Naveen review by Col Uk Rao
Will Recommend to Others
Firstly, overall, the trip of 12 nights went off pretty well. The formalities before the trip caused a lot of heartburns due to the delay in providing us the detailed itinerary date wise, as asked for, along with the vouchers.
We had booked for the trip of 12 nights initially commencing on 13 Sep 18. However, when we visited the office of Trip Factory, we were requested to change the dates , as we were informed that the trip commencing 13 Sep had been cancelled; and we were given an option of 06 or 26 Sep. We had graciously accepted the reasoning and opted for the trip commencing 06 Sep, for which we got the confirmed air tickets while we were at the office. However, we had to communicate at least 4 times to get the dates of the insurance amended , to coincide with the dates of our trip. Based on the dates of travel, we had completed our train reservations from Belgaum to Bangalore and return, as also the accommodation at Bangalore for our stay for a day before commencement of the trip as als a day after our return. Then, just a week or so before the trip, we were requested to once again change the dates of our trip - the reason being that the rest of the group having a 6 nights itinerary. We could not agree to this, as we had already done our onward and return reservations to Bangalore, our starting station and final destination; as well as having rescheduled a number of our events. I had also requested for a detailed itinerary date wise, contact details and details of the Tour Manager and the rest of the group, which I was promised, would reach me 48 hrs in advance. Despite a number of reminders by email and phone calls, we did not receive the said details till approx 4 hrs before our departure from our place to the airport. Overall, the staff work at the Trip Factory end was rather poor.
As regards the trip, it was well executed as promised. The Tour Manager was well versed with her job and conducted the group very well. She was resourceful and knowledgeable. The itinerary was followed in letter and spirit. Certain shortcomings are enumerated in the subsequent paras.
Hotel Accomodation. Overall, we had good hotels to stay in. However, in Paris, Zurich(Ibis) and one other place, the rooms were so small, that one could hardly move around inside and there was hardly any place to open up our baggage. While it may be OK for hotels where one checks in only for the night, it would be prudent to have slightly bigger rooms where one has to stay for more than a night.
The visit to Euro Disney is a total waste of a day in Paris. There is so much rush in Disney Studio as well as Disney Park, that in the latter location, our fellow group members could get only 2 rides at the most. Instead, I would recommend that the itinerary incorporate a visit the Louvre Museum, Tuilleries Garden and Palace of Versailles- or any of the many attractions of Paris.
The visit to the Atomium was a waste of time. This reduced the time one got in Madurodam. I would suggest that a greater amount of time be given to enjoy Madurodam, which is a unique place.
Many a time we had lunch at 1400 hrs and dinner at 1900 hrs. This was necessitated by the distances involved from our hotel to the restaurants. I would suggest that the hotels be chose in such a place so as to facilitate a walk to the restaurant for dinner. I must however point out that the food in all the restaurants that we were fed in, was excellent.
Rao
We had booked for the trip of 12 nights initially commencing on 13 Sep 18. However, when we visited the office of Trip Factory, we were requested to change the dates , as we were informed that the trip commencing 13 Sep had been cancelled; and we were given an option of 06 or 26 Sep. We had graciously accepted the reasoning and opted for the trip commencing 06 Sep, for which we got the confirmed air tickets while we were at the office. However, we had to communicate at least 4 times to get the dates of the insurance amended , to coincide with the dates of our trip. Based on the dates of travel, we had completed our train reservations from Belgaum to Bangalore and return, as also the accommodation at Bangalore for our stay for a day before commencement of the trip as als a day after our return. Then, just a week or so before the trip, we were requested to once again change the dates of our trip - the reason being that the rest of the group having a 6 nights itinerary. We could not agree to this, as we had already done our onward and return reservations to Bangalore, our starting station and final destination; as well as having rescheduled a number of our events. I had also requested for a detailed itinerary date wise, contact details and details of the Tour Manager and the rest of the group, which I was promised, would reach me 48 hrs in advance. Despite a number of reminders by email and phone calls, we did not receive the said details till approx 4 hrs before our departure from our place to the airport. Overall, the staff work at the Trip Factory end was rather poor.
As regards the trip, it was well executed as promised. The Tour Manager was well versed with her job and conducted the group very well. She was resourceful and knowledgeable. The itinerary was followed in letter and spirit. Certain shortcomings are enumerated in the subsequent paras.
Hotel Accomodation. Overall, we had good hotels to stay in. However, in Paris, Zurich(Ibis) and one other place, the rooms were so small, that one could hardly move around inside and there was hardly any place to open up our baggage. While it may be OK for hotels where one checks in only for the night, it would be prudent to have slightly bigger rooms where one has to stay for more than a night.
The visit to Euro Disney is a total waste of a day in Paris. There is so much rush in Disney Studio as well as Disney Park, that in the latter location, our fellow group members could get only 2 rides at the most. Instead, I would recommend that the itinerary incorporate a visit the Louvre Museum, Tuilleries Garden and Palace of Versailles- or any of the many attractions of Paris.
The visit to the Atomium was a waste of time. This reduced the time one got in Madurodam. I would suggest that a greater amount of time be given to enjoy Madurodam, which is a unique place.
Many a time we had lunch at 1400 hrs and dinner at 1900 hrs. This was necessitated by the distances involved from our hotel to the restaurants. I would suggest that the hotels be chose in such a place so as to facilitate a walk to the restaurant for dinner. I must however point out that the food in all the restaurants that we were fed in, was excellent.
Rao