Having just got back from the Heart & Soul trip and visiting for great cities i would just like to give my opinion on the City Tours by coach that we get.

I personally only find them adequate but from a coach you cant see everything especially on trip with 30 or 40 people.

Can accept financially it makes sense to do it while the coach is already paid for so in St Louis & Memphis was the best option.

However we didn't get our coach in Chicago and a 2nd one with driver was hired so wouldn't it be far better to get everyone tickets for the Hop on, Hop off bus which i find so much better and would possibly be more economical. It would give people chance to spend time at the places they like, lunch where they like, etc.

Same for New Orleans as our own bus had left us by this stage and a 2nd one used.

Just a thought and wonder if others agree.

Could you suggest this to planning ?

Thanks

Mick

I have forwarded your comments up to the holiday creator for them to review and consider.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Julia,

Having just got back from the Heart & Soul trip and visiting for great cities i would just like to give my opinion on the City Tours by coach that we get.

I personally only find them adequate but from a coach you cant see everything especially on trip with 30 or 40 people.

Can accept financially it makes sense to do it while the coach is already paid for so in St Louis & Memphis was the best option.

However we didn't get our coach in Chicago and a 2nd one with driver was hired so wouldn't it be far better to get everyone tickets for the Hop on, Hop off bus which i find so much better and would possibly be more economical. It would give people chance to spend time at the places they like, lunch where they like, etc.

Same for New Orleans as our own bus had left us by this stage and a 2nd one used.

Just a thought and wonder if others agree.

Could you suggest this to planning ?

Thanks

Mick

Hi Mick. I agree the City Tours on the coach can be a bit dull but not all those who go on JY trips are as confident as we are. I think a lot of the first timers would be scared of getting lost if they were left to fend for themselves on the Hop on Off buses in a big city.

I completely agree. On a city tour of Honolulu last year we didn't stop at all, not even to take photos through the window and it was pretty much just taking the 'long way' from one place to another. In contrast our tour of Churchill, Canada last week - a 'town' of only a couple of streets - took all morning with several stops.

Sally

I agree with Sue. I personally am not very confident to venture out on my own. If I remember correctly, was there not a post sometime ago when someone complained about having to use public transport instead of a coach on a City holiday? Perhaps a choice can be given so people can decide whether they want to go on a coach or venture out on their own.

Jaya

I have travelled to Istanbul and Barcelona with JY and both times I went on the hop on - hop off bus tours

they are a great way of exploring a city and are very good value for money.

Dave.

Hi Julia,

Having just got back from the Heart & Soul trip and visiting for great cities i would just like to give my opinion on the City Tours by coach that we get.

I personally only find them adequate but from a coach you cant see everything especially on trip with 30 or 40 people.

Can accept financially it makes sense to do it while the coach is already paid for so in St Louis & Memphis was the best option.

However we didn't get our coach in Chicago and a 2nd one with driver was hired so wouldn't it be far better to get everyone tickets for the Hop on, Hop off bus which i find so much better and would possibly be more economical. It would give people chance to spend time at the places they like, lunch where they like, etc.

Same for New Orleans as our own bus had left us by this stage and a 2nd one used.

Just a thought and wonder if others agree.

Could you suggest this to planning ?

Thanks

Mick

Hi Mick. I agree the City Tours on the coach can be a bit dull but not all those who go on JY trips are as confident as we are. I think a lot of the first timers would be scared of getting lost if they were left to fend for themselves on the Hop on Off buses in a big city.

Point taken Sue, but as they all start and finish in the same place it would be ok i think (better views even if you dont get off). Suggest those not confident would be given the opportunuity to travel with the tour manager.

Hi

I agree with Sue. I personally am not very confident to venture out on my own. If I remember correctly, was there not a post sometime ago when someone complained about having to use public transport instead of a coach on a City holiday? Perhaps a choice can be given so people can decide whether they want to go on a coach or venture out on their own.

Jaya

Hi Jaya,

I remember that post and if i'm correct it was about the Rome subway system, much more difficult to navigate than tourist friendly hop on/off buses with a circular route.

Giving everyone the option would be more expensive as a coach would be still needed and part of my point was the cost of the coach & driver when its a extra like at start or end of tour.

Mick

Mick

I agree that the so called city tours are not really city tours as you see little of the city and that too much of the time spent are used on churches, cathedrals, convents, museums etc so you really see very little of that city and some of the stops are actually out of the city, maybe some walking in some of the citys that are walkable could be a good idea giving more photo opportunities of things that are worth taking photos of, in my experience too little time is given on somewhere nice with lots going on to make way for less interesting things

Dave

Maybe a choice of hoppa ticket / coach tour would be a good idea though.

RM

Enjoyed Heart and Soul of America so much that to have hop on and coach would have been good in certain cities. To get to Hard Rock in St Louis, I had to walk 800 metres to the Metro and then 3 stops to Union Station. On my own and quite nervous when this guy, knowing that I was alone, asked for a light. Luckily I do not smoke so did not need to go into my handbag. Now with the recent uproar in Ferguson, St Louis, I am quite glad that I am home.

Jan