When considering to take a bus tour, it helps to understand that there are various options out there. In most cases, the option you’ll get depends on your destination and how much you’re willing to spend. Typically, a bus tour is one of the best things you can do when you visit a new city. It helps you discover some of the main places and visit some of your desired sites. For that reason, it’s important to understand your tour options before you pick the ideal service.
This post is going to cover some of the types of bus tour services you actually use during your vacation or travel. Read on to learn more.
1. Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
This type of tour doesn’t require booking. In most cases, you’ll encounter the service when strolling or roaming in a city. You can hop on and hop off at your own desire. For a city tour, a company can bill you for the amount of time you’ve been aboard, or they can have fixed prices. The service can also have various sites on their itinerary, and this will certainly cost slightly more.
You can also tour solo or as a group. The service will list all their stops so you can plan when and where to hop off. This is a good thing if you are interested in learning more about different landmarks and destinations in a particular area.
2. Classic Bus Tour
In this type of service, you will need to book in advance. Usually, the service announces the tour dates on their site or other travel platforms. There is a departure point at the airport or other designated location where they collect all tourists. You’ll also be given an itinerary for the tour to help you plan the trip. The itinerary is usually packed with different activities, sites, top tours & attractions.
Some classic bus tour services are family friendly while others aren’t. So, you have the option of picking a service that best suits your situation. Keep in mind that this is usually a group tour. Tourists can choose to travel in smaller groups or larger groups. The smaller the group, the higher the cost.
3. Speciality Bus Tour
As the name suggests, a speciality bus tour involves touring locations for a specific activity or event. For example, a tour can involve food, crime scene, star gazing, wine tasting, sporting activities, or museum visits. This type of tour requires a certain level of skill for both travelers and guides. You’ll also get an itinerary for the sites you’ll visit.
Since it’s a speciality service, you can expect to pay more than classic hop on, hop off bus tours. Speciality tours can be great if you have an interest in learning more about certain locations, events, or activities. Most travelers usually find them educative and fun.
4. Private Bus Tour
If you’re traveling as a family or in a group, then a private bus tour might be the ideal choice for you. Of course, it’s an expensive option. The good thing about this service is that you can choose your desired bus and plan your own itinerary. This allows you to select the important sites to visit.
The cost will depend on a variety of factors, including the number of people, type of the bus, destinations, and itinerary. Some bus services usually offer packages for private tours with a customizable itinerary. So, you can expect to pay a fixed sum for such services.
These are some of the types of bus tours you can consider when visiting a particular destination. Take the time to pick one that suits your needs and budget. Some companies also offer a private driver service for couples, solo travelers or those who don’t prefer group tours.