If anyone has been on this tour before, we could use your help. We want to try and do this tour but we have to be in Ireland the day the tour begins and cannot get to London until later that evening. We would have to miss the orientation at 4 p.m. and the first group dinner together. How much of an issue would this be if we could still start with the day's activities on the first full tour day. Anyone who has done this tour, please tell us what we would miss so we can decide about going. Thanks!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14818 posts
What you will miss is the guide's introductions, any changes in the plan, introductions of tour members, probably an orientation walk in the neighborhood and usually a nice welcome dinner. If you have to miss it, no problem with just joining the next morning. The guide will put up a daily itinerary sheet near the front desk so be sure to look at that when you arrive so you'll know what time to meet and what the plan is for the day.
The guide will do reminders about not being late, any Covid rules that may have changed, etc.
Posted by
1 posts
Thank you very much!
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2805 posts
Actually, you could do everything that the tour includes for a lot less money.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8157 posts
They could, Robin, but most people who book tours do so for a variety of reasons, including meeting other people, having someone else do all the work of booking hotels, getting tickets for attractions and so on. I don't think that too many tour goers are concerned about saving money with a DIY trip.
ETA: I should note that I am not one of them (at this point). I still like the DIY trips. 😊
Posted by
Cape Ann, Massachusetts
3347 posts
You'd be fine missing the orientation and first dinner. I'm sure the guide, knowing you will start the next morning, will provide a quick update on need to know facts when you meet. You can start getting to know people at breakfast the next morning as I think it is fairly easy to figure out which people are on the tour. Considering you will be staying in one place, you have no concern about when you arrive.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1102 posts
Although I agree with others that it would be ok to miss the introductions and group dinner, you should check with the Rick Steves office before making a deposit on this tour.
Posted by
Seattle suburbs
71 posts
We did that tour a few years ago and enjoyed it. On several of our tours we have had participants arrive late. Guides are use to it. We did it as a back to back to Spain. Nice change in that you are in the same room, no repacking and few or no hours on a bus. As always with his tours we experience things we would never have, if not for the tour guide.
Enjoy