International travel for a budget family is easy enough to achieve, but the ‘enjoyment’ part is tricky. Just the daunting task of getting from the airport to the car rental, shuttle or public transport is an exercise in patience. Everyone is tired and grumpy after a long flight in the sardine can. The adrenaline high of the vacation anticipation has long worn off and pretty much everyone want to know, “Are we there yet?”
It is true that modern GPS has made it easier to move from point A to point B in various ways, but locals always know better. The self-drive option gives you one-ways, round-a-bouts, city limit entries, parking restrictions and weird road signs to navigate while endless honking and rude finger signs are being interpreted. The countryside by and large is not a problem in your own rental car, but at some point you are going to hit the city roads.
For this reason, we have opted twice in the past ten years to be part part of an organized bus tour: One in a developing country (Costa Rica) and one in a developed country (Ireland). It provided a nice comparison and the surprising fact is that it is very similar in experience. First, you sit back and relax. Second, you can see most things from a perched height. Third, bathroom breaks are easy!
While the backrest reclines on the bus, it is still a tight fit. Find a happy medium and apply it to all seats. On this note, some tour leaders would create a rotating system to move from the front to the back to give everyone equal opportunity for the bumpy back seat or a quick flight down the stairs to terra firma. I think this is a great idea to prevent those overachievers who always hog the best seats.
– The softest ride is between the four wheels where road -shock is absorbed the best.
– There is only one door – on and off. Be patient.
– In fact, patience is a requirement on a tour bus. Small real estate is shared with 60 others.
– And there is always a schedule: do not mess that up. A five-minute late departure can mean the difference between an entrance line a mile long at the destination or a short wait for your reward (Blarney Castle)! At times, the schedule can be daunting, but most operators allow optional excursions and time off.
Like all travel related packages, bus tours range from the basics – such as youth tours like Contiki with accommodation in camp sites and bunk beds – to luxury custom coach tours in five-star hotels. We looked at the three-star options and selected Caravan Tours in Costa Rica and Go Ahead Tours in Ireland.
Both companies have been around for a long time and have it pretty well down with excellent guides, drivers and three-star accommodation. In both packages, at least breakfast was included in the price and the occasional lunch as well. We highly recommended both companies for price, value and service.
Family Budget Travel Tips
Tip 1: One checked bag, one overhead bag (relatively thin as the storage above your head is limited in a bus).
Tip 2: Fold-up umbrella and umbrella bag to prevent everything from being wet for hours.
Tip 3: Games, toys and reading for the kids. At some point event the tour director gets tired of talking.
Tip 4: Clean up after yourself in your seat area (and the bus in general). Offer to help with the loading in the mornings. Drivers appreciate it and it speeds up the boarding process.
Tip 5: Budget to tip well if deserved. Both the director and the driver work hard for it but it is also a major part of their compensation. After all, it is not easy to please a bunch of grumpy folks for a week or two. There are always a few in a crowd! On that note, don’t be one…
Bonus:
Tour companies always have great promotions and repeat customers always enjoy discounts! If you do decide on Go Ahead Tours, kindly mention Michael Cordier, account # 70024549 as I also benefit from the rewards program.