I took one of Buzz's tours years ago...I actually feel bad that I haven't reviewed sooner as I had such an amazing experience!
I took one of the summer tours of 2004, but I still remember the spectacular experience that I had! I have since been back to Europe 3 times, and I still think that I had the most fun on Buzz's tour. His tour allowed enough structure to feel safe and secure and yet offered enough freedom to explore and get a feel for traveling in a more independent way.
I knew that it was an amazing experience, but I didn't really realize how great Buzz's trip was until I decided to take a trip the following year with a different company. I was so disappointed with the other trip that it really made me appreciate how wonderful and unique Buzz's tours are!
On Buzz's tour we always took the train with often some amazing views and unique opportunities to meet people. We had tickets ready and in hand, with directions for transfers in case anything happened. On the "other" tour we took a horrible bus that seemed to take forever to get anywhere, and never had any good views.
On Buzz's tour we stayed in great locations in each city or village, always walking distance from all the great sights and nightlife. On the "other" tour we often stayed outside of the city (even though I called ahead and they assured me we would be local, or have free transportation to city center or nightlife areas). When we requested to have transportation from our hotels to the city centers, our awful guide told us that it would be an extra cost, and that we would have to charter a bus for the group!
On Buzz's tour we were able to go wherever he offered for a meal, or a nightly outing, or we could decide to go elsewhere. Being a foodie myself, I often opted to get my own food with a friend, but the places Buzz chose were always awesome as well. We got to go to some wonderful out of the way spots that the locals love, and ALWAYS had an amazing time! On the "other" tour we were only allowed to go to the restaurants already selected by our guide, and could only select 2 things off the menu! The guide was obviously friends with the workers at each restaurant and seemed like he may be taking kick-backs for bringing in the clientele. The restaurants were always dead, and the food was always bad. As for nightlife, the guide would only allow us to go to his preselected night clubs on a chartered bus, and I had to literally argue with him for an entire day that my friends and I would be going elsewhere for our nightly outing. When I finally got my way it turns out that my group of friends had a much better time than the group he took to the club.
On Buzz's tour we had basic itineraries for each day to go along with, but he had no problem with us opting to go elsewhere. **I absolutely loved this option because it gave so much freedom, and I can't stand feeling like a sheep being herded from place to place with no idea where I am. Buzz gave us packets with maps, and basic words and phrases in each language. It also included translations for items you would regularly see on menus and information about each destination! These were so invaluable that I have saved them to this day! On the "other" tour we could not venture on our own, and had to move everywhere as a pack. I even got in trouble the first night for lingering too long to take pictures of a statue and was given a lecture about how I couldn't wander at all as it is easy to get lost in the city. P.S. I had been to that same city the year before with Buzz and had no problem getting around with the map he provided.
I've since traveled Europe on my own, separate from any tour group, and I don't think I would have had the confidence to do so if it wasn't for the wonderful experience that I had with Buzz's tour!
I can officially compare now, and Buzz's tours are THE BEST, hands down! Having read the comments here, it looks like the only bad ones are from people who have never traveled with another company, so they can't really compare.
If Buzz did more tours to other places, I would take one in a heartbeat! I love traveling, and the planning is fun, but it is exhausting, and always expensive! With Buzz's tours you get all of the worry of planning and guessing for the best places to stay or to go see taken out of it. It was also a ridiculously good deal, and people are still amazed when I tell them the price!
Great job Buzz, keep it up! read more