorail at the Tokyo parks!

You're a total slacker, LOL Good to hear that you think the NatGeo trip would provide a good overview. We would definitely plan to add a few days to whatever tour we end up doing for Tokyo Disney and maybe some extra touring time in Japan. The NatGeo trip is 9 days, and if we are going that far, we would want to stay at least 2 weeks.

 

[Jitzy]

When I lived in Japan, I signed our family up for some day tours through Sunrise Tours. Just day trips. But they are plentiful. You can base yourself in a big city for a few days, tour the local sights then move on by train to the next experience. The guides were informative and efficient.

 

[sayhello]

Feeling like a slacker because we have only planned do through to spring break 2019.....
I have looked at that trip because we went to Japan in Nov 2014 and loved it, and can't wait to return. We did it on our own - 3 days in Kyoto with a private guide (DH was at a conference ) then 3 days at Disney and a half day Tokyo tour.
The NatGeo trip looks great, to see some highlights. We actually stayed at the Granvia in Kyoto - good hotel, great location, not luxury. We are hoping to go back in Spring 2018 - cherry blossoms in Kyoto and back to the Disney parks in Japan and Hong Kong.
My profile pic is actually from the Christmas monorail at the Tokyo parks!

My vacations are planned through Summer of 2017, and I thought *that* was way out. I don't know enough about what I'll be doing to make plans and commit money that far out!!

Sayhello