Europe from the bus window (Spain - the proud flower of the south at Accord tour)

We were given a gift - a tour from Accord, having read reviews on their website through a travel agency in Kyiv. The travel agency itself is rude!

As for Accord Tour, it was the first and last chord of this company in my life.

Reading the tour program, I was looking forward to 2 days at sea and a couple more hours on some days. Tour for 8 days. I will describe what I got as a result. I must say right away that there are no complaints about the hotels. Cities are wonderful! There is only 1 claim to the drivers - BOTH did not know the road and for the first time on the tour (although this is also an Accord jamb). The air conditioner is common - turn it off - it's stuffy, turn it on - it blows from all the cracks and you need to sleep in a sleeping bag. We got sick on the last days of the tour.

Day 1. We arrived in Lviv, boarded the bus and arrived at Terminal A (you need to earn money from tourists somehow). Departure did not occur at 8-30, but after 9-00. All day on the road (12 hours), with 15 minute toilet stops (about 40 people), even where the toilet is not working. Have lunch? What are you speaking about? We can't eat on the bus, the guide Victoria Nevskaya told us, but take food with you (we heard this phrase 5 times every day). Having crossed the border, by 21-00 we arrived in Budapest, where part of the group sailed on boats along the Danube, and the rest had an hour to walk, eat and everything in the world without explaining the route. We all honestly managed in an hour and waited half an hour for a group from the boat. Then we went to the hotel for check-in (2 hours). Impressions – Wow, we were an hour in Budapest and the day of the tour was over.

Departure from the hotel and transfer to Vienna (3 hours), we walk from 12-00 in the summer in the heat and a night crossing awaits us. The price includes an average sightseeing tour. Electives were not taken. We were taken to their cafe, where we were recommended to eat. Tolerably, but it would be better if they told about the food festival opposite the university and the theater, where it is cheaper and tastier. we again wait for the lost bus for 30 minutes. Start of the night crossing at 20-30, 16 hours long.

Day 3. By 13-30 we arrive in Nice. Someone goes out with things for a whole day of walking around the city (after 16 hours of travel), and the rest go to Monaco. At 17-00 a survey for an additional fee - a sweet woman of Balzac age went out for a walk and talk about life, because you READ about the city and sights at home! In an hour and a half I showed 2 houses and 1 fountain. All the churches were already closed and I had to believe that it was beautiful inside. Those who do not take electives have enough consolidated time: you will have time to take a walk, swim, eat, skimp. We arrive at 19-00 for the transfer to the hotel, but there is no bus, but there are those who are dissatisfied with the excursion to Monaco. The whole tour took 2.5 hours, of which 43 minutes of free time, 35 minutes. excursion, and the rest - the road during which the same Irina showed the way, and did not lead the tour. 9 hours in Nice without access to the bus.

Honestly, we are waiting for a transfer to Cannes for an HOUR, we arrive at midnight and have a shower (for 2 days we missed him) and sleep.

By the way, the time spent at the hotel is a maximum of 9 hours, including sleep, breakfast, shower and pack.

Departure from the hotel and transfer to Figueres, where the Dali Museum is located (4 hours). Is it possible for those who do not go to the museum to immediately go to the sea - no, it’s impossible, because there won’t be enough seats for all on the bus to the sea. What to do in Figueres if you don’t go to the Dali Museum? THERE IS NOTHING! We did not waste time and skimped in the supermarket, and then ate + souvenirs. Got it done in 2 hours. Transfer to Llored de Mar and check-in by 21-00. (and reading the tour program, I thought that I would spend the whole 4th day at sea). 2 hours in Figueres, all day on the road (about 12 hours)

Early breakfast at 7-30 and drive to Barcelona. We again took a survey, and then walked around the amazing city! The guide is good, if not distracted by the story of how to get there. Our groupmates really liked the excursion to Park Güell and Sagrada de Familia - the guide lives by his work. All day we are in Barcelona. If anything, then there is no access to the bus - everything is with you. Today, a couple of people from the group were late for the first time by 20 minutes. Return to the hotel by 21-30. A day in Barcelona, ​​who did not go, then the whole day at the sea in Lloret de Mar

Part of the group goes on a tour of Montserrat, and we go to the sea for the second time. Hooray! The room was handed over at 10-00, things are in the luggage room, and we are at the sea and check-out at 14-00. Next 2 full days without sleep in normal beds and shower, only bus, only Hardcore!!! The 19-hour journey to Venice has started. Stops of 15 min and 1 for 40 (dinner and change). And we thought, reading the program, that this is our WHOLE day at sea.

We arrive at 9-00 on a boat to Venice (40 minutes), leaving part of the group on Lido di Eloso (I don’t know what they did in the seaside village for 11 hours. Hooray, finally a normal guide who told and showed interestingly. We didn't take excursions.We can ride a gondola without a guide.Gondola rental - 80 euros for 1-6 people (13 per person for 6), cost - 23 euros per person at Accord for 6, so negotiate in advance. The boat leaves at 17-15 (for the first time we left the city on time). And then we had a night of rest at a hotel in Slovenia (9 hours from the moment we checked in to check out), but we were unlucky. Our bus got into an accident, we were cut off and we are waiting police 2.5 hours.It's good that the accident happened in front of McDonald's: food, water, toilet, sockets, Wi-Fi.As a result, instead of 23-00 we arrive at 2 am, check-in at 2-30, and breakfast at 7-30 and departure at 8-00 am 5! hours in the hotel for sleep and shower for us and the drivers.

Departure at 8-00 and all day we are on the road. Stop for a meal already in Ukraine at 21-30. After all, we managed to buy food in a supermarket in Slovenia at night (sarcasm). Instead of 24-00 we arrived at 3-30 in the morning at the train station in Lviv, since Terminal A was booked for a wedding. How long are we on the road? Just something 19 hours.

Features of the guide Victoria Nevskaya:

- I don't know where to go, because I only go on excursions with those who bought them.

- Is the bus late? Well, I'm waiting with you (3 days in a row)

- We are late on the route because of the tourists, (the subtext was read because there is nothing to eat and drink to buy at the gas station, you were brought here to the toilet. (The group was mega organized and 40 people managed to go to the toilet and smoke in 15-20 minutes, and buy food and drink

- You can’t eat in the astobus, as you will be fined

- Bring your own food/buy at the market in advance as there are no lunch stops

General impressions of the tour:

- out of 8 days of travel, we really walked around 4 cities and spent a couple of hours at sea. The rest of the time is a road with short stops for a couple of hours.

- The tour is tiring, so we drove 5500 km in a week and looked at Europe from the bus window

- A minimum of attention to those who did not take an elective. Walk on your own, but we can show cafes and shops where Accord tourists have “discounts”

- It is not possible to eat more than 1 meal a day

- Excursions are as fragmented as possible. Lloret de Mar - Barcelona + sightseeing + gothic quarter + fountains - 35 euros in a turbo, and for Accord 38 euros only transfer to Barcelona + sightseeing, gothic quarter - separately, fountains were not offered at all.

Comments (1) leave a comment

1 comment

Show other comments …