My sister, mother and I are doing Best of Britain on Aug 24, followed by European Interlude starting Sept 7. Would love to hear of anyone else doing these tours. Only 3 and a bit weeks to go. We are getting soooooooo...... excited.

We will be thinking of you. Have a ball on the Interlude. I so wish we were there with you. The excitement leading up is all part of it.I can't wait to hear what you thought. Have a pizza for me in Rome, sing the sound of music songs in Salzburg and take a deap breath in Lucerne. This will all mean a lot once you have done it. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks Neds, It is great to know you loved the Interlude. I think you are the only one I know on the BB. who has done it. I can't believe it is only 3 weeks to go. The anticipation is incredible. Will definitely let you know how it all went when we get back. Will think of you when we are singing "Climb every mountain". Thanks for your kind wishes, Sue

Went on the Interlude 2 years ago,...it's a great tour, I, particularly loved Vienna and Salzburg, since it was my first time there. We had a great TD and one of the optionals he offered us was San Gimignano (between Rome and Florence)do not miss it if offered, we were also lucky with the change of hotels in Lucerne, we went instead to Engelberg, Switzerland at her best! Have a great time.

Thanks Californian, its nice to hear that you also enjoyed the Interlude tour. We will follow your advice and do the San Gimignano option if it is offered. I have never left Australia before(except for New Zealand) so am looking forward to absolutely everything. Thanks, Sue

Hello fellow Sue,
We just went on the Best of Britain in June. It was wonderful! We had great weather and enjoyed the people on the tour very much. There were 43 of us. Just know that there will never be enough time in any of the towns for shopping during your "free time". There is a lot of ground to cover so its a tight schedule. My daughter (age 16) said the BEST shopping (as in prices and variety) was in York. She was able to shop for about an hour while my husband and I went to the York Train Museum. If you choose to do the museum it is only about 2 blocks in front of the bus park- so its very easy to get to. Some of our favorite stops were Salisbury Cathedral, St Andrews and of course Stonehenge.
Feel free to ask any specific questions you have.
Be sure to go on the Rosslyn Chapel optional, the Loch Lomond cruise and the tour of the Moors with pub dinner!
Idaho Sue

Thanks for replying Idaho Sue,great to hear you enjoyed Best of Britain.My sister and I are going with our 80 year old mother. Although she is a mentally and physically fit 80 year old, we are still alittle concerned about the amount of walking that may be involved. Although she will be fine with the stop/start types of walking were there any days where there was continuous walking for two to three hours non stop. This is where I feel she might struggle a bit. Thanks for the 'Option' recommendations. We will surely take your advice. We are all very excited, especially my mother and I, as neither of us have been overseas. My sister, on the other hand has travelled quite a bit. Thanks again for replying and would greatly appreciate any more advice you may have to offer.

Hi Aussie Sue, I bet you're getting excited, not long to go now! I think your mother should be fine. There are walking tours of Chester, York, Edinburgh Castle and Oxford. We found them an easy pace (depends on your TD I suppose) and no longer than an hour long. If your mother did become tired you could quite easily drop out, have a rest and a wander at your own pace. We usually had free time after the walking tours anyway. St Ives is the only hilly area and the bus has to park at the top of the hill as the roads are too narrow for it to go down into the village. Fortunately there is a small bus that ferries people to and from the bus park and the village. Also be careful she watches her step as some places have cobbled paths and roads.

Thanks for your advice Augusta. If the walking tours are are no more than an hour and at a reasonable pace then I am sure she will be fine.Mum is very good for her age, who knows she might outdo my sister and I. Thanks again for your comments.

Did the tour stop at Warwick Castle?
Thanks,
Hamlet

Hi,
Did you stop at Warwick Castle?
Thanks Hamlet

HI aussie sue. I will hold you to singing for me! I just remembered something our TD did. There were some elderly people on our tour. I think it was in Florence, she suggested they go with her. She took them a short route to where we would end up. A local guide took the rest of us on a walking tour. Your TD will advise of the best ways for Mum to go. As I have said before, we found Rome and Florence the most tiring. Mainly because of crowds, but also being so long in the museums. Not that we are complaining. So talk to your TD about options for your Mum. There may be times that she will be quite happy with other elderly people from the tour and you can race off without a worry. The TD's have done this hundreds of times so know the perks. Your Mum is going to love this just as much as you. I hope you do the optional tour in Vienna to the woods. You have a dinner with music and singing. They sing all the old songs your Mum will love. We did too!! Rewlax and enjoy. Also, we travelled the UK on our own in a van (there were 6 of us) after the tour. I agree, York is beautiful. We loved it. Also Bath and Stratford Upon Avon. Your Mum will love those places. As you will too.
Boy I wish it was us again. I only hope you get a TD as good as our's "Sigi" If you get Sigi say hi to her. She will remember us as the group of 6 from Aus. And also the guy named Dick. She was wonderful.

Hi Neds, It sounds like your tour guide was fantastic. It would be great If we got her also. If we do I will certainly say hi to her from you. As for all the walking, we will just take each day as it comes. I'm sure it will all work out fine. We will definitely do the Vienna Woods option if it is offered. It is one we have already decided we would like to do. As you,say mum would really enjoy the singing.
We have ten more sleeps. Very very excited. I feel like a little kid waiting for santa. Thanks again Neds for all your encouragement.