What do people think about ABD?

[carpenta]

We travel using all three types of travel groups you list. We scour the companies and compare offerings and cost ratio. We find the three main group companies we use (ABD, Nat. Geo and Tauck) offer similar quality and we compare cost vs. value such as food venues and hotels offered and then make our decision. Just love to travel and do what ever it takes to fulfill our lust to see the world.

 

[Rapunzellover]

Let's also not forget the kids. A big big big plus for ABD is the kids getting to meet other kids and have fun. I can never manage the adult only trips (the dates never work) so I get to see the kids interacting with each other. It's lovely and I think they make lifelong friends sometimes.

 

[tink1970]

I love to travel and love to plan. In the good old days, I'd spend hours and hours researching and have color coded pages in a binder.

As I've gotten older, while I still love to plan and there are certain places I have no problems going without a tour guide, I've learned that sometimes it's nice to allow someone else to do the heavy lifting of schedules, logistics, running interference. People change and preferences change.

Even on tours, there is usually free time to wander, get lost, discover the perfect place for "x."

Do I take a group tour for every trip? No, but I don't consider it a badge of shame to do so anymore.

 

[Calfan]

I definitely consider vacation planning to be a hobby, and my family would tell you that vacation planning is one of my superpowers Even with that, I am completely sold on group travel, for all of the reasons that previous posters have mentioned: the convenience, the feeling of security, not having to deal with luggage and transfers, etc. I will also say that we almost always add on a few days before or after (or both) to our group tours, so I get a healthy dose of planning around those days (in addition to booking air to and from the departure and return cities, etc.) And I can honestly say that that planning is more than enough. I'm pretty much at the point where I can't imagine planning a 10-day or 2-week vacation entirely on my own. I just don't have enough time. The other point that I think is really worth emphasizing is that, depending on the group (but definitely with Disney/ABD), you get access to sites and activities that you just wouldn't be able to do on your own, no matter how much time or effort you are willing to devote to the planning effort. I was on the same Scotland ABD as calyspo, who has already mentioned launching canoes from Urquhart castle on Loch Ness, which is a Disney exclusive. And taking over a local bakery to make scones. Just not going to happen on your own. Same thing on the Central Europe ABD in gaining access to the Sound of Music gazebo. ABD alumni can undoubtedly come up with a very lengthy list of these types of examples. But while I am sold on group travel, I am not sold on just one tour company. While I have enjoyed our ABDs (Scotland, Central Europe and Baltics cruise add-on), I can say that I've enjoyed each one slightly less than the one before. Part of that might be that the Scotland trip (before the itinerary changes of the last few years) just set the bar really really high, and we fell in love with Scotland. But I think you need to look at the specifics each tour company offers, along with the itinerary, and choose the one that will best suit. My biggest issues with ABD these days are the large group size, and ABD's failure to guarantee a departure once a minimum number of guests have signed up. For these reasons, along with itinerary, we have chosen to do China with Thomson Family Adventures this summer. There will be 10 on our trip, and it has been guaranteed since the moment we signed up. That trip starts on July 3, so I will let everyone know our impressions of Thomson. It is also why I will likely lean toward either Thomson (if our experience this summer is positive) or NatGeo for future group trips. NatGeo offers a full slate of family trips that are capped at 25 participants, which just sits much better with me than the 42 we had on our Central Europe ABD or the 49 we had on our Baltics cruise add-on. I've done one NatGeo trip so far, and the guide ratio and baggage handling were MUCH better than ABD, so I think it pays to keep an open mind about the company you use for any given itinerary. All that being said, we aren't necessarily done with ABD. We actually have the Backstage Magic ABD booked for next summer, and while we are likely to push it to 2018, it is definitely on the must do list. Of course, this is a trip that another company just cannot replicate. And we will always be open to new ABD itineraries, but realistically will likely pick NatGeo or Thomson if they offer a very similar itinerary, due to the group size and guarantee issues we have found with ABD. I wholeheartedly agree with calypso, though, that you shouldn't dismiss group travel before you have tried it.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Californiagirl, who was on our ABD that year had already been to Scotland 8 times before and still chose to do the ABD trip because of the itinerary. That speaks volumes.
{...}

All the choices we make in life will have some impact and often a domino effect that we can't often foresee. Sometimes the choices we make enrich our lives in a way we never expected. Choosing not to try something, solely based on preconceived notions that have no foundation in experience can also well impact your life and leave it a little or a lot less richer, a little or a lot less fun and a little or a lot less full of wonder and joy. I don't want to think of what my own life would look like now, had a I not chosen to try a cruise with DCL. We wouldn't have the awesomesauce friends that we have now, I wouldn't have discovered my favorite author, I would still be sitting on the fence about trying ABD and I would not have started a hobby in travel hacking and over 2 million points and miles so I can travel more and in a manner I would not have been able to afford. I do hope all of this helps. I also sincerely hope you decide to try new things even if you think you won't like them or get them. You may well be right, but you really won't know until you try. Though sometimes, I'm sure you will be very pleasantly surprised at not only the experience but the aftermath.

I definitely consider vacation planning to be a hobby, and my family would tell you that vacation planning is one of my superpowers Even with that, I am completely sold on group travel, for all of the reasons that previous posters have mentioned: the convenience, the feeling of security, not having to deal with luggage and transfers, etc. I will also say that we almost always add on a few days before or after (or both) to our group tours, so I get a healthy dose of planning around those days (in addition to booking air to and from the departure and return cities, etc.) And I can honestly say that that planning is more than enough. I'm pretty much at the point where I can't imagine planning a 10-day or 2-week vacation entirely on my own. I just don't have enough time. The other point that I think is really worth emphasizing is that, depending on the group (but definitely with Disney/ABD), you get access to sites and activities that you just wouldn't be able to do on your own, no matter how much time or effort you are willing to devote to the planning effort. I was on the same Scotland ABD as calyspo, who has already mentioned launching canoes from Urquhart castle on Loch Ness, which is a Disney exclusive. And taking over a local bakery to make scones. Just not going to happen on your own. Same thing on the Central Europe ABD in gaining access to the Sound of Music gazebo. ABD alumni can undoubtedly come up with a very lengthy list of these types of examples. But while I am sold on group travel, I am not sold on just one tour company. While I have enjoyed our ABDs (Scotland, Central Europe and Baltics cruise add-on), I can say that I've enjoyed each one slightly less than the one before. Part of that might be that the Scotland trip (before the itinerary changes of the last few years) just set the bar really really high, and we fell in love with Scotland. But I think you need to look at the specifics each tour company offers, along with the itinerary, and choose the one that will best suit. My biggest issues with ABD these days are the large group size, and ABD's failure to guarantee a departure once a minimum number of guests have signed up. For these reasons, along with itinerary, we have chosen to do China with Thomson Family Adventures this summer. There will be 10 on our trip, and it has been guaranteed since the moment we signed up. That trip starts on July 3, so I will let everyone know our impressions of Thomson. It is also why I will likely lean toward either Thomson (if our experience this summer is positive) or NatGeo for future group trips. NatGeo offers a full slate of family trips that are capped at 25 participants, which just sits much better with me than the 42 we had on our Central Europe ABD or the 49 we had on our Baltics cruise add-on. I've done one NatGeo trip so far, and the guide ratio and baggage handling were MUCH better than ABD, so I think it pays to keep an open mind about the company you use for any given itinerary. All that being said, we aren't necessarily done with ABD. We actually have the Backstage Magic ABD booked for next summer, and while we are likely to push it to 2018, it is definitely on the must do list. Of course, this is a trip that another company just cannot replicate. And we will always be open to new ABD itineraries, but realistically will likely pick NatGeo or Thomson if they offer a very similar itinerary, due to the group size and guarantee issues we have found with ABD. I wholeheartedly agree with calypso, though, that you shouldn't dismiss group travel before you have tried it.

Ditto everything Calyspo and Calfan said. Group travel can be fantastic--it can also be not so great. For me, I've learned that whether it makes sense comes down to numbers & itinerary. 49 (what we had on our Baltics ABD) was *way* too many and negatively impacted the trip for me, 37 (the number I think we had on our Scotland ABD, which is one of our best family trips ever) was fine, and 14 (what Calfan and I had on our NatGeo trip) was awesome. As Calypso mentioned, I travel to Scotland all the time--it's my favorite place in the world--and I was skeptical of an ABD Scotland ... until I saw the itinerary. I couldn't believe how well thought through it was and signed my family up the first day. Now granted, this was at opening day prices for a first year itinerary and they have changed it drastically since then--removing one of the reasons I thought it was so awesome and far afield: the day trip by private plane to the Isle of Lewis--but I digress I was basically the biggest cheerleader in the world for ABD until the Baltics ABD. Now I pay VERY close attention to the itinerary. I ask myself what things are they doing that I can't replicate on my own? How much moving around and transportation are we doing (which is a pain to coordinate with language barriers) etc? What meals are included, etc. I do tons of vacation planning and travel pretty extensively on my own as well, especially the past few years. I absolutely loved the NatGeo Adventures product and can't wait for the next trip. I'm hoping Patagonia in winter 2017. And despite my reservations about ABD after the Baltics, I'm doing ABD Greece this summer (lots of moving around, and wonderfully reviewed trip by DISers), and ABD China next summer. So my advice is that if you decide to give it a try, pay very close attention to the potential group size and the itinerary. If you are active, I think one of the NatGeo adventures which are limited to 16 would be a good test, and then go from there. You could also wait last minute and stalk some of the low enrolled but guaranteed ABD trips and sign up last minute when you are assured there won't be 49 on your trip

 

[85glht]

I definitely consider vacation planning to be a hobby, and my family would tell you that vacation planning is one of my superpowers Even with that, I am completely sold on group travel, for all of the reasons that previous posters have mentioned: the convenience, the feeling of security, not having to deal with luggage and transfers, etc. I will also say that we almost always add on a few days before or after (or both) to our group tours, so I get a healthy dose of planning around those days (in addition to booking air to and from the departure and return cities, etc.) And I can honestly say that that planning is more than enough. I'm pretty much at the point where I can't imagine planning a 10-day or 2-week vacation entirely on my own. I just don't have enough time. The other point that I think is really worth emphasizing is that, depending on the group (but definitely with Disney/ABD), you get access to sites and activities that you just wouldn't be able to do on your own, no matter how much time or effort you are willing to devote to the planning effort. I was on the same Scotland ABD as calyspo, who has already mentioned launching canoes from Urquhart castle on Loch Ness, which is a Disney exclusive. And taking over a local bakery to make scones. Just not going to happen on your own. Same thing on the Central Europe ABD in gaining access to the Sound of Music gazebo. ABD alumni can undoubtedly come up with a very lengthy list of these types of examples. But while I am sold on group travel, I am not sold on just one tour company. While I have enjoyed our ABDs (Scotland, Central Europe and Baltics cruise add-on), I can say that I've enjoyed each one slightly less than the one before. Part of that might be that the Scotland trip (before the itinerary changes of the last few years) just set the bar really really high, and we fell in love with Scotland. But I think you need to look at the specifics each tour company offers, along with the itinerary, and choose the one that will best suit. My biggest issues with ABD these days are the large group size, and ABD's failure to guarantee a departure once a minimum number of guests have signed up. For these reasons, along with itinerary, we have chosen to do China with Thomson Family Adventures this summer. There will be 10 on our trip, and it has been guaranteed since the moment we signed up. That trip starts on July 3, so I will let everyone know our impressions of Thomson. It is also why I will likely lean toward either Thomson (if our experience this summer is positive) or NatGeo for future group trips. NatGeo offers a full slate of family trips that are capped at 25 participants, which just sits much better with me than the 42 we had on our Central Europe ABD or the 49 we had on our Baltics cruise add-on. I've done one NatGeo trip so far, and the guide ratio and baggage handling were MUCH better than ABD, so I think it pays to keep an open mind about the company you use for any given itinerary. All that being said, we aren't necessarily done with ABD. We actually have the Backstage Magic ABD booked for next summer, and while we are likely to push it to 2018, it is definitely on the must do list. Of course, this is a trip that another company just cannot replicate. And we will always be open to new ABD itineraries, but realistically will likely pick NatGeo or Thomson if they offer a very similar itinerary, due to the group size and guarantee issues we have found with ABD. I wholeheartedly agree with calypso, though, that you shouldn't dismiss group travel before you have tried it.

One good point that you touched on was the fact that ABD does get you into venues that will be impossible on your own... The Southern Cali. trip we took a few years ago, they took us to breakfast at Club 33. It was the highlight of the whole tour. Sadly, I learned that this is not happening anymore.

I wasn't aware ofother tour companies you mentioned. I will have to look into them. Thanks!

 

[SingingMom]

I grew up in a middle class family of 6. The biggest vacation decision each year was determined by the amount of the tax refund - would it be three nights or a week at the Jersey Shore?

I had never been on a plane until I was 20 and paid for my own vacation with a friend to the Bahamas. The next year I went to Bermuda. Then I fell in love with a man from the Midwest and we had a long distance engagement which meant monthly visits. A honeymoon in Bermuda. A roadtrip to Toronto. And, yearly trips to the Jersey Shore. That was the extent of my "adventures".

Then I gave birth to a child who has wanderlust! When I think of the perfect way to describe her, I think of Belle singing "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere...." So - SHE is the reason we now "travel". ABD was the PERFECT way to get me to Europe. I didn't have to "plan". DD did the research. DH paid the bill. I fell in love with group travel. LOL

I ADORE that all the special admissions to "must see" attractions are already reserved and waiting for me. I ADORE staying in 5 star hotels. I love the interaction with the guides. I most of all ADORE the special people we have met. Each ABD we have made life long friends. We truly have people in our lives now that we would never have had the opportunity to cross paths with - people that we have added to our extended family.

Of course, this is MY personal experience. But I will say, for someone that was a little apprehensive of the whole idea of "group" travel, our 3 ABD trips were fabulous. We plan on more in the future!

 

[Chirple]

Now that we have taken our first ABD, we loved it. I especially loved it as I do ALL of the vacation planning for the two of us, and it can be exhausting. This includes our side trip to Tombstone--I did all of the research on and booked the hotels (in Phoenix and in Tombstone) and rental car, even though it was my husband's desire to go there. (He says that he would make plans but that I don't let him. If I left it to him, we'd be rushing last minute since he is a big procrastinator.)

Once we started our ABD, I felt a huge weight taken off of my shoulders since someone else was in charge. This is our first time using a tour group for our entire trip, and it does not compare to taking a group excursion on a cruise where you are only with those people for the length of your excursion. I don't know how we would feel with a larger group, which is what we expected on this recent trip; but we are open to the opportunity.