Scotland Meets Thread (formerly Scotland: A Brave Adventure)

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Bus sickness was something we had a problem with on the Ireland trip as well. DD threw up almost every day--sometimes more than once Even at 13 she *still* gets horribly carsick. I guess she'll be staking out those front seats on the bus. Thanks for the tips and can't wait to hear all the details about the trip!

 

[tufbuf]

The bus driver did stop when we had an older kid who got carsick on Corsica on the way up the mountain. He stopped for several minutes, we all got out & got some fresh air, and walked around. The kid got sick anyways at our first stop, but the bus driver did try to help. So maybe it depends on the bus driver.

Sayhello

We were near the villa in Artimino which required a drive up a winding road. One child threw up all of lunch and snack and the driver had to do a major cleaning after. Someone always get car sick in our group (in all ABDs, minus Alpine Magic) but that was our worst case scenario.

 

[SingingMom]

We were near the villa in Artimino which required a drive up a winding road. One child threw up all of lunch and snack and the driver had to do a major cleaning after. Someone always get car sick in our group (in all ABDs, minus Alpine Magic) but that was our worst case scenario.

Oh geez... We didn't have anything like that happen on our Knights & Lights tour! That would put me over the edge! Lol. The joke among my students is that I can handle blood, but I "don't do vomit"!!!! Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[2BNDisney]

About car sickness - they really do not want to stop as there is a schedule but they did stop a very short time for one man. There is a bathroom onboard. And the other one who felt sick took some medicine and felt better. So you may want to take medicine before traveling and sit in the front. We did not get to do Holyrood in Edinburgh as the Royals were in town. I was kidding that the headline should have been Duchess Disses Disney. One of those things Disney just has no control over. First bad day of weather and it drizzles or had light rain all day

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm really bummed. Just received a note from abd that our substitute dinner is not being held at Stirling castle, but at the signet library. This doesn't sound like an on par substitute for Edinburgh Castle. I may call tomorrow. Anyone else disappointed?

 

[calypso726]

I'm really bummed. Just received a note from abd that our substitute dinner is not being held at Stirling castle, but at the signet library. This doesn't sound like an on par substitute for Edinburgh Castle. I may call tomorrow. Anyone else disappointed?

We didn't get a note from them and we are on the same trip you are If this is the case, I will be extremely disappointed. Dining in a library that was built in the 1800's simply doesn't compare to dining in a castle that has been around since the 12th century. It doesn't even come close.

 

[tufbuf]

I'm really bummed. Just received a note from abd that our substitute dinner is not being held at Stirling castle, but at the signet library. This doesn't sound like an on par substitute for Edinburgh Castle. I may call tomorrow. Anyone else disappointed?

That is disappointing! I sure hope they straighten it for next year. That's one of the events I look forward to.

 

[Calfan]

We didn't get a note from them and we are on the same trip you are If this is the case, I will be extremely disappointed. Dining in a library that was built in the 1800's simply doesn't compare to dining in a castle that has been around since the 12th century. It doesn't even come close.

I just got the same letter from ABD in today's mail, so yours will probably arrive soon. I am also disappointed. I was fine with the change to Stirling Castle but agree that the Signet Library does not sound comparable. Maybe we will be pleasantly surprised. I wonder if there is also something going on at Stirling Castle then that is conflicting us out.

 

[Calfan]

I'm really bummed. Just received a note from abd that our substitute dinner is not being held at Stirling castle, but at the signet library. This doesn't sound like an on par substitute for Edinburgh Castle. I may call tomorrow. Anyone else disappointed?

If you call, let us know what you find out. If there isn't some kind of conflict at Stirling, I am curious what the explanation will be.

 

[Calfan]

The Upper Library does look like a beautiful venue. Still, not a historic castle.

 

[Dahly]

For anyone going this year, did you happen to price the pre/post night through ABD? working on my budget for next year, and wondering how much to add for that. I don't remember how far in advance I booked our pre-night when we went to Ecuador and I'm not sure if they would have that info available for 2014 Scotland yet.



thanks!

Dahly

PS. thanks to those of you who recommended the Outlander series - I am picking up the first two books from my library today.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We didn't get a note from them and we are on the same trip you are If this is the case, I will be extremely disappointed. Dining in a library that was built in the 1800's simply doesn't compare to dining in a castle that has been around since the 12th century. It doesn't even come close.

We have two reservations and only received the note for one of them--I suspect we'll get the other today. I completely agree about the 1800s v. 12th C. No matter how nice, it's not the same at all.

If you call, let us know what you find out. If there isn't some kind of conflict at Stirling, I am curious what the explanation will be.

I will. I'm curious, too.

 

[Calfan]

For anyone going this year, did you happen to price the pre/post night through ABD? working on my budget for next year, and wondering how much to add for that. I don't remember how far in advance I booked our pre-night when we went to Ecuador and I'm not sure if they would have that info available for 2014 Scotland yet.



thanks!

Dahly

PS. thanks to those of you who recommended the Outlander series - I am picking up the first two books from my library today.

We were quoted $1,000 per night per room for the pre-nights at the Balmoral, and the Balmoral was not able to make a quad room available, so we would have needed 2 rooms for our pre-nights. $2,000 per night for each pre-night being a little steep for us, we opted to spend our pre-nights at another hotel and move over to the Balmoral on the day our adventure starts. We booked the Central Europe ABD for July 2014 and have already booked our Prague pre-nights through ABD, so you might very well be able to book your Scotland pre-nights now if you opt for the Balmoral versus a less expensive option.

 

[Calfan]

We have two reservations and only received the note for one of them--I suspect we'll get the other today. I completely agree about the 1800s v. 12th C. No matter how nice, it's not the same at all.



I will. I'm curious, too.

We also have two reservations but received both letters yesterday. Go figure with the U.S. mail!

If you aren't given some reasonable explanation when you call and think it would help for others to call and complain, just let us know

 

[sayhello]

We were quoted $1,000 per night per room for the pre-nights at the Balmoral, and the Balmoral was not able to make a quad room available, so we would have needed 2 rooms for our pre-nights. $2,000 per night for each pre-night being a little steep for us, we opted to spend our pre-nights at another hotel and move over to the Balmoral on the day our adventure starts. We booked the Central Europe ABD for July 2014 and have already booked our Prague pre-nights through ABD, so you might very well be able to book your Scotland pre-nights now if you opt for the Balmoral versus a less expensive option.

Do you mind my asking how much ABD is asking for the Prague pre-nights?

Thanks!
Sayhello

 

[Dahly]

We were quoted $1,000 per night per room for the pre-nights at the Balmoral, and the Balmoral was not able to make a quad room available, so we would have needed 2 rooms for our pre-nights. $2,000 per night for each pre-night being a little steep for us, we opted to spend our pre-nights at another hotel and move over to the Balmoral on the day our adventure starts. We booked the Central Europe ABD for July 2014 and have already booked our Prague pre-nights through ABD, so you might very well be able to book your Scotland pre-nights now if you opt for the Balmoral versus a less expensive option.

Wow, I knew it would be up there, based on the regular booking info on the Balmoral website, but I wasn't expecting quite that! I guess will be using some our our Hilton or Marriott points and then making our way over to the Balmoral on ABD Day 1.

thank you for the info!

Dahly

 

[Calfan]

Do you mind my asking how much ABD is asking for the Prague pre-nights?

Thanks!
Sayhello

Not at all. $379 per room, which includes breakfast.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I just called ABD and spoke to one of the agents. She said she is going to have a supervisor contact me. I basically said I was extremely disappointed about the change, that the library (which I've never heard of and I've been to Edinburgh 5 or 6 times), is not on par with Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle. She tried to say it was a last minute change, but I called her on that. The military tattoo is *not* in the category of a surprise. ABD would have known about that when they first booked Edinburgh Castle or did ANY research into it at all, and that when you travel with ABD you count on them doing their homework and making comparable alternative arrangements. The change in the itinerary for the tattoo is not in the realm of "unexpected." I also said that this was one of the advertised highlights of the trip (and indeed something different and special that a frequent traveler to Scotland like me was counting on) and that I would have chosen a different date had I known ahead of time. We'll see what the supervisor says.

 

[Groovee]

?When you are talking about the Balmoral, do you mean the hotel? There are some beautiful hotels in Edinburgh which I would recommend over here. I spent my wedding night in a beautiful suite in the Balmoral but it was a one off for me. I certainly wouldn't pay $1000 a night to stay there.

 

[Calfan]

?When you are talking about the Balmoral, do you mean the hotel? There are some beautiful hotels in Edinburgh which I would recommend over here. I spent my wedding night in a beautiful suite in the Balmoral but it was a one off for me. I certainly wouldn't pay $1000 a night to stay there.

Yes, the Balmoral hotel. Given that we would have needed two rooms
($2,000 a night!), we decided to stay elsewhere for our pre-days and to enjoy the Balmoral when the ABD starts.