Travelling by coach is the perfect way to relax and savour the view. You can enjoy the journey as well as the destination, and no moments with navigation!
Whether it’s a short trip in the UK, or a longer, expedition-style escorted touring holiday, with a knowledgeable tour manager to take care of all the logistics, there are so many, exciting choices on offer.
Choose an experienced and reputable company – brochures and websites are helpful, but independent reviews and actual experiences from other travellers are much better.
Make sure you understand what is and isn’t included – especially meals (are the hotels B&B only?) and check the cost of additional excursions which can add up.
Hotel restaurants can have very limited dinner menus. Check this out before reserving a table because nearby restaurants can usually offer a much wider range of choices or local specialities.
Tipping – 1: Re local tips for taxis, restaurants, etc. the tour guide can usually advise on the customary amounts in various locations.
Tipping – 2: At the end of an enjoyable tour, most people hand a suitable tip to the coach driver and the tour guide. If the same two people have accompanied the entire tour, then £10-20 each per week per person is about right for a full-size coach – perhaps more for a smaller party.
On a multiple-journey tour, see if the tour company and your guide will operate a system of seat rotation – so that the same few people don’t grab the front seats with the best views and establish ‘ownership’.
Hotel rooms can vary considerably in size, convenience, etc., – even in the same hotel. Sometimes an upgrade is possible (but at a busy time, hotels used by tour companies are usually full).
Beware of too many early starts – e.g. suitcases in the hotel reception by 8am (or worse!)
Be prepared for weather variations between various regions and different altitudes – and check the longer range forecasts before travelling.
Have suitable shoes for the sight-seeing on foot – which can sometimes be two or three hours and may also include different surfaces (including cobblestones or gravel paths which are not suitable for flip-flops or high heels!).
Know your limitations for sight-seeing so that you don’t embark on a walking tour which proves to be too arduous.
If you are using a mobile phone, be sure your contract includes overseas use; and check out the rates for incoming as well as outgoing calls and text messages (in many countries the local carrier sends an automatic welcome text message including the rates).
Alfa Travel offers holidays to the North West, North East, Midlands, South East and Yorkshire & Humberside.
Wendy Wu Tours offers a wide selection of award-winning, fully inclusive tours.
Australian Sky holidays have a personality as distinctive as your own.
Cosmos offer quality escorted tours and exceptional cruises worldwide.
Cox & Kings is the world’s longest established travel company.
Grand UK Holidays are exclusively for people like you.
