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Power Member |
I don't think we have a disagreement here. We have, as a group, often debated on other threads the meaningless concept of the term, first-class. All I wanted to point out--and I may well have missed the point you were making--is that one cannot really compare how that standard is applied in two very different parts of the world--albeit both on the European continent.
I'm sorry to hear of all those things that happened to you on your Italian tour. I don't believe you wrote a tale so I wasn't aware. How awful. And I have said, not just in my own tour tale but elsewhere, I think the Italian tourist board takes a great deal of advantage over its "suddenly discovered" premier place to visit in the world, thanks you Dan Brown and his books, and Under the Tuscan Sun and other movies. George Clooney and his Lake Como paradise  . The prices of hotels, and I say this as someone who's arranged accommodations independently, is astronomical, especially while the Euro is so buoyant. I think that's what I was trying to get at in my post, not questioning or disagreeing with what you said at all.  Travel is only glamorous in retrospect. Paul Theroux (1941 - ), in The Washington Post |
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"Mentally.....gone!" Power Member  |
I understood your point perfectly, you have made it, I get it. OK? My point is that if the cost of hotels accommodation is so high, & surely this would be all over Europe not just Italy, then perhaps TT needs to review its rating structure.
No need to feel sorry or think anything was awful (how dramatic)I was merely highlighting several faults in hotels on a supposed 1st Class tour. As you are well aware we have some on the BB who bang on about the fact they would only travel 1st Class & frankly I just don't get it, if talking certain tours in certain countries. That is/was my point & no I didn't write a tour tale, after 3 trips overseas last year, quite frankly I couldn't discipline myself to it as I had several other far more important, to me, things happening in my life. With so many of us trekking Italy I think it is very well covered (pun intended). I didn't think for a minute you were questioning or disagreeing, why would you? Live each day....instead of counting the years. |
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"Port" Power Member  |
Hi Brenda, I am very interested to know how Trafalgar arrive at their hotel ratings, a few weeks ago I was researching a tour in the UK, I was looking at Trafalgar and another company (their main opposition). I noticed that in some towns they used the same hotel, what I did find unusual was that Trafalgar rated these hotels as (F) First Class and the other tour company rated them as S/T Superior Tourist, this happened on more than one occasion. Can anyone tell me the difference between (F) First Class and S/T Superior Tourist????? Missie |
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Regular Member |
A couple of hotels we stayed in were also being used by Insight tours and by the 'costsaver' equilavent of another company. When it came to Italy all 3 of our hotels were excellent but they were all out of the main cities. Our tour director did say that they had more problems with hotels in Italy than most countries- the consesus seemed to eb that you could have a central hotel that was of not terribly good standard or a modern hotel further out of the city. A few people on our tour did have compalints about their rooms, for some reason or another- they were always moved.
2008- Taste of Britain; European Escapade. |
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Member |
We found all our hotels were great bar one. The Antony Hotel in Venice had the worst beds and worst pillows. Don't bother asking the grumpy staff for extras either. But it was the only one I would say anything negative about. Even then they had the best bar man ever - Stefano. We did have times the air con was no good or the beds were small but it never bothered us. We were very happy to get a nice small room than a tired old room. Be prepared for small rooms and you won't go wrong. Our last 2 nights were at the spectacular "Hilton La Defense" Gorgeous. We were given a huge room looking over the lights. Well done trafalgar for a great finish.
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Power Member |
Missie: I can only refer you to Humpty Dumpty in Alice Through the Looking Glass, in which he tells Alice, "words mean exactly what I say they mean." That's, I think, the attitude of the ratings honchos at these tour companies.  As I've said, I would hate to have to negotiate with Italian hotels on pricing for a tour. I've seen, experienced, and heard from people on this board the kind of attitude that prevails at "reception." Over here, and I'm certain, over where you are, some of the things described in tour tales would lead to some hotels being closed by our sanitation or health authorities. At least, that's what I gather from tour tales told here. I've not experienced that, but some apparently have. Brenda Travel is only glamorous in retrospect. Paul Theroux (1941 - ), in The Washington Post |
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"Port" Power Member |
Brenda ~ When our tour stayed in Rome we were a fair way out of the city but the hotel was lovely, pity I can't say the same for Florence.
I can understand Trafalgar or any tour company staying out of the city if the accommodation price and standard is better, but what they need to do is supply adequate transport and not just in the form of Optionals. If you don't want to do a particular optional and the coach is going into the main town anyway then I feel the other people in the group should also be transported and given a pick up time and place for the return ride. Missie |
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Regular Member |
I agree Missie. That is why I mentioned in another thread that Rome at night and Venice at night should be included in the tour and not optionals. Anyone not doing these optionals had quite a great deal of difficulty getting into the main cities. The gondola and drink in St Marks square could be left as options but actually going into the Venice and Rome should not be if the hotels are going to be a great distance out.
2008- Taste of Britain; European Escapade. |
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Regular Member |
I wonder if the standard of hotels/meals in any one place relates to the "supply & demand" of that place and the amount Trafalgar allocate to the hotel/meal. Perhaps similar to buying a house - a house in the most sought after part of town would be more costly than one in the grottier areas. If you relate this to the amount TT allocate in $ terms e.g. $200.00 for room, breakfast, dinner in one area, may be not enough in another, so therefore standard of room and/or meal quality suffers. I don't know if this is so, but it is one possible theory.
A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline. Flying Kiwi European Discoverer June/July 2005 PLUS The Regency July 2005 Bohemian Highlights June/July 2007 PLUS Austria, Croatia & Hungary July 2007 |
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Power Member |
FK: That was exactly the theory I was trying to expound earlier: that different locations and different economies would make a difference in the quality of lodging and food. However, one would hope, perhaps in vain,
that Trafalgar or any tour company would allot more for accommodations in countries where accommodation costs more so that some kind of standard particular to that tour company could be upheld. As Dimpz has said, the last person who wants to figure this out for themselves is the tourist. Brenda Travel is only glamorous in retrospect. Paul Theroux (1941 - ), in The Washington Post |
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Member |
Missie - I think that Superior Tourist is the equivalent of three stars.
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"Port" Power Member |
Yes I think you are correct, I just found it interesting while I was researching different tour companies for a Britain and Ireland tour I noticed they used the same hotels in some towns but rated them differently. Trafalgar rated these hotels as First Class whilst another company of similar standard rated them at Superior Tourist.  Missie |
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