Being a senior doesn’t mean enjoying life any less than you did in your youth. No matter how old you are, there’s still plenty to experience — especially if you’re willing to broaden your perspectives on vacation travel.
Bus tours don’t instantly spring to mind when most people consider seeing the world, but for seniors who’d rather not drive, they’re an ideal way to get out and about. To help, here are some of the top bus tours that might let you expand your horizons and have fun at your own pace.
Starline Tours
Starline Tours have been running since the 1930s, so the company has plenty of experience. With adult tickets ranging from $45 to $100 and covering multiple sites in Los Angeles, there’s a lot to choose from if you’re a film buff. Some of the most popular Starline trips include the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and the Celebrity Homes tour, which got its start in 1935. The 24-hour Chinese Theater tour and 48-hour Madam Tussauds tours are hop-on, hop-off style, so you can disembark, check out the city, and transfer to multiple bus lines at will.
This company accommodates guests with disabilities and service animals, but you should book at least 24 hours ahead of time if you need special considerations. Starline Tours also offers vans and double-decker buses, so you can customize your experience to make it more enjoyable.
Diamond Tours
Diamond Tours covers much of Canada and the lower 48 U.S. states. Although these tours cater to groups, individuals and couples can also join existing trips to meet new people. Popular tour destinations include Quebec, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam.
Tour costs vary widely, but for the most part, people can expect to pay anywhere from $700 and upward for double occupancy trips of six days or more. It’s worth noting, however, that these tours include breakfasts, dinners, lodging, and admission to some of the attractions you’ll see along the way. They’re a pretty good value considering that you’d pay just as much for airfare to many of the same destinations.
Diamond Tours offers travel protection plans to reduce your losses in the event that someone can’t make the trip. This insurance also includes baggage coverage, medical expenses, dental, and emergency evacuation.
Coach USA
Coach USA tours mostly depart from cities along the U.S. East Coast and in the Midwest. Some of its popular options include journeys to the many different casinos around Lake Erie and authentic adventures in Amish country. While you can enjoy a quick day trip for under $100, more expensive tour costs are in the upper hundreds and let you link up with cruises to destinations like the Bahamas.
Coach USA also makes private trips that you can customize with your own dates, destinations, and features. This company has a range of different categorical tours that make it easy to explore museums with professional guides, check out major shopping outlets, take in theatre performances, and experience sporting events.
If you’ve always wanted to attend a particular seasonal festival or music event, then you might benefit from checking whether there’s a Coach USA bus specifically for that gathering.
Take Tours
Take Tours buses are great for seniors who want to experience international travel. The company’s destinations include Ecuador, Brazil, New Zealand, Bangkok, Iceland, and a range of other countries. While longer tours, such as the week-long trips, cost hundreds of dollars for double occupancies, this operator is fairly flexible. You can usually find a local tour for $100 or less near whatever area you’re already vacationing in.
Take Tours offers a broad range of ticket plans and tour features, so check the details carefully. For instance, solo travelers and groups of three tend to pay more for hotel rooms than couples do, which isn’t out of the ordinary. Like other operators, Take Tours lets you book private vehicle trips as a group if you’d prefer to set your itinerary and see things that might be off the beaten path. You should also be certain to check for seasonal and monthly deals using the company’s online tool.
Tours4Fun
Tours4Fun is another company that operates in a global selection of destinations. Seniors in search of adventure can explore Paris, Yellowstone National Park, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, China, and other great locations. Some of the tours focus on taking in the scenery, but others are more activity-oriented, such as ice skating at New York’s Rockefeller Center rink and visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tours4Fun bus tour prices range from under $100 to more than $1,000 per person. As you might expect, the most expensive packages typically come with perks, such as guides, lodgings at the different itinerary destinations, and attraction entry fees. Meals and other expenses aren’t always included, but the company does have free cancellation and price-matching guarantees. Although many coaches try to work with disabled guests, it’s smart to confirm your requirements before booking, especially on journeys to other countries that might include hop-off activities at non-ADA-compliant attractions.
Where Will You Ride Next?
If you’re a senior, then taking a bus tour can be an exciting way to discover new things that you didn’t know were just around the corner. Plan your next trip carefully and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you encounter along the way.
Explore each deal to find price breaks. For instance, you might be able to save by booking trips where the bus picks you up right from the airport or getting connecting transportation to the starting point.