Hi all,

My retired husband and I are thinking about going on an escorted tour for the first time. With the price of gas these days, we didn't want to bother with getting a rental car so we think this is the best route to go for us. We would like to visit the southwest's national parks in maybe Colorado, Arizona, Utah, etc. We found a trip through World Wide Country Tours that appeals to us (I think it's called the "Grand Canyon and Red Rock Country" tour). Have any of you traveled with World Wide Country Tours before? Do you have any other recommendations for us regarding escorted tours?

Tracy

I have never traveled withWorld Wide country Tours but requested one of their brochures about a year ago and I now get brochures every week. They really can put out alot of junk mail.
Cavaran Tours is a good company and they do that area. I went with them to Costa Rica and really liked them as have others on these message boards.
Also look at Globus, they also do that area of the country.

Also check out Tauck Tours. They are more expensive than some others, but offer great service.

It depends on what kind of tours you're looking for. If budget, I've traveled with Caravan and Cosmos - both dependable. A little more expensive Globus, Brannan, Colette.

A hint: some travel companies give AARP discount of $50. The annual AARP membership: one person $12-15, the spouse is free. Check that before going on a tour, and get AARP if works for you.

Another hint: check with www.affordabletours.com Not only they will take off $50 if AARP discount in applied, they will also slash 10% off the tour price.

My brother loves Tauck Tours, but I really discouraged him from taking the one through the Southwest. One of our favorite places is Zion. The Tauck Tour bus usually pulls up around 6PM, takes the group on a hike across the road before dinner. They have dinner, it's dark, they go to bed, have breakfast in the morning and are back on the bus by 9AM and on to the next stop.
I'd recommend really reading the itinerary to see if any tour you take allows you to do what you want to do and see what you want to see.

I'm not sure if they have a trip to the area you want, but we were extremely happy with our Road Scholar tour of Mexico's Copper Canyon area. Road Scholar is the younger, more active branch of Elderhostel, and they tend to keep their groups small. Our group of 20 people had three guides, and the trip was fun and very well organized. Their website is www.roadscholar.org

Second it for Roads Scholar!

I hadn't heard of Road Scholar and will look them up. A friend is always talking about looking forward to being old enough for Elderhostel tours - I can tell her that she doesn't have to wait.

I'm not familiar with World Wide Country Tours, but I have taken a couple of Globus tours to Europe and was pleased with them. They do tend to charge extra for optional excursions, so take that into consideration when comparing prices. In Europe, we did most of the optional type things on our own, but it might be more difficult in the national parks because of the lack of public transportation.

The second time, we used them we booked through affordabletours and can vouch that it worked for us.

In the U.S., we went on tours twice with school groups. It is quite handy because they take care of all the transportation and drop you off where you need to go. It was also fun sharing the trip with others. We've been lucky and always had congenial groups.

Hi Tracy! I actually have traveled with World Wide Country Tours before, and they were outstanding! I went on their tour to the Yosemite National Park and Death Valley and have nothing but excellent things to say about my experiences. My tour guide was so friendly and informative too. What made Country Tours so different than the other tour agencies out there is that they take you to off the road places that you'd never really find if you were traveling on your own. Even other tour companies don't include these places in their itineraries (my husband and I spent a lot of time comparing companies to each other!). Our tour included a great bbq at a local family's ranch and a visit to a citrus farm. The people we met on our tour were great too. These tours are less expensive than Tauck's, but the quality is definitely still up there. We're planning to go to Europe in the fall with World Wide Country Tours and couldn't be more excited!

I hope this helps you!

Oh World Wide Country Tours is absolutely fabulous. I have subscribed to "Taste of Home" for years and went on their "Slice of California" tour last year. We visited so many places in Northern California, my favorite being Napa Valley of course! The food was out of this world too! Our tour guide knew everything about the areas we went to, and she was light-hearted and fun. I traveled with a lot of similar people who enjoyed "Taste of Home" as well...I made a lot of friends on that trip. They have a "Taste of Home" anniversary cruise coming up this year that I've signed up for, and I've heard that editors from the magazine will be on the ship too!

All in all, the tours are well-planned down to every detail. Our accomodations were perfect and as I said before, the food was DELICIOUS! Don't hesitate and sign up with World Wide Country Tours...I couldn't be happier with my experience with them.

Traveler2005, what is affordabletours?

I guess I forgot to mention that World Wide Country Tours and "Taste of Home" are managed by the same company...that's why they have tours for the magazine. Sorrrry!

http://www.affordabletours.com/ is an internet travel agency that gives 10% discount for most tours

I've used them several times, absolutely legit, provide 800 number to call, always there to talk to you, reply through e-mail if you ask for a quote

Fainaagain answered the question about affordabletours.com. They book tours for other companies - I suppose you could call that a travel agent. (G) Their advantage is that they offer a small discount. I happened upon them as they had a bulletin board that mentioned a tour I was considering. I was dubious, but tried them and it all was legitimate.

I hadn't realized that World Wide Country Tours were the tours that Taste of Home offers. I used to get that magazine and now, out of curiosity, will go check them out.

Traveler, first time I used them with Cosmos. Being in doubt, I called Cosmos, and they assured me, it's a legitimate travel agency. They took off 10% and $50 AARP membership. I was happy

Grand Circle offers a national park tour and has a $1000 discount on it right now (per couple). See "America's Majestic National Parks."

http://www.gct.com/gcc/general/defau...ocation=search

I was so excited to see that other people wrote great things about World Wide Country Tours! I went on their "Big Sky" tour to the Tetons and Yellowstone and absolutely LOVED it. I enjoyed traveling with a tour guide to this area since there is so much history and information to learn about the national parks. World Wide Country Tours had excellent tour guides who knew EVERYTHING about our destinations. They even took us to a cowboy ranch (just like the movies!) for lunch one day. There was also flexibility with our itinerary.

I just checked out their website (countrytours.com) and saw that they offer a few tours through "Taste of Home" and even "Birds and Blooms." It also mentions how they are the official tour operator for Reader's Digest...sounds like a reputable company! It's a unique escorted tour company and I think you all should definitely check them out!!!!!!

I just booked a trip with World Wide Country Tours...my husband and I are going to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with them. I am relieved to read such great things about the company! Has anybody else gone on this trip before? Or traveled with Country Tours before? Keep the advice coming!

I can share with you something about Switzerland. Brought "weather houses" as gifts for my family and myself.

It's a small wooden house with 2 openings in place of doors. When the weather is nice, a woman "comes out". When it's raining, a man comes out. So much fun! I love it

I just retutned from a Tauck Tour of the southwest. WE visited Scottsdsale, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce, Zion, and Las Vegas. We had a fantastic time and learned a lot.
That being said, Grand Circle offers wonderful tours that cost less than Tauck and offer the same amenities.

Oh my gosh! I haven't checked my posting until this afternoon and was shocked at the amount of responses this received! I have heard of Tauck before, but their prices are very steep, I agree with schmerl. I even checked out Affordable Tours and their prices are high there too. I have never heard of Road Scholars before, but it sounds like its tours would be VERY educational haha!

I'm so happy to hear many good things about World Wide Country Tours too. I think I'm going to book with them after hearing good things from crazyhorse and hilda. I had no idea they were associated with "Taste of Home" either...I'll have to check out those tours again!