Latest Travel Blog Entries

Monday, September 26, 2011

Act now to get your Gift of Time in

2012 with Tauck!

Past Tauck travelers can receive our Gift of Time of two free hotel nights at Tauck’s hotel before or after all our 2012 European River Cruising, Small Ship Cruising and Exotics trips if you book their cruise and hotel by September 30, 2011 and deposit is paid at booking; other restrictions apply – call for details.

Take a look at just some of the cruises and Exotics journeys you can enjoy – along with two complimentary hotel nights in 2012. With the Gift of Time, everyone wins!

Tauck Cruising – Travel + Leisure’s 2011 “World’s Best River Cruise Line” and personalized Small Ship Cruising experiences

 

French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris
14 days starting at $5,790 per person double plus airfare
Cruise-only, 10-day trips starting at $4,790 per person double plus airfare

Two nights ashore in Monte-Carlo and in Paris... vineyard visits and wine tastings along the Rhône and Saône rivers... a Provençal lunch with cowboys in la Camargue... a tasting lunch at Les Halles de Lyon... dinner at the renowned Fouquet’s brasserie on the Champs Élysées...

 

The Blue Danube
12 days starting at $4,290 per person double plus airfare
 Cruise-only, 8-day trips starting at $3,290 per person double plus airfare

A private tour and dinner at Lobkowitz Palace in Prague... a private Imperial evening at Vienna’s Palais Pallavicini... the Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery from the inside rather than a just a peek from the door... city-center hotel stays in Budapest and Prague...

 

Treasures of the Aegean
14 days starting at $7,790 per person double plus airfare

Multi-night stays at hotels consistently rated among the “World’s Best” in Athens and Istanbul with extensive city sightseeing... Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes... Bodrum’s St. Peter’s Castle and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus... ancient Ephesus... local cultural entertainment aboard...

Exotics – Connecting people and places with the promise of an inspirational travel experience

China, the Yangtze River & Hong Kong
16 days eastbound with a 3-night cruise starting at $5,190 per person double plus on-tour air
17 days westbound with a 4-night cruise starting at $5,290 per person double plus on-tour air

Tauck’s China journeys include a culturally enriching Yangtze River cruise, special private talks and presentations by local experts in their fields for Tauck guests only... and cultural connections from Beijing to Shanghai to Hong Kong...

 

 

Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
16 days starting at $5,390 per person double plus on-tour air

Guests explore the ancient Khmer Kingdom to present-day capital cities, with special experiences like an elephant trek... visits to hill tribe villages... cruises through Bangkok’s klongs and along Hué’s Perfume River...

 

Essence of South America
14 days starting at $5,540 per person double plus on-tour air

The best of Chile, Argentina and Brazil... breathtaking Iguazú Falls... the splendor of the Andes during a two-day crossing... the rhythms of Rio... beautiful Buenos Aires with unforgettable special experiences for Tauck guests only...

With 10 small ship cruises, 10 different European river cruise experiences and world-wide Exotics trips to choose from plus the Gift of Time, you’ll understand the benefit of traveling with Tauck in 2012 right away. Get your vacation booked before September 30, 2011!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

In commemoration of the 2012 Floriade, Tauck commission Jan Ligthart, one of the Netherlands’ premier tulip breeders whose flowers grace the Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam, to baptize a signature flower for Tauck guests. Like Floriade, The Tauck Tulip has been more than 10 years in the making and will be its debut next spring on Tauck river cruises that include a full day visit to this world horticulture showcase. A type of double tulip, The Tauck Tulip is colorfully in red and yellow to stand in the gardens of Taucks guests as a beautiful living reminder of a wonderful river cruise experience.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Every ten years, the Netherlands hosts Floriade, a World Horticultural Exposition that showcases garden-inspired exhibits from around the globe. In 2012, over 100 horticultural businesses from more than 25 different countries are participating “in the theatre of nature” in Venlo, transforming the pastoral landscapes of this Dutch border town with their visions of a greener world. Tauck includes a full-day visit to Floriade on our “Holland and Belgium” riverboat journeys between April and October, and select departures of The Rhine and Moselle, giving you ample opportunity to see, feel and experience nature in different ways.

Combine Tauck Tours with the wonderful experience of attending the Floriade.

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Nestled in the French Pyrenees, this quaint city is home to a strong Catalonian culture. During the middle ages, the city's affluence grew as they were able to tax the salt merchants that had to use the strategic routes. More recent fame came when they were chosen to host the '92 Olympic Kayak events.  Spanish and Catalan are the main languages and many also speak French, and all are very friendly and proud to share their heritage.

Our home for 2 nights was El Castell de Ciutat, a hotel and 16th century castle among a beautiful , natural landscape. Very large, elegant suites serving delicious and imaginative Mediterranean cuisine overseen by Tapies family, which have been the owners for many years and now in partnership with the Relais & Chateaux collection.

Another day would be great but we're off to Pamplona and the San Sebastian.

Blog written while on the 14 day Tauck Tour Paradors of Northern Spain.

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Tauck Riverboat Cruising 

What's included: Uncommon access ashore... spacious riverboats with just 118 guests aboard... one Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors... all shore excursions... most meals, including meals ashore, plus all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner onboard... special events and entertainment... and much, much more. Click on the links below and check out Tauck's European river cruises.

 

The Blue Danube
12 days including two-night hotel stays in Budapest and Prague
Bratislava ~ Vienna ~ Linz ~ Salzburg ~ Regensburg 

One memorable Tauck experience among many on this cruise:  private Imperial Evening with dinner and entertainment at Vienna’s Palais Pallavicini

 

Strasbourg to Prague Serenade
12 days including two-night hotel stays in Strasbourg and Prague
Obernai ~ Baden-Baden ~ Heidelberg
Würzburg ~ Nürnberg ~ Regensburg

One memorable moment among many on this cruise: private wine tasting, dinner and entertainment in the wine cellars of the Residenz in Würzburg

 

Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat
15 days with 14 nights spent aboard one of Tauck's premium riverboats
Köln ~ Rüdesheim ~ Rothenburg ~ Würzburg
Melk ~ Passau ~ Vienna ~ Bratislava

One memorable moment among many on this cruise: private luncheon cruise along the canals of Amsterdam

 

NEW! French Waterways and Vineyards
10 days including a two-night stay in Paris
Lyon ~ Vienne ~ Tain-l’Hermitage ~ Tournon
Avignon ~ Roussillon ~ Arles

One memorable moment among many on this cruise:  private Provençal dinner overlooking the Pont du Gard

 

Cultural Land Exploration

What’s included: Tauck’s seamlessly choreographed sightseeing... insights from experienced local guides and experts in their fields... hotels handpicked for their locations... meals, many a la carte, offering a true taste of the destination... special events in remarkable venues... exclusive cultural experiences... Tauck Directors who provide warm, caring, thoughtful service... and much more. Find out all about it by clicking the links below.

 

The Best of Ireland
14 days with multi-night stays in manor houses,
Ashford Castle and city-center hotels
Blarney ~ Derry ~ Belfast ~ Dublin
Kilkenny ~ Waterford ~ Killarney ~ Dingle 

One memorable moment among many on this trip: private evening of traditional storytelling, music and Irish specialties on the Dingle Peninsula

 

New! A Week In... Bavaria, Austria & Venice
8 days with stays at grand, historic hotels in Munich, Salzburg, Bolzano and Venice
Innsbruck ~ Passo Pordoi  & Ortisei in the Dolomites
Limone ~ Malcesine

One memorable moment among many on this trip: private evening, beginning with a trumpet fanfare, at Renaissance-era Castel Katzenzungen in Bolzano

 

A Week In... Capri, the Amalfi Coast & Rome
8 days with multi-night stays in Capri, Positano and Rome
Capri ~ Pompeii ~ Ravello ~ Sorrento ~ Rome 

One memorable moment among many on this trip: after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without the crowds