Bus Tour Advice

Photo by Derek Sanberg/MiamiTourCompany.com

Your vacation time is precious. There is nothing worse than wasting a day on a lower end tour, with an unqualified guide. (And this is not leading to a plug on our tours.) When choosing a tour, it’s important to research the tour company.

When calling around, here are the questions to ask:

Find out exactly what is included

• What is the name of the tour company providing the bus tour?
• How long is the actual tour - excluding the hotel pick up time?
• What kind of vehicle is used? (Is there air conditioning?)
• Do you take credit cards? Pay by credit card if at all possible. A credit-card company can be a strong ally in resolving billing disputes.
• Is tour cancellation insurance included?
• Are there any other costs?
• Do customers receive any freebies?
• Ask how much the tour guide guides
• Is the guide also the driver?
• Does the guide give talks on the places and history?
• What are the guide’s qualifications (experience, fluency in English, and other languages)?

Imagine your perfect day

• How many people will be on the tour? (What is the maximum group size.)
• How much free time is allotted at each stop?
• Is there a bathroom on the bus? How much time is spent on the bus?
• Roughly how much time is spent shopping?

Don’t be afraid to get personal

• Do you have a list of references?
• How many years have you been in business?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• What are your refund policies before and after the tour?

Request

• Pictures of the tours and the tour buses.
• The detailed itinerary.
• Written tour evaluations (may be posted on independent websites).

If you follow this advice, even an old-fashioned bus tour can be a good time.

About the Author: Gus Moore heads up Miami Beach 411 as site administrator. You can reach him at 1-305-754-2206. See more articles by Gus.

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