I agree, Missie. But I also agree with JoeD regarding tour tales being more than hotels and meals, although those are important to know. When I look at a tour tale I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly, as you know, which I get into trouble for. Everybody enjoys their tour--that's pretty evident--but it is helpful to know what to expect in real terms.

The other thing I find helpful and fascinating is to hear people's impressions of what they've seen which are all so different and possibly due to their own cultural baggage.

But I couldn't agree with you more, Missie. We seem to have driven away Chris M and Matha, Joe, please stay. You're a wealth of information about the tours you've taken.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by joe d:

quote:

Were you looking for anything in particular, Joe, eg feedback on bits of advice?

I like as much information as I can get. For me that means a detailed Tour Tale.

I am taking two tours later this year and am interested in another for next year. There is not one tour tale on any of these tours. Having written quite a few tour tales I find it frustrating that that so many people use the BB but won't take the time and effort to post a meaningful report.

Lately I find that I have to do most of my research elsewhere on the internet.

Hi JoeD

I really have to agree with you. How many times have I gone to a Tour Tale site and someone says "I have just come back from ______ and if you have any questions just ask."
I put a lot of work into my Tour Tale. I could have just not written a tale. Believe me it would have been a lot easier on me. I know that I have helped some people by writing a Tour Tale.
It would be nice if more people wrote a Tour Tale. To this point I have said nothing . We are planning on going on another tour in 2009 and I can find very little in the Tour Tales.
Like you Joe I have to search other internet sites to get my information. I am actually getting most of my info from other net sites. My favorites are full of very good info obtained elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by joe d:

quote:

Writing a detailed tour tale takes time & effort & for what purpose? To inform those that do not pay it forward! I love to read the tales whether I am going on that tour or not, but doubt I will ever write another that contains any more than basic information, as 'tony54 & me' says (above) most only seem interested in the hotels or optionals.

Personnally I am interested in a lot more than the hotels and optionals. If that is the direction the BB goes then I will go somewhere else.

In fact I already get most of my tour info from sources other than the BB. What I am struggling with is why should I continue to bother with the TT bulletin board at all.

P.S. As far as hotels are concerned there are already a lot of internet sites with a lot more info on hotels.

Joe

I,likewise,check out all the critiques,virtual tours,etc of all of the hotels. Some sites give you 20-30 comments on the hotels. Thus you get a very good idea of what the hotels are like.

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I agree, Missie. But I also agree with JoeD regarding tour tales being more than hotels and meals, although those are important to know. When I look at a tour tale I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly, as you know, which I get into trouble for. Everybody enjoys their tour--that's pretty evident--but it is helpful to know what to expect in real terms.

The other thing I find helpful and fascinating is to hear people's impressions of what they've seen which are all so different and possibly due to their own cultural baggage.

But I couldn't agree with you more, Missie. We seem to have driven away Chris M and Matha, Joe, please stay. You're a wealth of information about the tours you've taken.

Brenda

Hi Brenda

I couldn't agree with you more.

Hi Biotrav: We need you here as well, so stay put, you hear?

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by joe d:

quote:

Writing a detailed tour tale takes time & effort & for what purpose? To inform those that do not pay it forward! I love to read the tales whether I am going on that tour or not, but doubt I will ever write another that contains any more than basic information, as 'tony54 & me' says (above) most only seem interested in the hotels or optionals.

In fact I already get most of my tour info from sources other than the BB. What I am struggling with is why should I continue to bother with the TT bulletin board at all.

P.S. As far as hotels are concerned there are already a lot of internet sites with a lot more info on hotels.

joe ~ I am not disagreeing with you, like you I am struggling to find information on a couple of tours I am interested in & that is probably what has put me off. I frankly don't know what the answer is. Except that the likes of you & I & many others who travel a lot or a little have to keep putting in.

I've started my tour tale, but think I can only cover a couple of days/night. I'm trying not to say too much about any one thing in particular, but am just trying to give a basic outline, and people can ask specific questions as they arise.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:
[QUOTE][QUOTE]

In fact I already get most of my tour info from sources other than the BB. What I am struggling with is why should I continue to bother with the TT bulletin board at all.

P.S. As far as hotels are concerned there are already a lot of internet sites with a lot more info on hotels.

Hear, Hear!

I have to fess-up about never putting in a proper tour tale either, though I do usually give a bit of a general overview when I get back each year.

When I get back to the office after five weeks away I can barely see my desk for the pile of stuff on it, and it generally takes me around six weeks or so to get on top of everything and find time to scrath myself. By then I am usually 'over' the past trip, and thinking about the next one.
Other people are probably in the same boat.

(I promise to try and do a tour tale in future though).

quote:

Originally posted by Mallee:

quote:

Originally posted by FLYING KIWI:
... Perhaps if it had a choice for "best match" or "latest", then we could choose.

Hi - er, Blue Flying Bat?

Do you use the advanced search option much. I find it helpful once I have whittled down my queries to something reasonably specific.

Mallee

Hi from the Blue Flying Bat! Yes I know that's what it looks like, but have you ever seen a picture of a Brown Flying Kiwi? Of course, if you know anything about Kiwis, they can't fly. That's why I chose the name as I can fly (with a bit of help) and I am a Kiwi. However, I am still searching for something more representative than a blue bat.

It is really hard to do a tour tale, especially when you work and have five grand children who you love to spend time with.

I have tried to get organised to do this, after all my trips but with my job and family I never find the time. Though I would love to be able to flex the fingers on this keyboard and set to it.

Maybe I should put as much energy into typing up a tour tale as I do sifting through the BB!! 10 - 20 minutes each night - no problem!

I will try and write one after my next trip. I did put some photo's up after my last one - would this classify as 'A tale in Pictures'??

JDee

I love reading the tour tales. They get me all excited about seeing more places. But having written one I know how hard it is and do not expect anyone to do it if they don't feel like it. Just asking specific questions about a tour to someone who has gone can be enough. The biggest problem seems to be that not enough new people stay on board and so it limits the number of tours that one can get information about. The search function is useful- I have used it- but the chat that comes from refreshing an old topic is more useful still . I use trip advisor etc for the hotels but prefer people's comments on this board as I cannot believe how fussy some of the comments on trip advisor are! I get more info about specific places on google but again that cannot replace chatting about it here to people who have only recently been. this site is great.

quote:

Just asking specific questions about a tour to someone who has gone can be enough.

I disagree.

1) Unless you prepare a Tour Tale you can and will forget a lot of details.

2) People who took a tour a year or two ago likely will not be around to answer questions when you have them.

3) Pieces of information spread all over the BB are very hard find.

4) In order to get the most out of your tour you need to know how it all fits together (bits and pieces all over the BB do not do this).

The problem, as I see it, is trying to decide which detail is important to someone else.

The fact that only one hotel room (the 1st room we stayed in at the Divani Palace in Athens) had a bidet may or may not be of interest to anyone else. The fact that the first room had strange knobs next to the bed that controlled both radio AND air conditioning, while the next two rooms at the same hotel had digital controls to control the lights and air conditioning might be crucial to someone, but others might consider it useless trivia.

I would much rather answer specific questions, such as "Did you have a balcony? Could you see the Acropolis?" than try to list every detail.

Answers, for the three different rooms in Divani Palace, Yes, Yes, Sort of...not big enough for a chair and yes, no, no.

quote:

The problem, as I see it, is trying to decide which detail is important to someone else.

I agree. I like tour tales and I think their value lies in the exchange of factual information, but when it comes to evaluating things like itinerary or food, I wouldn't base my expectations on a stranger's opinion. One's enjoyment of a tour is entirely subjective. I wouldn't, for instance, trust a stranger's opinion about food unless I knew something beforehand about his approach to food and the way he evaluates it.
Some people like quaint old hotels while others hate them. As for hotel rooms, it's pointless basing expectations on someone's descriptioon of his room because chances are the reader won't get that particular room and we all know how rooms can vary.
Given that people's tastes and expectations vary according to their own frame of reference, how do you evaluate itineraries? A tour that is strenuous for some may be easy for others. Better to stick to the facts. Hilly or not hilly? How much walking/climbing? How much time at this or that place?