Page 36 - Explore Magazine Summer 2018

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EXPLORING EASTERN AND

NORTHERN EUROPE

WITH TOPDECK

Veteran coach tour operator Topdeck offers 330 different tours in 65 countries.
Hayley Miles of helloworld Hobsonville took a 20-day Eastern Explore tour from Croatia to
Amsterdam and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

In May of 2018, I took a three-month leave of From Dubrovnik our stops included canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam. Out
absence from work to travel through Europe Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia, Belgrade of all the included activities, the visit to
and what an unforgettable experience and in Serbia, Budapest in Hungary, Bratislava Auschwitz-Birkenau was the one that will
great learning opportunity it was. During in Slovakia, Vienna in Austria, Krakow in always stand out for me, and although it was
the three months I travelled through Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, sombre it was one of the most eye-opening
Britain and Ireland and Turkey and Eastern Berlin, Dresden and Hamburg in Germany, and memorable experiences of the tour.
Europe with Topdeck, through Spain with Copenhagen in Denmark and Amsterdam in
Contiki, through the Greek Islands with Med the Netherlands. Each stop varied from one I also had the chance to take part in the
Experience and through the Croatian Islands to three nights, with two nights being the optional activities that Topdeck provides
with Sail Croatia. average and the most beneficial as it gave at an additional cost. These included a sea
you a whole day to explore each city. kayaking tour or Game of Thrones tour in
A big highlight of my travels was my 20-day Dubrovnik, a dinner cruise on the Danube
Eastern Explore tour with Topdeck where I Every stop included interesting and in Budapest, an evening at the orchestra in
jumped on board in Dubrovnik and joined insightful tours and attractions including Vienna, a nightlife tour in Krakow, a Third
a 40-odd group of solo travellers, couples walking tours in Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Reich walking tour in Berlin and a bike tour
and friends who had already been together Bratislava, Krakow, Prague, Dresden and in Amsterdam. Each optional activity offered
for 29 days. Despite this, they were all very Amsterdam; a visit to the Srebrenica value for money and insights into each city
welcoming and eager to make friends with Genocide Memorial and the former and I highly recommend that travellers
the newcomers, even going as far as to pull a Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp; consider doing these.
light-hearted prank on us on our first bus day sightseeing tours of Budapest, Vienna,
to make us feel included. Belgrade, Berlin and Copenhagen, and a

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SUMMER EDITION