GoForLessTours Travel Blog
Why Take a River Cruise?
1/23/201210:40:59 AM Link | | Add comment
What Are River Cruises?
Experience some of the world's most intriguing destinations with river cruising. A River Cruise is a tour that travels on a small cruise ship via the rivers of a particular region of the world such as in Europe, Russia, Egypt, and China. Popular river cruises include the Rhine River, Danube River, Maine River, Moselle River, Seine River, Nile River, and Yangtze River.
What Are the Benefits of River Cruises?
River Cruises have several benefits. Many travelers enjoy the convenience of unpacking and packing only once during their river cruise vacation. Not only will you save time in the tour/cruise planning process, you will also save money. They offer a hassle-free vacation. A River Cruise has an experienced and knowledgeable tour/cruise director. The director is familiar with the history and region of the area on tour. The tour/cruise director is always available to answer questions or assist in any way. River Cruises include your shore excurions, all meals, drinks and complimentary wine with dinner, and local guides.
A personal review of Globus Tours-The Best of Southern England Tour
9/22/20118:27:56 AM Link | | Add comment
I recently took the Globus Tour-The Best of Southern England. This is a fun filled and packed 7 day tour. The first two nights was spent in London and was more of an independent vacation. You have Globus hosts available in the hotel to help you with optional tours and also the included sightseeing. London is a beautiful city with plenty of things to keep you busy! Some of the optional tours included The Tower of London, Wicked show, and A Taste of London. I took advantage of "A Taste of London". This optional included dinner at a local pub in the "City of London" and a river cruise on the Thames river in the evening so you can see London illuminated. On the 4th day you meet your tour group and tour director. We stopped at Oxford and walked among the Colleges and also visited Christ Church. After that we were on our way to Stratford Upon Avon to visit Shakespeare's birth place. Our next city was Bath where we visited the Roman Baths. Everywhere you looked, there were signs "Do Not Touch the Water". It was pretty amazing. The next day we visited Stonehenge. It was a breath taking sight. You had plenty of time for picture taking. Next we were on to Brighton where we had an included visit to the Royal Pavilion. There was a lot of Chinese decor inside. This architecture was very different from what you typically see. After Brighton we were back in London for the last night. Each day was busy from morning to evening. You definitely get a lot for the value of your money!
I think this tour is great for people that do not have more than a week to spend on their vacation. They can get a sample of each city and know where to spend more time on their next visit. This tour was different from the other Globus Tours I have previously taken. I am accustomed to having the included sightseeing where you have the headsets and a local guide is talking to you so you do not have to be right there in order to hear. The included visits such as the Royal Pavilion and the Roman Bath had audio handheld gadgets. This is where you push a number and hit play and walk throughout the place. There also was not a farewell dinner at the end of the tour. I think this tour was different from other ones because of London. London is more independent location rather than escorted. Overall this was a great tour and I would recommend it to everyone.
Thanks,
KimWhy Take An Escorted Tour?
8/23/20119:11:52 AM Link | | Add comment
What are Escorted tours?
An escorted tour is a group tour. It is led by a tour director from the beginning of the tour until the tours end. Tour operators offer pre-planned itineraries which include hotel accommodations and transportation while on tour. These itineraries may include some meals and sightseeing. People from around the globe can book these tours per departure date. Popular tour operators include: Globus Tours, Trafalgar Tours, and Tauck Tours.
What are the Benefits of Escorted Tours?
Escorted tours have several benefits. They offer a hassle-free vacation. An escorted tour has an experienced and knowledgeable tour director. The director is familiar with the history and region of the area on tour. The tour director is always available to answer questions or assist in any way. Having transportation and admission tickets provided also decreases travel stress. There is plenty of leisure time available if lone exploration is desired. Optional group excursions are also available for booking. The group is globally diverse and gives you an opportunity to create great friendships and amazing experiences.
A personal review of Trafalgar's Prague, Vienna, Budapest Tour
5/24/20114:38:00 PM Link | | Add comment
A few years ago I took the Trafalgar Tour Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. I chose this tour because it offered a slower pace than most tours. The tour consisted of 3 nights in each city. I really enjoyed this aspect so that I did not have to pack and unpack every day. The tour group really had plenty of leisure time to explore the cities. We began the tour in Prague. I had seen Prague in a lot of movies but it really was breath taking in person! The architecture was so beautiful. I also happen to be a big fan of Eastern Europe food so that was a plus! In Prague, the sightseeing included the St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castles, and the Charles Bridge. After that there was plenty of time to shop!
After Prague, we headed to Vienna for the next 3 nights. I absolutely loved Vienna! Famous included sights were the Hofburg Palace, Parliament Buildings and the Opera House. An optional tour that I had to sign up for is the Lipizzan horses. These majestic beautiful white horses look like they are dancing to classical music. We were able to see them while training. Another optional tour I took was the Viennese classical music. would recommend everyone to sign up for that one. Again the food was delicious!
Last but not least, we went to Budapest. This is a city where definitely want to come back and spend more time exploring. We took a lovely dinner cruise on the Danube at night. The buildings are gorgeous at night illuminated. All of the hotels in each city were great location and interior as well. I had a fantastic tour director who was charming, knowledgeable, and funny! He kept us entertained with hilarious stories during our driving from city to city. The tour group was great as well. I met people from all over the world and we all got along fabulously! The fare well dinner is always sad, saying goodbye to new friends. I would recommend this tour for people who want a slower pace and have time to enjoy each city.
Escorted Tours to Europe: Top Attractions to See in London, England
4/19/201111:51:20 PM Link | | Add comment
London is one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe. London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 17th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.[
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion,
finance ,healthcare , media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York, has the largest city GDPin Europeand is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. It has the most international visitors of any city in the world. London Heathrowis the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of highereducation institutions in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympicsthree times.London has a diverse range of historic sites to visit, all with their own unique character and clues to the history surrounding this great city.
Churchill War Rooms
The underground headquarters of the British High Command served as the nerve center of Britain's war effort during World War II.
Imperial War Museum
Aside from the obvious historical importance of some of the documents (like Hitler's signed order authorizing the march on Poland) the museum has a couple of interactive sections that bring the reality of war to life in a way that exhibits in glass cases cannot do. The WWI section wants the visitor to experience what trench warfare was actually like (and you do) and the WWII interactive exhibit attempts to replicate (with great success) what life was like during an air raid for Londoners during the Blitz. One hesitates to say more because of spoiling the experience. Take the Elephant & Castle Line on the Tube and you will be there in a short walk.
National Gallery
The National Gallery, London houses one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world. These pictures belong to the public and entrance to see them is free. The National Gallery's permanent collection spans the period from about 1250 to 1900 and consists of Western European paintings.
Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster is the seat of both chambers of Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, close to other government buildings.
Big Ben
Since 1859, this is the most famous and most accurate clock in the world. "Big Ben" is the nickname of the great bell above the tower officially called the "Great Bell".
Tower of London
One of London's most famous landmarks, the historic Tower houses the Crown Jewels, the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh, known as the Bloody Tower, and the Chapel of St. John and the Royal Armories.
Westminster Abbey
The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its
heart . A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom. The Library and Muniment Room houses the important (and growing) collections of archives, printed books and manuscripts belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, providing a centre for their study and for research into all aspects of the Abbey's long and varied history.Buckingham Palace
Surrounded by vast parklands and gardens, this grand palace has been the Royal London residence since Queen Victoria's time, and contains priceless works of art, fine furniture and decorations that form part of the Royal Collection.
Several major suppliers offer exciting and activity-filled itineraries to London including Globus, Cosmos, Trafalgar, Insight, and Collette. These large escorted travel companies enjoy great buying power by booking travel arrangements in bulk, and hence pass considerably savings on to their customers.
Taking an Escorted Tour to Australia
4/6/201112:15:17 AM Link | | Add comment
Australia-a country where a casual, outdoor lifestyle intersects with cosmopolitan cities and scenic beauty. It offers you so much-unique wildlife, brilliant colors in the tropics, an Outback adventure, sumptuous restaurants, lively nightlife, fun shopping, and much more-and on this tour, you'll have a chance to experience it all! But first, you'll stop in tropical Fiji, where you can pamper yourself at the spa, swim, shop, or do absolutely nothing!
Discover some of Australia's unique wildlife, including the famed Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial with the appearance of a small, stocky dog; the iconic kangaroo, which number roughly 40 million in Australia; koala; crocodile; and Little Penguins, the world's smallest penguin, which you'll see emerge from the sea and march across the beach to their sand dune burrows during the Penguin Parade in Melbourne.Some of the most popular sights and destinations included on many popular tours to Australia include:
Sydney (NSW): Sydney is more than just the magnificent Harbour Bridge and Opera House. No other city has beaches in such abundance, and few have such a magnificently scenic harbor. Our advice is to board a ferry, walk from one side of the bridge to the other, and try to spend a week here, because you're going to need it. Great Barrier Reef (QLD): It's a glorious 2,000km-long (1,240-mile) underwater coral fairyland with electric colors and bizarre fish life -- and it comes
complete with warm water and year-round sunshine. When you're not snorkeling over coral and giant clams almost as big as you, scuba diving, calling at tropical towns, or lying on deserted island beaches, you'll be trying out the sun lounges or enjoying the first-rate food. Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) & Uluru (Ayers Rock) (NT): This sacred, mysterious, and utterly unforgettable landscape may well be the highlight of your time in Australia. Uluru and Kata Tjuta demand at least 3 days to see everything there is to offer. Ghan Train: This overnight train journey will offer a fascinating perspective of the Outback as you travel from Alice Springs to Adelaide.Several major suppliers offer exciting and activity-filled itineraries to Australia including Globus, Cosmos, Trafalgar, Insight, and Collette. These large escorted travel companies enjoy great buying power by booking travel arrangements in bulk, and hence pass considerably savings on to their customers.
A Personal Review of Globus' European Sampler Tour
3/27/201110:22:48 PM Link | | Add comment
European Sampler Review
In June 2009, I took a Globus tour called European Sampler with London Extension. It was a fantastic tour sampling different countries, giving you the opportunity to find out which place you would like to visit again in depth. Upon arriving at London Heathrow airport, I picked up my luggage and cleared customs, and saw a Globus representative who arranged my transfer the hotel. I soon found out that you do not join your tour group until two days later when you move on to Amsterdam. There was a Globus host in my hotel that helped arrange for some optional sightseeing while I was in London. I decided to take a tour to the Tower of London. This was very interesting and I could imagine the prisoners being held here! After that tour I wanted to ride the London Eye. This is a huge ferris wheel that provided breath taking views of London. The wheel does not stop when people are getting on and off, however, it moves very slowly so it is not an issue. The next morning the local guide picks you up at your hotel. The morning sightseeing tour included: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards, and the Prime Minister's Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately I was not able to see the Changing of the Guard that day. The next day I met the rest of the tour as we gathered around to go to board the Eurostar train to Brussels. The train was very comfortable and plenty of leg room. After the train ride we met up with our driver and motor coach who took us to Amsterdam. This was a full day of travel and sightseeing began immediately upon arrival since we had only one night in Amsterdam. We had a walking tour of the city and yes we did visit the Red Light District. The next morning we headed to Heidelberg for one night. We had a few stops including Cologne to visit the twin-spired gothic cathedral and then we took a Rhine Cruise. The next day we went to the Black Forest and saw the bigger than life size cuckoo clock. It was a very cute place where they sell a lot of cuckoo clocks among other souvenirs. Of course I had to eat a delicious slice of Black Forest cake! After Black Forest, we continued on our journey to Lucerne with one stop at the Swiss border to admire the Rhine Falls. I was a bit tired from all the traveling the past two days and was relieved to have two nights in Lucerne. The next city was Paris. I loved this big city! Two nights was definitely not enough for me but it gave me a taste of things to come on my next visit. We all saw the Opera, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, and a lot more. Also included was a view from the Eiffel Tower from the second floor. There was an extremely long line to go in however being with the group, we were allowed immediate access. No lines for me! I had signed up for a cabaret show that evening not even realizing what that meant. I was in for a surprise once I arrived. It was a nice show to say the least. Since I booked the London extension, the next day I headed back there for one last night. Most of the tour went home from Paris. I had the most wonderful tour director and bus driver. As most experienced escorted tour travelers know, the tour director can make or break your tour! Every morning the tour group was sleepy on the motor coach and she always said "wakey wakey". I enjoyed the included meals however the optional tours meals were even better. I would say this tour is medium paced. There are a couple of cities that you are in only one night so it is a lot of traveling for a few days. However there are 3 cities where you stay for two nights. Personally I prefer tours that allow you to stay 3 nights at a more leisurely pace. I was more than satisfied with all of my hotel accommodations. I would recommend this tour to everyone.
-Susan, Baltimore, MD
