Central Europe with H.A.T. Tours

Readers who are interested in opera should look into the offerings of H.A.T. Tours (Box 46876, St. Petersburg, FL 33741; 800/472-4448, www.europeanoperatours.com).

I took the 12-day tour “Sounds of Central Europe,” Sept. 13-24, 2007. It is one of several itineraries arranged and personally escorted by Mrs. Grethe N. Arani, H.A.T.’s co-owner.

The trips feature small groups; local tours led by experienced guides; comfortable hotels; fine dining, with some meals optional; excellent seats for the operas, and reasonable costs. (“Sounds of Central Europe” visits Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC; Vienna, AUSTRIA; Bratislava, SLOVAKIA, and Budapest, HUNGARY. The land price in 2008 is $4,950 per person.)

The tour members in my group, many of whom had taken several H.A.T. tours, were enthusiastic opera-goers but not fanatics! I found this a very enjoyable travel experience.

DOROTHY SMITH

Meadville, PA