Has anyone traveled with Grand Circle Travel and could comment on the size of the group? Some companies, like Insight Vacations, limit the size to about 40 (and have spaced the seats in the coach accordingly) and others use the maximum of 50 or more and have the larger groups. Your experienced help is appreciated. Jim

From the GCT website:

How many people will be in my group?
Depending on your trip, Grand Circle groups number 35-45 travelers. The group size on OAT’s land adventures is 16; Small Ship adventures range from 16-32, depending on the size of your ship.

http://www.gct.com/gcc/general/defau...21#item_206851

Just booked for the second time on GCT. Went to Holland with 120 people and the Paris/Normandy trip has 120 also. the groups divide into around 40 in each group with a tour director for each group. You get to all meet at meals and in parks, etc. Separate buses take you to the same places but start at differcent area's so theres not 120 people mobbed around the sight at the same time. It seemed to work out fine and we did sometimes intermingle. Has a wonder time by the way. Best trip Every and am going again on June 16, 2011.

Look at the GCT trips for the exact number of people on that trip. It's all on their web site. It's no good speculating as you don't say where you want to go. I just returned from a GCT trip to Sicily and there were 38 people, just as the web site said. Once they get the max number they close the trip.

gct.com

I think the GCT trip with 120 people must have been a cruise as they own the boats and so fill them as far as possible. I have been on two land tours; one had 42 people, the other, 41. My neighbors who have traveled with GCT regularly tell me they have never had more than 44 on any of their trips by land.

I just came back from a breakfast meeting today hosted by Grand Circle Travel. There was some excellent news about group size for GCT land tours for 2012. They will be using the same size buses (seats for around 50 people), but will be limiting the size of their tour groups to 32 - 38 tour participants. (OAT land tours will remain at their maximum of 16 people.) They will also be providing headphones to everyone so that you can hear the tour guides without being right next to them. (Great for us photographers, who tend to wander off for great photos.)

Both of these changes will enhance their already wonderful tours. We have taken a total of 9 trips with GCT and their sister company OAT. They always provide fantastic tour guides and their tours provide great valus. I am a great fan of this well-run company.

If you have any questions about traveling with either GCT or OAT, feel free to contact me at: [email protected].