maddawg69

Thanks we chose Český Krumlov and Bratislava City Tour. We also added a food walking tour of Budapest.

Any other suggestions? Thank you.

On our cruise, we have a couple of conflicting "included" tours. I'm hoping someone can recommend which one to take. Thank you in advance!

Linz, AT - Linz Walking Tour (2 HOURS) or Český Krumlov Excursion (8.5 HOURS)

Bratislava, SK - Bratislava City Tour (2 HOURS) or Bratislava Walking Tour (2 HOURS)

Also, does anyone recommend any of the other optional ($) tours?

Many of the better hotels will provide transport from the airport. I know my hotel, the Sirkecki Mansion provided free private transport with a four night stay and with less nights, the cost was nominal. It was easy to find the driver outside the terminal, even though Ataturk Airport is really chaotic. He drove me to the hotel quickly with absolutely no problems and even gave me a night tour through sultanhamet with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque lit up. I am surprised the Neorion does not provide this service as it is supposed to be such a great hotel.

 

Do not use a taxi if you can help it, as they rip you off and often cannot find the hotels. (Or act like they cant).

The question was from the port to the hotel. Hotel Neorion offers free transfers from the airport for 3 or more nights.

Per an email I just received from the hotel, transfers from Ataturk airport and port are 25 euros each shuttle. (max. 5 pax). Transfers from Sabiha Gokcen airport are 60 euros each shuttle. (max. 5 pax).

Maddawg - As I wrote above, we loved the Neorion hotel - I hope you do too. On our last day we had a full hamam treatment there. It was very private and we did not have to go out and about with no make-up and wet hair, as you would if you went to an off site bath.

Sounds good. Seems like a great location, about a 10 min walk to everything.

Our tour guide in Kusadasi recommended against renting a car there. There are a lot of people trying to take advantage of cruisers. Have you considered booking a private tour?

Hello, can you please be more specific? I was also thinking about renting a car. Thank you.

If your ship calls Split during July 10th, 11th or 12th you may be a part of this atmosphere:

 

I'm 46 YO but this video gave me a guss bumps. :)

Too bad UMF 2015 won't be on when we are there in October.

We booked Neorion Hotel because it was rated #1 on tripadvisor.com for later this year so can't comment yet. I hope it lives up to the reviews.

Lale Kosagan, unbelievable. She is not inexpensive but so knowledgable about everything and will give her personal insight to what is happening in Turkey. I believe she and her husband were consulted by Rick Steves when he was researching his book on Turkey.

 

Many good guides in Istanbul, just check Trip Advisor. I used several of them and also keep in touch with all of them. After a day of touring either alone or in a small group, I felt like they had become friends. This is one of the main advantages of hiring a guide rather than DIY with a guidebook or audio where IMO you will never get as complete or enriching an experience if you have not visited the city before.

I found private tour guides for Beijing and Shanghai on tripadvisor.com and was very happy both times.

Your pictures are making me even more eager to visit Istanbul. Thank you.

Here's a website that I found. You can download free audio guides to your IPod's for sites all over Italy (some France). Nice way to save a couple of bucks, so I thought I would share. You can also book tickets on this site.

 

http://www.italyguides.it/us/download_audio_book/audio_guide_mp3_ipod/ipodguides.htm

 

One More:

 

http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0602/audiotour_menu.htm

Thank you.

Does anyone know of any EDM themed cruises, especially out of Los Angeles or San Diego?

We will be sailing Basel to Amsterdam. This is our first River cruise. Do you have any comments on the Optional Tours Viking offers? I'm especially interested hearing about the Rudesheim evening tour. On our itinerary we will be docked in Rudesheim on New Years Eve.

I was on this same cruise and had a great time. Can't wait to do another river cruise.

We leave this Wednesday for the Rhine - Basel to Amsterdam. I'm hoping to post while away if the internet and my tablet cooperate - and there's time! This will be our 2nd RC and first on the Rhine so right now I don't have much advice but hope I can help in my postings.

 

Amsterdam, however, is a different story. We've been there twice because of cruises and just love it - great city - hope you're going early to really enjoy it!!

Yes we add the Amsterdam pre-cruise extension.

foto peg,

have you done a posting here or on TA about Amsterdam? Favorite things to do, how to see the city on our own (hoho or canal trip), where to stay?

 

We will be spending 2 days post Viking's Budapest to Amsterdam in October.

Yes, any tips?

We are on the cruise the day after. Hope it won't be too cold.

Since Lori isn't replying any longer, will someone that received her blog kindly share? We will be on the Rinda leaving 12/28. My email is sherwin.bajao@gmail.com. Thanks in advance.

The Viking Sun was just involved in a collision on the Rhine -

 

http://www.shipwrecklog.com/log/

http://www.shipwrecklog.com/log/2013/10/viking-sun/

We will be soon be on our 5th Viking cruise in the last 7 years. We have noticed that the average age has gradually been getting younger each year. I am 50 and my wife is 44. We have never been the youngest people on board, and each year it seems there are more people our age. Seems word is getting around that this can be a great alternative to doing several countries on your own.

That's great to hear. My wife and I are in our mid 40's and are doing our first Viking River Cruise this December. We can't wait.