PROS & CONS OF COACH TOURS

Back up the bus — Linda Thompson says you’ll learn, make friends, and skip queues travelling in a group

Group bus tours.

Does the idea fill you with dread? Trapped on a hot bus with a bunch of loud Kiwis and Aussies, whizzing through a new European capital every day.

If this is Tuesday it must be Belgium. Herded behind a shouting tour director waving a little flag over their head as you dutifully troop around the essential landmarks, take that ghastly photo of holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tick off another bucket list must-see.

It’s not like that at all.

Insight Vacations’ guided coach tours are part of a bigger tour franchise that includes Contiki for the younger set, the 18-35-year-olds, and Trafalgar for any age.

Insight is aimed at a mid-range market, only about 30 people, more legroom on air-conditioned coaches with Wi-Fi and a loo. No boozy backpackers, no drunken 20-somethings on their OE.

Your tour director is bound to be an expert on every place you visit, and fluent in many languages. The TD takes care of everything so you don’t have to.

Your fellow travellers are from all over the globe so you’re not stuck with a bunch of fellow Kiwis, and you’ll make new friends quickly. Our age range was “almost 12” — a real character — to 70s, and they came from South Africa, Australia, the US, China, Singapore and Canada.

Your trip has been planned with a couple of nights in each stop — time enough to enjoy some local experiences and immerse yourself in a place, learn its history and find out about the locals.

And to wash out your smalls.

You’ll get priority VIP entry into all the places you’ve read about and skip the queues, or see them after hours, especially in summer when everyone and their mates are also visiting the European highlights.

You’ll get to sample the local food and wine, walk with a food expert around a Paris market, learn some new skills, like making pasta or strudel, or the perfect bellini.

This is actually travelling, rather than taking a holiday. There are real experiences, learning opportunities, getting off the beaten track.