This fast paced tour was fabulous! Interesting cities and villages, well organized optional excursions, support and knowledge from our tour director, convenient and comfortable bus transportation, and selected and reserved hotel rooms made for an easy vacation because all of the planning had been done for me. When I recall all of the countries and towns visited, I am awestruck. I know that it would have been very difficult to achieve this schedule and pace if I DIY-ed it. The location of the hotel in Budapest, which was across the river from the impressive Parliament building, was outstanding. Unfortunately, the hotel room for the last night in Munich was completely unacceptable. The sewage smell backed up into the drain of the shower and I could not shower that morning due to the grotesque smell. Because I was in the room for less than twelve hours, I did not complain about it but I believe the hotel knows about this problem as they tried to camouflage the odor with a heavy cologne smelled when you first entered the room. Most of the excursions included old world quaint towns with cobblestone streets and interesting architecture with unique gift shops and handmade items. There was a nice balance between having down time and being on the go. If you prefer a slower pace, then you have the option to schedule fewer excursions. You pay for the additional costs of these excursions on the bus ride on the second day to Prague. I decided to take advantage of all of the optional trips except for the dinner in Vienna. My least favorite excursion was the Czech dinner in Prague and my most favorite included the Viennese Concert, trip to Szentendre near Budapest, and Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps. I really appreciated our tour director sharing small gifts of food samples which were timed just perfectly after walking and touring for a few hours. Erik also pointed out different food stands or unique items to look out for in the different towns that were visited. Also, bring enough clothes that will last you the entire time away from home as there are no convenient washaterias and the hotel laundry service is very expensive.
