Fall Foliage Tour Groups
 

Six adventuresome ladies from Texas would like to know about good tour companies that conduct Fall Foliage tours. Looking for about a 3-5 day trip. We're really not interested in renting a car for our first trip. Perhaps on a second trip as I know we'll want to come back. Please send recommendations and thanks.

Seeknfind,

If you have New England in mind for this year, the season is past.

Where and when do you have in mind?

Right. Foliage in NE and just about everywhere is SO over. Were you thinking of next year?

Should have made that more clear. I'm in charge of planning next year's trip and thought I'd start getting information now for next year since this topic seems to be so active right now. So, yes, advice is needed for next year.

Yankee Magazine sponsors some motorcoach tours
http://www.yankeemagazine.com/vacati...ours.intro.php

The itinerary for the Great New England tour looked pretty good but it's longer than you wanted. I was also a bit annoyed that they haven't updated the tour info since the famous Old Man disintegrated. Since we live here, I don't know anyone who has gone on a bus tour but maybe topping your request will help.

Faina just took one, and seemed to enjoy it very much. Perhaps if you do a search on her name, or "foliage tours" the info will pop up. I'll try to top it for you.

Cosmos is a budget tour company. We visiting the same places as Trafalgar and Globus, only stayed at inexpensive motels. I don't remember the website... if you Google GlobusandCosmos (as one word) it will come up. It may be CosmosVacations.com. Others may be Trafalgar, Collette, Caravan, I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Some local AAA travel offices do foliage tours - and I think they are national AAA tours, not just put together by local office - so check that out as well.

Since you're planning so far ahead, and there are six "adventuresome" of you, I would urge you to consider flying into Manchester, NH and renting a car (minivan).

For one thing, the very best way to enjoy the fall foliage is by getting in a car and driving all over (all depending upon where the colors happen to be during your visit), not from tour bus windows on a pre-determined route.

It would be ever so much better to be able to stop at your leisure anywhere you like and stay as long as you like. And, the savings would enable you to "dine" magnificently everywhere versus "included meals", not to mention stay longer. Seven or eight days would be much, much better.

I usually join a tour group, but in this case my vote is with DJKbooks - why don't you rent a minivan? If you are not sure which places to visit - just go to all those tour companies' websites, they have details posted. Driving by yourself you'll have more flexibility.

Thanks, everyone. I've got a place to start. We'll also talk more about going it on our own. Being able to stop when we want to view more (and shop) is very appealing.

Trafalgartours.com (trafalgartours4less.com discounts trafalgar tours 14%) and Tauck. I think trafalgartours4less.com discounts Tauck 5-8% as well as Colette vacations. Tauck is the most expensive of the lot. My parents have done Trafalgar 2X and have been very happy, we have done Tauck 2X and have been very satisfied. Definitely get a price quote through the consolidator listed above. They do all tour companies and will beat any other price quote.

I also wanted to mention most tours have varied leisure times, some much more relaxed than others. It may be a good idea to order brochures.

Coming from Texas, there is no need to go as far east as NE. There are many foliage tours in northern Michigan.

Keith