Tours and Travel: A Beginner's Guide to Motorcoach Tours

by Kevin Smith Author

When people think of motorcoach tours, the first thing that comes to mind might be out-of-town student trips or senior citizens going to a casino. But modern motorcoach tours in Atlanta are more than that. Here's a brief guide.

What Is a Motorcoach Tour?

It's a round trip tour to a city, national park, mountain, coast, or the countryside via motorcoach - a spacious passenger bus. Once at the destination, organizers will take the participants to their hotel accommodations, a wine tasting excursion, or an expedition.

A typical itinerary includes stopovers to attractions and activities. The former are usually landmarks, souvenir shops, and other tourist spots that are passed on the way.

Types of Tours

The frequency of these stopovers depends on the type of motorcoach tour you book. They include:

Destination: These tours have just a few rest stops since the tour focuses on the destination. They're ideal for tourists who want to maximize rest and recreation at their respective vacation spot.

Escorted Vacation: Escorted vacation tours are more relaxed when it comes to stopovers. This allows tourists to have ample time for exploration and sightseeing.

Guided: These are similar to escorted vacation tours, except a local representative leads the activities. They're for tourists who want someone familiar with the location to guide them on their side trips.

Things to Keep in Mind

Whether you're going on a destination, escorted vacation, or a guided tour, a considerable amount of time will be spent on the bus. To prepare you for your travel, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Bathrooms: Motorcoaches have bathrooms, but the contents are usually disposed of only at the end of the trip. To be considerate to other passengers and for your hygiene, make full use of restroom stops and only use the one on the bus for emergencies.

Bag Storage: Luggage is stored in a compartment underneath the vehicle. It can't be accessed while traveling unless at a stop. To have your essentials while you're on the road, pack them in a small bag that you can rest on your lap or fit inside the overhead storage.

Snacks: Most tours involve many activities. To have the energy for these, prepare non-crumbly snacks like fruit or granola bars.

Highway Traffic: Traveling via bus means you might encounter heavy traffic along the way. While you can't prevent this, it helps to be mentally prepared for it.

Be Courteous: Greet and say "thank you" to the driver, guide, and other passengers inside the bus. It's not mandatory, but it does create a pleasant atmosphere for everyone you'll encounter during one of your motorcoach tours in Atlanta.