vada_9

We used a company, Prague Airport transfers for a transfer from our hotel in Prague to the airport. I see on their website they do Intercountry transfers - in fact the one they mention is Nuremberg to Prague. We were happy with their service - prepaid on line and gave the driver a tip.

9 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Jan, thanks for reading and offering such kind comments!

We were just watching a very old Rick Steves show yesterday on Slovenia and were reminded of the beauty of Lake Bled and llubujana. Azamara has excursions to each (not both) lasting 7.5 hours. I'd prefer a tour that gives us a shorter taste of each. Do you recall the local tour company you used?

Thanks in advance.

Norris

Bimmer we used a company called Roundabout (Tours or Travel?). From memory we were first off the ship and were met in the carpark. Vendors were setting up stalls as well. We drove straight to Lake Bled to the castle for the views and “famous” Bled cake. Quick look at castle museum. Tried to ride a Plet boat out to church in lake but they weren’t working as too windy. Then went to Vetner gorge. Guide and driver took us to main entrance start of trail and we walked the gorge - a couple of km’s, meanwhile they drove to other end and met us at the exit. So a 1 way walk. We then drove to Llubjana for lunch , guide chose then we walked along the river and pedestrian streets, before going to a bar to try some blueberry scnapps. Drove back to Koper with a 5 min drive through town. 

I can’t remember what we paid and if we had to pay entrances , lunch extra etc but do remember it compared favourably to other private taxi tours we had arranged in Greece.

Jan

Hello Norris (and Carol). Thanks for your wonderful review and photos. I told my husband I was reading this and he rolled his eyes, but when I mentioned the rum bottle being left on the table in Havana - his answer "we must get there one day". So another place for the ever growing list.

I found your review whilst looking at the "X" page  for information on the EXpedition for Galapagas ( booked for 2021). I had never visited before. We have sailed on Azamara Quest to the Norwegian Fjords  - this was a wonderful cruise and itinerary - and your title piqued my interest.  So glad I read along and now have your links to previous reviews (Alaska is on that long list of ours).

I see you will be in Koper, Slovenia - one of our favorite days - we organised a private tour to Lake Bled (great photo ops) and Llubujana from there.

Jan

On 3/13/2019 at 3:16 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

  I wonder if that's to give you privacy (because deck 3 is so close to water and pier level)?

We visited L'Austral a couple of years back and the deck 3 balcony door is also solid. I think the explanation had something to do with travelling/safety in Arctic/Antarctic regions

On 3/13/2019 at 3:16 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

 

I have not been on a Uniworld cruise, but was on a Christmas market cruise with Avalon and we disembarked in Nuremburg before being transfered by bus to Prague (as part of the cruise tour).  We disembarked at 8, had 1 toilet stop en route, and arrived at the hotel (The Intercontinental) at lunch time.  It was too early to check in, but we were able to go get lunch, then check in - and had the afternoon  and evening to ourselves. 

If you are looking to do a river cruise, probably look at the specific family sailings as most sailings do not allow/encourage  children.  

If you go back about 5 pages there is a thread with this info. Has photos of the menus - sorry, not sure if this is how to link -http://Drink packages on Princess cruises from Sydney to New Zealand

2 hours ago, Second seating said:

How much did you tip? I have contacted them and got very good prices for Airport pick up and our trip to Seiffen.

 

Thank you,

Second seating

 

 

To be honest, no idea. I have checked my credit card statement and we paid about $30 Aus for the transfer. Pre booked and pre paid - Pick up from hotel to Airport. As Aussies, tipping is always hard for us. I would assume my husband gave a small note of local currency.(Maybe a 50 or 100). I am  sure we had local currency as we went for the Christmas markets, but not sure of amount as we would have also bought British pounds and Euro at the time.  At home we usually just round up to next 5 or 10 for taxi's.

I have used Prague  Airport transfers in 2016 (for a transfer to the airport). We were happy with them. Their website says they do Inter country transfers. 

2 hours ago, newcruiser1956 said:

When I was traveling to Rome from the US I still had to clear customs in Germany when we landed so I am guessing it will work the same way??  🙂

firstly, Italy and Germany are both in the Eu, so Germany was your first point of entry - hence clearing customs there.

Time should be ok, especially if your flights are on the one ticket and your luggage is checked to your final destintion. You will be in transit as said before. (Will not clear customs). You may have to go through a security screening - I have not been to Inceon, but have done so in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai before transitting. I would suggest you have a look at the airport web site - arrivals and departures boards, as from my experience flight numbers and gates are usually similar day to day, so you will be able to get an idea of how far between gates. Last year we had just over 1 hour in Hong Kong - it was rushed, but we had a idea of where we had to go (actually a different building).

On arrival in Vietnam, timing will depend on whether you have your visa or not.

Just a quick question is the Princess 5 for the price of 4, bucket of beer available for sale on board, or can you only order this before hand through the personalizer?

thanks in advance

On our Avalon cruise (Dec 2016) although not starting in Nuremberg, (started in Frankfurt), Avalon transfered all guests from a hotel to the ship. They had a function room set up to drop bags and a meeting time for all guests. Check your cruise documents/itinerary to see if this applies to your cruise. We had overnighted at another hotel, (actually closer to the docking location), checked out and had our bags held, had a morning sightseeing - Christmas markets and a HO ho ride, then collected our bags and walked to the meeting hotel before being bussed to the ship.

22 hours ago, LostTexaninCali said:

Also what kind of shoes do you recommend to wear for the Christmas Markets?

I wore lace up Ugg boots that I had waterproofed

We had a great trip, going back in 2019 for  a different journey. And yes , re river cruising - if you expand my signature they are all there, 9 river cruises, 8 rivers and 1 booked for 2020, from 2 nights to 14, I think.  I have never been on a "bad" holiday,  I am sure each one has had something unexpected happen. We never get to do everything we would like to. I research and make lists of things to do/places to visit, if we manage to fit in half, we are happy.

10 hours ago, worldtraveller99 said:

Just interested - how can you change a train ride? Isn't it on the rails?

So many variables, often an engine wouldn't arrive (it would be allocated to freight)(more money in freight), so you would leave later than expected, thus impacting on the days touring. Freight would get priority on single lane tracks.  At border crossings, tourists /staff had their visa's/ paper work but the accompanying vehicles hadn't been cleared and staff had gone home for the day.

Well said, when travelling (and at home) you need to be flexible. On our African train adventure almost every morning started with these three words - "Change of Plan". 

Thanks JP and Terri, I have followed along on many of the live reports you both have written. As I said, we had previously done the 8 day cruise back in 2010 and saw the Sampans during our excursion around Sa Dec. The Sampans offer 1 and 2 night cruises from Sa Dec to other towns in the Delta region. The boats are now owned and operated by the Victoria Hotel group (had different owners back in 2010). We had arranged a private driver to take us from Ho Chi Minh and meet up at the mooring. We  had the same driver return us to the Airport at the end of the cruise. We met up with the guide on a road and had to walk to the river. There are options to bike ride , but we chose to walk around the area. Lunch at Le Longalier (we had eaten here in 2010) then cruised visiting various local businesses and markets. We visited the house of "The Lover" in Sa Dec.  It was interesting to note that our guide mentioned that the company worked with 5 or 6 different brickworks or candy makers so that all could share in the tourist dollar. We ended in Can Tho. I have included a few more photos.

With the easier format of posting photos, I thought I would give this a try. 

We had seen the Song Xahn Sampans on our first Mekong Cruise (8 years ago) and I decided then if we ever returned this was something I wanted to do. In May this year we returned to do the Pandaw Red River cruise, plus some land touring and we ended our Vietnam stay on the Sampans. These are private "houseboats" taking 2  - 4 people and offer a few different itineraries in the Mekong Delta. There were the 2 of us on a 4 berth houseboat, with a staff of 4, Captain, + 2 assistants that were the cook, housekeeper, deckhand + a guide.  Meals are included either on board or ashore, there is a small fridge to purchase drinks or you can bring some aboard. Days are spent cruising and visiting various locations for walks on shore - we visited markets, brick factory, coconut candy and walked amongst farmland (things we had down on our initial visit). Our guide was most surprised that we had returned after 8 years  to do this cruise/stay.

I have used an Aussie credit card at Christmas Markets - Frankfurt to Nurenberg and on to Prague at some stalls. If you look you will see the Mastercard /Visa accepted signs.

We really enjoyed our rowing lesson in a batellina, (slightly larger than a gondola), with the folk from Row Venice.

Yes, and you can bring some back each time you go ashore. You have a small refrigerator in your room.

Possum52, I have an (older - similar) version of this adaptor (bought by my dad in the 80's) and we find that often when using the European 2 pin plug we need to support the adaptor with a tissue box/bin when you add an Aussie 2/3 pin connector(it falls out of the wall). Just something to be aware of.

Bought the Aldi one to add to our collection.

Can you or your daughter recommend a good pub? I’d like to do a real English Pub!

Hi, I have just seen your post and read through it and enjoying it. Thank you.

A pub we enjoyed in London was the Hung Drawn and Quartered. It is located very near to the Tower of London (definately do the free Yeoman tour). They do a pie and beer tasting board - 3 small pies (from their menu) and 3 Fullers beers. There is also lots of info on the walls re being "Hung Drawn and Quartered ". My husband found our Surname on the list of unlucky folk.

Hi Jazzbeau and Jazzbelle,

Enjoy your time in Africa, there is nothing quite like waking up on the Chobe River. I know you have been looking forward to this for some time (after our discussions on Azamara). We have booked the Namibia train journey for 2019. Can't wait to return.

Jan and Tom (Aust)

The front one is an Azamara ship