Have you ever wanted to gaze at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, learn how to yodel in Bavaria, eat apple strudel at a small café in Vienna, or glide in a gondola down Venice's Grand Canal-all in one sweep?
Welcome to the world of packaged tours.
Admittedly, group coach trips aren't the choice of those who prefer the flexibility of sight-seeing at their own pace. Nonetheless, they do have a lot going for them. For one thing, they are a great way to take in a cornucopia of sights, sounds and sensations over a comparatively short period of time. For another, they offer the delight of chatting with fellow travellers who hail from different corners of the world. And, perhaps, best of all:
The linguistically challenged don't have to figure out how to say, "Eggs sunny-side-up" in Swahili. Or decipher traffic signs in Cantonese.
Its no sweat if that B&B which was supposed to be on Barracuda Road has vanished off the map.
You don't have to worry about gargling sounds under the hood of your rental car.
There's no need to haul those suitcases up three flights of stairs to that room which offers you a bird's eye view of Montmarte.
Package tours have, in fact, evolved into a fine art. There are "theme" vacations catering to a variety of interests. You can choose to explore James Herriot country while driving through the Yorkshire dales, or enjoy a pre-packaged theatre and concert outing in New York. For something off the beaten track try butterfly spotting in Malaysia, bird watching in the Australian outback, or visit the ancient spirit-haunted temples of Peru. Some trips are three day getaways. Others are three week odysseys. You can opt for flexible itineraries which allow you time off for shopping-arcade bliss, choose to wallow in hotels which would make Donald Trump choke with envy, or camp under Serengeti's star-studded skies, with lion mating calls for theatrical effect in the background.
But before you take off for the Great Wall of China (or any other exotic location) on a group coach tour, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:
You'll be spending a good deal of time on the bus. After all, Stockholm isn't next door to Madrid. Most of that time is well spent. The scenery is engrossing and if your tour director is worth his or her salt, you are going to hear some fascinating facts (and fables!) about the country or city you're about to visit. However long bus trips can be tiring. Make sure you are comfortably attired. Pack loose fitting lounge wear and kick-off shoes. Most coaches have adjustable air vents but it is a good idea to carry a light shawl just in case the draft on your neck feels like it is being piped in from the North Pole.
Even though many package tours include breakfast and dinner, you are usually on your own for lunch. Drop in to a deli where locals shop and stack up on picnic-style food: bread (the baguettes in France are c'est magnifique), cold-cuts, canned pate, local cheese, fruit, maybe a bottle of wine (if in France, Germany or Italy), and enjoy lunch on a park bench.
The price you pay for variety and coverage can sometimes involve a hectic schedule. On occasion you may rise before the sun does, and crawl into bed long after it has set, so you might want to catch up on some sleep while on the bus. Pack eye-shades, a soft pillow-cushion-and ear-plugs.
You'll also be doing a lot of walking and shoes which are kind to your feet are a must. You don't want to be distracted from a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Taj Mahal because of those corn-kernel blisters on your heels.
Make room in your budget for add-on optional attractions. These are often well worthwhile. How often will you have the chance to watch a classical flamenco dance in Barcelona? Or see the dawn's rose-tipped fingers caress Mount Everest? Or stroll through Ian Fleming's "Golden Eye" locale in Jamaica?
Pack a Swiss Army knife to act as bottle and can opener. Some hotels, even the budget ones, have a coffee machine in their rooms. Others don't. Carry a small percolator with an adapter plug, so you can brew your own starter fluid. If you prefer tea first thing, invest in a miniature immersion heater to boil your tea water.
Most banks and travel bureaux all over the world are closed on Sundays, and sometimes Saturdays as well. If arriving in a city on a weekend, anticipate your expenses and cash an extra travellers' cheque or two at a previous stop, as hotels tend to charge hefty premiums. You can use ABMs of course, provided you can figure out the instructions in Danish.
Economy tours usually select hotels which are some distance away from the city centres as these offer better prices. This has its advantages-you are away from noise and pollution-but by the same token, you may not be close to shops. So be sure to stock up on necessities. Buy your liquor and mix ahead of time if you'd rather not use the hotel's bar facilities, and prefer to have your 'happy hour' in your room while cheering the hockey or soccer teams on TV.
If your tour is an extended one (say three weeks or more), duck out of an optional day excursion to 'do your own thing' at a leisurely pace. Loll in bed, wash your hair, scribble postcards-or stroll around the neighbourhood chatting up the locals. People are just as curious about you, as you are about them, and there's always someone around who wants to try out his/her English and act as interpreter. However, a word of caution here: lone tourists are also marks for touts and pick-pockets, so carry money and travel documents in a waist or neck pouch.
One of the joys of group travel is the camaraderie of those who share your holiday. People from every corner of the globe. With their unique life-styles. Joined with you across a "moment in time" as part of a common experience. You laugh (and commiserate!) together. At the end of the journey, you'll exchange addresses and phone numbers. And forge links of friendship that will endure long after the trip is over.
Margaret Deefholts lives in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, B.C.
A professional travel writer, Ms. Deefholts’ articles have been published in Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe & Mail, and in magazines and newspapers throughout British Columbia. While much of her focus is on the Indian subcontinent, she also writes about her adventures in Britain, Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Canada.
Please visit her website featuring her travels around the globe at www.margaretdeefholts.com/adventures.html
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