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‘What I got wrong about coach tours — they are a great way to travel!’

May 16, 2020

May found many highlights to taking an escorted coach holiday. Source: Getty Images

My partner Bill and I are both intrepid travellers. Exploring new townships around Australia and learning what makes them tick invigorates us. Their place in our history, their produce, the reason for their existence is all fascinating stuff to us.

The problem however, is that Bill and I can too easily become bogged down into the delights that a town has on offer, which means our long weekends often extend to week-long breaks. Yes, we are both retired though we don’t own a caravan nor a mobile home, which makes accommodation costs, such as hotels and motels, an expensive item.

Last year we paid for three nights of motel accommodation between Brisbane and Hervey Bay where we were headed for a day out on a whale cruise. Three days. Don’t get me wrong, we loved it: exploring parks, gardens, cemeteries, antique stores, and coffee shops. But three days? Hervey Bay is only four hours drive from where we live, so that can mean our short breaks aren’t really economically viable.

So late last year we tried something different. We went on a four-day organised coach tour to a festival in a country town in northern New South Wales.

Initially I was reluctant to consider a holiday of this type, thinking that bus travel was just for ‘old people’ or those who were infirm or no longer capable of driving themselves. What a misconception!

We did select a tour dedicated to seniors and many of our fellow travellers were as fit as fiddles as we discovered on the dance floor one evening. Those who may have been a little slower in mobility never impeded the pace of the tour and I guess that can be put down to both good management by the tour company and goodwill by the tourists.

My partner particularly enjoyed the break from driving and watched the changing landscape with much pleasure. It also meant that he wasn’t as weary come night time and therefore participated in the social activities that were on offer. Funnily, it felt hugely positive reaching our proposed destination at the end of each day despite loving our days of spontaneous travel.

Having accommodation and meal houses sorted for us provided a break from our decision making processes, which also honestly made for a good holiday. We were never disappointed by either.

Being similar to taking a cruise you do mix with a variety of people, and yes, we’re all individual with varied temperaments. Our tour ensured we changed bus seats every day, which provided the opportunity to chat with different people.

The festival we attended was great fun and not having to deal with parking and traffic was another bonus. I had visited this particular country town on numerous occasions over the years but our tour included a local historian for a couple of hours, which allowed us to gain a much better understanding of the area.

Although I had previously been dismissive of coach travel we’ve booked again, though a longer trip this time.

In light of recent travel restrictions and a growing apprehension for some travellers to want to get back on board a cruise ship (at least within my circle of friends), here are some tips to consider if you’re considering a coach tour for an adventure of your own:

Start with a short trip of four or five days
Search for a tour that interests you. The choice is huge, from the mountains to the sea, and for varied focus groups
Do your homework when it comes to the tour company
Make sure you understand exactly what your tour covers. How many meals, entrance fees etc.
My personal recommendation is a tour where you stay for at least one set of multiple nights. It makes a difference, believe me
Always travel with a bottle of water.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, always travel with a smile.