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Inadequate Luggage Limits
Has anyone else found out too late about Tauck’s inadequate luggage limits? I can only guess that this is because Tauck uses small commuter planes and cram their charter buses full.
We just found out how limited we are when we received out travel documents this week. The airline will allow us to bring enough luggage for the 3 week trip, but because of Tauck’s limitations, it seems we will be busy doing laundry and ironing instead of enjoying the trip.
We would cancel (losing only our trip insurance), but our extremely expensive (business class) airfare is non-refundable, so at this point we feel compelled to go whether we want to or not. This was supposed to be a top of the line tour, not a camping expedition.
Our trip is still two and a half months away, and we are thoroughly annoyed before we even leave the house. I can hardly wait to see what Tauck’s next surprise will be.
I should note that I am referring to one of the Australian / New Zealand tours in January 2014.
We just found out how limited we are when we received out travel documents this week. The airline will allow us to bring enough luggage for the 3 week trip, but because of Tauck’s limitations, it seems we will be busy doing laundry and ironing instead of enjoying the trip.
We would cancel (losing only our trip insurance), but our extremely expensive (business class) airfare is non-refundable, so at this point we feel compelled to go whether we want to or not. This was supposed to be a top of the line tour, not a camping expedition.
Our trip is still two and a half months away, and we are thoroughly annoyed before we even leave the house. I can hardly wait to see what Tauck’s next surprise will be.
I should note that I am referring to one of the Australian / New Zealand tours in January 2014.
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Don't worry. And don't over pack. No need to pack enough for all 3 weeks. Plenty of time to wash things out. And look to take what does not require ironing.
Tauck does not set either the International or the in-country aircraft luggage weight limits so it is unfair to blame them. The International baggage limits are always greater. In-country aircraft in Africa are typically smaller, prop driven and frequently must use primitive landing strips. We recently completed a three week safari in Southern Africa where the in-country luggage weight limit was only 33 lbs. and the use of soft sided duffels was mandatory.
During our safari, all our Tauck safari vehicles were under two years old, clean and comfortable. We were not packed in; each of us had a window seat. There was plenty of room for what we were there to do - to view the world famous wildlife. We needed tough 4WD safari vehicles capable of operating in very difficult terrain. Despite new tires, we actually had two flat tires in one day going from Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti.
Every hotel and camp on Tauck's itinerary offered laundry services at ridiculously affordable prices. I assure you that you will not spend your trip washing clothes. Moreover, if you fret over ironing your clothes you will be the only one doing so. In January, we start on our fourth safari. We have learned: don't wear dark colors (they draw tsetse flies); no one takes a hair dryer (it's useless); and no one ever irons their safari clothes. Safaris are blissfully relaxed and casual.
I am a person who has traveled with Tauck. I have no vested interest in the company. I return to the Tauck Forum in hopes of helping others with their Africa questions. In the last two years, we have also traveled with four other world famous tour companies. I do not return to their websites because none of them took care of us with the same personal and professional concern that Tauck exhibited.
Give Tauck a fair chance. They will not disappoint but, remember, you are going on safari and not a museum tour. Have a wonderful time...Leo M
Just remember know one would question if you wore the same thing everyday if you wanted to. You don't need a change of clothes for everyday.
I hear you when you say you don't want to be bothered by doing laundry. You can make it without laundering (maybe some hand washes of delicates), but you have to be a pretty precise and unemotional packer. By unemotional, I mean carefully planning outfits and not throwing in your favorites without regard as to outfits and including things that can do double duty. We have just completed our 12th Tauck trip, and most of the recent ones have been the more exotic ones that do have luggage restrictions. Trust me, it can be done without compromising your comfort and/or style, or having to do a lot of laundry (except maybe in Africa where the dust could be so thick, laundry was a must) .
I don't know how you chose this trip or what kind of research you did prior to booking it. The "Need to Know" section of the website will give the luggage restrictions, visa requirements, etc. , so I am a bit surprised that you were caught off guard by the luggage requirement. Obviously, there is a reason you chose this trip, and, hopefully, that will transcend the luggage issue. Sunset at Ayres Rock...a beautiful seafood dinner on the Quay before going to the opera in Sydney....walking along the river trails in Melbourne...snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef...cruising Milford Sound...and, best of all, Australians actually like Americans and are so friendly and welcoming!!! Wonderful adventures await you!
Unfortunately, we did not use Tauck's website when we selected our trip; we relied on information from brochures and a travel agent to make our choice. Neither of which specified anything about luggage size/weight limitations; instead we were told to check with our airline, which we did and found that we were each allowed 3 pieces at a maximum weight of 70 pounds each (business class American/Qantas). We had no intention of using all that capacity, but we at least felt we could pack what we needed without any issue. This information also led to the purchase of several hundred dollars worth of luggage, none of which can be used for this trip.
So this week we received our travel documents/book from Tauck; I'll spare you my reaction as that language is not suitable for this forum. The point I'm trying to make and the reason for my anger is that I feel this information should be conveyed up front, before you have paid for the trip and the airfare.
I freely admit that I am no longer a world traveler like a lot of you folks. Travel now is usually quite uncomfortable for me (and I do not find idea of dealing with TSA or the airlines appealing), but my wife and I are retired and we were looking at this as a once in a lifetime trip, which we were really hoping to enjoy.
Once again, thank you for all your input; who knows, after the trip I may have a whole new outlook on the experience.
I, too, hate the laundry issue. When we went, sometimes the self-laundries (some places have since changed) were crowded and laundry became a chore. Again, I have since changed my travel wardrobe a bit to account for this problem. However, I am vain enough not to want to sacrifice style. But, Dissatisfied, fear not...it can be done! You have a few months to plan carefully, and just remember that this is a wonderful trip!!
My late father used to despair with my penchant for luggage. "Oh, Janice! Not another suitcase!" Even in my extreme youth when I was still living at home, I was travelling somewhere and needed the right portmanteau for the job! I have cases I use for domestic travel. I have luggage I would't dream of submitting to the rough talents of US baggage handlers. I have pieces I only use for road trips. And I observe that in the US people lug "battleships" onto the plane rather than check them. I can't work out why they do that… Some people love shoes. Some love luggage. I love both, so I try to corral them into categories of "domestic use" and " international use". Horses for courses is my rule.
Packing for a long trip takes a bit of work. I don't think 3 weeks is a long trip … it's only a tiddler. However, I do agree it takes more trouble to pack for 1 week than for 3 days. For such a short time you don't have time to recycle you clothes. A carefully selected wardrobe for 1 week will work for 3, too. The trouble comes if your are crossing extreme climates. For regular climates you just have to layer. Another on, another off! What you need to do is have a couple of fashion parades … and I really mean getting out what you think you want to take and trying it all on. The rule is that every piece has to go with at least 2 other garments. If not, eliminate! Do this early so you have time to buy anything you really need. Stick to one colour palette if you can, with just a few pieces that will go over everything else. Then about a week before you are finally ready to pack, repeat the exercise. You will be amazed at what you can add to the discard pile! The most important rule is that you don't take anything that you can't wash and iron yourself, with the only exception being outer garments & perhaps one "special" outfit. Generally this doesn't concern the men! I have to confess that I am not a light packer.
I know mis-communication can be frustrating and I am very proud of you for your verbal restraint.
Then after you have returned home having had a marvellous time, why not consider dealing directly with Tauck for your next trip? I can just "hear" the conversation with your travel agent when you booked this trip. Platitudes are fine but when you get down to the wire … there can be tears before bedtime. (I know … dreadful use of the metaphor as a literary tool!) Next time you will have your own expectations and resulting queries and you can ask them directly. Skip the travel agent spin and get the answers you need when you need them.
Cheers,
Jan
Please advise.
Robert - I'm not sure where I saw the 33-lb guidance (perhaps on a forum). I haven't paid close attention to it since volume, not weight, seemed to be the stricter limitation. Which tour are you on? I am on the Nov. 11 departure. Perhaps I will see you there. Nick
We are on the nov 16th trip. Agree on the weight. We went to antartica and it is only 40 lbs. and they weighed it
Bob
We carefully pack, wear clothes more than once and chose lightweight travel clothing. No need to be concerned about your clothing unless it is related to what is suitable for the terrain or weather. I certainly would not be looking at what you were wearing, I'd be looking at the colors of Uluru or the Sydney Opera House.
Travel agents---we often here others complaining about things the TRAVEL AGENTS fail to tell their customers. We have always booked with Tauck directly. You will find all information on their website if you look at it properly. Reconsider any travel at all if all you care about is how you look.
The 33 lb limit is for the internal flights which have a 15 kg limit. 15 kg is approximately 33 lbs.