quote:

Recommendations please:
a) Attempt it "going alone" vs TT? A coach tour is a wonderful way for a single person to travel. I've done it 3 times and have just booked my 4th solo tour which is my 5th TT.
b) If TT, Breakaway vs First Class? Has anyone been on both variations? If so, relating experiences, differences, pros, cons, etc. will be greatly appreciated.I've only done first class tours which I recommend.
c) Thoughts on "room sharing"? Not in a million years. I always pay the single supplement. I can't imagine sharing a room with a stranger. I've heard too many horror stories.
d) Will a 30+ day tour be too long first time? Or would a 20-odd day be better to really "take things in"?You might want to try a shorter tour first and see how it goes. Tours are exhausting but you see a lot.
e) If I end up doing "first class", what is the chance of other people being willing to do some of the "night life" with me? There are usually people who want to party some nights but you may find that you are too tired at the end of the day. You will be up early most mornings.
f) Will I end up baby sitting someone else's kid(s) all holiday? I love children, but don't want to be stuck with someone else's the entire time, simply 'cause I'm the singleton when it comes to rotation. Why on earth would this happen? You are not responsible for other people's children.
g) Lastly, what happens if I oversleep? (as mcuh as I would HATE to inconvenience anyone else, I'm NOT a morning person! ) I'm not a morning person either but I manage on tours. I don't want to miss anything! Take an alarm clock and whatever you do, do not be late for the coach!

Hi ai,

Make your first OS trip a TT one. After that you can go independent when you're more used to getting around in different places OS.

Don't worry about your friends thinking you're snobbish if you take a first class tour. If you really appreciate comfort, then I'd be going for the first class tours. Having said that, I haven't actually been on a breakaway tour, but they're probably fairly similar to a costsaver tour in terms of hotel standards & location.

You'd probably find someone to experience the nightlife with. Ages tend to vary on the tours.

I have done the room-mate matching option in the past, but after the last tour - NEVER again!! Pay the single supplement & get a room to yourself.

You won't have to do any babysitting of anyone's kids unless YOU volunteer to do it! I've only been on 1 tour that had kids on it - both of them early-mid teens & they each sat with one of their parents (the kids were well-behaved).

If you want to do a 30day tour, make sure there are lots of 2night stays (if not 3-4 night stays) in the majority of places - rather than 1 night stays. 2+night stays in places give you more time to see the place, catch up on laundry & keep your energy levels up. If you're not a morning person, then the less 1night stays you have the better! If there are 1 night stays on the tour you're interested in, make sure there are 2 night stays in other places either side of the 1 night stay.

As others have said, don't rely on wakeup calls...they don't always happen on time & sometimes don't happen at all. So take an alarm clock (or 2) & use it. If you're late on the bus it won't be appreciated by others. Early mornings aren't my favourite thing either, but I always take an alarm clock & give myself extra time in the morning - too paranoid about being late!

cheers,
ClareS

quote:

a) Attempt it "going alone" vs TT?
b) If TT, Breakaway vs First Class? Has anyone been on both variations? If so, relating experiences, differences, pros, cons, etc. will be greatly appreciated.
c) Thoughts on "room sharing"?
d) Will a 30+ day tour be too long first time? Or would a 20-odd day be better to really "take things in"?
e) If I end up doing "first class", what is the chance of other people being willing to do some of the "night life" with me?
f) Will I end up baby sitting someone else's kid(s) all holiday? I love children, but don't want to be stuck with someone else's the entire time, simply 'cause I'm the singleton when it comes to rotation.
g) Lastly, what happens if I oversleep? (as mcuh as I would HATE to inconvenience anyone else, I'm NOT a morning person!

My thoughts

a - first time away, particularly solo - do a TT tour - it is so much less stressful - having done a tour, you may well choose to revisit independently next time, having gained the experience. A TT tour is also very good value for money, it will cost much more than you can imagine to travel independently.

b - No, only been on first class, which I wholeheartedly recommend, unless you have good reason for doing a breakaway (I can't imagine a reason, but them I am getting on a bit!)

c - Never done it. Not worth the risk - you could end up with a soul mate, or you could end up with someone who is going to ruin your holiday. You always have the choice of opting out of 'share room option', if things are impossible, but that can create even more ill feeling - don't risk it, unless you really have to. Having said that, if having paid the single supplement you find yourself in a room that you feel is not up to the standard of others, jump up and down until the hotel or TD does something about it!

d - I know I am getting old, but I prefer a tour which visits one or perhaps two countries a fortnight. We almost did a 30 day comprehensive tour of Europe four years ago, but the tour we wanted to do disappeared from the brochure, thankfully! I think it is a mistake to try to see too much in a short time - that way you will spend all your time on the road and it will be a meaningless jumble by the time you get home, more tired than when you left. A different country every 1 or 2 days is ridiculous in my opinion - a two night stop somewhere is wonderful. However there are some who would thrive on such an experience - only you would know! Seeing a country is one thing, getting to know it is much better!

e - excellent chance - a first class tour is composed predominantly older people, but of the three tours that we have done, there have always been younger people, and if that failks, there are always the Australians, for whom a party-on is always an attraction, whatever their age!!

f - NO! never done a coach tour with young kids, never want to! You are paying for your holiday, in the unlikely event you get some on your tour and if they are bothering you, tell them in no uncertain terms to 'get lost' - if that fails, see the TD! You have the right to keep to yourself on a tour, or be as friendly as you want. No one has the right to intrude on others privacy.

g - Chris's advice re. alarm clocks is good. We have always got a wakeup call - not a problem! Generally the wake up call doesn't give you quite enough time to do all that you have to, get your luggage out, and appear for breakfast looking calm and serene (particularly for 2 people sharing one bathroom) - an alarm clock set 15 minutes or so before the wake up call, is a much better idea!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve H,

Just want to say what valuable advice in all of the replies to ai, in spite of knowing all of it from my own experience I really enjoyed reading the information given.

I am one of those who thrive really well on a month long coach tour, but suffer with the uneasy feeling of leaving my house for such a long time so therefore I try to keep the tours at about 15/16 days not including travel time which is very long from Australia.

I must reiterate on everyone else's advice DO NOT ROOM SHARE, it is just not worth the risk if it goes wrong, and can completely wreck your holiday.

On my recent Premium class tour the majority were very much seniors, my travelling friend was the second youngest on the tour at 40+ and even though I am mature age I prefer to choose a budget tour because I love a mix of ages so I would not do a Premium class tour if you are concerned about the bulk of tour members being senior.

And oh yes, without an alarm clock I would be 'sunk'.

Rita

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bilby,

Hi all

Have to agree with Rita, what valuable advice from everyone. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it

SteveH: Have to agree about the Aussies, but will need to make sure there's no cricket or rugby on during my trip as they always kick our b*tts... don't want anyone rubbing it in

Room sharing clearly a no go. And as for the amount of alarm clocks I'll be taking with, I might just wake the entire hotel, but that will be the lesser of two evils rather than being late

Thanks again, hope to meet some of you on my trip...

A

Like you Rita I thrive on longer coach tours and to me the best tours are 4 to 7 weeks of back-to-back tours.

I love it and always want to keep going at the end.

quote:

Originally posted by Rita:
On my recent Premium class tour the majority were very much seniors

What do you classify as a "senior", as a matter of interest, Rita? The word isn't used very much in this country but, when it is, it's used as a synonym for "old age pensioner" - ie people of 65+.

It's been my experience, travelling with TT and their sister company, Insight, that average age is in the mid 50s, typically. I've certainly never done a tour where the majority has been over 65!

Far be it for me to comment Chris, but in Rita's defence.. what do you mean by "old age"?

I know I'm the newbie, but I regarded Rita's comment as referring to people older than me, not necessarily implying 65+ (granted, colloquially we would have different interpretations, but this is my two cents worth). Anyone "older" than me is my senior. Just as I think "old age" is a state of mind.

I know people who have retired at 40. This does not make them old. Likewise, I know people who are in their 20's but appear to have been born 60 years old.

After all, I thought 60 was the new 40?

Nonetheless, Rita.. I would be interested to hear your opinion in this regard..

quote:

Far be it for me to comment Chris, but in Rita's defence.. what do you mean by "old age"?

In the UK, one becomes an "old age pensioner" (OAP) at 65. That's what it's officially called, honest, not my definition . It's the age that you get a pension from the government. Nothing to do with the age that you retire at.

No need to "defend" anyone - nobody's being "attacked". It was just a question as to what a word meant.

Sorry, didn't regard it as an attack... poor choice of words on my behalf. Would just hate to go on holiday with "old" people (be they 20 or 100).

So far the entire TT crowd have struck me as "young at heart"

I've never regarded the word "old" as being in any way derogatory. To me it's a sign of respect - someone who has successfully got through the trials and tribulation of youth and middle age, and can now reap the fruits of a lifetime of hard work doing what they enjoy.

I'm looking forward to my old age!

Touche! Couldn't agree more

(but hope to thoroughly enjoy every moment till then)

A

Yikes, Chris, if we used the term "old age pensioner" here for anyone under the age of 85 we would be tarred and feathered. And it isn't PC even for the very elderly. Seniors, the golden years etc. are all used instead.

Political Correctness has gone to extremes here. We are so used to watching our terms that my whole tour group in New Zealand a few years ago gasped out loud when we heard the nickname of New Zealand's rugby team the "All Blacks". We learned it was the color of their uniforms, but we were surprised it could be used.

Hi Sue,

We've gone down the "PC Road" in many areas (eg a "blackboard" is now a "chalkboard", although oddly, it's still OK to talk about a "whiteboard"), but we've not done so (yet at least) when it comes to refusing to acknowledge the existance of "old age".

As I say, you get your "old age pension" - and that's what it's officially called by the government, and everybody else - at 65 if you're a man, and 60 if you're a woman (a piece of blatant sexism which is being changed from 2010, I'm happy to say!), and you officially become an "OAP" (Old Age Pensioner), and are called such by everybody. When you're an OAP you get all sorts of "free stuff", so it's well worth being one .

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Marriott:
As I say, you get your "old age pension" - and that's what it's officially called by the government, and everybody else - at 65 if you're a man, and 60 if you're a woman (a piece of blatant sexism which is being changed from 2010, I'm happy to say!),

Chris: Isn't this "blatant sexism" because women traditionally have not worked as long as men, if they've worked at all, and certainly if they have, have not nearly earned the same amount of money, and still earn only a percentage of what men earn? Before you called this kind of rule sexist, please do some research on the reasons why this may be so.

And a note about the "excesses" of PC as you tend to view it. PC was a sincere and well-intentioned move to equalize and dignify race, gender and class. The ones who have taken PC down incredibly stupid paths tend to be extremely conservative right wing people doing so deliberately to highlight the "ad absurdum" efforts and who liked the status quo when women and all other races but whites were "kept in their rightful place." For heaven's sakes . . . .now let's have chapter and verse about how poor guys are kept from the best jobs because women have been getting them all.