European Zoo Tour

[Leptonyx]

Okay people.

September 09
16 days

What l would need to know as it makes a huge differance in $$.

Do people expecta fully escorted tour?
Transfers from airport to hotel.
Zoo transfers.
5 star or 3 star accomadation.
travel insurance.
Zoo entrance fees.
Bus and driver for 16 days

Al of above 3-4 star acc we could expect a 16 night tour. 200 - 250 euro per night

To be honest I've never travelled outside Canada without family/friends, so I'm not 100% sure how important the "escorted tour" is- I'll let you make the call on that? Right now the 200-250 euro/night would be way out of my budget for a 16-day trip. I originally assumed the trip would be similar to the backpacking idea mentioned by cottoni- but the 70-125 euro/day range is doable if I start saving now I know as a student I have my own travel insurance. Worst case scenario- I'm more than willing to stay across the street in a hostel if everything else is reasonably priced Thanks!

 

[zooman]

are you being a smartarse or something? You have a very abbrasive manner. I was just pointing out that transfers between zoos shouldn't be an added cost because there is already a bus and driver in your scenario (the bit about airport transfers being unnessecary was my mistake)

It seems Childonias that you were/are just looking to criticize or find fault.

So am l being as you put it "smartarse or something" maybe. Simply trying to keep this thread to the subject of people interested in a European Zoo Tour.

My experience is that there is always a type of person looking to criticize. Those people who take action.

You think l have a "very abrasive manner". Interesting in life l am described as a very gentle, loving, nurturing person.

Reminds me of the old saying. "It does not matter what people say about you. It matters who says it".

So let’s avoid a tit for tat session. You have made your point l have made mine.

The Thread is for those interested in a European Zoo Tour.

 

[Gigit]

250 euros a day is more than I would want to spend and while I don't care about 5* hotels, I'm past the age for backpacking and shared accommodation (unless it's with my husband!).

 

[zooman]

250 euros a day is more than I would want to spend and while I don't care about 5* hotels, I'm past the age for backpacking and shared accommodation (unless it's with my husband!).

hi gigit, good to hear from you. So could l sugest that what Jelle comented is more along your lines of feedback.

[Quote = Jelle]If the price tag would be in the EUR 70-125 range it would be worth everyone's while! [Quote ]

 

[Gigit]

Yes - that's more like it.

 

[Al]

i recently underwent a mini european zoo tour visiting 21 zoos in 15 days and 5 countries. i found the cheapest method of transport by train. you can buy an interrail ticket for around £250 for the two weeks, the only problem you may find with this is that you need to keep to times more for trains etc. if you know the right people you can make it alot cheaper. i got into all the zoos for free which helped a little! sometimes if you write to the zoos in advance and tell them who your group are and your intentions you may be surprised on the hospitality you will receive.

 

[zooman]

i i got into all the zoos for free which helped a little! sometimes if you write to the zoos in advance and tell them who your group are and your intentions you may be surprised on the hospitality you will receive.

HI Al personally, l feel that it would be wrong to expect free entry into a zoo! I am there to support the zoo and enjoy myself and l dont expect that to be free. If l can afford to go on a "european zoo tour" l can afford to pay zoo entry. Even at Artis.

As for hospitality we might recieve. My experiance has been that l have often been humbled by the generosity of profesional zoo people. When they understand my enthusiasm l am often rewarded by lunches,dinners,accomadation and ongoing friendship in many cases. I think it is a sign of respect towards the zoo to pay admission. To not l belive immediatley gives a bad impression l would think.

I became a zoochat supporter for this reason. I spend allot of time and get allot out of zoochat. Why should l expect that to be free. As it definatley has a cost to Sim. I also belive it's a small way to show my appreciation. As actions always speak louder than words.

However in saying all that in business things are very different and quite the opposite ;]

 

[zooman]

Okay here is List of zoos l would like to include.

Start
Apenhaul
Hanover
Hamburg
Berlin
Leipzg


Okay there is plenty of room there for suggestions.

If we start in Netherlands work through Germany and France. Then back to Netherlands to finish. Personally would love to finish at bio parc Spain this would add to Transport cost as there are penalties for not finishing a tour where you start. With regards to a bus and driver.{insurance wise it is appropriate to have a driver}

We can do this for EUR 70-125 range. Many zoos offer discounts for 10 or more people.
Accomadation twin share. The accomadation is the most expensive part of a tour like this. It seems that a high standard of accomadation is not required but clean and secure is.

Would like to hear back what zoos others would include.

 

[Sun Wukong]

Can I offer some advice?

-Calculate in money for hotel, public transport (including local trams, buses etc.) to the zoo(s) and back, food, souvenirs etc.; an EUR 70 minimum is rather unlikely to be enough on a longer run, even if living a shoestring budget lifestyle (which isn't the way to go on such a zoo fun journey...)
-Travelling with trains in Europe is all nice and fine, but more and more unreliable; even the famously punctual German "Deutsche Bahn" is nowadays far from punctual, and rather expensive. Avoid changing trains if possible, as this might leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere if something goes awry.
-Don't try to squeeze in too much at once. The Netherlands are a good spot to start with, as several great zoos are located pretty closeby to each other. However, be also aware that the Dutch price standard for almost everything is currently one of the highest in the EU. You're going to spend more money-and that faster than You can imagine...From the Netherlands, it's only a rather short trip to the North Rhine-Westphalia area of Germany; probably the highest concentration of larger zoos within closest distance to each other in Europe-except mentioned Netherlands. Zoos like Cologne, Duisburg and Wuppertal have several "last of their kind' husbandries to offer, among others Boto, Saiga, Douc Langur, Red Howler Monkey, King Bird of Paradise etc. etc. You could thus see more zoos on the way instead of having to scamper from one to another.
Another route I can recommend: East Germany (Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Halle) to the Czech Republic (Chomutov, Prague, Dvur Kralove...) and from there to Austria (Vienna). Great zoos and usually it's cheaper. Instead of trains, I'd recommend travelling with
, STUDENT AGENCY BUS, STUDENT AGENCY, STUDENT AGENCY ONLINE, BOOKING, PRAGUE


Hope I could help.

 

[Jurek7]

Just my experiences:

Train and public transport in Germany or Netherlands are far from cheap. You also waste incredible amount of time on public transport, even if it is efficent. Train-bus to a zoo, bus to hotel (or two) etc.

If you go by rented car and share 2-3 people, this can be the cheapest option, even throwing paid parkings in. You can also save on accomodation then, by sleeping out of big cities.

BTW, such a trip it may well turn to cost as much as one of cheaper self-organized exotic trips (e.g. India or Thailand) and seeing elephants and hornbills in the wild.