Reviews/Comments on Caravan Tours
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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Reviews/Comments on Caravan Tours
My wife and I are considering a land tour of the Southwest National Parks. We have looked at Trafalgar and Tauck which are somewhat pricy. We just heard of Caravan Tours. Can anyone comment on the quality of the Caravan tours. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan Walters
Thanks,
Dan Walters
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
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A couple of notes:
With tour you generally get what you pay for
Some companies have cheaper base prices but include fewer activities and meals - and charge as extras for things other tours may include
Look carefully at the lodgings - some tours use VERY basic places
Know what YOU want to see and make sure the tours actually stop there. Tour language: "view" means you see something out of the window as you pass by, "stop" means a 5 minute photo op out front, and only "visit" means you actually tour something
With tour you generally get what you pay for
Some companies have cheaper base prices but include fewer activities and meals - and charge as extras for things other tours may include
Look carefully at the lodgings - some tours use VERY basic places
Know what YOU want to see and make sure the tours actually stop there. Tour language: "view" means you see something out of the window as you pass by, "stop" means a 5 minute photo op out front, and only "visit" means you actually tour something
#4
Caravan has been around for at least 60 years. I don't generally do tours myself, but no one I know who has booked w/ Caravan has had any significant complaints.
I know they do at least one tour that includes 2 nights on the south rim . . . which seems unusual. Most commercial tours that pack you up and move you out every morning.
I know they do at least one tour that includes 2 nights on the south rim . . . which seems unusual. Most commercial tours that pack you up and move you out every morning.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
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We took the Caravan tour of Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, etc. in April 2012. It is a real value for the money. We had visited most of the sites on our own before, but this time did not care to do the driving.
The tour had 45 people where Tauck in the same size bus had 35. They had more leg room. Tauck also provided many more meals. However, we stayed at the same lodge at the south rim; we were both at Lake Powell Resort; we were with them at Zion Lodge. The breakfasts were the same for both. They two dinners that were provided were excellent - a catered dinner in an events room at Bright Angel & a meal at Zion where we could choose anything on the menu.
Our tour guide did a marvelous job; the fellow tour members were a diverse, well-traveled group of unpretentious people. The ages ranged from 11-80.
The only lodging that was not ideal was the Comfort Inn in Kanab, which offered very few dining options.
Hope this helps.
The tour had 45 people where Tauck in the same size bus had 35. They had more leg room. Tauck also provided many more meals. However, we stayed at the same lodge at the south rim; we were both at Lake Powell Resort; we were with them at Zion Lodge. The breakfasts were the same for both. They two dinners that were provided were excellent - a catered dinner in an events room at Bright Angel & a meal at Zion where we could choose anything on the menu.
Our tour guide did a marvelous job; the fellow tour members were a diverse, well-traveled group of unpretentious people. The ages ranged from 11-80.
The only lodging that was not ideal was the Comfort Inn in Kanab, which offered very few dining options.
Hope this helps.