15 Minutes to visit the Pyramids?!

15 minutes for this?! I don't think so.

“Ok we’re here at the Giza Pyramids. You have 15 minutes and then we have to get back on the bus.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. Luckily they were. They were not kidding their tour group. The beige-clad group scattered like bugs to take as many photos as possible in 900 minutes at some of the most stunning man-made structures in the world.

I guess they can go home and admire the photos for as long as they want. But I was quite happy that was not me. I was not quite as happy that I had to struggle to find a taxi to take me back to Cairo and my hostel when I finished with these enormous sand sculptures.

That is the joy of independent travel and that is the pain – all the time you want, but you have to contend with taxi touts in Egypt.

Hmmm…what if you could have both? Not possible? Well I am told by Carl Paiva, the CEO of CTravel in this edition of their interview series, that actually it is!

How? Good question and I sat down with him this week to talk about his favourite tour agency that combines the comfort of everything done for you with the flexibility of independent travel.

Who is this agency? Tauck World Discovery. Why would anyone use Tauck, Carl?

Tauck Tours combine independence with comfort

“Tour companies (in general) are not driving people around, now, from point to point. It’s a much slower process and much more personal. You are not being herded.

“What differentiates Tauck is it’s a high-end product. It’s similar to comparing hotels such as the standard Marriott with its Ritz Carlton. Tauck is the Ritz.

“They offer incredible personal service and ala carte dining at the restaurants they choose. And they travel throughout the world. They used to be just the United States and then Europe and now they are in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.

“It’s the number one premium tour supplier in Bermuda. Once someone takes a Tauck tour they tend to continue to take them.”

A Tauck Tour in Peru and the Galapagos Islands

What if I want to do something that is not on the itinerary? Or something that is independent?

“When I personally took a Tauck tour I had reservations. I thought it was going to be a 15 cities in 20 days kind of tour.  It wasn’t.

“It was a lot of information provided by the local guides and there were very comfortable accommodations and the buses were great. And they give enough time in each location to do what you want to do.

“And they use their own guides who are native guides. They will even sit down with you at dinner if you wish.

“They will tell you breakfast is from 7.30 a.m. until 10 a.m. and will let you know when they are going to move to the next destination. So say you’re in Prague for three nights you can do what they have planned or if you want to go on your own you can do that too. Tauck will even arrange a tour guide for you.”

And will you always be on the beaten tourist path?

“Because Tauck is so popular they have entrances to museums and Cathedrals that are private. They do not que.

“It’s a huge perk because for example at St. Marks’ Cathedral in Venice you will not wait in line. You will go in the side door with Tauck and that has to do with their relationship with the country and city.

“They will take you to the Cathedral and they will take you to little known cafes and restaurants. And depending on the venue they will take you to little known sites.

“You are treated like you are a relative.”

Ahhh…..relatives. A lot of people need or want to travel with their families. Can Tauck accommodate them?

“What I also like about Tauck is they have branched out now to include families. They have Tauck Bridges and they focus on the family and have trips to Costa Rica, the Galapagos, and Tanzania.

“It’s not just a sight-seeing tour it’s also learning. It’s a great way for families to travel together.”

What else should people know about Tauck World Discovery?

“But the important think about Tauck is to book early. We find what happens with us they come in now and request a holiday in November and it’s sold out.

“The way they greet people and make them feel like family makes all the difference. I would take them most definitely and if someone in the business tells you that then that says something.”

And finally….if you are interested and believe me they have some beautiful trips all over the world check with a CTravel agent or visit here tomorrow for CTravel Thursdays where some of the Tauck World Discovery Tours will be advertised.