Is an Escorted Coach Tour the Ultimate Travel Experience? Pros and Cons

Considering the Pros and Cons of Coach Tours 💭

Should I go on an Escorted Coach Tour? What are the Pros and Cons of Coach Tours? I found myself asking these questions in preparation of a European getaway, which was centered around a visit to the annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Booking a flight all the way from Australia is not only lengthy, but also costly, so of course seeing and experiencing beyond Munich and Germany was an important factor.

How did I Decide?

Having been previously introduced to Europe at the age of 17, by means of an escorted coach tour with my parents, I had very fond memories. However, this time I would be travelling in my late 20’s and wondered if my partner and I would be bored with the pace of a coach tour, weighing up whether we should organize a rail pass instead.  I was lucky to have a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips, I had been working as an international travel consultant for nearly 10 years and had assisted many customers with booking these destinations. I had also received a lot of feedback from clients, colleagues and our travel suppliers during this time… BUT – sometimes too much information makes things just as confusing as having too little!

In the end, the decision was practically made for us, when a great deal became available from Globus, a reputable coach tour provider. The dates on their Imperial Splendors itinerary, matched perfectly with the Oktoberfest plans we had our hearts set on, so we tacked on a few nights of pre and post tour accommodation in Munich, and we were all set for our European adventure.

Let’s Go See Europe by Escorted Coach Tour!

Our first introduction to our tour guide, coach driver and travelling companions, took place in the hotel restaurant where we were all staying. My partner and I were the youngest travellers in the group, and also the only Australians… so it’s fair to say we stood out!

We did some introductions and as amongst any group of people – some were friendlier than others. Over the duration of the tour, we also came to find that some people complain a LOT, some not at all, some are courteous to their fellow coach passengers and others almost oblivious to the fact that there are other passengers.

Although this may be off putting to some, it did not phase us at all. In fact, it provided us quite the entertainment and did not negatively impact on our experience.

Coach Tour Flexibility

Because of the freedom to either join the group for excursions and included meals or do your own thing, we did not feel crowded or overwhelmed by constant company. Instead, we formed a great friendship with some couples from USA and spent a few of our evenings having dinner separate from the larger group, including one of the nights at Oktoberfest.

The Touring Experience

Coach tours can get a bad rap about the speed in which they cover many places, not providing enough time to really get to experience the heart and soul of a destination. Although I understand this opinion, and even somewhat agree with it, a whirlwind tour does have many positives.

When we took this vacation, we only had a two-week period free, and we had no idea which other places we wanted to see the most. Doing an organized tour allows you to get a taste for which countries, cultures, attractions are most appealing to you, which is a great way to narrow down where to go next time on a more in-depth visit.

There really isn’t much that comes close in convenience either. Transport, check. Accommodation, check. Meals, check. Sight-seeing, check. I will put my hand up and admit that I would never even consider a self-drive holiday in Europe and applaud anyone who does. Navigating through cities and trying to find a parking spot would give me too much anxiety… I mean, even watching the coach driver trying to do these things was stressful!

Escorted Tour Pricing

Cost-wise, there are tours for different budgets. The one I did as a teenager was a low-cost operator, whereas Globus are a premium brand – aimed at travellers aged 55+ (hence us sticking out, just a bit). Regardless of the standard you choose, when cost compared against a similar style of accommodation, meals, transport and experiences, it is generally possible to arrange a better price by booking everything individually. It is also a lot more work, and this is where paying for convenience comes it.

The professional guide is also worth the extra cost of a coach tour, as you do learn a lot more about each destination than if you were to arrive by place, train or self-drive.

The Pros and Cons of Coach Tours

PROS of Coach Tours

• Visit many places in a short time
• Permanent designated driver
• Knowledgeable tour guide
• Convenience with all travel arrangements taken care of
• Meet new people & share experiences
• Scheduled itinerary means you get to see & do a lot
• Up front cost & inclusions are known

CONS of Coach Tours

• Not an in-depth experience
• Schedule is not flexible
• Can be costly compared to independent travel
• Tour companions may not be your cup of tea
• Depending on locations, you may spend a lot of time on the bus
• Travel/Motion sickness on the bus
• Cost can easily blow out

So, Should I go on an Escorted Coach Tour?

There are easily just as many pros as there are cons, and I’m sure there are plenty in either column that I have not even thought of! However, at the end of the day it all comes down to these two things…

Did I enjoy the experience? and …Would I do it again?

The answer to BOTH questions is a definite, one hundred percent, YES!

Full disclosure though: it does help that we are undeniably positive people. If or when things go awry whilst we are on holiday, we simply don’t focus on the negatives. This may mean that we don’t notice things that are considered an issue to others, because we are so busy enjoying the positives. I recommend this approach to EVERYONE, because it almost guarantees that no matter which travel style you choose, you WILL have a great time.

Happy Travelling! xo