Sophie2135

I am thinking of going on a tour across Britain and Ireland next year.

I've done lots of research, but I'm not sure which tour company to use....since I have read negative and positive reviews for each tour company. Taucks is too expensive for 3 people...

1. CIE (British and Ireland Grandeur)
http://www.cietours.com/world/escort...d/default.aspx -- only issue is that it does not visit oxford or strathford or cliffs of moher (if I book additional day tours via Premium Tours...there is no pickup from Doubletree West End....and no option to book for post-tour accommodation via CIE).
2. Globus (13 day Shannon to the Thames) http://www.globaljourneys.com.au/coa.../globus/gu.php - issue is having to book additional day tours (which I may do through Premium Tours.....for oxfrod)
3. Insight vacations (22 day Britain & Ireland Discover) http://www.globaljourneys.com.au/coa...sight/b959.php (only issue is not getting a tour of London itelf)

I am comfortable sitting for hours on a coach, as long as the guide is awesome....as in thorough description of places we visit/history/ etc.

I do not want to do this independently, so escorted is the way for me.

worldinabag

Hi

We have used Insight Tours twice (Turkey and Egypt) and can highly recommend them. London should not be too much of an issue for you I would imagine. One inexpensive option is the Big Bus Tour - http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/londo...ng_tour&gclid= - which has a guide providing running commentary.

Sophie2135

Thanks for the link to the Big Bus Tour....gave me an indication of what activities I should add to my itinery.

May I ask.......how was both your insight tours? I've read a lot of negative reviews, although most was about long distinces....and one review that put me off, was the insight guide being rather bias?

janisj

Copy of what I posted on the other thread you topped:

"I am comfortable sitting for hours on a coach, as long as the guide is awesome....as in thorough description of places we visit/history/ etc."

1) you can't guarantee the guide will be 'awesome' or even passable. So what if you pull the short straw and get their one totally crap guide?

2) Hours on a coach all day every day means you aren't visiting/seeing anything most of the time - just hours peering through the side windows.

but never mind - from your posts it seems clear you want a tour (three of you - right?) . To give you one example of how dreadful some bits of these tours are - on the third link they are traveling from Orkney to Ullapool to Skye to Loch Lomond to Glasgow . . . in two days. That is nutty.

Tell us a bit about who you are (ages, nationalities, physical limitations, etc) and we can maybe make suggestions of better tours or other ideas. Not all tours are awful - but some truly are. And the cheaper, large coach tours are generally pretty nasty.

BigRuss

And the simple fact is that other than Canada, the UK should be the easiest place for an American (assuming you are one) to navigate considering the minimal language barrier (even the Scots speak something akin to English) and similar culture. Why do a bus tour when you can pick and choose what's most interesting to you and see that when you want without being dragged around in a one-toilet 45-person motorhome for hours at a time?

Sophie2135

I am from Australia, and may be travelling with my parents. I will be around 24/25 by the next two years.

My parents don't want to do tours privately and we are not very good at map reading/navigating, etc.

Sophie2135

Due to work constraints.....3.5 weeks is the most we can get, sometimes less, depending on the season and workloads, etc.

Whilst I would love to combine tours and do things separately, I would love to get a taste of London/britain....having never been there, and maybe go back for independent exploring by myself another time.

A family of 3 (all adults)....including flights, would cost us heaps....so wanting to do the most in the time we have

jamikins

I have found that planning myself actually costs less.

But if you must do a tour be sure you understand what is included in the price and what you will actually be able to get out of the bus and see.

I would choose a tour that gives me at least a couple nights in each place so that I have at least one full day.

Sophie2135

Thanks...although, most that offer two nights etc like Albatross is too expensive for me.

Maybe I shouldn't do Ireland....and just do Britain with CIE.

What do you guys think? Like the 16 day Icons of Britain tour, since it's mostly inclusive

http://www.cietours.com/world/escort...f_britain_16d/

Sophie2135

umm.....location is a tad far for me to visit

I have also considered Trafalgar in my options....though none of their itineraries matches the other three options I posted above, except the 6 day winter tour....

Sophie2135

I think it was 'real britain' - winter.......

Cathinjoetown

If you are determined to take a tour, the CIE 16-day is not bad. As it starts in Glasgow, you need to plan to fly in to Edinburgh. They have chosen some decent hotels and some quality sights, not all fall in the category of "an opportunity to buy...."

Be sure you understand brochure talk i.e. view or see or photo op (drive by) versus tour.

I would certainly want more time in London. The tour ends at Heathrow so you could easily make your way into London for 3-5 more days, as you mention you have a max of 3.5 weeks.

Bear in mind Janis's comments, you will see some pretty countryside but you will also be on motorways, you will have little free time and you will be up and on the road very early most days.

Gordon_R

@KatherineBruster - are you being paid to shill for these companies? If so then be aware it's against the forum rules. Most of your posts seem to consist of regurgitated marketing spiel...

Sophie2135

I just found out that purchasing flight tickets, one way, for both directions, is a bit more expensive than a return.

For that reason, I'm deciding to do a tour that starts and ends in London (same airport).

One option is: http://www.cietours.com/world/escort..._grandeur_15d/ (so that there is at least one free day in London for us to do whatever we wish)

or the 17 day best of the british isles (Globus)
http://www.globaljourneys.com.au/coa.../globus/gl.php (with the tour ending in london, letting us add at least 2 extra days....with the post accommodation sepcial)

janisj

"<i>I just found out that purchasing flight tickets, one way, for both directions, is a bit more expensive than a return.

For that reason, I'm deciding to do a tour that starts and ends in London (same airport).</i>"

You wouldn't want two one-way tickets - you'd want open jaw or 'multi city'. That is a round trip ticket that flies from your home airport in to one city and then back home from a different city. This is cheaper than two one-way tickets

Sophie2135

I didn't know there was such a ticket, I will check that out.

Thank you very much!!

Sophie2135

This is a draft itinerary for next year.....what do you guys think....This is the maximum I can do

Day 1 Flight from hometown
2 Arrive England (2 night pre-accomodation)
3: Winsor Castle and Buckingham Palace
http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/psite/...ace.id153.html
4 Tour commences (7-8am)
http://www.globus.com.au/2013/our-to...-BRITISH-ISLES
day 20 - Tour ends (4-5pm: 1 night post-accommodation)
(west end theatre/ night)
21 Flight
22 In flight (continuing)
23 Arrive home

Cathinjoetown

Well, I liked the CIE tour better. All I can say is read the description carefully. For example on the first two days you see the gardens at Hampton Court but not the wonderful palace interiors. You see the exterior only of York Minster. Of course it's a hike from Warwick to York so you won't arrive in time to do much. And so on.

Regarding the Windsor and Buckingham Palace Tour--expensive, imo. And, only do this is you are in London when Buckingham Palace is open. You can certainly make your way there on your own to see the Changing of the Guard, the Royal Mews, the Queen's Gallery which are generally open year round but always check the website--changing of the guard is not every day.

Everyone has their own priorities and I know you are coming a long way but I would spend much more time in London, for which you do not needed a guided tour and would skip Ireland.

jamikins

Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace (no Tower of London??) are all VERY easy to do on your own while in London and Windsor and Hampton Court are full days on their own, the Tower is a good half day. Buckingham Palace is a walkby unless you are here during the summer openings:

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/vi...lan-your-visit

I think you are overcomplicating things and making them more expensive (and missing some of the best sites) by trying to cobble together a bunch of tours. UK is very easy to visit on your own and I think you can do it better and cheaper if you are willing to do some work planning - which is half the fun for me. You have the time to do this yourself and I think you will find it to be more satisfying.

Sophie2135

Okay.....so from your advice, if....I do arrive in september,

I should visit http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/...tour.id40.html (i.e. which includes tower of london and london eye, instead of buckingham palace?.....Since it takes me two days by flight to reach my home town, I can only spend one free day in london)

I think a day tour is the only way to see the most of london's main landmarks, as it includes transportation from A to B......

DO you guys have any suggestions of which day tours I should add?