Escorted Tours

Escorted coach touring is without any doubt, the most efficient and relaxing way to travel through any region or country, especially Europe. Luxurious motorcoaches equipped with the latest in automotive technology carry groups of English speaking passengers through history, landscapes, art and technology, and present day life style of many European countries and cities. Valuable information is conveyed to the travellers by professional, highly educated Tour Directors, and a variety of local specialist guides. Touring itineraries are well researched and put together by professional tour planners, who contract the best possible hotels, plan for scenic travel, and ensure that every step of the way presents passengers with a must see sight or experience. Tour operators specializing in Europe, enjoy great reputation with hotels and providers of services, and are able to pass the savings to the travellers through their volume buying. Instead of paying upwards of $300 for a hotel overnight, coach tour passengers are enjoying a first class tour at an average cost below $200 per travelling day. That includes breakfast every morning, a few dinners, luggage delivery to and from the room, sightseeing, entrance fees to many attractions, and services of a professional Tour Director. Passengers enjoy a luxurious touring bus, referred to as "motorcoach", enjoying above-the-traffic position, viewing the landscape through large panoramic windows, reclining seats with large pitch, excellent sound system and lively commentary of various travel guides. Highly trained drivers manoeuvre their coaches through the narrowest of the centuries old streets, and the toughest of the European cities traffic. When visiting must-see sights, motorcoach groups are ushered through separate group entrances, thus avoiding hour-long queues and optimizing their time in each and every destination. By virtue of paying for all these services up front, Canadians are minimizing the unfavourable Euro exchange rate. Hotel accommodation utilized on coach tours is typically very centrally located, and it renders itself both to efficient sightseeing, as well as a good utilization of free time. In the major European cities, itineraries allow for 2 or 3 nights in one place, and passengers have enough opportunity to shop for souvenirs, enjoy local restaurants, and pursue any of their particular interests. For those who would like to take part in group experiences, tour directors offer a variety of optional excursions, again very well priced, and conducted by a local expert. Dinners with local entertainment, theatre and cabaret performances, night drives to the iconic sights, are available at a discounted, group-rate.

Escorted motor coach tour offers better value than any other travel option: renting-a-car, booking comparable accommodation on-line, planning the itinerary, navigating European highways and urban streets, paying for the parking, waiting in line at major sights; it's not only more expensive than the tour, but consumes considerably more time. In recent years, European tour operators are including various transportation options into their itineraries: trains are especially popular, while there are many day-time and overnight ferry crossings, and occasionally, internal flights. Travelling with a group of like-minded travellers offers pleasant social interaction, companionship and camaraderie, which carries, often, into future travel arrangements. Travelling on a high-efficiency, Euro Diesel, generation 5 diesel buses, is environmentally, the most sensible travel option. Enjoying local wines, beers and other beverages, without having to self-drive, allows for relaxing and worry-free vacation.

Europe is primary destination for group motorcoach travel. This category of travel has very long history "it started with short tours of Switzerland and Italy, in the 1930-ies. It evolved into longer, multi-country tours in the late 1960's and early 70's, when many middle-class North Americans decided to re-visit Europe they have remembered from their WWII experience. The original favourite destinations, such as Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, were in the 1980's joined by newly-opened former communist countries: Hungary, former East Germany, Czech and Slovak republics, Russia, Baltic States, and former Yugoslavian countries. With improved Trans Atlantic air connections, many new destinations and regions opened for escorted coach-tour travel. Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Egypt, Israel and Jordan, Croatia, Balkan countries, are now easily accessible.

Currently, most motorcoach tours are divided into 3 major travelling styles: Panoramas, or multi-country tours, are designed to give an overview of more then 3 European countries. They attract first-time Europe travellers, and some repeaters, who want an overview of their favourite cities and sights. These tours range from 9 to 21 days in duration, are comprised of 1 night stops alternating with 2 night stops, include all major city tours, and offer a variety of optional excursions. Regional Discovery tours focus on a particular region, usually no more than 3 countries, and are slower paced, as they cover shorter travel distances. Alpine countries, Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal, Italy and Greece, are some examples of this touring style. One country tours, or relaxed city combinations fall into the third category. These are the most relaxing itineraries focusing on the immersion into one country culture, with many experiential inclusions: wine tastings, cooking classes, dance lessons, family activities and similar. The last 2 categories usually attract travellers who are somewhat familiar with Europe, and seek more profound experience at optimal cost in a relaxing setting. Variety of age groups are attracted to escorted coach tours: students and young professionals wanting to expand their horizons; families with children of travelling age 8+; baby boomers revisiting their favourite places, and seniors who appreciate the perfect organization and educational aspect of group travel. Some tour operators offer specially designed, customized tours, prepared in accordance with a particular affinity or special ineterst. They range from highly-educational, to wine, sport or based on a book, or movie tours.

The time to travel to Europe is primarily over the summer. Late spring or early summer offer usually more favourable prices, while June to October period commands premium rates. Popular European destinations, for example, Italy, sell out very early, and in order to get the desired departure dates, one has to book 6 months in advance. As there are several major escorted tour operators, there is a considerable variety of available programs, and it is advisable to consult with a travel agent who has experienced the product and the destination. Typically, escorted touring day, based on twin accommodation, cost from $150 per day in the low season, to $300 per day in a popular destination during the high season. This cost includes transportation, breakfast daily, many dinners, city tours of all major cities, services of a professional tour director, expert local guides, highly bus trained driver, and many other services. Lunches, some dinners, and some evening activities, typically are not included, but could be purchased through the tour director, or local concierge. The tour operators range in price, style, and the quality of services they offer. The best known names are Trafalgar Tours, Insight vacations, Globus, Collette, Cosmos, Contiki etc.