On Wednesday, myself and my friend took the Auswitz and Birkenau tour.
This is a trip I had been looking forward to, as a teacher who teaches WW2 as a topic I was intrigued to find out more and really feel this history of the place.
I was disappointed in my tour as going around for hours, we didn't get to stop and take any of it in, for example, in the exhibition with all the hair and shoes, they guided us in a line and walked straight past everything with just a quick glance. It really took away from the experience.
As we walked in lines, if you was at the back, it meant your headset would cut out as the tour guide was too far away, and by the time you reached something, he was talking about something else. So it was difficult to get a good understanding of what you was actually looking at.
This tour would not be recommended for those who struggle with mobility, there is A LOT of walking, and no breaks or places to have a little sit down. My grandmother went on the same tour in January of this year and had to miss half of it due to this issue.
When we booked it said a lunch would be provided, no lunch was provided. Even if a lunch had been provided, I don't know at what point you would have eaten it.
We were given 10 mins upon arriving at the museum to get a snack and use the toilet, and for smokers to have a smoke break.
The line for the toilet was about 10 mins long, so you really had difficult choices to make. If you go, I suggest the toilet, because there is no place to use the toilet on the tour and you will be walking for around 2 hours before the next 10 min break...which includes walking back to the van.
On the way back, everyone was exhausted, just wanting to be returned back home, everyone was on the bus, we waited an additional 15 mins past the departure time, because the only person not on the bus was the guide, who had stopped for a coffee and to mooch around the gift shop. This caused alot of frustration on the coach and everyone began to complain.
Ita definitely a place to visit. To go and soak up the history, but certainly not with this tour group.