Just arrived today after 5N/6D conducted tour organized by THOMAS COOK of VIENNA/BUDAPEST/PRAGUE with ABHISHEK ANAND as our TOUR MANAGER.
There were in all 31 persons in our group in age ranging from 3 years to 80 years from DELHI/PUNJAB/RAJASTHAN/CHENNAI/BANGALORE .
It was wonderful experience from the beginning . We arrived at VIENNA airport by AIR INDIA, who provided excellent food in the very comfortable flight which took off at 2 pm
The TOUR MANAGER ABHSIHEK ANAND was waiting just outside baggage collection area of airport . We were asked to assemble at a particular spot but the driver of LUXURY BUS was late by 2 hours . Anyway we waited at the airport and went straight to INDIAN restaurant in VIENNA on the side of river DANUBE . The dinner was quite good and thereafter we shifted to hotel AM SACHSENGANG situated in the outskirts of VIENNA.
The hotel room had only basis amenities but WIFI was working very well .
After taking breakfast in the hotel, we were taken for CITY TOUR of VIENNA when local tour guide( professional lady) joined us and took us to SCHONBRUNN PALACE . the palace has beautiful gardens . We departed for BUDAPEST, capital of HUNGARY in the luxurious bus which had well behaved POLISH driver . The drive to BUDAPEST was very comfortable . We reached BUDAPEST at about 7 pm . All of us were impressed by the beauty of DANUBE river . The Tour Manager continued to address us in flawless English through out 5 hrs drive to BUDAPEST . We were taken to very good Indian Restaurant situated in the heart of BUDAPEST, very near to FOUR SEASONS 7 star hotel, walking distance from main entrance of DANUBE RIVER . After sumptuous dinner which was enjoyed by everyone( both veg and non veg), we were taken to hotel POLUS, which was the worst experience of everyone( worst rooms) which did not have even WIFI.
However local tour guide( Professional) arrived in our hotel in the morning next day and showed us various places of interest in BUDAPEST . It was unique experience as we all enjoyed tour of very beautiful city . All along Tour MANAGER ABHISHEK ANAND provided very useful information/tips to make our visit memorable . Next day again, we started for PRAGUE, where we reached in the evening . After very good dinner in Indian Restaurant we were taken to a very good hotel inside the most beautiful city with very less traffic on roads due to world class public transport . The hotel KRYSTAL is situated very near to METRO STATION & Tram stop .
Best part of our trip was visit to CASTLE which is jewel of EUROPE . Very beautiful tour guide provided us very informative city tour and explained everything in detail . We walked through( 4 KMs walk) PRAGUE CASTLE, Royal gardens, Charles’ bridge, 9th century CHURCH, Presidents’ office, old town, new town . All along our tour manager organized everything in perfect manner .
Next day, we started for VIENNA at about 10.30 am to catch flight from VIENNA back to DELHI( DIRECT FLIGHT by AI) . Food quality in AIR INDIA flight from VIENNA was horrible to say the least, The caterer selected by AI did not do justice and provided stale non edible food . We were hungry as THOMAS COOK did not take care of LUNCH during the day and bus stopped at a place where nothing suiting taste buds of INDIANS was available . How we wished, THOMAS COOK could carry 31 packets of packet lunch from Indian Restaurant so that we should not have remained hungry ( negative point)
On the whole, we all enjoyed very well conducted tour by THOMAS COOK except for very bad hotel in BUDAPEST and no food on the last day .
BEST PART - EXPERT TOUR MANAGER AND PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDES