As an independent personality type I was leery of taking any kind of group tour where they tell me what to do and when to do it. But travel planning can be daunting so when my sister told me about Tauck I gave them a shot. Now with over a dozen Tauck tours under my belt I can say they're not perfect but pretty darned close. Pricing isn't cheap but a very good value since it's truly all inclusive. I've learned to avoid itineraries involving lengthy bus trips. As part of a group one is forced to socialize with many kinds of people, invariably there are a few annoying blowhards/Debbie Downers, but they can be avoided and most people are nice. Included meals range from just tolerable (river boat and Italy) to abundant and delicious (mostly). I have found Tauck's air department to be disorganized and pricey so I book my own flights. No biggie since I'm a control freak anyway. On the plus side,Tauck uses luxury hotels and incorporates off-the-beaten-track experiences into their itineraries, for example a small funky art gallery in Quebec that I wouldn't have found on my own. Scheduling is somewhat flexible with activity options offered. We do a short pre-stay to rest up beforehand b/c tours can be hectic. Tauck takes care of airport transport, touring, luggage schlepping from inside the room and just about everything else. Tour leaders are well educated, friendly and fun, and do their best to cater to every client's needs. Not an easy job. I don't use a travel agent to book with them, just call direct myself. Book early to get desired dates for popular tours especially cruises. When I travel independently for awhile I miss Tauck's "Tour Nanny" experience and just have to book another one! read more

We were loyal customers of Tauck taking over 8 trips with them, until this latest trip After giving them a deposit I found out I had breast cancer. The final payment of $25,000 was due and I asked if they could extend the final payment date, which they did for 10 days until I received the surgery results. On the tenth day I called them and told them I had to cancel could we have our deposit back. They said NO that I would have to go through the insurance company to get my deposit back. The last thing I wanted to do after surgery was deal with an insurance company. It meant filling out multiple forms by both myself and the doctor. Tauck obviously doesn't care about keeping loyal customers. We have since booked a trip with a different tour company and will no longer use Tauck. read more

We just did the legends of the American west tour from Rapid City SD To Yellowstone & Grand Tetons with Amazing Tour Director Holly Smith , who made our trip outstanding, with team greeting with all our wonderful fellow travellers, to our visual wildlife sightings snacks, water , restroom breaks, restaurant & Hotel accommodations ,she made everyone feel welcome like one big family including our wonderful tour driver Lynn Nelson . read more

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Booked a tour to Israel-Jordan through Tauck Tours scheduled for November of 2026. Their representative convinced me to buy their trip insurance even though no money would be due at all until about 90 days prior to the tour (August 26). Tauck called yesterday to inform us that the Israel Tour was canceled (and rightly so - no problem there). The problem lies in them not refunding the trip insurance that was never used at all since the tour never started and no money was ever paid for the trip itself (except the trip insurance). The Tauck rep said their vendor wouldn't refund the money. Well, that's not my problem that's a Tauck problem. They sold the insurance as Tauck, they didn't send me to a different company or site to purchase the insurance so in essence this is Tauck insurance. This is a case where having trip insurance was more costly for a canceled trip than if I had never purchased the insurance at all. If I had canceled the trip no problem, keep my money, but Tauck canceled it. When I was in business, I had vendors that on occasion needed to step up to satisfy a customer due to their problems, mistakes, or policies because my company's reputation depended on us being fair to the customer and not hiding behind a vendor like Tauck is doing here. Tauck also promised someone from management would call to discuss and that didn't happen as well. They had a low-level marketing person call because some executive or manager didn't want to deal with a customer with a valid complaint (Refund what you owe me for a trip that didn't and is never going to take place). Tauck rep told me "I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND"..... and my response was as the client, "NO, TAUCK NEEDS TOUNDERSTAND ME". They graciously (sarcasm) said the insurance payment could be used against another Tauck trip (with a short time limit as well). My wife and I already have trips booked out a year+ in advance. Not only do I not have the opening for another Tauck trip we now seriously don't want a trip with Tauck and never will again. Tauck and their "vendor" are not out a dime if they refund my payment as there was absolutely no out of pocket cost to them for their cancellation. Tauck will never see one more dime of my money ever. .......Fool me once shame on you..,.." read more

Worst customer service ever. We went to Portugal/Spain tour this summer. Although we had some good times, there were also many disappointments. Too long to write on the questionnaire/evaluation handed to us to fill out the night before the tour ended. So, we decided we'd fill it out after we returned from our travels, which we did, after Tauck sent us two follow-ups requesting our evaluations. We explained our disappointment with our tour guide, who was rude, didn't care about her group, over-tired from 5 or 6 back-to-back tours; we also praised and highlighted the best parts of the tour. Instead of getting an apology or any type of customer service response, our evaluation was sent to Tauck's in-house counsel, who immediately instructed us to avoid contacting Tauck directly. We've now waited for about 2 months to receive any type of response from him and/or Tauck, and we've received nothing. Despite Tauck's claim that they take the evaluations seriously and really want to know travelers' experience, they don't really care. *As attorneys, we know that in-house counsel, have a duty to represent their clients and not ignore possible complaints. This attorney has not only ignored our evaluation/letter, he stepped in and decided to make the complaint a legal one (we didn't want a legal issue). We were only providing feedback as requested by Tauck on numerous occasions. And, we did provide both positive and negative comments. Not surprised that there are so many bad reviews. read more

This year Tauck celebrated its 100th anniversary. If they don't get their act together and offer their customers better value for the money, this anniversary may well be their last! Below we have cited some of the highlights (indeed, the lowlights) of our recent trip with Tauck to the shores of Eastern Canada in September, 2025. The two Tauck tour directors, Danielle and Tristan, while friendly and cheerful, were casual and uncertain in their leadership roles. They didn't understand the needs and wants of those of us on the tour, nor did they try to. It was clear to us that they would certainly benefit from working with more experienced leaders. The tour program was weak with only one speaker during the eleven day trip who provided valuable and meaningful information. For example, one of the excursions we took to a blueberry farm on the Saguenay Fijord was led by a person whose sole objective was selling blueberry preserves and other products the farm produced. The most egregious example of the carelessness and poor planning that went into this tour was the disembarkation. All the information claimed we were disembarking at Bayonne, NJ. We had a driver scheduled to pick us up who had to drive for 2 1/2 hours to get to Bayonne. As we disembarked, and he was arriving in Bayonne, we realized we weren't in Bayonne but at Pier 90 in New York City! We called the driver, and he agreed to extend his trip to pick us up, which he did, and he reluctantly said he would have to charge us an additional $200 for this trip. We paid this knowing not only was our day confused and misdirected, but his workday was also misdirected and extended. Tauck insisted that we present a receipt for the charge before they would reimburse us. Wow! Unfortunately, there were numerous other examples of poor planning and execution on this trip. This mismanaged tour and poor guest experience continued in the post-tour environment. We wrote a letter to Tauck explaining how poorly managed the tour was, and as former loyal customers, we had no intention of repeating this experience with Tauck. Therefore, we wouldn't use them again. Two weeks after sending the letter to Tauck, we received a call from Kate, a guest services manager, to review our letter and concerns. She played the Tauck "customer playbook" claiming that no one else had made these comments, implying we were wrong, and we rebuffed her by saying these are our concerns, and we are not speaking for others. She then reverted to the other line in the "playbook," expressing that Tauck's principal point of interest is guest satisfaction. After the second time hearing that, we tuned her out. She simply was not listening. That telephone exchange was followed by a letter from the CEO of Tauck expressing disappointment that we had an experience that didn't meet our expectations, but expressing no accountability as well as the conviction that they would see us on future Tauck tours! Clueless - no one at Tauck is listening! This was our second Tauck tour this year and the fifth trip for my wife, but no more Tauck tours for us! Dan M and Ellen H read more

I probably shouldn't post this while still onboard since they might throw me overboard but I am writing this mid-way through a Tauck Great Lakes cruise. I wish I had read these reviews before we booked -- instead, we went by a friend's recommendation. Unfortunately, I couldn't disagree with her more, and apparently most reviewers agree with me. On Tauck, I feel like I'm being treated like a child, or perhaps like cattle. No, I don't want to yell "Hello Phil!!" to the bus driver. The food is mediocre, the drinks are poured like cement (a famous old quote about dining at Hearst's castle),the tour directors never perform as actual tour guides and do not know the meaning of "The customer is always right." Do they know how much we paid for this?? Arguably worst of all, they do not begin to accommodate wheelchairs. The hallways are too narrow, the stairways far too steep and there appears to have been no training for staff in how to deal with passengers in wheelchairs. It's offensive, out of date and disgusting. Have they even LOOKED at the demographic they're serving?Unbelievable. But overall, I've really enjoyed the excursions. We've seen some wonderful places. Motown in Detroit was great. They were also REALLY good at customer service as their elevator was broken and I couldn't take their staircase. So they gave me a free book, sat with me, told me riveting old Motown stories and were so sweet! (They should teach the Tauck tour directors!) The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland was amazing. The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island was breathtaking. And I adored the Art Gallery in Toronto. Terrific stuff! Note: I gave Tauck two stars, instead of fewer, due to the excursions they arranged. Mostly, I'm disappointed in the tour directors. During the "mandatory emergency drill," they insisted I walk to the far end of the ship. This is not my first cruise and I've never been forced to walk that far. I cannot do it. I sat down halfway through where a security guard admonished me. (I stayed seated. I'm not getting hurt for them.) Another woman who could hardly walk kept trying to push through the obvious pain, limping yards behind the crowd; she looked like she was literally about to fall over and die. Did a tour director even help her? Guess. Today I got in trouble for being late returning to the ship. We didn't know when to get back. I even asked and heard that the last ship departs at 7 pm. That didn't turn out to be entirely accurate, but a tour director eventually called and berated me! I should've read the program, she said. I should've attended the briefing. Hey, on every other excursion they came around and got us. And remember, I'M the customer! Shouldn't you NOT YELL at me?? Besides, I asked what time. My husband, who is always nice (really!) fell sick immediately afterward. There's more but I'll leave it at this. I'm very unhappy and will never recommend this cruise line to anyone. Then again, if I had an enemy, maybe I would. And if I do have an enemy or five, it's probably the tour directors. read more

Overpriced, overhyped with unprofessional tour directors who could not care less about us. Their poor performance did not affect their pay since Tauck automatically included the tips in our bookings. Tauck tour directors were terrible. One guest fell on a slippery gangway in the rain without any rubber floor protective pads/layer. It was not his fault and could be prevented by the Tauck staff. To make it worse, the staff pulled him up from the ground by pulling on his arms. He ended up with a broken shoulder at the beginning of our trip and had to leave. I saw it happen and what Tauck did that was unsafe and should not have been done. I regret booking Tauck and will never book with Tauck again. Do not recommend! There are better tour companies without Tauck self-created hype, better service and half the price. Again, do not recommend!!! read more

Tauck handled my refund due to the death of my mother with great care. Thank you Tauck I'm looking forward to rebooking with you again in the not too distant future. read more

Danube River Cruise...Tauck Tours...12 day River cru ....cruised for 4 hours...then ported...never moved again..river levels to low...bused to all destinations... sometimes 4 hours up & back...docked for three days...then they closed the cruise part down...offered 3 nights in Vienna & 3 night in Budapest...came to do a cruise got nothin...told us at 7 at night what's happening ...did nothing for us to get flights home who picked to leave...I believe they new the river was low before we left...what about the people leaving now...this must be happening to other cruise lines to... Hopefully a refund at least 80%... and 2,000 flights home... read more

Review of Tauck's Italia Bella: Rome to Venice Tour -- A Disturbing and Unsafe Experience I am sharing this so that other families -- especially those traveling with children or with specific needs -- are fully aware of what we experienced. We booked Tauck expecting a premium, seamless trip. Instead, our family was met with neglect, humiliation, and unsafe conditions. Important Family Needs Ignored From the beginning, I clearly communicated that our family had a sensitive requirement -- we needed connecting rooms. Despite this, Tauck never confirmed arrangements with the hotels. In Rome, we were told we had to pay $500 per night, per room for connecting rooms -- more than double the hotel's published rate. This was exploitative, and Tauck did nothing to intervene. Tour Director Conduct Our tour director, Marco, was repeatedly seen drinking while on duty, ignored urgent messages (including during a crisis in Florence), and completely avoided us at the end of the trip. In Venice, when I begged to be moved from an unsafe, mold-ridden room, Marco spoke with the hotel staff in another language and laughed -- it felt like my concerns were being mocked. This was humiliating and unprofessional. Unsafe Room in Venice (JW Marriott) The most disturbing part of the tour happened in Venice. Our assigned room had a strong moldy, musty odor. I have allergies and one of our children has asthma -- she began coughing immediately upon entering the room. Despite more than 30 rooms showing available on my Bonvoy app and Amex portal, hotel management and our tour director refused to move us. The odor was so overwhelming that I could not breathe properly and ended up sleeping on a cot in the hallway because the room was unlivable. On our final night, the room flooded from rainwater seeping under both doors, soaking the carpet. This only made the mold and smell worse. It also appeared the room had a history of moisture issues -- there were signs of prior water damage that seemed to have been painted over. The smell, humidity, and condition of the carpet supported this impression, but the hotel denied it and refused to show concern. I woke up barely able to breathe, with my throat nearly closed and a pounding headache. My daughter still cannot step into that room without coughing. This was not only humiliating, it was unsafe. No family should ever be forced to sleep in such conditions on a luxury tour. Florence - Known Noise Hazard Ignored In Florence at The Westin Excelsior, our connecting rooms were placed directly next to elevators and stairwells. Worse, the hotel and Tauck knowingly assigned us to a room directly where construction and signage removal were scheduled that night. At 10:00 PM, drilling, hammering, and shouting began outside our room and continued until past 1:30 AM. My daughter was inconsolable, our other children were in tears, and the noise was unbearable. When I confronted the hotel, they admitted they were removing a sign -- at midnight -- directly outside our door. A worker even screamed at me when I asked them to stop. To us, this showed disregard for a situation they already knew was sensitive. Marco never responded to my urgent messages that night. Survey & Disregard At the end of the trip, Tauck did not even provide us with a guest survey. Marco sat with other families, collected their feedback, and deliberately avoided us. Our voices were silenced, and our family was disregarded. Tauck's Response Afterward When I followed up, Tauck refused to take responsibility. Instead, their attorney emailed me, stating that Tauck had "already apologized" and would do nothing further. They also said they would not address the issue because the tour was outside the U.S. -- even though Tauck is a Connecticut-based company serving primarily American guests. This response was dismissive, insulting, and showed how little Tauck cares when serious concerns are raised. Final Thoughts Tauck promises "luxury" and "family-friendly" service. What we experienced was disorganization, lack of empathy, overcharging, humiliation, and dangerous conditions. Our family's needs were repeatedly ignored, our health and safety were compromised, and Tauck has since tried to brush everything under the rug. We had two future Tauck tours in the works -- both are now canceled. This was supposed to be a milestone family trip before our daughters enter high school. Instead, we left feeling taken advantage of, dismissed, and exposed to health risks. Travelers should be aware: Tauck does not live up to the reputation it claims, and their treatment of sensitive matters is appalling. Disclaimer: This review reflects our personal experience and perspective. It is based on how our family felt, the treatment we received, and the specific situations we endured during this trip. read more

Called Tauck to ask about their service, the person answering the phone insisted to transfer me to a medical specialist, saying they were doing promotion. I told her I don't need it, she did not care at all, transferred me to the medical line. I cannot imaging such terrible behavior. read more

Awesome tours worth the high prices! They pick great hotels & restaurants. Tauck provides great, knowledgeable guides & special experiences not available elsewhere! read more

I just returned from my first Tauck river cruise to France. I was a solo traveler. My worst fear, particularly traveling alone, was that I would get lost or stranded by a tour guide/company. Unfortunately this fear was realized. On the very first day of the cruise, while in Paris, my bus did not return to pick me up or 2 other women from the cruise. We were on our own for lunch and to meet the bus back at 2:00 to head on to The Louvre. I and they arrived at 2:05 due to getting terribly lost only to find no bus. I was later told by other guests that the tour guide, Victoria Putz, had remarked to the other passengers that she was "down 3 people,oh well. We must be on time, and they were not". We had not been provided with the ship's address and unable to dial the swiss number on the key card due to it being indecipherable to Americans. In terror and panic, I called the police to help me. I did not find assistance. I then called the Tauck after hours/weekend emergency number. The person kindly assisted me by calling the ship's captain. Eventually I and they found our way back to the ship by Uber. There was no apology or sympathy from the captain, Alex Roumat. I received great scorn from the tour guide, Victoria Putz later that evening. She said it was a passenger's responsiblity to be exactly on time, and that it was my own fault. And it was also my fault that I had not asked for the ship's address. None of our 3 tour guides gave us their contact information, should a crisis occur. Fortunately the other 2 guides assured me through the rest of the week that I would not be left behind. Victoria Putz showed no remorse for her poor decision making. The rest of the trip continued to be traumatic as I feared getting lost or left again. The trip seems like it was good had I been less scared and able to enjoy it. As a company, I would think that they would be thoughtful enough to apologize and not blame the customer and certainly not abandon guests while on excursions. I hope that Tauck will take a look at my comments and that of others whom were also extremely upset that their fellow passengers were left behind. If Tauck is as reputable as advertised, providing customers with kindness and empathy when mistakes are made seem like a minimum in a customer service business. I also would perhaps consider traveling with Tauck again if they could assure me that this their mistake and would make every effort for that to not happen again to any customers who chooses to travel with them. Thank you for reading this. read more

Tauck is known for excellence and yet our recent "River" Trip, the "French Escapade", has left us speechless. Simply put, they "Overstated and Underdelivered". Imagine going on an expensive, first-time "river" trip with Tauck, where you are placed in a small Paris hotel room for 3 days pre-cruise and experience on-ship challenges with: 1) no hot water for 4 days; 2) poorly trained wait staff; 3) poor food preparation and quality; 4) a staff employee suggesting that we utilize a competitor for future "river" cruises; 5) a broken in-room coffee machine and 6) a single day of no hot water for those on our floor. My wife and I have traveled with Tauck on multiple "non-river" trips and assumed we would have a similar experience. We were mistaken as we made a categorical error in judgement; we endured multiple issues that soured our interest in future "river" cruises with them. "A vacation is not like ordering food, you can't send it back" and upon arriving home we cancelled the Tauck's Yuletide Trip later this year. Having multiple undesirable issues compounds the already expensive trip when calculating the cost of the trip, air expenses, meals, time away from home, etc. Our challenges: 1. Tauck provided a tiny room for the 3 pre-cruise days in Paris. Hotel staff removed furniture to accommodate our luggage. Tauck informed us that most rooms in Paris are small. Really? This was by far the first time we encountered such a small room as compared to numerous other stays! 2. The first 4 mornings, while on the ship, we were met with cold showers . 3. On the 4th day it is our understanding the entire floor of state rooms had no hot water. 4. Either the Captain or the Tauck Director was untruthful when discussing the hot water lack of hot water. 5. There was time and inconvenience moving to another room due to the hot water issue. 6. We had a broken in-room coffee machine for several days. 7. Waiters were inadequately trained. We experienced poor service, incorrect orders or items not received. Waiters often interrupted table conversations. 8. We had poor food preparation and the food quality was questionable. At times the meat was chewy or tough. Several mornings the hashbrowns were warm on the outside but cold on the inside; other times they were extremely greasy. 9. The breakfasts and lunches were fairly repetitive. The food quality was not what you would expect from Tauck. A staff member informed us "your next trip should not be with Tauck but with (another company)". 10. We anticipated a French Chef. That wasn't the case. 11. We received an email the 5th morning on the ship stating: "keep your frustrations with this situation between you, your Tauck Director and me.......". We found this email lacked Tauck's understanding and empathy for our many challenges. After the trip, we sent a certified letter to Tauck's CEO explaining the many challenges. Unfortunately, this letter was not taken seriously and handled by a Guest Relations Specialist. In summarizing a phone call, Tauck left us with the impression that this trip, our previous 9 trips and upcoming 5 have little or no significance. Tauck offered a meager compensation for all of the issues which amounted to about the cost of the shuttle expense from home to the airport. read more

They abandoned three elderly ladies on the streets of Paris when we were no more than five minutes late due to getting lost. Tour director asked us all on the bus if we were coming back to bus and we all replied yes before dropping us off for a lunch on your own outing. She said that she would call anyone that did not show up and SHE DID NOT. She was not truthful about that and about the time she said they left. We were there at 2:05 and she claims that our watches were wrong! We had no phone numbers for Tauck that worked and no address where the river boat was. We stood on that corner reaching out to friends and family in the states and in Paris to help us contact our riverboat company. We were traumatized and the cruise was ruined for us. I have travelled the world with several different travel organizations and they NEVER left their customers and always waited for the straggler's. I have no trust in Tauck. read more

Just got home from our first Tauck tour of Nice, Provence, and Paris. The company booked us into nice hotels in great locations, but did not provide the best rooms, so we didn't have rooms with views. The tour guides we had were outstanding, and really knew their history, and the details of their country. The food was "over the top" great at all the restaurants they reserved for us. Tauck was able to let us skip the long lines in places like the Louvre. The tour busses were first class, and I never felt like life was in danger, despite crazy drivers in Paris! The weather was awful while we were there, and Tauck took us on tours in the pouring rain and cold - there was no alternative activity. We could not wait in the bus. The biggest negative is that they let you know that you are expected to tip the tour director $15/day per person, and the bus driver $10/day per person. I would rather they had paid the directors out of our tour fee, which was NOT cheap, which would have eliminated an awkward situation. read more

I am a 78 year old lady single traveler who just returned from a Tauck land tour entitled Switzerland: Jewel of Europe. It had an excellent tour guide and a superior bus driver. But the problems were with the rooms in two of the hotels, their nonexistent views, and a very nasty guest relations manager in the 5 star Interlaken hotel chosen by Tauck. Mr. PRB, the guest relations manager, was an aggressive intimidator who stated that my view of the gravel roof was exactly what Tauck ordered and what I deserved. This trip had cost me over $14,000 for 10 days in Switzerland. He said that didn't matter because that room was exactly what Tauck ordered and that was that. Then this guest relations manager hauntily nformed me if I came down to the desk and paid an additional 118 francs per night, he would move me to a nicer room with a good view. After these exchanges the next morning marked the beginning of the hotel renovation crew starting refurbishment in the room next to mine. Needless to say, two days of personal attacks destroyed my vacation experience in Interlaken. read more

My wife and I just completed the eight day trip through Nova Scotia and PEI. It was so well balanced between fascinating history - the Acadian removal for example, local economics - how to trap a lobster and fascinating looks at nature e.g. the huge tidal changes in the Bay of Fundy (scallop capital of the world). The hotels were all first class as was the dining - I had great seafood each day :). Tauck was especially accomodating - I should say our TD Rob - to our being caught up in the "blue screen of hell" calamity that effected so many flights. We missed the first day's activities and dinner, but Rob had a charcuterie board, sandwiches and a bottle of wine waiting in our room that evening. My only complaint was that the pancakes in each hotel buffet were cold - would it be impolite to ask the Canadians to nuke them? :) read more

I haven't even taken my trip, yet, but I am so discouraged with the lack of quality Tauck representatives. I paid Tauck for half of a trip (early) that was due to start in over 3 months, and asked them if I could pay the balance in a week, after a trip I was making to Canada. The lady said yes, and put the note in the computer. While on vacation, I was charged an additional $7,000 by Tauck, that I had not authorized (note in computer disregarded). This put me over my credit card limit and I could not make a charge for food, hotels, or gas after that. I called my credit card company to reverse that unauthroized charge in order to be able to use my card, which later I found out could take up to 5-6 days. So, we came home immediately. I contacted Tauck, and a wonderful lady named Jennifer in customer service helped me with the problem and extended my final payment date due since I needed that reversal to take effect before I could finalize the payment. Jennifer put a note in the computer about the problem and extended my payment date. So, the credit card issue is resolved and I call to make my final payment. I get Marina in payments. She blathered on and on about how I was at risk of losing my booking because I was suppose to pay by now. I explained that Tauck was the reason for the delay, or it would have been paid by now, and that Jennifer had put a note in the computer giving me until the 22nd to make a payment (today is the 14th, so I'm early). It's like she had no comprehension of English. She kept repeating the same thing with no understanding of the situation. She said it was my fault the automatic payment was made because I must have agreed to it when I made the initial reservation. I never would have agreed to that and was never asked. She lectured me at least three times and I finally asked for a manager. She kept lecturing her and I asked her to stop talking and give me a manager. This happened two more times. She said one wasn't available, but would call me back. I asked for the manager's supervisor, and she said there wasn't one. I asked her for Peter Tauck's phone, and she said he doesn't take calls from customers. So, I am still waiting, and I am sorry that I signed up for a Tauck tour again. I have been on 4 prior Tauck tours, and this is, by far, the worst experiences I have had with them. read more

We did a Tauck river cruise from Munich to Budapest in September of 2024. It was the worst vacation I've ever been on. I could write a book but will keep this short. Let's just highlight what made it so bad. Horrible food, numerous crowded buffets, no personal service from staff, one of the guides was very abrupt when asked a question, no tablecloths to cover ugly Formica tables, no snacks or water bottles on the bus until the fourth day when someone asked, etc. I paid top dollar to travel with Tauck and they did not deliver. This will be my one and only Tauck Tour. read more

They really take care of their travelers. I've gone with them eight times and trust them

My wife and I did a river cruise with Tauck because friends had gone on Tauck before. It seemed they made the tour up as we went Our last supper viewing was cancelled, we walked unbelievable distances to attractions. we had been on other cruises and for what Tauck charges, the food on the ship did not meet expectations. The driver of the bus that met our 15 or so people that were also on the tour spoke very little English and entire group was English. There were two people meeting up with a third person who was late and they could not communicate with the driver to get him to wait. A real argument started with the driver because they could not understand each. WHY would you send a none English speaking person to pick up all US tourists? I would not recommend Tauck and there are many other options. read more

worst tour company I ever dealt with. They changed the meet up time upon arrival. Didn't bother to tell anyone or leave any messages. In general I found them to be cookie cutter and bland in their presentations. read more

I will mot recommend this company to anyone. Very disappointed. People behaving like kids, not allowing to sit with the group or to rotate in the bus location. Also the bus at the beginning very uncomfortable and at the end Tauck retuned $250 per person. The check arrived and we need to returned due that the name was written incorrectly. Called them and they said that once they received it they will issue a new check and now they are asking if we mailed it and of course not issuing a new check. This is not the way Tauck Tour used to be. The customer service rep was Abbrie and asking us that if it was true that we mailed it. We are not kids, we are professionals, we are not supposed to be treated as kids A tour very expensive and now not honoring what the promised! I will never recommend them at all! If you want to help, my email is lilyrivas@gmail.com read more

We booked a trip in 2019. Then Covid hit. We lost our $1800 deposit. Will not be booking another trip with them ever, but we're still getting catalogs, reminding us of our bad experience. read more

Highly disappointed in what was hyped as a " exceptional travel experience " . For the OUTRAGEOUS amount we paid plus airfare with 3 plane changes to arrive in Venice, Italy - we were expecting a big and I mean big bang for our buck . With the exception of one nights dinner meal in Florence , the dining experiences were basic and in no way special . On top of that , Tauck allows you a lot of free time , which we didn't mind however we found ourselves needing to spend even MORE money on dining out since many meals were not included . The hotels are outlandish and garish palaces which is what you're spending your money on - but wed Be perfectly fine with nice mid- range 3 star European hotels which offer the same value for a LOT less . Our tour guide , Cristina, was sometimes a bit rude and short with us and indifferent and other times helpful ( bipolar ?) -- the " special " after hours experiences ( solo group tour to the Vatican after hours ) was very late in the evening as was the mediocre meal at 9:30pm - very late for us seniors to be digesting heavy Italian food . The tour felt rushed . We would have preferred going doing normal hours and having had more time exploring the Vatican . we will never recommend Tauck to anyone . If you want a much much better experience culturally at a LOT less , check out the same size group tours with Gate 1 discovery . You can thank us later . read more

Two words to describe this tour to Sicily: BED BUG!! Now that I got your attention, yes, I was eaten alive with bed bugs in one of a Tauck's supposed luxury hotels. When I wrote a letter to corporate, they took no responsibility and blamed us for not telling the hotel ourselves (yes, we told our tour director!). Next hotel was a villa with iron beds with no box springs and a mattress about four inches wide! All you felt were the metal springs on the bed!!in addition, the sink faucets didn't work nor the tub water handles. One of our "meals" was a stop at a gas station (we paid) that had upscale 7-11 food. Not close to what a $22,000 trip should include. The guides were monotonous so much to the point many were just taking their ear pieces out. The entire two weeks was just the hotel food...we were never taken to a restaurant. Conclusion, save your money. Tauck has cut corners and will not be accountable for any bad experiences. Try another tour company like Abercrombie and Kent b read more

We booked a tour for it's staying in Fourseasons but then found it actually staying in intercontinental , no where in brochure about this hotel. Tauck would not make price adjustment. Tour advertised as 16 days and actually on 15 nights. read more

Wonderful trip. Great leader and fun people in our group. To be able to stay within the national parks is bonus.

My husband and I just returned from Tauck's Essence of Japan tour. We had a wonderful adventure. Tauck provided an excellent taste of Japan's highlights and culture, including temples, shrines, gardens, lakes, music, geisha, sumo, tea ceremony, origami, sake, and onsen. We traveled by very comfortable buses, regional trains and bullet trains. The amount of sites and activities we were able to see and participate in within our two week tour was amazing. There was some free time for us to wander around on our own. Our tour guide, Christine, was excellent. She did everything in her power to be sure that her guests were happy, and made the most of their time; we were very well-cared for. Our local guides, Emi and Mickey, were delightful....knowledgeable with a good sense of humor. We found the people of Japan to be respectful, polite, friendly and helpful. The country is very clean. Travel logistics from plane-to-plane, and within Japan were seamless. The hotels were very nice. We highly recommend Tauck's Essence of Japan. read more

A week in Portugal: Sept 30 -Oct 7th 2024. To much and not enough local. The hotels were beautiful 5 star, but when you check in at 5pm and have to leave at 8:30 you have to ask why am I leaving? I felt like we never got to really know Portugal. I believe it would have been better to slow the trip down and spend more time in the best towns. I wonder if Tauck ever plans trips that spend 2-3 days in each location? read more

First time Tuack Tour, Essence of Japan. It will be my last. Spent more than 45k and they handled flight booking. They booked international layover outbound with 40 min window. Not surprisingly my bags, clothes and medicine didn't arrive for 30 hours. They acknowledged their fault in email but Guest Relations tone deaf. They offered small cash refund and future credit on next tour. Won't be a "next tour ". It was once a great brand but they have lost their feel for customer retention. If you use them, book your own travel and save money and aggravation. read more

The Italy tour exceeded our expectations in every way and our guide, Christina, was absolutely phenomenal. We just got to airport in Rome and I miss her already! read more

This was our 6th Tauck tour, and in my opinion they are not what they used to be. The tour was poorly guided, too much time on your own. The special performances were mediocre, most meals also mediocre. At dinner received a bill for a glass of wine. Ridiculous at this price point, and always included previously. We will be looking for a new company. We are done. read more

As a private, family-owned enterprise, Tauck must be having financial problems according to most of the below reviews. When we signed up, almost a year in advance of an August 2024 tour, and even shortly before departure, their website for Land Journeys shouted in the middle of the page "One Upfront Price--No Hidden Costs." (The copy is still on my computer.) Yet days before departure, an email arrived with helpful tips and information which stated a tour director and a bus driver gratuity were expected and added $500 to the total cost--a surprise! We do not like hassles during our travels and travel with all-inclusive tour companies such as Abercrombie and Kent, Seabourn, and Road Scholar. We had researched Tauck and based on their website information they appeared to be luxurious and all-inclusive. (Why not add all your costs and charge that total price rather than nickel-and-diming your guests to prepare little envelopes as happens in the lower-cost tours?) The website promise is why we had signed up. The warning before the tour started was definitely a negative punch in the gut as our research had proved to be pointless. That was our first and last Tauck tour. As others have reviewed, Tauck does not deliver on their promises. read more

We just returned from our first Tauck tour to England, Scotland and Wales and cannot say enough about what a terrific trip it was. Tauck is a first-class operation; handles virtually every detail and makes it a fun, enlightening, unforgettable experience. Most of the folks on our tour were big-time Tauck repeat customers and I can see why. I wasn't sure I was cut out for a group tour but now I'm starting to think about which Tauck tour we'll take next. read more

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That's Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)... many more meals "on your own"... lots of "self-guided" tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about... airline quality "rubber chicken" dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces... poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. Speaking to a "Guest Relations" agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the "new" post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers. read more

Buyer beware. Tauck cancelled the Christmas Markets trip to Germany and Austria leaving Dec 6, 2021 for my daughter and me. I did NOT cancel.  Tauck is keeping $1,400 of my money. Again, they cancelled, not me. I spoke to Courtney their guest relations representative. She was curt and refused us a refund. Tauck's motto is that they leave the porch light on. In our case, we were left in the dark with our pockets picked. Courtney told us we were "nobody special." My daughter and I waited a lifetime to go. Her late father and I went to the markets when he was stationed in Europe during the Cold War. She grew up with my stories. While I understand Covid is not Tauck's fault, my many reassurances from the company within 3 weeks of our departure that the trip was proceeding has caused me to lose a considerable amount of money on train tickets and other aspects of this trip. Lufthansa is refusing to reimburse our airfare and, of course, Tauck will do nothing to help. I am disappointed and shocked that Tauck would attempt to keep almost $1,400 when we have hung in there with them for 2 years. They cancelled it in 2020 too. We attempted to book the SAME cruise for next year but ALL THOSE CHRISTMAS MARKET TOURS ARE BOOKED. They want us on a different tour on different dates. This doesn't work for us, but they don't care. Please know, dear buyer, that if you purchase a trip from Tauck and THEY cancel, you will lose money. A lot of it. And don't expect email replies or kindness. read more

Our recent trip to South Africa with Tauck was cut short by someone on the trip contracting COVID . The person had symptoms for several days and then used her own home test which came back positive . Two doctors traveling with her said clinical symptoms plus positive home test is 99.9 % accurate. The person with COVID called the tour director who asked the doctors why they were so concerned about COVID Tour director then went and go a local bushman paramedic who administered two COVID tests which came back negative ( see any Mexican resorts during the pandemic) She did not warn anyone on the trip that there risk for COVID was now extremely high and did not caution the group about taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe In fact the tour director lied and said COVID tests were negative and probably just a flu As expected one day later once arriving in a larger city the COVID PCR came back positive More people began getting sick with cough and other symptoms Yet still no word from the tour director We left the group since my wife is immunosuppressed and lost faith in Tauck keeping their guests safe Recommend 1 if you have US doctors in a group - use them in consultation with tauck docs based in the USA 2. If US doctors tell the tour director she is not following US medical standards then doctors should be on call from tauck to discuss 3. The level of quality tauck uses for medical personnel in third world countries is highly suspect We thought Tauck would protect us in any of our exotic travels. What we learned is Tauck is only protecting themselves read more