Other Options...

We’re in Prague right now and heading to Munich tomorrow for our Germany ABD. Prague is a BEAUTIFUL city that is easily walkable, has beautiful sights all around and has been very economical in our opinion. I don’t think you’ll regret visiting!
Are you taking the train or flying to Munich?
 
We’re in Prague right now and heading to Munich tomorrow for our Germany ABD. Prague is a BEAUTIFUL city that is easily walkable, has beautiful sights all around and has been very economical in our opinion. I don’t think you’ll regret visiting!

How easy is it to do OYO?
 
Are you taking the train or flying to Munich?
We took an IC Bus for 38 Euros from the Prague Train station direct to the Munich ZOB right by the Hauptbahnhof. Total trip took 5 hours, we found it was the most economical and direct option.
 


How easy is it to do OYO?
I'd suggest setting up some walking tours. They're readily available. I used The Naked Tour Guide (who wasn't actually naked! :) ). There is SO much history to Prague, you really want to see everything in the context of that history! And if you want to do the Jewish Quarter, do NOT plan to do it on a Saturday. Everything is closed for the Sabbath.

Sayhello
 
How easy is it to do OYO?

We flew to Prague after our Germany ABD trip for 4 days and did it OYO. Everything is so easy to book through the internet and when you are there. Great walkable city and tours are available mostly through your hotel front desk. Love, love Prague.

I second @carpenta Prague is a very easy on your own city. A good map and good walking shoes are musts!

Chiming in to agree that Prague is so do-able on your own. We spent 4 nights there on our own before the start of our Central Europe ABD. We did arrange a tour to Kutna Hora for the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) which I highly recommend. We also did Karlstejn Castle on our own via the train. But other sites we just did on our own such as the Jewish Quarter, parts of Prague Castle, Petrin Hill, etc. mostly walking but also using the subway.
 


I'm pretty sure at least one or two folks expressed interest in Morocco in the "What's Next" thread. I haven't taken one of their trips yet, but I get catalogs from Classic Journeys. Their latest catalog has a 9-day Morocco Family Adventure if anyone wants to check it out. You can download itineraries from their website.
 
We did G Adventures/National Geographic in Morocco earlier this year. (12 people + a guide) We're taking the same company to Ecuador. I love the very small groups which they have!
How would you compare your Nat Geo experience to your ABD trips? We have done a few trips with ABD (Alpine Magic, Alaska, Australia, Costa Rica and are booked for Galapagos and SE Asia). Initially we picked ABD because the kids were young, they are still only 9 and 10, but they have traveled now. We continue because it was a known commodity. We have enjoyed the trips. The guides are engaging and meeting other kids is something our kids always look forward to, but now we want to branch out to Thailand or New Zealand or Morocco among others. Looks like some of the other companies have those. Thanks in advance. :)
 
How would you compare your Nat Geo experience to your ABD trips? We have done a few trips with ABD (Alpine Magic, Alaska, Australia, Costa Rica and are booked for Galapagos and SE Asia). Initially we picked ABD because the kids were young, they are still only 9 and 10, but they have traveled now. We continue because it was a known commodity. We have enjoyed the trips. The guides are engaging and meeting other kids is something our kids always look forward to, but now we want to branch out to Thailand or New Zealand or Morocco among others. Looks like some of the other companies have those. Thanks in advance. :)

I haven't done any trips with National Geographic with kids, but - important but - having said that, I have found that as far as getting value for $$$ spent, I find National Geographic/G Adventures to be equal as far as quality of - well, everything. Our guide in Costa Rica was our second favorite guide of all time with Dusty from ABD still holding the number one position. Our National Geographic/G Adventures guide in Ecuador is probably number three in the list of all the tours we've done.

Heads up - you sometimes have to carry your own luggage on these tours. They tell you up front that you're responsible for carrying it, but it varies a lot, depending on which country you're visiting. There is only one dedicated guide as opposed to two with ABD. But in all honesty, our dedicated guides through National Geographic/G Adventures have been incredible. They are part of your group. The group is small which (to me) is a huge bonus. And the emphasis is on experiencing the local culture, not out the window of your bus but as a participant in the daily life.

PM me if you have any specific questions!
 
Just wanted to add that while the National Geographic/G Adventures tours are available through the National Geographic tours website, they cost less in most cases than the regular tours. For some people that is not an issue, but if cost is a factor, then this is a wonderful way to have incredible quality for less.
 
Just wanted to add that while the National Geographic/G Adventures tours are available through the National Geographic tours website, they cost less in most cases than the regular tours. For some people that is not an issue, but if cost is a factor, then this is a wonderful way to have incredible quality for less.
Have you ever done any straight G Adventures trips, or have all the ones you’ve done been Nat Geo Journeys? The Nat Geo Journeys are bookable through both the Nat Geo and G Adventures websites, but none of them are family tours as far as I can tell. I’m looking at the G Adventures family Galapagos trip and am wondering if the service level is the same/similar to Nat Geo Journeys. It says “upgraded” in comparison to the regular G Adventures trips, but I’ve never been on one so am not quite sure what that means.

My older daughter really wants to visit the Galapagos but the tours offered by the high-end companies are just financially out of reach for us. So I’m looking for a lower cost option. G Adventures is one, and Intrepid Travel is another I’m looking at. (Her other “bucket list” trip is India. She has exotic tastes for a 9-year-old, lol.)
 
Tauck tours we did not have to "slepp" our bags except in Iceland. A number of tour companies have the same service when it comes to bags.
 
Have you ever done any straight G Adventures trips, or have all the ones you’ve done been Nat Geo Journeys? The Nat Geo Journeys are bookable through both the Nat Geo and G Adventures websites, but none of them are family tours as far as I can tell. I’m looking at the G Adventures family Galapagos trip and am wondering if the service level is the same/similar to Nat Geo Journeys. It says “upgraded” in comparison to the regular G Adventures trips, but I’ve never been on one so am not quite sure what that means.

My older daughter really wants to visit the Galapagos but the tours offered by the high-end companies are just financially out of reach for us. So I’m looking for a lower cost option. G Adventures is one, and Intrepid Travel is another I’m looking at. (Her other “bucket list” trip is India. She has exotic tastes for a 9-year-old, lol.)

I haven't done a straight G Adventures tour yet. I have one booked for next spring. But based on the level of service we received so far, I'd say that they're a good company.

Just from looking at the tour I think you're viewing on their website, the upgraded designation means that you have better accommodations than on their basic tours. You generally have more meals included, and it also may mean that you have more activities than a basic tour. You'd need to compare tours on their site to verify that, but the National Geographic co-branded tours always carry the 'upgraded' designation as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ava
I haven't done a straight G Adventures tour yet. I have one booked for next spring. But based on the level of service we received so far, I'd say that they're a good company.

Just from looking at the tour I think you're viewing on their website, the upgraded designation means that you have better accommodations than on their basic tours. You generally have more meals included, and it also may mean that you have more activities than a basic tour. You'd need to compare tours on their site to verify that, but the National Geographic co-branded tours always carry the 'upgraded' designation as well.
Thank you for the info! I’ll be interested to hear about your experience with G Adventures next spring. I’m looking at this potentially for summer 2020 so I have time.
 
Have you ever done any straight G Adventures trips, or have all the ones you’ve done been Nat Geo Journeys? The Nat Geo Journeys are bookable through both the Nat Geo and G Adventures websites, but none of them are family tours as far as I can tell. I’m looking at the G Adventures family Galapagos trip and am wondering if the service level is the same/similar to Nat Geo Journeys. It says “upgraded” in comparison to the regular G Adventures trips, but I’ve never been on one so am not quite sure what that means.

My older daughter really wants to visit the Galapagos but the tours offered by the high-end companies are just financially out of reach for us. So I’m looking for a lower cost option. G Adventures is one, and Intrepid Travel is another I’m looking at. (Her other “bucket list” trip is India. She has exotic tastes for a 9-year-old, lol.)

I have no experience with this company or the Galápagos Islands, but it does seem that your daughter and I share similar bucket lists. :goodvibes

I’m sure the company would be fine, but my question would be regarding the benefits of a land based Galápagos tour vs a cruise.
The cruises are frightfully expensive, but when we do get there one day, I’m determined to have saved enough money to get on a small ship and explore some of the smaller islands. After all my years of studying Darwinian theory, I feel like I want to see the area a bit like he did. Or at least like Attenborough :laughing:

I am interested to do some further research though to figure out what a land/main island tour offers. They do seem to be much cheaper.
 
Here is a Cruise that might interest some people

A 12 day Cruise on Board The Crown Princess From 5th May 2019 to 16th May 2019

Cost € 1740 Euros per person ( Flights to Dublin Extra )

From Dublin and visiting Belfast , Glasgow , Invergordon & Edinburgh & then Le Havre for Normandy Beaches & Paris,

Then Southampton for London & sail on to Guernsey & back to Cobh ( my home area ) & finish back in Dublin.


Fly from USA to Dublin ( look at Aer Lingus ) No change of Airports
 
FYI...Thomson is running an anniversary special this month offering 20% off several of their trips. It's a pretty good deal.

I asked that they apply the discount to my existing reservation for next June and the response was less than stellar, though not entirely unexpected. I'm not sure whether I'll keep the trip. When I booked, their Smart Traveler Advantage program included cancel for any reason coverage up until 120 days prior to departure. The updated program no longer provides this benefit, so if I want the 20% discount, I have to accept the modified program as it would be deemed a new booking.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top