10 Day Europe trip

[ctm1968]

I am now shopping for year end europe trip

Anyone try 5 stars Tours before? Any feedback??
I am looking at there 10D Romantic Europe (cover Switzerland, France, Germany-passby only) at an unbelivable price of $1300 + (tax) $490 per pax!!

Note : Fly by China Eastern Airline transit Shanghai, It also come with free 2 nite in Shanghai (with hotel) some more!!!

I have the following (wonder what is the best to bring)

1. Tamron 18-270mm
2. Nikkor 35mm 1.8
3. Nikkor 18-55mm
3. Tripod

Any suggestion??

 

[htw998]

That is good bargain but how did you manage to get it? Did you join the local tour or you enroll with Chinese tour in Shanghai?

 

[s3ntient]

Woah. This deal worth dying for. The two addition free nights in Shanghai is awesome.

I think you should bring your Tamron 18-270mm. I call it the "all-in-one-lens". The last thing you want when you're on a holiday is to be lugging heavy gear around. More hassle = less enjoyment.

18-270mm will surely satisfy most of your travel needs and requirements. Remember to post pictures up.

 

[Shuin]

I think bringing the Tamron 18-270mm would be a good choice, I've been to Switzerland and Paris last year during Christmas period, the weather there was cold, so hence have to wear glove, for my case when i'm wearing the glove i find it very difficult to change lens or even operate on the camera. because of this i will always remove my glove to do so making my fingers freezing cold haha!

 

[setsunaze]

hey, this deal is really very good, it is 10D7N or 10D8N?

but do take note of hidden costs such as so called 'optional' tours that can add up loads
also, the quality of the hotels and food might leave much to be desired, unfortunately many agencies only tell you 3-star equivalent and there is no way to find out what the food is like until you are there

anyway, back to the photography question. íf i were you, i will bring the all in one 18-270 tamron as well as the 35mm f1.8 for night shooting. actually, i'm also going europe in december and for myself, i am going to bring my kit lens too, KIASU! :bsmilie:

 

[ctm1968]

That is good bargain but how did you manage to get it? Did you join the local tour or you enroll with Chinese tour in Shanghai?

Too good to be true!! make me worry..... got it from local agent = 5 Stars Travel

Woah. This deal worth dying for. The two addition free nights in Shanghai is awesome.

I think you should bring your Tamron 18-270mm. I call it the "all-in-one-lens". The last thing you want when you're on a holiday is to be lugging heavy gear around. More hassle = less enjoyment.

18-270mm will surely satisfy most of your travel needs and requirements. Remember to post pictures up.

I think bringing the Tamron 18-270mm would be a good choice, I've been to Switzerland and Paris last year during Christmas period, the weather there was cold, so hence have to wear glove, for my case when i'm wearing the glove i find it very difficult to change lens or even operate on the camera. because of this i will always remove my glove to do so making my fingers freezing cold haha!

18-270 is a must bring. Just thinking should I bring my 35mm 1.8 for night shoot... still thinking should bring tripod or not....:dunno:

hey, this deal is really very good, it is 10D7N or 10D8N?

but do take note of hidden costs such as so called 'optional' tours that can add up loads
also, the quality of the hotels and food might leave much to be desired, unfortunately many agencies only tell you 3-star equivalent and there is no way to find out what the food is like until you are there

anyway, back to the photography question. íf i were you, i will bring the all in one 18-270 tamron as well as the 35mm f1.8 for night shooting. actually, i'm also going europe in december and for myself, i am going to bring my kit lens too, KIASU! :bsmilie:

Is 10D8N, the agent already list down all the optional tours and the estimate cost of each, so I go in with open eyes....ya only worry about the hotel n food lor :sweat:

which part of europe are u going? with package tour or free n easy?

 

[setsunaze]

i'm going on a tour too, too lazy to plan free-and-easy :bsmilie:
going round switzerland, germany, france, amsterdam, luxembourg, belgium
going with dynasty travel 12D9N, almost 3k per pax including taxes, yours is definitely better deal

i guess the good thing about tour is that you can bring all your barang barang with you (including tripod) and not worry about lugging it abt everywhere

 

[ctm1968]

i'm going on a tour too, too lazy to plan free-and-easy :bsmilie:
going round switzerland, germany, france, amsterdam, luxembourg, belgium
going with dynasty travel 12D9N, almost 3k per pax including taxes, yours is definitely better deal

i guess the good thing about tour is that you can bring all your barang barang with you (including tripod) and not worry about lugging it abt everywhere

what airline u going by?

 

[Jeremy1]

I am now shopping for year end europe trip

Anyone try 5 stars Tours before? Any feedback??

I just joined their Taiwan 4D3N Free & Easy with 1 day free tour. No issue.
I am going to Turkey end of this month joining also 5 stars. I hope my G10 can help me to capture those beautiful picture.

But your price is cheap. If got this price, I will also go Europe but the price of food over there is expensive for us. To them, it's normal as their pay is high.

Just be prepared.

 

[setsunaze]

what airline u going by?

flying by SIA because of the flight times, boh pian, so that can maximize my leave

 

[wildsoyabean]

i'm going on a tour too, too lazy to plan free-and-easy :bsmilie:
going round switzerland, germany, france, amsterdam, luxembourg, belgium
going with dynasty travel 12D9N, almost 3k per pax including taxes, yours is definitely better deal

i guess the good thing about tour is that you can bring all your barang barang with you (including tripod) and not worry about lugging it abt everywhere

agree! lugging is painful

anyway in my trip i brought on 18-270 tammy + 50mm lens +12-24 wide + tripod (ha quite a lot hor)...
but i was travelling alone so still okie. visited europe for 21 days for less than 3k. of course my meals and sleep places are budget budget. bread cost $5euros in venice = $10 sgd. kns:thumbsd:

 

[aaron80]

I was at 5 Stars Travel 3 weeks ago and the salesguy recommend me to take up the 10D Romantic Europe too, departure is 24 Nov if I remember correctly. I was quite tempted by the low price and but then the salesguy told me there are 80+ passengers confirm going liao. When I hear 80+ ppl, I sianz liao coz I dun like such a big group. End up I signed up for their 10 days Turkey trip which is $2.1k and departing end of Oct.

Anyway I suggest u to bring just 2 lenses since you are going with a tour and a very large group I might add so you definitely wun have time to set up tripod etc. Plus this kind of places most probably u will take more scenery so dun really need super zoom.

1. Nikkor 35mm 1.8
2. Nikkor 18-55mm

I am now shopping for year end europe trip

Anyone try 5 stars Tours before? Any feedback??
I am looking at there 10D Romantic Europe (cover Switzerland, France, Germany-passby only) at an unbelivable price of $1300 + (tax) $490 per pax!!

Note : Fly by China Eastern Airline transit Shanghai, It also come with free 2 nite in Shanghai (with hotel) some more!!!

I have the following (wonder what is the best to bring)

1. Tamron 18-270mm
2. Nikkor 35mm 1.8
3. Nikkor 18-55mm
3. Tripod

Any suggestion??

 

[pegasus7777777]

Do note, I read some where before someone brought his ultra zoom like 18-270 or 18-250 sigma, when it became too cold, it froze up and refuse to work for a few times.
Anyone can verify that?

Or have anyone tried using it at below 4 celsius to comment?
I'll try to find the link, its somewhere out there....

 

[ctm1968]

Do note, I read some where before someone brought his ultra zoom like 18-270 or 18-250 sigma, when it became too cold, it froze up and refuse to work for a few times.
Anyone can verify that?

Or have anyone tried using it at below 4 celsius to comment?
I'll try to find the link, its somewhere out there....

Can anyone confirm this issue? Cuase most of my trip will be on this weather condition (between -1 to 5 celsius in Swiss and 5 to 10 celsius in Paris)

 

[setsunaze]

I was at 5 Stars Travel 3 weeks ago and the salesguy recommend me to take up the 10D Romantic Europe too, departure is 24 Nov if I remember correctly. I was quite tempted by the low price and but then the salesguy told me there are 80+ passengers confirm going liao. When I hear 80+ ppl, I sianz liao coz I dun like such a big group. End up I signed up for their 10 days Turkey trip which is $2.1k and departing end of Oct.

Anyway I suggest u to bring just 2 lenses since you are going with a tour and a very large group I might add so you definitely wun have time to set up tripod etc. Plus this kind of places most probably u will take more scenery so dun really need super zoom.

1. Nikkor 35mm 1.8
2. Nikkor 18-55mm

actually its always good to have some extra zoom. but agreed that the all-in-one zoom lens is pretty heavy. personally, i'll bring all 3 lenses since its a tour anyway and can store stuff on the coach. and a super zoom is good to take candid shots (of strangers, hehe) from a distance
don't worry about the 80+ people going. they probably will split up into different batches. btw, does 5 star run their own guided tours in europe or outsourced to local guides?

Do note, I read some where before someone brought his ultra zoom like 18-270 or 18-250 sigma, when it became too cold, it froze up and refuse to work for a few times.
Anyone can verify that?

Or have anyone tried using it at below 4 celsius to comment?
I'll try to find the link, its somewhere out there....

hi, care to confirm what you mean by 'refuse to work'? the zoom ring cannot turn? AF cannot function? OS cannot function? this is very worrying!! :sweat: on top of condensation problems, battery life and shutter freeze!

 

[ctm1968]

:sweat:

actually its always good to have some extra zoom. but agreed that the all-in-one zoom lens is pretty heavy. personally, i'll bring all 3 lenses since its a tour anyway and can store stuff on the coach. and a super zoom is good to take candid shots (of strangers, hehe) from a distance
don't worry about the 80+ people going. they probably will split up into different batches. btw, does 5 star run their own guided tours in europe or outsourced to local guides?



hi, care to confirm what you mean by 'refuse to work'? the zoom ring cannot turn? AF cannot function? OS cannot function? this is very worrying!! :sweat: on top of condensation problems, battery life and shutter freeze!

yes, it will be split to 2 group of 25-30 each. There will be a tour manager from S'pore and a local guide from there (maybe)

I am planning to get an extra battery for this trip (total 3 battery pack)

I am set on bringing 18-270mm and 35mm 1.8 without tripod :sweat:

 

[setsunaze]

:sweat:

yes, it will be split to 2 group of 25-30 each. There will be a tour manager from S'pore and a local guide from there (maybe)

I am planning to get an extra battery for this trip (total 3 battery pack)

I am set on bringing 18-270mm and 35mm 1.8 without tripod :sweat:

i'll be getting extra batteries for my trip too. but rather than getting an original battery (not very keen to get 3rd party batteries), was wondering whether a battery grip that can take AA batteries might be more useful. any advice here?

 

[wildsoyabean]

condensation not a problem in cold countries...just keep ur camera in your bag when transiting between hot and cold places....
if you are constantly at cold places there wont be condensation.

i have been to -20C(in US) and camera works perfectly... was using d80 then though, everything works perfectly...except for me (i couldnt breath properly, feel properly numbs finger and everything) haha

 

[ctm1968]

Booked and paid deposit........;p
Just do it lah!

Not I need to buy an extra battery (for D60), idea how much and where's the best place to buy?

Anyone can advise what to do in Paris? I have almost 2 free day in Paris.

 

[Shen siung]

I am now shopping for year end europe trip

Anyone try 5 stars Tours before? Any feedback??
I am looking at there 10D Romantic Europe (cover Switzerland, France, Germany-passby only) at an unbelivable price of $1300 + (tax) $490 per pax!!

Note : Fly by China Eastern Airline transit Shanghai, It also come with free 2 nite in Shanghai (with hotel) some more!!!

I have the following (wonder what is the best to bring)

1. Tamron 18-270mm
2. Nikkor 35mm 1.8
3. Nikkor 18-55mm
3. Tripod
Any suggestion??

China eastern always provide cheap flight from Shanghai to Europe. IIRC, for this June, the flight to London is about 650SGD equivalent, return include everything. Thus, I won't be surprise with the package deal, moreover it is by travel agent, thus they might get event cheap flight ticket.

Anyway, for your set up, if I'm in your situation, I will choose either
1. Tamron 18-270mm + Nikkor 35mm 1.8
2. Nikkor 18-55mm + Nikkor 35mm 1.8
Both with tripod.