Scotland Meets Thread (formerly Scotland: A Brave Adventure)

[calypso726]

Miss SD and Paddles may I ask what were the names of your guides???? Feel free to PM me if you'd rather not their post names.

I was disconcerted to hear they seemed distracted at times. I am utterly shocked that they would ditch disabled passengers. I am stunned to hear one would yell at a child! But to reprimand an adult for taking a snack off the bus???
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

 

[Calfan]

Calypso726 and CaliforniaGirl09, do you think it is worth either or both of you calling your friend Bruce to make sure he/ABD is aware of these issues (instead of hoping that they are reading the boards and this thread)? I would volunteer, but I never received any kind of response to the email I sent regarding the farewell dinner, so I don't have the "relationship" each of you has established with Bruce. Just a thought.

 

[calypso726]

Calypso726 and CaliforniaGirl09, do you think it is worth either or both of you calling your friend Bruce to make sure he/ABD is aware of these issues (instead of hoping that they are reading the boards and this thread)? I would volunteer, but I never received any kind of response to the email I sent regarding the farewell dinner, so I don't have the "relationship" each of you has established with Bruce. Just a thought.

You read my mind.

 

[Miss SD]

Miss SD a d Paddles may I ask what were the names of your guides???? Feel free to PM me if you'd rather not their post names.

I was disconcerted to hear they seemed distracted at times. I am utterly shocked that they would ditch disabled passengers. I am stunned to hear one would yell at a child! But to reprimand an adult for taking a snack off the bus???
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

PM sent

 

[Calfan]

You read my mind.

If you speak with him, I will be eagerly awaiting your report on the conversation!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Calypso726 and CaliforniaGirl09, do you think it is worth either or both of you calling your friend Bruce to make sure he/ABD is aware of these issues (instead of hoping that they are reading the boards and this thread)? I would volunteer, but I never received any kind of response to the email I sent regarding the farewell dinner, so I don't have the "relationship" each of you has established with Bruce. Just a thought.

You read my mind.

Let me know if you don't hear anything back, Calypso. Part of me suspects we are the last people he wants to hear from, LOL.

 

[calypso726]

If you speak with him, I will be eagerly awaiting your report on the conversation!

Will do!

Let me know if you don't hear anything back, Calypso. Part of me suspects we are the last people he wants to hear from, LOL.

I will keep you posted. I will try to reach out to him later today.

 

[calypso726]

Too late now but it seems that perhaps the company didn't do enough research as the Queen visits Scotland at the same time very year resulting in the closure of the Palace and the Tattoo is on for the same three/four weeks each year. So those particular changes were within the company's control and instead of having the same itinerary for all of the trips if they do the vacation again next year hopefully they will take these things into account.

Those that do get to see the Tattoo I'm sure you will enjoy enormously and of course your days in Edinburgh.

Hi Edinburghlass! I agree that they should have known about the Tattoo as that is a yearly event. I did not know that the Queen visits at the same time each year. Can you share with us the dates she tends to be visiting every year? I am wondering if we will also not get to visit Holyrood Palace in addition to not having our farewell dinner in Edinburgh Castle.

We will be attending the Tattoo on opening night!!! So excited!!!

 

[Didgets]

I was on the June 28th trip and I am one of the contest "winners" I didn't even know ABD even existed until I won the trip. I may not be a pro at ABD tours, but I don't see how having less experienced people on tour with you changed the environment. I think you should give every one a chance. We don't know the details on why some people seemed "upset" during the tour.

I think the trip was amazing and enjoyed every bit of it. Even when I busted my butt getting off a pony. Nick and I loved taking pictures of pretty much everything we passed. However, I completely agree with Paddles. I think more history should have been incorporated into the tour. I was very surprised after learning of Culloden battlefield in Inverness from Paddles, that it wasn't even mentioned in the tour.

Nick and I are already planning our next ABD tour for next year.

 

[Miss SD]

I was on the June 28th trip and I am one of the contest "winners" I didn't even know ABD even existed until I won the trip. I may not be a pro at ABD tours, but I don't see how having less experienced people on tour with you changed the environment. I think you should give every one a chance. We don't know the details on why some people seemed "upset" during the tour.

I think the trip was amazing and enjoyed every bit of it. Even when I busted my butt getting off a pony. Nick and I loved taking pictures of pretty much everything we passed. However, I completely agree with Paddles. I think more history should have been incorporated into the tour. I was very surprised after learning of Culloden battlefield in Inverness from Paddles, that it wasn't even mentioned in the tour.

Nick and I are already planning our next ABD tour for next year.

Glad you enjoyed the tour. It was fun getting to know everyone.

Have to disagree with you, though, about not knowing the details about why people were upset. The ones I mentioned told me what they were unhappy about. This is not conjecture.

 

[Didgets]

Glad you enjoyed the tour. It was fun getting to know everyone.

Have to disagree with you, though, about not knowing the details about why people were upset. The ones I mentioned told me what they were unhappy about. This is not conjecture.

I wasn't just implying on the 3 you mentioned.

 

[edinburghlass]

Hi Edinburghlass! I agree that they should have known about the Tattoo as that is a yearly event. I did not know that the Queen visits at the same time each year. Can you share with us the dates she tends to be visiting every year? I am wondering if we will also not get to visit Holyrood Palace in addition to not having our farewell dinner in Edinburgh Castle.

We will be attending the Tattoo on opening night!!! So excited!!!

End of June beginning of July, the Queen was in residence last week, so you will be okay in August. I didn't realise until today the trip even has a name!

http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/HolyroodWeek/HolyroodWeek.aspx

Thats not to say that another member of the Royal Family may visit at other times but this is an annual event. There are occasional concerts on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle in July once all the stands are erected for the Tattoo, I can only see three events for July, 17th, 20th and 21st. I saw Rod Stewart at the Castle a number of years ago, the best stage setting ever.

 

[Bobo912]

Wow. Both of these items seem to be issues with your Guides! I can't imagine both Guides taking off until everyone was off the bus. One of the best things about having 2 Guides is that one can stay behind with anyone who needs them while the other takes care of the rest. Yes, the Guides are not allowed to physically help with someone with a disability, but I'm shocked that one of them did not wait with the bus until that family was off. And, granted, I've only taken one Family ABD (the rest were Adults Only), but I've *NEVER* heard an Adventure Guide yell at anyone, and certainly not *frequently* yelling at them. Was an Adventure Guide involved in the "scene" at the Gift Shop? I'd be disappointed/soured on the trip under both of those conditions, too... Man, this just so doesn't fit with the amazing Adventure Guides I've experienced on my trips. I wonder what happened?

Sayhello

On our first ABD, the guide yelled at my child, who was 8 at the time. He was so attached to the guides, it really hurt his feelings and cried over it.

 

[calypso726]

End of June beginning of July, the Queen was in residence last week, so you will be okay in August. I didn't realise until today the trip even has a name!

http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/HolyroodWeek/HolyroodWeek.aspx

Thats not to say that another member of the Royal Family may visit at other times but this is an annual event. There are occasional concerts on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle in July once all the stands are erected for the Tattoo, I can only see three events for July, 17th, 20th and 21st. I saw Rod Stewart at the Castle a number of years ago, the best stage setting ever.

Thanks for letting us know Edinburghlass. At least now I have some hope of seeing Holyrood Castle.

 

[sayhello]

On our first ABD, the guide yelled at my child, who was 8 at the time. He was so attached to the guides, it really hurt his feelings and cried over it.

Wow. Was it a one-time outburst, or did the Guide do it a lot? I mean, I guess we're all human, but that's a little disappointing to hear.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Wow. Was it a one-time outburst, or did the Guide do it a lot? I mean, I guess we're all human, but that's a little disappointing to hear.

Sayhello

My son didn't really do anything to deserve being yelled at, but it was just once. I didn't say anything at the time and it didn't warrant any bad feedback on the guide. Just wanted to point out that it does happen sometimes. If the Scotland guide was yelling a lot, he/she is probably in the wrong line of work.

 

[Bobo912]

Hopefully they iron it all out by next year. Sounds like a lot of kinks in the itinerary.

When you pay $5000 or more per person for a trip, the kinks should already be worked out. Sometimes there are unexpected and unavoidable issues, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I don't know what has happened to ABD this year, but they need to get their act together.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

When you pay $5000 or more per person for a trip, the kinks should already be worked out. Sometimes there are unexpected and unavoidable issues, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I don't know what has happened to ABD this year, but they need to get their act together.

I completely agree. For our family of 4 this is trip is over $25k--that's a pretty penny as they say.

 

[calypso726]

When you pay $5000 or more per person for a trip, the kinks should already be worked out. Sometimes there are unexpected and unavoidable issues, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I don't know what has happened to ABD this year, but they need to get their act together.

I completely agree. For our family of 4 this is trip is over $25k--that's a pretty penny as they say.

I totally agree!

I called Bruce but got his voice mail so I left him a message. I e-mailed him as well. I am rather upset that yet even more of the itinerary has been changed and without any notice or explanation

The lack of professionalism that has been detailed both publicly here and privately in PMs from various travelers is shocking to say the least. I find it reprehensible that the guides would show such callous disregard to disabled passengers and simply leave them behind. That and quite a number of other details have left me beyond stunned! SMH

 

[calypso726]

On a more pleasant note, our box arrived!