On our last tour, the TD's role was in making sure 2 elderly ladies didn't get lost or left behind (the passengers helped him). I'm sure they think of safety for all the passengers. Huge job!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by blackfriars:
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We definitely have to inform about the history of the cities in general but are not allowed to take the tourists around and give explanations in public or we could be fined up to 1000 euros, depending on the country. That is the job of the local guides and that is why at smaller stops we do an orientation tour in which we explain everything on the coach and then walk with the group for a while and leave free time for independent activities (not everyone has the same interests: some want to sightsee, others want to shop, etc.)
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Blackfriars,
This explains why the local guides are used. We found that generally local guides were informative but bored with their subject. (possibly from repeating the same script over and over)The impression we got was that they had an 1 hour to fill in and they did.Upon reflection perhaps the self guide headset may be better.
In contrast to this was our T.D who brought 'alive' the history we were experiencing. Rarely was anyone late and the group remained positive the whole tour largely due to the T.D.
David

We have done a few tours and found that it can vary greatly David.

Certainly I have had local guides who have droned away in a monotone and been obviously a bit bored with what they were doing but we have also had local guides who have loved their city and been filled with obvious enthusiasm for their subject and the chance to share it with us. When you strike the latter it can be a real pleasure.

With local guides it is the luck of the draw, we have had great & very average. Not a lot of point thrashing it out, as it is the law to use local guides in each country.

Dragons & Dimpz'

The conclusion I have come to is that we should take more control by obtaining local maps etc to cut short any boring local tours and explore ourselves.
David

We usually do both David. Take the city tour plus walk the city on our own in our spare time.

........us too

quote:

Originally posted by dragons:
We usually do both David. Take the city tour plus walk the city on our own in our spare time.

"Spare time"??? You actually had spare time?

quote:

"Spare time"??? You actually had spare time?

The best way to get enough spare time is to skip any options that are not a high priority.

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Originally posted by joe d:

quote:

"Spare time"??? You actually had spare time?

The best way to get enough spare time is to skip any options that are not a high priority.

Exactly - but if you have not been there before and don't know that you will get there again, you hate to miss the optionals.

That's true, but a little research might make you decide that you would not mind missing a dinner in order to see something that you might otherwise miss.

That sentence didn't make a lot of sense, but what I mean is, for a first trip somewhere, I think most people take all the optionals, especially ones that are to famous places, (ie) The Eiffel Tower, the Sistine Chapel etc, as well as "neat" things like cheese-making, glass-blowing, these are things that are not always simple to do on you own...they might be a little cheaper to do, but the logistics can be very frustrating. But, to me anyhow, a dinner is a dinner, and while they are usually great fun, I wouldn't hesitate to miss a dinner if I had other things I wanted to see.

Shannon

quote:

Originally posted by sdkelly2000:
That's true, but a little research might make you decide that you would not mind missing a dinner in order to see something that you might otherwise miss.

That sentence didn't make a lot of sense, Shannon

LOL Should I be worried??? It made sense to me.

We tend to skip optionals that involve, for example, concerts, clog dancing & dwarf throwing. Usually we are quite happy to take dinner optionals depending on where they will be. Two spring to mind, one in the Vienna woods that would have been nigh on impossible to do on our own, & one at Marchfelderhof which was a highlight.

Spare time can be found, there just isn't always a lot of it.

quote:

Originally posted by luvtotravel:
"Spare time"??? You actually had spare time?

Of course luvtotravel.

Unless you are the type who like to rest up in your room, or sit in a bar or visit every coffee shop or restaurant .... you can always find spare time to wander.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dragons,

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Originally posted by Steve H:
Dragons must be an insomniac or a somnambulist - or are dragons 'fly by nighters'?

Well Steve I do normally stay up to between midnight and 1.30am when at home but I don't get up until 6.55am and since I sleep well in between I don't think I qualify as an insomniac plus I have also never ever suffered from somnambulism.

As for being a "fly by nighter" ........ does catching the "red eye" from Perth to Sydney a number of times count?

I also like 2 night stays and more time per country but really don't find that they leave you much more free time.
As for skipping optionals, the ones I could skip (as others have suggested) are the dinners---and of course the dwarf throwing but unfortunately the dinners are usually at 7-8 p.m. and by then my energy is flagging plus not really comfortable wandering around in dark or near dark. Also have found that some of the optional dinners are while staying at hotels well out of town. Added to that I do enjoy them.
Anyway, just a quibble. If I really minded all that much, I wouldn't be happily taking bus tours.