点评:We have just returned from the Balkans cultural tour. You can read a wide range of reviews of this from other customers. They are all true. So if it is going to bother you that you are taken to a jewellery manufacturer and a carpet showroom; if an occasional poor buffet is offered you; if you don't want to get up for an early start - don't go. But, there was no hard sell: you didn't have to buy anything. In five out of the six hotels the food was acceptable. (Gourmet eating is an exaggeration. But the hotels tend to be resort hotels out of season, with no local restaurants you could easily get to.) And you do get taken to some very interesting places.
Altogether the trip was amazingly good value. The sites are wonderful. The autumn scenery we drove through was beautiful. Our guide was charming and vivacious. The historical background provided was a bit light. So if you are a serious traveller, do your own reading. The coach was clean and comfortable. The whole operation was extremely well planned and managed.
The customer base is mostly retired people. Some of the sites require a bit of walking. So you need to be averagely fit. Packing your suitcase every day makes it a bit strenuous.
There was a slight hiccup with the flight outbound. It operates as a 'split-load' flight. So the aeroplane starts its day in Skopje taking all the returning passengers first to Manchester. There half of them get off, and are replaced by next week's travellers. The new complement then goes on to Gatwick, where again half get off (having completed their holiday) and a new group gets on for the flight to Skopje. This was slightly mismanaged by someone - not necessarily RSD or its airline, but it caused a delay outbound. It is a budget operation, but in my opinion it is professionally operated.
翻译:我们刚从巴尔干文化之旅回来。你可以从其他顾客那里读到各种各样的评论,它们都很真实。所以,如果你介意被带去珠宝制造商和地毯展厅;如果偶尔有人提供糟糕的自助餐;如果你不想早起——那就别去了。不过,这里没有强行推销:你什么都不用买。六家酒店中有五家的食物还算过得去。(说是美食有点夸张。但这些酒店往往是淡季的度假酒店,没有当地餐厅,你很容易就能找到。)而且你确实会被带去一些非常有趣的地方。
总的来说,这次旅行非常超值。沿途的景色美不胜收。我们驾车经过的秋日景色美不胜收。我们的导游魅力十足,充满活力。提供的历史背景介绍略显单薄。所以,如果你是一位认真的旅行者,可以自己去读读。长途汽车干净舒适。整个行程的规划和管理都非常到位。
乘客群体主要是退休人员。有些景点需要步行一段路,所以你需要身体条件一般。每天打包行李箱确实有点吃力。
出港航班出现了一点小问题。该航班采用“分流”运营。飞机从斯科普里出发,先将所有返程乘客送往曼彻斯特。在那里,一半乘客下机,由下周的乘客接替。新乘客随后前往盖特威克机场,在那里,一半乘客(已经结束假期)下机,另一组乘客登上飞往斯科普里的航班。这起事件是某些人管理不当造成的——不一定是RSD或其航空公司,但这导致了出港航班延误。虽然这是一次廉价航班,但在我看来,运营得相当专业。