What you wish you knew on your first ABD

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We're heading to Central Europe with ABD in September. Should we tip the local guide in Euros?

That's what we did. The local guide really appreciated being tipped in Euros as they lose some of the value of the currency when converting. However they appreciate ALL tips regardless of the currency.

On the Two ABDs we have done so far, we take the Guides' Tip Money in the Envelope provided. That way you know it's done and you don't have to worry about it during the trip. OKW Lover..We had the Same Guides on Viva!!! We loved those two!!!

I do the same. Put the tips in the envelope in the pocket of the pre-trip guide and ready to go! I usually buy a nice card while we are away to put the envelope in and a little gift that the guides may express interest in while we are traveling to make a little package for them.

 

[figment52]

On our Viva Italia ABD we had one US based guide (Dusty) and one Italian guide (Marco B). I think we tipped Dusty in US dollars and Marco in Euro's. Might be wrong about that. I know that Dusty had flown over just for that trip and flew back the day it ended so dollars were convenient for him.

when were you on the Italy trip? that sounds like the trip I did in September ... Dusty flew over just for that one too.

 

[Calfan]

I respectfully disagree with this statement.

In Prague we had a walking tour of the city with ABD that lasted half a day. Had we not gone 3 days early I feel that we really would've missed so many incredible places and never gotten the "essence" of the city. My son and I had such a good time together exploring and made wonderful memories. Same goes for our post-days in Vienna. We took a river cruise down the Danube for the day and then took the local train back -- an experience that I am so glad that we did but that ABD did not cover.

Research all the cities before you leave. If you have an afternoon free in a city make sure you have an idea what you want to do there. Planning and being prepared are critical for maximum enjoyment of any trip and pre and post days on an ABD trip are no exception. Heck we booked the Sydney bridge climb months before we left (the popular times to climb book up fast).

I booked our private guide (for our 2 full pre-ABD days) in Beijing 4 months ago and have already done a complete itinerary with her. I have studied the subway system so I feel comfortable navigating it at night (we want to go to a Chinese opera 1 of the nights) and researched the restaurants we will eat dinner at (I am going to at least 1 of the restaurants my fellow foodie, Cousin Orville, recommended). For our post days in Hong Kong and Shanghai we have already drafted a plan of action (which included Shanghai Disney for 1 day). For reference we leave in late June. But I am a Type A researcher by trade......

Totally agree with this. We spent four days in Prague before the ABD started and could easily have done more. ABD can be quite poor at covering the sites in the starting and ending cities, so if you want to see those thoroughly you might be best off doing those on your own. Also, the Central Europe ABD has an overly large amount of on your own time in Vienna. I wish I knew this beforehand so we had researched what to do with all that unfilled time.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

My mom mentioned this tip to me last night when I was telling her about this thread. Read any and all documents you are given when you check into your hotel. They will hold valuable information for you that may not have been transmitted to you before your arrival. For example, when we checked in the Loew's Hotel in Hollywood we were given an envelope by the front desk with our check in documents. The envelope was from ABD with some tips and advice for our time in Hollywood. It told the best way to handle the street performers on Hollywood Boulevard (this was not pertinent to us as we come from a very big city where it's common to come into contact with street performers) and also where the closest market and pharmacy were for any incidentals we may have forgotten and found we needed. This came in very helpful as we were able to purchase bottles of water for use in Hollywood and Disneyland and we were able to pick up a few things at the pharmacy that we needed.

We were originally planning to have 2 days in Prague at the start of our ABD as we are arriving the day before the trip actually starts but we found airfare that was too good to pass up so we are arriving late afternoon the day before the trip starts. We plan on hitting a few places before our Welcome dinner and making use of the free time the next day (no more marionette making workshop - now it's more free time). We plan on getting the Prague City Card and the Vienna Card. Both of which give access to the local transit system, free tours and discounted admission to many of the city's attractions.

 

[OKW Lover]

when were you on the Italy trip? that sounds like the trip I did in September ... Dusty flew over just for that one too.

We were on the DIS/Dreams Unlimited exclusive trip in 2014.

 

[calypso726]

I wish someone would have warned me they would be addictive We did our first ABD in August of 2013 which was Scotland. ABD trips number 6 Danube River Cruise, 7 Prague River cruise extension (if that counts) and 8 Winter in Wyoming are all happening this year Number 9, Backstage Magic is already being planned for next year should the dates work out in our favor.

That aside, I will concur that pre-trip days are a must for us as well. Packing cubes make life easier when traveling. Have a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees if traveling abroad and make sure it is a chip and signature at the very least. If you are in Europe and plan to explore on your own, do bring a chip and pin card for unmanned kiosks. Bring the right type of adapter for your electronics when leaving the country. If you are not doing laundry in the sink with those handy detergent packs, bring dryer sheets to keep your dirty stack of clothes fresh smelling while in a suitcase with the clean clothes. Hope that helps!

 

[OKW Lover]

Bring the right type of adapter for your electronics when leaving the country.

Very important! If going to Europe, don't assume all countries use the same plug.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

That aside, I will concur that pre-trip days are a must for us as well. Packing cubes make life easier when traveling.

Totally agree with this. Packing cubes make moving from city to city with ABD so so so easy! Last summer on the Australia ABD I labelled them and it made life incredibly easy on the road. Cubes went from the suitcase to the drawer or closet, then back to the suitcase. Depending on where we were half of the cubes never left the suitcase. I couldn't go overseas without them again. BEST TRAVEL INVENTION EVER!

 

[figment52]

We were on the DIS/Dreams Unlimited exclusive trip in 2014.

2014, good for a minute I was afraid I didn't recognize someone on my trip in 2015. It was sounding so familiar .

 

[Allabouthemouse]

Great thread- thank you for all the useful information!

 

[SingingMom]

If you don't have packing cubes, which we don't, use extra large Ziploc bags to pack. On our first ABD I was shocked how messy our luggage got, trying to figure out what was worn already etc. The next two ABDS went much more smoothly! I felt we were much more organized!

I agree that if you can swing at least one day prior to your trip, do it. It made for a rested and more relaxed start to the group adventure. We would have been devastated if we didn't have our two extra days in Prague beforehand. We had a marvelous time and didn't feel cheated out of important sites.

As for "free time", there isn't much. Even the advertised free time might not work out on your trip, depending on weather, traveling delays to and from sites, and possible closures. For example, some have stated there was too much free time in Vienna; on our ABD the Riding School was closed for a private event so they added a different activity, and it took up a big bit of our pre-planned free time. I would have LOVED more free time in Vienna. Alas, we will have to just visit again. lol

Definitely ask the guides for suggestions about things to see, where to eat, where to shop on your free time. Most of the time they are very familiar with the area and will be able to steer you away from "tourist traps" if you want to experience the "local" life. For example, DD wanted a dirndl and our guide Stephanie told us to wait to purchase it at a certain shop in Munich, which had a great selection with very reasonable prices.

Water, comfortable shoes, and rest on the motor coaches between locations!
And make sure you have the name, address, and phone number of the hotel and your guides when you venture out on your own!