Tango Time in Buenos Aires

Taking a time-out on the streets of Buenos Aires

“Keep your eyes down or you’ll get asked to dance.”

My eyes stayed plastered to the floor and sometimes, just to mix it up, on the table. I was NOT going to Tango and no one was going to catch my eye.

That’s the danger in the local dance halls in Buenos Aires. Like the one my friends Maria and Jennie dragged me to in the capital of Argentina. A sparse dance hall, there were a multitude of tables and chairs that emptied to fill the rectangular dance floor when the band resumed.

It was a freakish and yet amazing site to see hundreds suddenly move en masse. But Tango is not the only draw to Argentina. Nor is South America the only continent you can visit from here.

Nope! What about the frozen continent? What about Antarctica? What about taking it with Tauck World Discovery and do it in luxury?

Route for Antarctica

The best part? From select American cities the airfare to Buenos Aires is only $890 per person and, AND… if you are a repeat customer you get two nights free in a hotel at the beginning or end of the trip. If you are a new customer you get one free night!

And what does the trip include? Good question. Two days in Buenos Aires before flying to the southern tip of Argentina.  A visit to the Terra del Fuego National park? Some Penguins? Some Glaciers? Sign me up.

Or perhaps you want to wander where the Incas did? Well prior to the Spanish decided to enter South America. Tauck also has a 13-day tour for you too. It’s $4,655 per person and includes Peru and Bolivia. But who can forget Machu Picchu? Well Tauck can’t and you won’t.

Peru and Bolivia

Finish you Inca trail with La Paz, which was founded in 1548 by Spaniards. The highest capital city in the world above sea level, La Paz is also home to the highest golf course on Earth; in the thin air, a good tee shot will travel an amazing distance! Venture just outside the city to explore the lunar-like badlands dubbed the Valle De La Luna (Valley of the Moon), a stone landscape of deep gullies and bizarre rock formations, before heading to La Paz’s city center to soak up some local color in the bustling Indian Market.

OR maybe you’re look for something to do with the family? Something for the kids for Christmas? What about visiting the Christmas markets in Europe?

For 8 days and $1,990 per person Tauck’s new Christmas Market river cruise along the Danube from Vienna to Nürnberg aboard ms Swiss Jewel offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition!

And remember Tauck’s Tours can all be booked through CTravel and are subject to the extra night or two hotel stays for free! Contact CTravel for more details.

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.