So you’re looking at planning a future vacation. Are you having a hard time deciding what type of vacation you’d like? Bus tours are popular and can be a great idea, but it depends on what you are looking at getting out of your vacation.
Are bus tours for you?
Bus tours are popular all over the world. But are they the right type of vacation to book for you? Through this post I hope I can offer some insight and guidance if you have never booked one before. There are advantages but also disadvantages to bus tours which I will explore in this and other posts. Do you like meeting new people? Are you OK with someone else planning the details and keeping to their schedule?
Why I love bus tours
- Pressure is off whoever is planning the vacation
- Someone else is responsible for the logistics such as transportation, accommodations and activities
- Some tours offer optional excursion choices where passengers can pay to do additional activities based on their budget and finances
- They often have amazing, knowledgeable guides/drivers
- Someone else is doing the driving, so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery and the fun on the bus
- No need to rent a car in another country
- Easy way to see a lot of a destination
- My all-time favourite part is meeting amazing people. I now have a bus tour family who try to book trips together once a year
- Great way to solo travel if afraid of going completely alone
What I do not like about bus tours
- Having to switch hotels every night or 2
- Constantly having to reorganize or repack my suitcase
- Long days with lots of time spent on the bus (not everyday but some can be)
- Busy, lively paced tours can be very busy with early mornings and lots of activities
- Motion sickness on the bus
- Most dinners if included in the cost are 3 course meals with a choice of 2-4 options per course. These dinners can take a long time and sometimes lack variety in choices
Should you skip the bus tour and see a country on your own?
Only you can truly answer this for yourself. I have done both and like both options. Maybe the best choice is my favourite – a hybrid of bus tour and planning your own adventures before or after a bus tour. This gives you a feel for the place you’re traveling to, but only having to worry about the planning and travel logistics for a portion of your time away! If you are not afraid of getting around the country on foot, public transit or renting a car, then skipping the bus tour might be OK for you. There is no right or wrong answer! The most important part is to find a destination and trip that means the most to you and go enjoy it!!
I really enjoyed the bus tour I took in UK. We saw so many interesting historical locations and had the privilege of not having to wait in long line ups. The selection of optional tours was great.
The other people on the bus were very friendly and I am still in contact with a number of them.
The only negative was catching a cold whether on the bus or in the flight over.
I did travel solo and it was great. There are so many positives!
Hi Wilma, I’m so happy to read you also enjoyed your bus tour of the UK! Unfortunately bus colds are common. A definite negative to going on the bus tours. I love both bus tours and traveling solo, but the ease of bus tours and not having to worry about all the details is what brings me back. I am also still in touch with some of the people from my very first bus tour!