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Rick Steves tour vs Odysseys Unlimited tour

After reading comments comparing Rick Steves to Road Scholar, I thought it would be nice to learn of comparisons of Rick Steves to Odysseys Unlimited. If you have toured with both companies, please share your experiences both pro and con. I have taken 9 Rick Steves tours and am taking my first Odysseys tour next year so I would like to know how they compare so I know what to expect.

We have done a couple of Odysseys -- all south America -- via my undergraduate university's alumni travel program. All excellent and all five star all the way. But have not done a Rick Steves so have no ability to compare. I am guessing the Odysseys's tours are a notch or two up the scale. We never handled our luggage and rarely checked into hotels. Just handed us a key. At the end of the tour we did tip the guide. But he also was extremely good. Not a lot of mingling with the local folks.

We've taken both. As I mentioned in another post, the downside to RS is that they go to Europe only. We've used OU for both in and out of Europe. We've found the land-only prices to be competitive. (The OU marketing collateral prices include economy air arranged by OU. We arrange our own air using miles and we arrive 2-3 days earlier to get over jet lag. We have heard so many horror stories about OU-arranged air, so if you do use them, arrange your own air.) The quality of the guides is comparable (both high). RS tours are (in my view) more physical - more opportunities for hikes etc. - and there is that opportunity mid-tour to do laundry (for a reasonable amount). OU seems to cater to a crowd that's willing to spend more and the demographics skew older. My gen-X daughter would go on RS tours and not feel out of place but does not go on OU tours (too old) even if we offer to pay her way. As my husband and I get older, we appreciate OU for not having us schlep our bags ourselves, and being able to bring 24-26 inchers instead of roll-aboards. At the end of the day, it's the itinerary that drives the choice of tour company (if we decide not to travel independently) and we are finding that RS choices are quite limited.

I am currently on my 3rd OU tour, and have taken 9 RS tours.

I agree with all of Amelia's comments, and will continue to use both depending on itinerary, and lean RS because they are more active and I enjoy the more generous free time.

We’ve done 1 OU and 8 RS tours. While we enjoyed our OU tour, we’re saving them for when we can’t handle our luggage anymore. I would agree with the other poster assessments. We did the OU Spain Paradores and Pousadas tour. I didn’t feel the rooms were that much better than we’ve had on our RS tours, but I don’t remember ever having to climb stairs with our luggage. What we didn’t care for was the fact that the OU hotels were not always centrally located. We stayed in Carmona and had day trips to Seville and Cordoba, which cut down our time in each place. Our included dinners were at the hotels .

I've taken three tours with each.

On the OU tours, most of the hotels were four star and centrally located . Most meals were in restaurants, drinks were included at included meals.

All the tour directors--what RS calls "guides"-- were licensed and native to the country or area they were in.

Group size on OU was smaller than RS.

I agree it's better to arrange your own flights.

Thanks for the comparisons between the two tour companies. I have been curious about OU for some time but leery about switching from traveling with Rick Steves. I have very much enjoyed RS and would travel with them in the future. One of the things I like is that his company policies are transparent and favorable in some ways. However, some positives about OU are tempting, namely higher class hotels (I've enjoyed many RS hotels but some were less than desirable to me) and more meals included. I am able to handle my own bags, but having them handled for me would be nice. I would think the ages of the tour members would be comparable. On my RS tours there were some younger people but on average most were older. The discussion on RS No Grumps policy is interesting. Even though we sign an agreement to adhere to no grumping that does not guarantee that someone won't. I guess just having that expectation spelled out in writing or perhaps the type of personalities RS attracts contributes to the more agreeable traveler maybe.

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming. All very helpful. As to the “no grumps” policy, I don’t think it is achieved through the written agreement all RS travelers sign. Instead, I think it is self imposed because people who can book their own air travel, get themselves to the first tour hotel and are willing to carry their own luggage and maybe even climb some stairs are by nature not complaining grumps. I hope these are the people I meet on my first Odyssey’s tour.

The Odysseys groups I was with got along great. On one tour we had a guy who complained because the tour director wouldn't change the itinetary just for him. Ages were probably 50+.

Odysseys customer service is also great. They go above and beyond to do things right. On one tour, a hotel, at the last minute, told OU they had overbooked and couldn't accomodate the group. Our itinerary was slightly changed. To make up for it, Odysseys added extra sightseeing and another included dinner even though it wasn't their fault. The group enjoyed the changes and were actually glad it happened.

My wife and I are about to book an Odyssey tour for fall 2024, to Macchu Picchu and the Galapagos--has anyone on this forum done that tour, and if so, how did you like it?

Second question: I see that people are recommending that we handle our own air; on the tour I mentioned, there are 5 flights:

to Lima Peru to Quito, Ecuador to Baltras, Galagos Islands to Quito from Quito back home

If I handle flights, does Odyssey handle the 3 internal flights, or would I have to arrange all of that? I'm hoping to speak to the rep tomorrow, so I suppose that's a question for them, unless someone already knows the answer.

I just took my first Odysseys tour. I liked it and would travel with them again. I did the Romania and Bulgaria tour. There were 16 of us and it was a very nice size. The other travelers were EXTREMELY well-traveled. They were a very hearty bunch - and there were numerous people in their 80s but you would never believe it unless they showed you their IDs.

Hotels were good, itinerary was fun, and the guides were good. We had two - one for Bulgaria, who was fantastic, and one for Romania who was solid and completely professional but a little less "fun".

To answer you question about flights - book your own. And even if you do, internal flights are covered and booked by Odysseys.

Numerous people who had Odysseys-booked flights had bad connections and missed flights. I don't let anyone book my flights - I always want the control of safe, logical connecting cities and times.

You need to call in to get land-only prices from Odysseys, which is kind of a pain, but workable.

Valerie, thanks for that info; I think that's what we'll do--book our own flights, and confirm with Odyssey that they'll be taking care of the internal flights (3 of them).

We've done RS tours, have another booked in Scotland next year; we like it, but want to see Macchu Picchu, and especially the Galapogos.

Thanks to the OP's post about Odyssey, we've booked yet another trip! Next year we're taking 3 trips with 3 different tour companies--13 days in Scotland, which will dovetail into a 15-day Viking cruise around the British Isles. Then in October, we've now booked the 16-day Odyssey tour that goes to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands. Really excited; the rep on the phone this morning confirmed that we can book our own inbound and outbound flights, and they'll take care of the internal flights that get us from Lima to Quito, then out to the Galapagos and back.

From looking on the Internet for reviews, it seems that the only negative about Odyssey has been their air department; for that reason, we booked the trip and will take care of our own flight arrangements.

I just took a trip with Odysseys-unlimited "Treasures of Peru". It was amazing and the tour guides very knowledgeable. Hotels were 1st class, itinerary amazing, never had to carry a bag. I really enjoyed the trip. We were on the go constantly and were exhausted when we got home. The only problem was with the airlines going to Peru. Our flight was canceled and I had to sit in airport for 11 hours. OU staff didn't help very much. Didn't get me earlier flight, hotel or food voucher when waiting. Then when I completed survey and told them of my concerns they refused to take any accountability and told me maybe I should find another travel company. My responses was "why ask people to compete a survey if they aren't interested in honest feedback." I would recommend traveling with them the trip was exceptional and very well organized. Peru is an amazing country with humble people, delicious food and amazing history. I agree with others in post, in future I will get my own flights going and coming home. Flights inside the country are covered and went well.

@drlorrie - First welcome to the forum! This statement " Then when I completed survey and told them of my concerns they refused to take any accountability and told me maybe I should find another travel company. " is just so silly on the part of OU! My word...I totally agree with why they would ask for an eval if they can't learn from errors. Do they have any FB pages that are monitored by OU staffers? That might also be a place to post. I'm on 2 private groups for Road Scholar and have made no bones about my issues with my last trip. However, my eval DID get their attention at the time although they continue to have the person in question "organizing" tours.

I"m surprised with OU's response.

I do know, from talking to fellow tour travelers, that the flights they sometimes include are not the best.

On my Japan trip, those that had included flights had to fly from Japan to South Korea then to the US and then to their home cities. Anyone capable of making a plane reservation should do so on their own.

Also on that trip, some of the participants didn't like the tour director. I thought she was fine. But apperently, the reviews were not great and everyone on the tour was offered a $100 voucher towards another tour.

OU's customer service used to be excellent but I have to wonder if the pandemic may have had an effect on them. I took their first Greek tour after the pandemic and it had issues. The response from OU was non-existant. Things may have changed.

On a personal note, I realized that multi-day tours are not for me. I prefer to have control over what I do and where I stay. YMMV.

We have done six OU tours (Peru, Tanzania, South Africa+, Alaska, Scandinavia and Costa Rica) and seven RS tours (Turkey, Eastern France, Adriatic, Scotland, Ireland, Sicily and Southern Italy). We liked both tour companies. Both are very customer service oriented. OU is definitely more upscale. On the occasions when tour participants encountered a snafu on either tour, the guides handled it very well. We arranged our own flights on four of the OU tours. We let them book our flights to Peru and Tanzania. If you book your own flights, you are responsible for getting yourself from the arrival airport to the first tour hotel although OU did transfer us from the Costa Rica airport and the Joburg, South Africa airport. For the Tanzania safari, I would recommend letting OU handle the flights if their policy is still that you need to get yourself through immigration and to the tour hotel. We arrived in the tiny airport in Arusha late at night. It was absolute chaos with people trying to get their visas, go through customs and immigration, etc. OU was there to handle things and get us through the crazy process. Plus it was a long ride from the airport to the tour hotel. I would not have felt comfortable in Arusha arranging our own transport from the airport in the middle of nowhere at night. We did not have any problems with our OU arranged flights. OU only books economy flights or business class flights. There is no premium economy option. You could have problems with your flights no matter whether you book them yourselves or OU books them. We have zero complaints about OU or RS. The OU tours are very well done and you stay in better hotels than on a RS tour. I find the tour members on the OU tours need a bit more hand holding than on RS tours. For the most part, the OU tour participants are congenial with a couple of exceptions. I hope this helps.

drlorrie, did you ask the airline directly for hotel and food voucher?

Jessica, my OU tour of New Zealand starts in 3 months. I am hoping for great guides and fun fellow travelers like I have experienced on 9 RS tours. Odysseys Unlimited recently revised its health protocols for 2024 tours. There is no vaccination requirement, no Covid testing requirement and no masking except for those exhibiting cold or flu symptoms who are asked to mask on the bus and sit at separate tables for group dinners. Anyone testing positive for Covid will be required to adhere to local governmental regulations, if any. No one will be removed from the OU tour or required to isolate unless required by government regulations. I am hopeful that RS will adopt similar protocols for 2024 as I am booked on an Italy tour in June. I emailed the RS tour department to point out the new OU protocols and was told that RS is reviewing its policies for 2024 and will have an update in December or January. I urge you and others to also contact RS and express your concerns.

Well, I'm happy your guide was proactive about masking on your South Italy tour. I just returned from a non-RS tour where there were sick people on the bus that our tour guide ignored, and, lo and behold, we got Covid. Silly me for not masking on my own. I will happily be on a RS tour where the guide is concerned about our welfare.

We just got back from an odyssey tour of northern Italy. Excellent guide and itinerary. A brief word of warning on the hotels. They looked great on paper, but somehow we were always assigned to the lowest room category. Some of the worst rooms in nice hotels we’ve ever stayed in. Hotels were full in September and even offering to pay to upgrade got us nowhere.

Jessica writes

one tour member tested positive on the morning of the first day of the tour. He had only been exposed to the rest of the group at the introductory dinner.

So this person sat in the intro meeting room for at least one hour, then shoulders-to-shoulders and across the table with fellow travellers at dinner for another hour or more. Sure sounds like close contact, doesn't it? If he was infectious as people can be for up to two days before they show symptoms it is possible he could have infected someone else, who in turn might not show symptoms for two or more days. Looks to me like you had a wonderful guide who understood the health issues and took appropriate steps to prevent the rest of the bus from getting sick in case someone else was infected.

Hey folks, let's get this thread back on topic. Experiences on an RS tour vs Odysseys Unlimited.

Covid policies are obviously one thing to compare, but they are what they are. We don't need yet another thread in this forum devolving into a covid debate as it tends to box out the intended discussion and lead to guideline violations. Further side commentary on this subject risks the removal of this thread.

We welcome more reports about what it's like on OU vs RSE.

Like many have suggested, we booked our own air travel rather than let OU select our flights. We also plan to arrive a few days early and stay a few days after the tour like we do on RS tours. I have always believed that the reason there are no grumps on RS tours is that people who can book their own travel, get to the tour hotel and carry their own luggage are unlikely to need hand holding or to complain. My first OU tour will test my theory.

We have not been on RS tours but have taken five UO tours. The do book economy airfare but we have been able to upgrade on our own. The UO guides are exceptional. The true test occurred on our trip to Israel. While visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, my wife fell and broke her arm. Bethlehem, being in Palestine, the 911 responders wanted to go to a Palestinian hospital. Our guide insisted she be taken to a Israeli hospital (much better health care system in Israel). While we were there for 1 1/2 days our guide or another OU representative was continually with us. This occurred at the end of our tour but we had to cancel our add on to Petra. UO made all the necessary airline changes and upgraded us to business class on the flight back.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Editoral Review of Odysseys Unlimited

Since 1989 Odysseys Unlimited have created custom-designed tours for more than 100 of America’s most prestigious non-profit organizations, including Smithsonian Journeys, as well as many well-known college alumni associations. They now have expanded to offer their tours to the general public as well.

What Makes Odysseys Unlimited Stand Out?

• Flexibility and free time
• Airfare included
• Culturally immersive
• Small groups (24 max)
• Premium level accommodation and transportation

Tours with Odysseys Unlimited are custom-designed specifically for small groups, with a balanced mix of sightseeing, traveling, cultural encounters, and free time. Guests enjoy a personal and authentic travel experience provided by knowledgeable guides. They focus heavily on ensuring a unique, and comfortable small group experience, with flexible itineraries.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With Odysseys Unlimited?

• History and culture lovers
• Active and able

Odysseys Unlimited is the type of tour company for travelers seeking a well organized small group experience - tour attendance is strictly limited to be between 12 to 24 guests. If you’re interested in visiting the top sites, and maybe venturing into the realm of a funky bed and breakfast or two, and enjoying local meals vetted by your guide, this company could be a good choice.

They present solid, easy itineraries, with an eye towards historic and cultural landmarks. Odysseys Unlimited might not be for you if venturing far off the beaten path is an important facet of your travel experience.

Travelers with Odysseys Unlimited are typically between the ages of 50 and 80 - and this age group is where they focus. Activities are generally not too physically demanding, accommodations are comfortable.  Most tours involve a lot of walking, with slight elevation changes.

Odyssey's does require that travelers be relatively physically fit and able. Wheelchair access is unfortunately not an option. 

Free time is readily available for those wanting to explore a bit on their own, going shopping or visiting more local areas.

This is adventure and thrills recalibrated for an older audience. You might not be exploring too far off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean boring and static. Odysseys is for those older travelers who want an African safari, for example, that doesn't require the stamina of a 30 year old, yet are maybe unwilling or unable to spring for a luxury safari. 

Odysseys fits comfortably in the middle. Don’t expect full private access everywhere you go, but you can expect a dedicated guide and a fun group of travelers to enjoy the experience with.

Under 50 and families are welcome as well (no children under 15), but the mix in your group will definitely skew older.

Top Destinations

Odysseys Unlimited tours travel around the world, making seemingly exotic far reaching locations accessible and reachable, both from a cultural standpoint as well as a logistical standpoint. Think small ship cruises in Patagonia, premium history tours in Egypt, and first class hotels in China.

Because their tour directors are often from the destinations, Odysseys can claim destination expertise across the board. The focus is on quality tours rather than quantity, so they can continue to provide travelers with this expertise from their specialized guides.

Tours with Odysseys Unlimited travel to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia & New Zealand, North America, Africa and the Middle East. The largest number of tours are offered in Asia and Europe.

Odysseys Unlimited Travel Style

The Odysseys Unlimited travel style is one of comfort and ease, but budget friendly. The sheets might not be silk, but you’ll have a comfortable bed and welcoming hosts.

Tours are fully escorted so if you feel like you want to venture beyond your comfort zone - perhaps a language barrier always got in the way, or safety concerns - Odysseys Unlimited is a great way to visit without having to worry. Your tour size will never exceed 24 people, allowing for many friendships to blossom among like minded travelers.

Their tours are around 10-20 days long; an ideal amount of time for getting to know your tour companions, visit tourist spots as well as enjoy more local and cultural activities.

Transportation is in large motorcoaches throughout the destination. During the trip you may experience other modes of transportation, such as ferries, trains, small planes, even motorbikes.

Your tour directors are professional and knowledgeable in the destination, able to provide interesting local and cultural context beyond the tourist sites.   

Why Choose a Tour With Odysseys Unlimited?

If you don’t think small group travel is for you, or you’re unsure about a certain destination whether for safety reasons, language barriers, or other factors - traveling with Odysseys Unlimited is a good place to start.

Their tours are specifically designed to be flexible - a good amount of free time is allotted for the more “independent minded,” yet if you’re more comfortable hanging out with the guide, that’s fine too. Traveling to the next destination is not just a bus ride; you’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and explore local villages and historical sights.

And if that wasn’t enough, a special perk when traveling with Odysseys Unlimited is the inclusion of international airfare in the trip price!

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About the company.

Small Groups: Our Only Focus

Small group travel is all that we do – just 12 to 24 guests on our own custom-designed tours. And it’s all we’ve ever done, from the day we opened our doors in 1998.

We design and operate our tours specifically for small groups, rather than adapt a conventional tour to take fewer guests. And while you’re sure to find tours with fewer guests, or lower prices, or labeled “Deluxe” (with the prices to match), you won’t find the combination of value, quality, superior accommodations and amenities, and guaranteed small groups that we offer.

We do this by creating and operating our own tours, and offering them to you without any middlemen. We work closely with our airline, hotel, and other travel partners to secure the lowest rates possible. Then we put those rates to good use by offering our tours at an excellent value – not necessarily the lowest price, but the best ratio of price to experiences, quality, and service.

We invite you to compare our tours with those of other travel companies and see for yourself. You’ll find that Odysseys Unlimited offers the best package of small group travel and premium quality – at an excellent value.

The Small Group Experience

The small size of our tour groups allows us to move about more flexibly and efficiently; enjoy more spontaneous encounters; and experience a degree of freedom and independence simply not available to travelers on conventional group tours of 40 or more.

Traveling on your own you’d see the major sights, but chances are you’d stick close to the traditional tourist routes. Our goal is to show you the major sights and take you behind the scenes: into private homes and traditional villages, to local schools and neighborhood restaurants. And you’ll travel in the company of experienced, knowledgeable tour directors and guides who share their countries – and their lives – with you, bringing destinations alive in a truly personal and meaningful way.

Not only do these opportunities enhance your travels, but someone else makes the arrangements and manages all the details – leaving you free to savor the small group experience.

Extensive Included Sightseeing

Our small group tours include a great deal of thoughtful and engaging sightseeing and activities, from camel-back rides, rainforest walks, and scenic excursions to guided museum tours, home visits, cultural performances, and wine tastings. In major cities there’s usually free time to explore on your own after a guided city tour. 

Respect for Your Freedom and Individuality

If you’ve avoided taking group tours, preferring to travel on your own, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by our level of service, independence, and value. And if you’re a veteran of traditional group tours, we’re confident you’ll be impressed by the many advantages of small group travel, as well as by the high quality and outstanding value you’ll enjoy with Odysseys Unlimited.

We offer the best of both worlds: the value, ease, and comprehensive itinerary of a group tour, and the freedom, quality, and service that sophisticated travelers demand, and deserve. Should you choose to sit out an included tour or two and go off on your own, you’re entirely welcome to do so. And we think you’ll appreciate having the occasional lunch or dinner on your own, away from the group.

Our Tour Directors Make the Difference

We believe personal attention is key to an outstanding travel experience, so we’ve ensured that it’s a hallmark of Odysseys Unlimited. It starts with our travel counselors when you reserve your trip, then continues on the road with your tour director. Our professional tour directors rank among the best in the business; their love of travel is surpassed only by their desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. And traveling in a small group means your tour director will have more time to spend with you and to share the personal insights that can add so much to your experience. 

A Variety of Accommodations

We know that hotels aren’t the main reason for traveling. But good accommodations can enhance your overall tour experience, and great accommodations can contribute to a great trip. So we select hotels that we believe are best for a particular trip and experience – those that offer the best combination of quality, value, and atmosphere for each destination. Our hotels in major cities are usually centrally located so guests can get around easier; our unique lodgings are often out of the way, offering our tour members a local ambiance larger groups never experience.

Our lodging options are divided into three segments:

Excellent Hotels

These are the Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class accommodations we use in major cities, including well-known chain hotels and independently owned properties. You can expect excellent service and amenities in these well-located properties.

Unique Lodgings Perhaps our most interesting lodgings, these properties cater to small groups and independent travelers, and generally are not available to conventional groups of 40 or more. From the historic  paradores  of Spain, to a French farmhouse, to a Japanese ryokan or a Tuscan villa, these accommodations often are destinations in themselves.

Small Ships We leave the mass-market big ship cruise experience to others, and instead focus on the smaller, more intimate ships that ply distinctive waterways. As you cruise along the Yangtze River, the Turquoise Coast, or through the Patagonian ice fields, among others, your small ship is as much a part of the journey as the places you visit. These vessels let you see the life of a country up close, and allow you to disembark frequently to explore. And while they may vary from simple and comfortable to truly deluxe, these ships generally feature a casual onboard atmosphere, single-seating dining, and amenities such as lounges, boutiques, and plenty of open deck space.

Most Gratuities Included

Experienced travelers know that tipping is an expected element of worldwide travel; but at times it can become a nuisance or inconvenience. For that reason, we’ve eliminated the worry by including in your tour price all gratuities for local guides and drivers, hotel and airport porters, and dining room servers. Gratuities for your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel (if your tour includes a cruise) are not included and should be extended on a voluntary basis, in recognition of truly excellent service.

What Your Tour Price Includes

We design our tours to be highly inclusive, while still making it possible for you to exercise some personal preferences. So we include all the essentials – airfare, accommodations, most meals, extensive sightseeing – but leave some room for you to explore on your own or to enjoy a few meals away from the group.

In general, every Odysseys Unlimited trip includes:

• Travel in a small group of just 12 to 24 guests – guaranteed
• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; plus all flights within your tour
• Accommodations
• Many meals: all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners – and you’ll also have the opportunity to dine on your own, without the group
• All advertised sightseeing (plus all entrance fees and admissions)
• Singular activities and more intimate cultural encounters possible only with a small group
• The services of an experienced, professional Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• $100 frequent traveler credit toward your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours; $300 after 10 tours)

Fully Refundable Deposits

A deposit of just $375 confirms your reservation, which you can make with a personal check or major credit card: American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and VISA are all accepted. Best of all, your deposit is fully refundable up to 95 or 125 days before departure (depending on the tour). It’s easy to reserve your tour with us; simply call toll-free, 1-888-370-6765, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Six-Time Honoree Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Tour Operators” Award

We are honored that Odysseys Unlimited has been named six times as one of the “World’s Best Tour Operators” by readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s prestigious annual poll. Based on surveys completed by thousands of readers and travelers, the “World’s Best” list judges tour operators on their staff and guides, itineraries, activities, destinations, accommodations, food, and value.

Odysseys Unlimited Trips & Specials

Israel: Timeless Wonders

Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania

Mystical India

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Across Spain and Portugal

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India: Splendors of the South

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• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
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• Ranked # 2 Best Group Tour Company 10Best Readers' Choice poll

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Of course, you can choose to book your travel online by yourself through your private member website. But Members always have full access to our team of Travel Concierge Specialists to assist you with whatever type of travel assistance you may require. Why waste hours searching for the best possible pricing on your itinerary? Let our Travel Concierge team do all the work for you and work as your Concierge and Portfolio Manager.

Getaways Programs

Cruise Getaways, Condo Getaways, Fantasy Getaways, Staycation Getaways

Our Cruise Getaways, Condo Getaways, Fantasy Getaways, and Staycation Getaways Programs are date & time and location-specific getaways. Specially negotiated rates curated by our travel concierge team that offer unparalleled value and savings for our Members.

Spartan Odyssey Membership:

The primary value proposition behind your Membership is threefold:

• Connection to wholesale travel opportunities, when available
• Access to a full-service travel agency with planning, researching, and booking expertise
• Unbeatable price guarantees 

Your Membership’s monetary value is derived by comparing alternative retail prices versus the wholesale rates offered through your club, and rates/savings will vary from item to item. As such, price declarations in print (or presentation) should be considered prefaced by terms like ‘typically’, ‘from’, ‘up to’, ‘average of’, etc., as they may apply. Unless otherwise noted, discount percentages should be viewed as discounts off standard, retail, or brochure prices. 

Your Membership should be viewed through the prism of a long-term savings experience, and, while possible, members should only expect to realize a partial return on their investment in just one or two years. Taking advantage of your resort condo week rental benefits each year represents your best opportunity for considerable cash savings, and doing so will provide your most immediate return on investment. 

Your Spartan Odyssey experience begins on the date of purchase, and the member’s sole responsibility is using the membership benefits at that point. Your travel concierge team is now standing by to assist you with future travel needs.

To get your best availability and search results for particular dates and types of travel, we always recommend that you make your reservation request as far in advance as possible. For resort condo reservation requests (our most popular benefit), we recommend submitting your submission 6-12 months before your desired travel date(s).

The travel market is very fluid; prices are demand driven and can change by the minute. As such, specific trips or travel components that may have been highlighted during a presentation are examples of what can be available for members based on historical performance and should not be taken as guarantees for any future availability at a particular price.

Spartan Odyssey has a fiduciary responsibility to all members it serves and reserves the sole right to modify, amend, delete, or add benefits or operational procedures as it deems appropriate and for the future use of all its Members.

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Spartan Odyssey & VOA: A Partnership Built on Excellence!

Google Business is abuzz with the latest collaboration between Spartan Odyssey and Vacation Ownership Advisor (VOA). Both giants in their respective sectors, when they come together, members of Spartan reap the benefits in unparalleled ways.

Why is the Spartan Odyssey – VOA Partnership a Game Changer?

1. Rich Expertise & Experience: Spartan Odyssey brings its profound understanding of unique vacation experiences crafted for those who seek the extraordinary. On the other hand, VOA, with its deep-rooted connections in the vacation ownership industry, offers insights and access like no other. Members get a blend of luxurious experiences with the best possible advice and support when combined.

2. Unmatched Benefits: Spartan members now enjoy expanded vacation ownership opportunities. With VOA’s guidance, they can seamlessly navigate the vast and often complex world of vacation ownership, ensuring they get the most value out of their investments.

3. Personalized Services: At the heart of this partnership lies the commitment to serve the members. Whether through Spartan Odyssey’s curated adventures or VOA’s tailored vacation ownership plans, members  are guaranteed a service that understands their unique needs and exceeds their expectations. 

4. Sustained Support: The journey doesn’t end once a member has selected their membership license. VOA provides continued support, ensuring Spartan members have a go-to advisor for all their ownership needs, be it trades, bookings, or simply understanding the benefits better.

In conclusion, this partnership amplifies what Spartan Odyssey and VOA stand for – providing unparalleled vacation experiences with expert guidance at every step. Members of Spartan, gear up! Your vacation journey is about to get even more exciting and rewarding. Cheers to new adventures and memorable experiences!

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Odysseys Unlimited   Reviews

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Reviews 3.3.

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Read other review sites before you book…

Read other review sites before you book with this company … Just go to Better Business bureau website. You can google BBB - odysseys unlimited

Date of experience : November 06, 2023

This was our second tour with Odysseys

This was our second tour with Odysseys - Egypt ( the first being Peru and Machu Picchu). Both excellent. Well organized with knowledgeable tour directors. Any questions we had were answered promptly and effectively. Happy to recommend and use again.

Date of experience : March 15, 2023

Reply from Odysseys Unlimited

We greatly appreciate your recommendation - thank you. We look forward to welcoming you on tour again.

Excellent travel experiences

We have traveled with Odysseys Unlimited several times, most recently Costa Rica Dec 2022 and Croatia May 2023. Highly reccomended.

Date of experience : May 20, 2023

Thank you for the vote of confidence. We appreciate your patronage and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again.

My tour was delayed almost for a month

My tour was delayed almost for a month. First and last tour with Odysseys. Delay is only problem. But still a big one

Date of experience : July 12, 2023

Hello, If you could please provide more information, we'd be happy to look into this for you. At this time, there is no record of you having traveled with Odysseys Unlimited. Thank you.

We had an excellent tour with them

We had an excellent tour with them to Türkiye. Great service, great tour guide, good price.

Date of experience : May 21, 2023

We're delighted that you enjoyed your tour. Thank you for your review.

Worst company I ever used

I am 77 years old and have been travelling for over 50 years and taken over 100 trips. I have made 3 complaints and 2 were about Odyssey. I took their Africa Wildlife tour in Nov. 2022. There were hundreds of bugs in our tent and I took pics and sent them to Odyssey. That was the 1st complaint. They gave me a credit of $150 and because I loved the tour itself and because they changed the bug lodge, I took it again in Nov. 2023. This was the 2nd complaint. 1st trip 14 hour thru NY then non stop to Africa, great. 2nd trip 36 hours in airports and on planes. They sent me, 77 years old on a 12.5 flight to Doha, with a 10 HOUR LAYOVER, then 8.5 more to Africa. I tried to change this flight but they refused and told me, rudely, that I could get my own flights if I didn't like it. I literally could barely walk when I got off the plane and had to be lifted into the van to the hotel and could not even go on the tour the next day. The first trip the guide was great. The second trip - NO. He encouraged bullying among the women, mostly against me since I do not engage in that behavior. The tour was 10 people, mostly elderly women. This 2nd guide just sat there and let people bully others. Disgusting man. Then he tried to leave the tour early and told us he would leave us in a hotel day room and someone would pick us up and take us to the airport. I found this out because I asked why I would get a day room at the end of the tour for 2 hours in Zambia but no day room for a 10 hour layover in Doha. He said the Zambia airport was easy to get around - this was not true. Others complained so he decided he better stay but he was going to abandon elderly travelers in a strange airport in a foreign country. One of the women had already fallen down a moving escalator and had to call paramedics but in spite of that, he was going to leave us. I cannot walk thru airports and have to have a wheelchair because I have plates and screws holding my foot together. This guy left me to fend for myself while he helped everyone else check in. On the 1st tour in 2022 I gave the tour guide $150 tip. I gave the 2nd guy nothing. And I know that the 6 old ladies only gave him a $25 tip each. Karma. hahaha abandon us in Excuses excuses excuses. You would think they had sense enough not to send a 77 year old woman on a 36 hour trip and not provide a day room for the 10 HOUR LAYOVER. When I called they rudely told me I could buy my own ticket if I didn't like it. And the director only stayed with the tour because everyone complained that he could not abandon us, mostly older women, in an undeveloped country where very few spoke English. And if the guide was so great, why did they only give him a $25 tip when you recommend $10-15 a day. AND, even if you did send the flights in August, I had already paid the full price of the trip and you would not refund my money. Again, WORST COMPANY EVER.

Date of experience : November 02, 2023

We are glad to hear that you enjoyed our Africa’s Wildlife tour when you first took it back in 2022, though regret that you had a difficult experience during your most recent trip. We would again like to extend our sincere apologies for any dissatisfaction caused by the included flight arrangements. As we discussed with you, we work with tour operator tickets that allow us to provide excellent value to our guests. However, these contracts do come with restrictions regarding the flights that we are able to book. We always do our best to obtain the most direct routing with sufficient connection times within the limitations of these contracts; the availability of certain routings ultimately varies between airlines. Flight arrangements are sent to guests approximately two and a half months prior to departure. These arrangements are, however, preliminary. If guests are unhappy with their flight schedule, we can explore other options. That said, we confirmed that your preliminary airline was emailed to you in August, but we did not hear from you until a month and a half later; by that time, we were no longer able to make changes within our airline contracts. Additionally, we do offer a “land only” option for our tours, knowing that guests may prefer to make their own air arrangements. We do highly recommend this option for guests who wish to have any aspect of the flights guaranteed or have flight itineraries released in advance of our schedule with the airlines. In regard to your comments regarding your tour director, please be assured that, in the past, his performance has been superior; otherwise, we would not have entrusted your group to him. That said, one of our senior staff has addressed your concerns with him to ensure that guests receive the highest level of care throughout the duration of their tour. I would be remiss if I did not note though, that your tour director did remain with the group for the scheduled tour; it is customary to part ways at the Lusaka airport before the return flight home. Individual flight arrangements vary, and the tour director remained, as planned, to bid all guests farewell. However, certainly you should always feel cared for and have everything you need prior to departure. Thank you for all of your feedback. We regret that you did not have a more positive experience.

Odyssey Travel

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6011 Fountainwood St

San Antonio, TX 78233

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After my original review on Yelp in 03/17/2016, I received several messages from a person who at first only identified himself as "Preston" who insisted I tell him the names of the bride and groom. I of course did not want the bride and groom hounded so I did not provide that information to Preston. It's not the bride and grooms fault that their gift was deleted. It was at that point that I made the conscious decision to end communications with Preston. Now it's been over 2 years since my original post and "Preston" is still commenting on the post.

Apr 5, 2016

Since the reviewer lives in California and we show no activity for any of our brides from any persons outside of Texas, we believe that this review is for a different Odyssey Travel than the Odyssey Travel located in San Antonio, TX. Odyssey Travel is a family owned travel agency in San Antonio, TX. On our web site, we offer a free service to our brides that book with us the opportunity to use a bridal registry operated and maintained by HoneymoonWishes.com co-branded with our agency name. These types of bridal registries operate in one of two ways - either charging a service fee to the purchaser of a wedding gift or donation or charging a service fee to the bride. HoneyWishes.com charges a service fee to cover their cost and operations to the purchaser. This is explained by HoneymoonWishes.com in their terms and conditions on the website. I reached out by private communication with the reviewer trying to find out who the bride and groom was because we were never notified by any of our brides that we sold honeymoon packages that they were using the HoneymoonWishes.com website for their bridal registry. The response that I received was that "Whom am I and why am I responding. I explained that my wife and i own Odyssey Travel and were trying to determine what happen. I did not receive any further response. Since it was nothing that we as a travel agency did that impacted on any part of the bride and grooms wedding or honeymoon nor do we know even it was one of our clients, I feel the review is completely in error and does not reflect the quality service that we provide our clients. We are removing HoneynioonWishes from our website as a free service for any of our future brides and grooms to avoid any future problems such as what Tara t experienced. I believe that her review and feelings about HoneyWishes.com would be better directed to that company instead of Odyssey Travel.

Several days before I was to attend a wedding I purchased 2 gift certificates as wedding gifts from this website. Unknown to me, they charged me an extra large 'service and handling fee' for those items so I sent an email questioning their extra high fee (I thought they charged me double). They responded with a canned answer about credit card fees and said that IF I wanted my gift to the bride and groom refunded/returned to let them know. I didn't bother responding to them because their email was phrased in such a way that ONLY if I responded would they take action to return/refund the gift I purchased. Of course I didn't want the wedding gift returned so I figured this issue was done and closed. Four days AFTER the wedding I got an EMAIL (!) telling me that Odyssey Travel has returned/refunded my gift to me (along with their extra large service charge). The bride and groom never got the gift I purchased for them, all because I questioned Odyssey Travel's extra high fees. What the heck?!? Buyer beware, their 'service and handling fees' may be hidden somewhere deep down in their website. I wouldn't know for sure though, I was never able to find their posted fees.

I purchased 2 - gift certificates from this website. Unknown to me, they charged me an extra large 'service and handling fee' for those items so I sent an email questioning their extra high fee (I thought they charged me double). They responded with a canned answer about credit card fees and asked if I wanted my gift to the bride and groom refunded/returned. I didn't bother responding to them because their email was phrased in such a way that only if I responded would they take action to return/refund the gift I purchased. Of course I didn't want the wedding gift returned so I figured this issue was done and closed. Four days AFTER the wedding I got an EMAIL (!) telling me that Odyssey Travel has returned/refunded my gift to me (along with their extra large service charge). The bride and groom never got the gift I purchased for them, all because I questioned Odyssey Travel's extra high fees. What the heck?!? Buyer beware, their 'service and handling fees' may be hidden somewhere deep down in their website. I wouldn't know for sure though, I was never able to find their posted fees.

This has been a horrible experience. I booked a vacation to Vegas with a large group of people. When I received my flight itinerary my name was misspelled. I called and spoke with Lupe. She seemed annoyed that I called and said "that's the name they gave me" well that is not my name and I cant get on the plane. So she said she would "see if she could change it" ??!! Really? I paid $1500 for this vacation and you will see if you can change it? So she said she would call me back if there was an issue. I waited til the next day and logged into southwest airlines to find my name was still misspelled. I called back and Lupe was out of the office. I left a message with the nice lady who answered the phone who said Lupe would have to change it herself but was out of the office. Lupe called back while I was at work and left a very nasty voicemail saying "I told you I would call you if there was a problem and since I didn't call you, you should know it was changed but they will not issue a new itinerary" I checked again...in a few days - still the same. I called the person in our group who had made the reservation and she tried to work with Lupe who once again said she changed the name. 12 hours from my flight time I finally called southwest directly who changed the name in about 5 minutes. I would never recommend Odyssey travel. Obviously they are incompetent.

Feb 10, 2015

This was a group booking where the group leader provided all of the names of the persons traveling to one of our outside agents. When our office first hear that the client was unhappy, we checked with our agent who told us that she had contacted Southwest Vacations which was the tour operator and the name on the record was corrected and Southwest Airlines was notified to the corrected name. After we were contacted a second time, we verified the same information with Southwest Vacations. Southwest Vacations stated that new documents with the correct name were not needed since it was in both Southwest Vacations and Southwest Airlines reservations systems. This was explained to the client as standard operatiing procedure by the tour operators in the travel industry.

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Russian Pub

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Moscow is my home town even though I am not Russian. Was in Moscow for a very short business trip. I missed a lot good Russian soup and good Russian simple food... Found it there. Borsch freshly cooked, pilmeni hand made. Vodka not expensive. Excellent... location. Young and professional staff. Recommend! More

Thanks for the great rating.

We visited pub with my friend and it was a great experience. Very friendly manager and personal staff. They help us with order and we wasn’t disappointed. Food is very delicious and professional made . You can find range selection of beer and local wine... . By the way , local wine is really good . Very recommended More

Dear Vusala331, Thank you for the review. We highly appreciate feedbacks from our guests and are especially happy to hear such pleasant words from you. We wish you all the best and will be glad to see you again at the Russian Pub!

Pretty delicious Borsch soup, friendly and English speaking staff and reasonable prices! Russian Pub is an awesome place to try traditional food. The place is comfortable, centrally located and easy to find.

We went here for dinner on our last night in Moscow. Our server was nothing short of spectacular. Welcoming, friendly, and patient with our language gap. The food was terrific, the drinks were spot on, and the hospitality and ambiance was perfect. If we ate... here during our first night in Moscow, we probably would not have eaten anywhere else during the remainder of our stay. I highly recommend the Russian Pub as an excellent causal dining option in Moscow! More

The food was tasty and the pub style variations of traditional Russian food were fun. The hair that I found in my beef tartare did not add to the taste. They made a new one, but still charged me for it... The plate of pickle... vegetables is recommended. The local IPA on tap was also good. They need to work on service. More

Had a number of appetizers and mains.... they were all excellent. The mains consisted of pork knuckle (huge), Stroganoff Pie and Chicken Kiev. Were to full to try desserts! That is for tomorrow!!

We had a great time at the pub, that felt authentic and welcoming! The food (all of it from starters to dessert) was simply delicious, well presented and satisfying. Quantities are not excessive, but fine. We ordered a beef tartar, one of the best I... ever had, as a starter and 4 different main courses all delicious. I particularly liked the beef pie, butwould also suggest the cheeks with mashed celery and the desserts (anna pavlova is amazing). Would totally recommend!! More

Very good variety of food and beverages, with English menu. Prices are very reasonable too. The interior and ambience was nice too.

There was an excellent variety of Russian food and options for those who want to stick to something safer. There are bilingual Russian-English menus to help you order. Staff were friendly, with much thought being put into the decor of the restaurant. One of our... favourites during our time in Moscow! More

We loved our visit to this place. The staff were so friendly and hospitable, they couldn’t have done more for us. I am a Celiac so needed my meal to be Gluten Free, the staff were brilliant at making sure this was catered for. The... food was excellent, too. Couldn’t recommend this place more. More

We went to Russian Pub because it was close to our hotel and we read good reviews on tripadvisor. Its a very cool bar, with great lights and interiors. We ordered a russian stout beer, on the recommendations of the steward. Shifted to cider in... the next round as we didnt like it that much, different taste buds I guess! For the same reason, we found the Herring appetizer that we ordered just ok, but the dumplings were great! Our steward was very polite and spoke good english! Five stars for her! Overall, a great pub to hangout and to catch the local vibe! More

Great place to eat. The menu is sorta pub food an interesting Russian twist. The wild mushrooms were very good. I loved the three meat dumplings. The Anna Pavlova was superb. Great staff who talked with me and it a very enjoyable meal.

Easy to find and nice rustic decor with a modern touch. Great beers on tab. Menu is limited but I think there is something for everybody’s taste. Portions are large. I enjoyed a green salad with salmon and the stroganoff pie. Both dishes were very... good. Staff is super friendly. Very reasonable prices but beware this is cash only. More

We visited this place with small group of friends for a late lunch. They had English menus so by pointing at things we were able to order quite easily. Beers were good and so was the food. Good value for money, bit a way from... the expensive low quality touristic places. Would recommend even to my mum :) More

Thank you very much, we hope to see you and your friends again.

Very nice atmosphere, very good food and cocktails, super service. Central location. Strongly recommended.

Thanks for the recommendation, we are glad to see you again!

RUSSIAN PUB, Moscow - Boulevard Ring - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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