Wanting a Charleston SC or Boston/Nantucket/etc Tour - Any thoughts

[scottmel]

Was hoping against hope the 2018 ABD would reflect a new domestic tour to Boston/nantucket/etc or Carolinas...No luck. ANY other tour companies offer them> I am not very familiar with other tour companies besides NAtional geographic or TAucks. Neither of those go to either place. Any other companies? Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

Was hoping against hope the 2018 ABD would reflect a new domestic tour to Boston/nantucket/etc or Carolinas...No luck. ANY other tour companies offer them> I am not very familiar with other tour companies besides NAtional geographic or TAucks. Neither of those go to either place. Any other companies? Thanks!

Backroads.

https://www.backroads.com/award-winning-tours/united-states

Sayhello

 

[quinnc19]

Are you set on a group tour? Those areas are fairly easy to DIY, IMHO. I used to live in Charleston (still live in SC) and am DIYing New England this summer, so would be happy to provide some planning tips.

 

[scottmel]

Backroads.

https://www.backroads.com/award-winning-tours/united-states

Sayhello

Thanks! I was so psyched until I saw it was a bike tour. I can't bike. Walking I can go for miles, biking no...bad knee but thanks!!!

 

[scottmel]

Are you set on a group tour? Those areas are fairly easy to DIY, IMHO. I used to live in Charleston (still live in SC) and am DIYing New England this summer, so would be happy to provide some planning tips.

Aw thanks! I sort of did want a tour group. I can't even wrap my head around planning another trip, planning a 2 week SoCAl trip this July and I am up to my ears in it but I am guessing once that happens I will be itching to plan something else. May I save your post and contact you late summer for some New England tips Would love to see your travel itinerary!!!! Thank you! melissa

 

[quinnc19]

Surely - have fun in California!

 

[carpenta]

Both cities are so easy to "do on your own". We traveled to Jacksonville FLA, spent a couple days touring and rented a car. Drove to Savannah Ga. and again stayed a few days and it is a beautiful city you can tour on your own. Then we drove to Charleston S.C. and stayed a few days and flew home. We basically just mimicked "Tauck Tours" itinerary for this trip. Look at Tauck. All drives are only a couple hours in between. Boston is an easy city to travel by subway. Pretty concise area. You can take a ferry to the Cape also.

 

[sayhello]

Thanks! I was so psyched until I saw it was a bike tour. I can't bike. Walking I can go for miles, biking no...bad knee but thanks!!!

That's why I don't do Backroads anymore. They do have *some* Walking itineraries but the majority are biking.

Sayhell

 

[pixiepirate]

I, too, was disappointed that there were no new North American additions to the itineraries. My sister currently has limited vacation time which means we must stick closer to home. I think Disney is missing out on a market here. We are doing a fall New England trip with Insight this year. Tauck, Globus and Collette also offer a number of New England options. Charleston is on my wish list. Tauck and Globus offer itineraries that range from Charleston into Florida.

 

[DizMagic]

Being a SC native, I echo the comment that Charleston is extremely easy to do on your own. You can also easily add a day trip to Savannah and Hilton Head. I couldn't imagine an ABD option getting enough support to make it worth it. Boston is also very easy on your own - though if they packaged it with other New England sites, it could probably be good.

 

[gmboy95]

Boston = Gods Country

 

[Ava]

My guess is that it's difficult for ABD to create domestic itineraries that are profitable but not so expensive compared to doing the same trip on your own that the cost deters people from booking. Which I'm guessing is what happened with their short-lived Disney World/Florida itinerary. They probably thought it'd be a slam dunk based on the popularity of Backstage Magic but the Florida trip was expensive for what was mostly a Disney World vacation.

 

[Westcoastwild]

My guess is that it's difficult for ABD to create domestic itineraries that are profitable but not so expensive compared to doing the same trip on your own that the cost deters people from booking. Which I'm guessing is what happened with their short-lived Disney World/Florida itinerary. They probably thought it'd be a slam dunk based on the popularity of Backstage Magic but the Florida trip was expensive for what was mostly a Disney World vacation.

I have no idea about Charleston but given the price of what I'd consider a decent Boston hotel, I'd hate to see the cost of an ABD tour in Boston.

 

[Ava]

I have no idea about Charleston but given the price of what I'd consider a decent Boston hotel, I'd hate to see the cost of an ABD tour in Boston.

Yeah. The Philadelphia/D.C. tour stays in what look to be very nice hotels, but at over $3000 per person for a 6-night trip, with the amount of on-your-own time and sights included that are actually free (national monuments & such), I don't think it's a good value.

 

[sayhello]

I have no idea about Charleston but given the price of what I'd consider a decent Boston hotel, I'd hate to see the cost of an ABD tour in Boston.

I don't have access to my brochures right now, but there was a trip that included Boston that was cancelled before it ever ran. I don't remember how much it cost, but apparently it was more than people were willing to pay.

Sayhello

 

[scottmel]

I, too, was disappointed that there were no new North American additions to the itineraries. My sister currently has limited vacation time which means we must stick closer to home. I think Disney is missing out on a market here. We are doing a fall New England trip with Insight this year. Tauck, Globus and Collette also offer a number of New England options. Charleston is on my wish list. Tauck and Globus offer itineraries that range from Charleston into Florida.

THanks! I just took a look at Insight..Looks good. Any idea of the number of people on a tour? MAybe Charleston very easy afterall but the Boston/Nantucket/etc I think would be a good market for ABD...

 

[Westcoastwild]

Yeah. The Philadelphia/D.C. tour stays in what look to be very nice hotels, but at over $3000 per person for a 6-night trip, with the amount of on-your-own time and sights included that are actually free (national monuments & such), I don't think it's a good value.

Even just looking at hotels, that's an insane price. I've stayed at 4/5 star hotels in both cities, and they're actually reasonable. 3000 would pretty much cover any hotel providing you were a family of 4.

I could see the tour doing well though- those cities don't have the added challenges the Cape does, and there are probably a lot of parents who want to take their kids to DC as a family rather than as part of a school group. But still, you have to be a pretty hardcore fan of ABD to fork out that much cash for DC/Philly.

 

[pixiepirate]

THanks! I just took a look at Insight..Looks good. Any idea of the number of people on a tour? MAybe Charleston very easy afterall but the Boston/Nantucket/etc I think would be a good market for ABD...

I am taking my first Insight tour in October so I cannot speak from experience, however, their website indicates that they use 40 seat coaches. Tauck does offer small group departures on many of their tours, about 20 - 24 guests.

 

[Westcoastwild]

i looked at the insight tour for Boston and the cape and I wouldn't do it. You're not actually seeing much for that money and you're missing the whole relaxed Cape lifestyle. (In particular, if you really want Nantucket, do it as an overnight thing. NOT daytripper.)

 

[scottmel]

i looked at the insight tour for Boston and the cape and I wouldn't do it. You're not actually seeing much for that money and you're missing the whole relaxed Cape lifestyle. (In particular, if you really want Nantucket, do it as an overnight thing. NOT daytripper.)

Thanks I noticed that to. For my needs, TAuck was a big more appealing with this. I am just in a bind here b/c I have a 1000k credit with ABD and sadly it needs to be used or booked in 2 years. I was SO hoping for something to book NOW for next summer. DH liked the DC trip but we have been there enough on our own...Holding out another year for Boston then if no dice dont' know what I am doing with the 1k credit....