excursion group

Suggested companies

Venture ashore, getyourguide.

Shore Excursions Group   Reviews

In the Travel Agency category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.4.

6,187 total

Most relevant

Zip lining in DR and Jost Van Dyke in BVI

We booked two excursions with Shore Excursions Group for our March cruise with NCL. We went zipping in the Dominican Republic and took a boat to Jost Van Dyke. Prices were very reasonable, times were followed strictly, and communication excellent. We have used this company for other cruises as well and are always pleased. I highly recommend Shore Excursions Group.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

All of the excursions that I book…

All of the excursions that I book through Shore Excursions group are excellent! I like that they are less expensive and more intimate than through the cruise line. There are more interesting options as well!

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Request Jose Rosario for your driver

Our driver, Jose Rosario, made our day! He was the best tour guide. We had a wonderful experience at The Mexican Hot Springs. Hector and all the staff were very welcoming. We had the most delicious lunch of homemade guacamole, freshly made chips, and delicious queso. After our excursion, we wanted to go shopping before returning to the cruise ship. Rosario took us to the best downtown store, Michael Gallery for handcrafted art, jewelry and Mexican vanilla. We had a great day!

Date of experience : March 06, 2024

Great day in Honduras

We had a very nice, knowledgable guide who took us around the island. The monkeys and sloths were a huge hit and the highlight of the tour. Our bus was very comfortable, and it ended up being a private tour for our party of 10, which was great for flexibility to stop wherever we wanted. He made sure to get us back to the boat in plenty of time.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

the website was easy to navigate

the website was easy to navigate. It would be great to have a better understanding on distances from the port to the actually excursion. The individual I spoke with on the phone was pretty decent.

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

Excellent small tour experience

Our tour guide gave us lots of interesting information and great recommendations for eating and shopping. Our driver was wonderful. Two dogs ran out in front of our van and he skillfully avoided hitting them.

Date of experience : March 20, 2024

Well organized and stress free

Well organized and stress free. The last thing you want is to be worried about your meeting place and pick up. Never a concern.

A pleasure to work with

We did three excursions shore excursions. Everything was very easy to book. We were picked up promptly at our cruise port. The excursions were interesting and the guides were wonderful. I found the prices to be very reasonable for what was included.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Bait and switch

Bait and switch. We recently use SEG to book an island tour on Oahu during a Hawaii cruise. After meeting our guide and starting out for the day we realized that the tour we were on was not the one we’d signed up for. We were not the only ones. One of the other patrons who had booked through a different company said she had received an Email explaining that the original tour had been canceled and giving her the option be booked on the new tour or cancel. We did not receive an Email. The tour was similar, but two stops we were really looking forward to had been omitted.

Best Excursion for the Family

Best Excursion for the Family! Our family of 7 people ages range from 82 to 7 years old. Was fun for Grandma to go 100 feet under the sea and experience seeing the bottom of the ocean for her first time! All the kids enjoyed seeing the shipwreck and sea life. The captain made sure that both sides of the submarine were able to view everything. My husband and I both have gone scuba diving but this was a completely different experience! Highly recommend this!!

Date of experience : July 07, 2023

Highly Recommend

We've now used Shore Excursions Group for multiple excursions, and not only have they all been very good or excellent, but when we have had any issues, Shore Excursions has stepped up and assisted, or provided us a partial refund. Highly recommend!

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Customer service is effective and professional.

We booked 2 Private Origins of Naples tours from SEG. Our tour guide Fabiana was waiting for us at the port entrance on time. She is care and professional. She combined our 2 groups to one because the other local guide didn't show up, but Fabiana didn't leave us, she tried to contact the local office for us and decided to take all of us as a shared group. Our 2 hours in Naples was relax and fun. Fabiana is knowledgeable for the city history, culture and food. The management team are professional and enthusiasm to solve the small problem for us. We're satisfied and confidence to use their service again in the future travel. We strongly recommend Shore Excursions Group.

Date of experience : March 18, 2024

They are a middleman that will waste your time and not get you anything.

They have an automated email that forces you to block out a planned excursion for 3 days and then email you on the last day to say that they couldn't get you anything. The only other option is to pay an additional fee that's about 30% of the full excursion to get an answer within 24 hours. They are a broker and they are unreliable. Just do your homework and you're better off without them.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Punta Arenas and Monevideo

I took two excursions with Shore Excursion Group in my South America cruise in March 2023 Punta Arenas: The local guide gave an overview of Punta Arenas. The highlight of the excursion was the visit to Museo Salesiano. Montevideo: The guide was excellent and told the history of the country and gave us a thorough tour of city. I am particularly thankful to my guide as he let me take a photo of Estadio Centanario where the inaugural FIFA World Cup was played in 1930.

Date of experience : March 29, 2023

The Costa Maya excursion was really…

The Costa Maya excursion was really gross. The place they took us to was a dirty beach with gross food. We were jammed in this little space like sardines on old beach chairs. Total waste of money and time and would never ever do it again.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Great full day in wellington

Guide meant me by the ship. I ended up with having a private tour with this wonderful gentleman. He took me to all the places and activities that had been outlined when booking this tour. We had a fabulous lunch at the fish cafe. I especially appreciated the beauty of the south shore. The tour was well paced and the guide gave me a wealth of information about the history of Wellington and its surroundings. He was such easy company and knew the area like the back of his hand. I totally enjoyed the entire experience and was back at the ship in ample time. Thank you and wishing you a quick recovery with your knee surgery.

Easy Web site to choose an on shore…

Easy Web site to choose an on shore excursion. Followed up with good communication after making a selection

We did several cruises each year

We did several cruises each year. We always buy our excursions with Shore excursions group, because the groups are often smaller and the prices are competitive. What's more, our experience with local tour operators is always pleasant and positive. They are reliable.

Great guided tours

Great guided tours. I have used shore excursions now twice for long cruises and different destinations and most of the tours have been amazing.

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

Wonderful experience with a great crew!

We had a tender relocation at the last minute and didn’t need to do anything. Everyone at the pier knew the name of the person we were meeting and directed us to where we needed to go. The drive was easy and uneventful. The place where we embarked on the boat was clean and the crew were especially helpful and friendly. All in all it was a beautiful day that went very smoothly!

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Join AAA today Membership gives you access to Roadside Assistance, Deals, Discounts, and more.

• Add Members
• Gift Membership
• Member Benefits Guide
• The Extra Mile
• Renew Expires in 28 days

AAA Visa Signature® Credit Cards

Earn a $100 Statement Credit

After spending $1,000 on your card within 90 days of account opening.

• Advice back All Advice Travel Auto Money Home Life
• Destinations back All Destinations Northeast States Southeast States Central States Western States Mid-Atlantic States National Parks Road Trips International Travel Inspiration
• Connect back All Connect Community Stories Authors & Ambassadors
• Guides back All Guides Doing Your Taxes Protecting Your Valuables Winter Driving Buying and Selling a Car Buying and Selling a Home Getting Organized Home Improvement Improve Your Finances Maintaining Your Car Saving Money Staying Healthy Traveling
• Series back All Series AAA World Member News AAA's Take KeeKee's Corner AAA Traveler Worldwise Foodie Finds Good Question Minute Escapes Car Reviews

Shore Excursions Group

4,500 Excursions in Over 300 Ports Worldwide

Enjoy hand-picked tours and activities in popular destinations from Shore Excursions Group. Choose your excursion size, browse special deals, and explore multi-port packages. Shore Excursions Group leverages its expertise to offer you high-quality, worldwide cruise excursions and a best-price guarantee. Excursions are hosted by local experts for a more personalized experience.

Make your vacation even more memorable with enriching excursions from AAA's trusted partner, Shore Excursions Group*.

*Clicking the link below takes you to an external partner website, where you can book your excursions.

With Shore Excursions Group, You Can Expect:

• Lower prices • Worry-free travel • Satisfaction guarantee • 24/7 support • Guaranteed return to ship

Excursions sell out quickly. Make your reservations today!

Terms, conditions and cancellation policy apply. See Shore Excursions Group site terms & conditions page for details.

Welcome to AAA

To enjoy customized local content, please enter your ZIP Code below.

Limited Time Offer!

Please wait....

Shore Excursions Group

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Shore Excursions Group - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Russian National Ballet Show with Dinner

Private Borsch and Beef Stroganoff Cooking Class

Private Moscow City Tour and Scenic River Cruise

Private Traditional Russian Home-Cooking Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should i book my excursions through shoreexcursions.com, is there more risk of us missing the ship if we don't book directly through the cruise line, does shoreexcursions.com have the best prices, how do i reserve my shore excursions through shoreexcursions.com, will i receive a booking confirmation and voucher to prove that i paid, how soon in advance should i reserve my excursions, how close to the tour departure date can i make a reservation, if i want to book at the last minute, less than three days before departure, do i have any options, what is included in the price of the excursions, what should i wear on my excursion, how much physical activity is involved in the tours, where do i go to meet my tour once i get off the ship, what is your policy regarding cancellation, i'm already on my cruise and have an emergency. who can i contact about my tour, what currency are the shore excursion prices shown in on your site, what if i miss my tour because the ship is late or cannot make it into port will i get a refund, am i expected to tip the tour guide and/or driver, what if i need to cancel or make changes to a reservation i already made, are there special prices for children, are there any age restrictions on some tours, is there time for me to take more than one excursion in one day at a port of call, can i protect my tour purchase, just in case i can't take the tour, are there tours for physically challenged passengers, do you offer custom shore excursions for groups, get updates & promotions.

Subscribe to our E-mail List

or continue with

Reset Password

Enter the e-mail address associated with the account. We'll e-mail a link to reset your password.

Group Shore Excursions & Tours

Group tours.

For when you're traveling together

Group Shore Excursions with Venture Ashore

We make creating and booking your group shore excursions easy because we believe the most memorable experiences are those that are shared together..

We constantly research destinations, handpicking all our shore excursions to ensure you experience the very best each destination has to offer. We offer an exceptional range of great shore excursions to suit all ages, interests, and abilities. Excursions and multi-port packages are carefully designed to suit your ship’s itinerary, and we always guarantee to get you back to your ship on time. Book with us today!

Why should your group travel with Venture Ashore?

Specialists in the art of group travel.

Dedicated Group Specialists​ to Assist

A dedicated team of knowledgeable group specialists, with over 60 years of experience in the industry, are on hand to help you create the perfect itinerary for your group, and throughout your experience with Venture Ashore.

Exclusive Group Rates & Amenities

Wherever possible, our group itineraries come with perks. Whether it’s exclusive rates only available through Venture Ashore or expertly negotiated amenities and special inclusions to your itinerary, our carefully curated group itineraries will always put affordability and your experience ashore first.

Our Always-True Guarantees

As with all of our shore excursions, groups enjoy our Back-to-Ship Guarantee, Don’t Port, Don’t Pay Policy and our industry-leading 7-Day Cancellation Policy that allows you to cancel, for a full refund, up to 7 days before your tour.

Flexible Booking & Low Deposits

Custom Experiences & The Best Itineraries

The Groups Specialist working with you will be helping you find and choose the best experiences for your group. Custom itinerary building and negotiating on your behalf are included in the service our specialists provide, and the boutique experience of a custom itinerary is sure to make it a memorable experience for you and your group.

• Destinations
• Travel Agents

1 888 801 8547

0800 091 8274

Log in to Venture Ashore

Great Experiences Await!

Forgot your password?

Create a new account.

You'll zip through it!

Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

Our 63 most popular moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter

• Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
• Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
• Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
• Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants

Lower Volga Voyage

• Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
• Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
• Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front

Volga Dream Russian River Cruise

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Summer

White Russian - 7 days

• Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
• Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
• Celebrate New Year's Eve in Moscow!
• Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace

Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
• Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

All Moscow , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Moscow

Small Group Moscow Tours

Back in the USSR - 7 days

Russian Revolution - 9 days

• Visit historic Novgorod, an ancient city which straddles the Volkhov River. Explore the attractive riverside kremlin and experience a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

The Snowball - 6 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room

Mood for Moscow - 4 days

• Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
• Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs

Best Moscow Tours by Duration

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

Best Moscow Tours by Price

Top Moscow Attractions & Experiences

Moscow Tours & Travel Guide

Moscow Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Moscow reviews & ratings, capitals of the north.

some hotels could have been better

It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...

I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .

Johanna-Marie

Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary

Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short

See all Moscow reviews

Moscow Tours FAQ

1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?

2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?

3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?

4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?

• Trip Planner
• Private Tours
• Small Group Tours
• Two Capitals
• City Breaks
• Trans-Siberian
• River Cruises
• Russia & Beyond

4-star edition of the private 9-day tour of the Russian capitals

5-star edition fo the private 9-day tour of Moscow & St. Petersburg

13-day in-depth discovery of Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg

7-day tour designed to harness the best of the Venice of the North

11-day private discovery of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Golden Ring

Your Russia Getaway

Fill out the short trip survey to receive a personalized itinerary from a destination expert.

• Travel guide
• Before you go
• What to see

Russia Trip Planner

Learn about the dos and the don'ts for your amazing trip to Russia

• Our Partners
• Reservation Policies

Rated 9/10 on the Trustpilot review platform

• My itineraries
• Chat with us
• Trip survey

Groups & Agents

• For Suppliers

+1 (888) 744-6056

• North America : +1 (888) 744-6056
• Oceania and Australia : +61261888118

You are here

Moscow escorted tours.

• Tips & Highlights

Tour Reviews

• Other Destinations
• Related Posts

• Reset filters

Moscow Vacation Packages

Moscow vacations are always a great idea when it comes to traveling in Russia. Plan your trip to Moscow with a leading tour operator for Russia and enjoy the ease and pleasure that comes from it. You will stay at the centrally-located hotels, enjoy guided tours to Moscow's best sights with charming local guides, and, most importantly, feel relaxed and immersed in the Russian culture at all times. Wondering what the ideal way to see the best of Moscow is? Well, with a private tour to Moscow, of course! We will listen to your travel preferences and prepare a custom Moscow itinerary just for you. Let's start talking about your upcoming vacation to the gorgeous capital city of Russia.

Moscow Tour Highlights

Explore the capital of the largest country in the world, Russia.

Learn about the most visited sights in Moscow that are worth adding to your Russian itinerary. Create a fantastic tour to Moscow with a destination, choosing your wished activities.

• Moscow walking tour
• The Red Square
• St Basil's Cathedral
• Moscow Subway ride
• Tretyakov Gallery
• The Red Square in Moscow
• The Bolshoi Theater
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Moscow's Kremlin exploration
• 'Seven Sisters' Skyscrapers

Tips for Moscow Travel

Take a look at the good-to-know tips before visiting Moscow and have a fantastic time in the capital.

What to pack

Make sure to check the weather prognosis before your trip and pack accordingly.

When to travel

Moscow is beautiful all around the year. Choose traveling time according to preferred activities.

We suggest to always have some cash with you. You will need Rubles (RUB) for Russia.

How much to tip

Tipping is not required in Russia, but it's considered good etiquette, tip 10%-15% of your bill.

The average summer temperature is approx 18°C (64°F), and winter is around -6°C (22°F).

Some of the most popular souvenirs from Moscow are caviar, Krasnaya Moska perfume.

Best Moscow Sights

One of the highest points in Moscow and one of its most breathtaking places - the Sparrow Hills.

See the 344-feet Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the tallest Orthodox church in the world.

Enjoy masterpieces of Russian opera and ballet in Moscow's legendary Bolshoi Theater.

Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, Red Square is an absolute must see when in Moscow. 

The famous GUM is a large department store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow facing Red Square.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture set in the romantic Red Square.

History and luxury is revealed inside the Kremlin as the Armoury Chamber displays treasures like Faberge Eggs.

The symbol of Moscow and entire Russia, the Kremlin is often described as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Moscow Metro is like a whole underground city that holds the world's largest collection of Stalinist Art.

I am very satisfied.

I have been using the Firebirds (Travel All Russia) services for a while. I am very satisfied.

WOW. From the choice of hotels to...

WOW. From the choice of hotels, an itinerary that ran to plan, the amazing Guides and drivers, and of course the stunning cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. No long queues for entry to museums, churches, and palaces.  I would gladly recommend using Firebird Tours (Travel All Russia) to anyone.

THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

I must say from the day I started to book my tip till the day I got home I had one GREAT trip and experience I always felt safe and cared for help was seconds away not that I needed any I will defiantly highly recommend your company to any traveler to Russia WELL DONE to the Whole team THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

We enjoyed the whole trip a lot

Overall we enjoyed the whole trip a lot. Moscow is beautiful and clean. Thank you very much for your patience and excellent organization of this tour. Everything ran very smoothly and according to schedule. The guides met us on time at hotels or at our train carriage on arrival. They all spoke good English, had a good local knowledge and were very kind and helpful.

The tour lived up to all expectations

I’m most pleased with Travel All Russia in arranging our ‘Volga Dream’ Russia tour, I would recommend using your services again as every aspect of our tour went off without a hitch. The communication between our tour representative was excellent as we required additional days on both ends of our tour. The visa process and the logistics were flawlessly implemented.

We had a great time in Moscow!

Everything was perfect and we are very satisfied with services and accommodations.

Loved my time in Russia

The trip was great. Especially want to mention the guides I had on the extra days were exceptional. Both guides and drivers worked out well. Thanks again for all your help and attention. Loved my time in Russia, and still haven’t stopped talking about it.

Exploring Magnificent Russian Capitals, June 2017

Just want to say that our guide in St Petersburg was really outstanding. You really felt like someone was looking after you. Very observant - knowledgeable. We really enjoyed time spent with her.

Exploring Vibrant Moscow, June 2017

The experience was great!!! We had an excellent guide. The hotel was fabulous.

Thank you for your help !!! was an unforgettable trip.

Related destinations

More about moscow.

• Call us now
• Request a call
• Chat on WhatsApp
• Start Live chat
• Contact via email

Moscow & St. Petersburg Small Group Tours Private Tour Packages Trans-Siberian Trips Russian River Cruises Moscow Tour Packages St. Petersburg Tours All Russia Tours

Why Travel to Russia Best Time to Visit Russia Russian Visa Information Tips Before Traveling Tips on Arrival Russian Currency Moscow Travel Guide Read More in Our Blog

Hermitage Museum Church of the Savior on Blood The Kremlin Sergiev Posad, Golden Ring Kizhi Island The Red Square Siberia Lake Baikal

Fla. Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST39939 All Rights Reserved © 2024 About Us | Testimonials  | Our Blog  |  Terms of Service  | Privacy Policy  

How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

I 've always considered myself a fiercely independent traveler. I've navigated more than 50 countries on my own, and while I have sometimes booked short excursions, usually for a day, it had never occurred to me to book a group tour. That changed when I decided to take two of my children on a family tour with Intrepid Travel . 

I had planned on spending our winter break in the Middle East but changed my mind at the last minute due to safety concerns . Because of the abrupt change, I knew I wouldn't have time to plan an itinerary, book hotels and arrange transportation before our departure date. However, I didn’t want to let that stop me from having an adventure. I'm glad I took a chance on a group tour because it changed the way I travel. Here's how.

BEST OF THE BEST: 15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The trip planning was stress-free

I spent a little time comparing tour companies but quickly honed in on Intrepid. The company offers a variety of itineraries for families at different price points, and a few of my friends had been on its tours and had a good experience. I also liked that Intrepid offers specialized tours for different types of travelers, including family tours . 

At first I planned on an "original" style family tour but upgraded to a "comfort" tour, which included more activities and meals along with upgraded accommodations. Although it cost more, the company's 10-day Morocco Family Holiday tour was still within my budget and looked like a good value. 

BEFORE YOU GO: The 5 most important questions to ask yourself before booking a tour  

Once I committed to a tour, my planning was essentially done. That was a huge relief. I normally spend hours searching for hotels , figuring out some must-do activities in every location along with some off-the-beaten-track attractions, researching transportation options, and gathering restaurant recommendations. Although I often find it's fun, it’s also time-consuming and can become draining for trips that involve several stops.

Even though a group tour was not exactly what I would have planned on my own, Intrepid's Morocco itinerary was fairly close. I thought giving up some control was well worth the trade-off of not having to do all the planning on my own. Because Intrepid uses local teams based at its tour destinations to plan trips, I also hoped having a local involved would bring me to places I never would have found on my own. 

SAVE MONEY: Kids stay free at these 10 all-inclusive family resorts

Instead of reading hotel reviews and booking entry tickets, I spent the weeks leading up to my family vacation learning more about Moroccan culture. I knew this would enrich my experience more than figuring out all of the details for a trip abroad to run smoothly. I'm usually a mix of excited and stressed in the week or two leading up to a big trip. This time I was mostly excited, and my stress was at a minimum. 

Though I won’t stick exclusively to group tours in the future, this trip taught me to not sweat the small stuff so much. I don’t need to spend so much time finding the perfect hotel or restaurant to have a great trip.

Group trips are fantastic for solo travelers and parents traveling on their own

Before I had a family, I often traveled on my own. Though I enjoyed solo travel , it was lonely at times, even more so when I stopped staying at youth hostels and lost access to the fantastic communities they provide. Now I frequently travel with my two younger children. They are fantastic travel companions, but on longer trips I sometimes find myself longing for adult interaction or an extra pair of hands. Additionally, even though my kids usually get along well, they sometimes get sick of each other in the absence of any other playmates. 

TRAVEL WITH TEENS: 10 best vacation ideas for families with teenagers

On my Intrepid trip, I had other adults to talk to throughout the day. That was a refreshing change from my usual experience of going a week or more without speaking to another adult for more than five minutes, usually for transactional matters like checking into a hotel. My kids also quickly made friends with the other children on the trip. Not surprisingly, all of the families on the trip had similar interests and an adventurous spirit. My children and I were the only Americans in the group, and it was interesting learning more about life in New Zealand, Canada and Australia from the other families.

The parents in the group quickly started leaning on one another for support. One mom, also traveling alone with her children, asked me to take one of her daughters on an outing so she could get some one-on-one time with her other child. I asked a different mom to keep an eye on my son while I packed our things for the next day. It was nice not feeling as if I was on my own. 

UNIQUE TRIPS: Hate bus tours? These 7 unique guided tours were made for you

This "it takes a village" spirit is something I want to bring with me in my future travels. Although it’s not possible to replicate the experience of traveling with other families, it is possible to seek out connections away from home. For example, on a recent trip, my son wanted to play soccer with local children who lived near our hotel. Instead of rushing him away so we could squeeze in another activity, I let him play. He wound up meeting up with the other kids every night we were there, sharing candy and communicating with an app. The nights playing soccer were a highlight of that trip for him and something I probably would not have let him do before my experience with a group tour.  

I appreciated a slower pace

I have serious FOMO and often pack too much into my days when I travel. When I first reviewed the itinerary, I noted right away that it had downtime and even an entire free afternoon built into the trip. Though I know many people enjoy that balance, I was worried I would feel bored and come away feeling as if I had traveled halfway around the world and missed seeing all there is to do. 

TRIP REVIEW: Adventures by Disney’s Peru tour is a riveting family adventure

The reality is it’s impossible to do everything. Trying is exhausting and impossible. There is always something left on the to-do list at the end of the trip. It was refreshing to go into a trip not trying to see an entire country in two weeks and being OK with that from the outset. 

Though there were a couple of other things I would have liked to have squeezed in, I was very happy with the balance of activities and downtime. Other than all-inclusive family vacations and trips to family resorts , I normally don’t schedule time to just relax while I am traveling. It was really nice to have time to read and play UNO with my kids. I also liked that Intrepid had a couple of optional activities for those of us who didn’t want quite as much downtime as others. 

MONEY MATTERS: How much should you tip on a guided tour? All your gratuity questions answered  

I do still feel pressure to see and do everything when I travel, but going on a group trip helped me see the value in traveling at a slower pace. Some of my favorite moments from my Intrepid trip happened during scheduled downtime; they gave me and my children time to just enjoy being with one another without the pressures of work and school. It’s a lesson I’ve tried to carry with me as I’ve planned future trips. 

Learning from a local is invaluable 

One reason I chose Intrepid is the company uses all local guides, and most tours use the same guide throughout the trip. It may sound obvious that learning from locals is the best way to get to know a country, but I had underestimated just how valuable traveling with a local guide would be. 

TOUR REVIEW: Adventures by Disney’s South Africa tour is a lesson in culture, history, and beauty  

I learned much about Moroccan culture through our tour guide, who was always willing to answer questions about his life and traditions. He even brought us to his family home to meet his parents and niece, which was a very special experience. Aside from being able to share the history of everywhere we visited, I also liked that our guide warned us about scams to watch out for, shared the tipping culture and gave advice on bargaining. He was also helpful when it came to practical matters like finding an ATM.  

For future trips, I will be more open to taking guided tours with local guides, even if it’s just for a few hours. I will also make it a point to try to talk to more locals, as long as I can do so without bothering them too much. 

Even though it wasn’t what I had originally planned, not only did I have a great experience on my trip with Intrepid, it has also forever changed the way I plan to travel.

How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com .

More from TourScoop:

• 9 best travel companies that specialize in women-only tours
• 8 best senior travel tour companies
• 4 great tour companies with independent tours

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology , we review and select family vacation ideas , family vacation spots , all-inclusive family resorts , and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators , tour operator reviews , tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

Welcome to the home of guinness.

If you want to truly immerse yourself in the unique history, heart and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer, there’s only one place to go – its home. The Guinness Storehouse contains seven unforgettable floors of sights, sounds and sensations in a building that has been brewing beer for over 250 years. Hopping with entertainment, this experience takes you on an immersive experience from grain to glass. From the artful brewing process to the iconic Guinness advertisements that have become pillars of Irish culture throughout the globe, there are so many special things to see. The 9,000 year lease signed and sealed in 1759 by Arthur Guinness himself is so impressive, it’s hard to find something even more special to top it. But there is.

VISIT THE STOREHOUSE

Exceptional Restaurant Experiences At The Guinness Storehouse

Plan Your Visit To Ireland’s Biggest Visitor Experience

Buy Tickets Now

THE GRAVITY BAR

Doubled in size in 2020, it provides you with unparalleled 360-degree views over one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A high point in Dublin, Gravity Bar must be experienced to be believed. With so much to see and do on the floors beneath it, it’s also the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy your complimentary pint of Guinness.

KEEP UPDATED WITH ALL THINGS GUINNESS

Press release

• Press releases
• TUI Stories
• FY24 Q1 Results
• TUI returns to the Prime Standard
• Finance Communication
• Interviews, speeches & presentations

TUI Musement powering loveholidays Tours & Activities offering as OTA launches thousands of experiences for holidaymakers

• New Offering: Thousands of excursions, activities and attraction tickets now directly available to loveholidays customers
• Original & Unique Experiences: TUI Collection excursions and National Geographic Day Tours included in offering
• Strong Growth: Partnership with loveholidays continues TUI’s strong global growth in Tours & Activities
• Popular Partner: loveholidays joins growing portfolio of leading travel brands partnering with TUI Musement for Tours & Activities

TUI Musement, a global Tours & Activities business and part of TUI Group, is the new Tours & Activities partner for online travel agent (OTA) loveholidays. TUI Musement is powering a digital platform with a curated portfolio of thousands of excursions, activities and attraction tickets, which customers of the OTA can now directly access.

The wide-ranging catalogue of experiences includes museum visits, city tours, food and wine tastings and adventure activities, with options available to holidaymakers across the short haul beach, city break and long-haul destinations loveholidays sells. Experiences can be booked by customers prior to departing for their holiday and while in-resort.

“We’re delighted to partner with TUI Musement to roll out excursions, activities and, attraction tickets to our customers, helping them to have great experiences on their well- deserved holidays.” Said Laurence Stock, VP Commercial at loveholidays. “We pride ourselves on offering an unrivalled choice of great value package holidays, and the rollout of experiences makes it even easier to book and manage all aspects of a holiday with us.“

The offering to loveholidays customers includes options from the TUI Collection range of exceptional, responsible and great value excursions developed by the TUI team. Furthermore, loveholidays customers can book National Geographic Day Tours, which have been created by TUI in collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions based on National Geographic’s incredible legacy of exploration.

“loveholidays wants to give their customers great experiences and we are proud to partner with them, providing a terrific selection of the best and most relevant things to do in-destination. I am very excited that this includes the TUI Collection range of exceptional, responsible and great value excursions, and the selection of unique and immersive National Geographic Day Tours.” Added Nishank Gopalkrishnan, Chief Commercial Officer at TUI Musement, the Tours & Activities division of TUI Group. “Our collaboration with loveholidays reinforces TUI Musement’s position as the B2B partner of choice for Tours & Activities.”

The partnership with loveholidays continues TUI’s strong global growth in Tours & Activities, which has seen international airlines, hotels and travel technology companies all launch experiences offerings in collaboration with TUI Musement during 2024.

The launch follows the news that loveholidays has increased its ATOL licence to cover four million passengers this year, up 39% versus 2023 and 191% versus the last licence it submitted pre-pandemic. The OTA has strong growth ambitions, with product and market expansion at the heart of its growth strategy.

About TUI Musement

TUI Musement is a global Tours & Activities business that combines scalable digital platforms with personalised in-destination service by local teams, to deliver products in three main business lines:

Experiences: Excursions, activities & tickets

Transfers: Between airports, hotels and ports

• Tours: Multi-day itineraries encompassing flights, hotels, experiences and transfers

Available in all major city and sun & beach destinations, products are developed in-house or sourced from leading travel businesses. They are distributed to customers, including the 20+ million TUI customers, through the TUI websites and apps, in-destination local teams and B2B partners, including some of the world's leading OTAs, tour operators, airlines, hotels, travel agencies and cruise lines. TUI Musement is one of the major growth areas of the TUI Group.

Magnus Hüttenberend

More information.

• Press release (PDF)

We use cookies to provide you with an optimized website experience. They include cookies for the operation and optimization of the website as well as cookies for analyses, retargeting and to provide personalised content on websites by third party providers. By clicking on Accept you are agreeing to the use of non-essential cookies. If you don't want that, you can Decline All the use of cookies or change your Settings at any time. For more information, including the processing of data by third party providers, see our Cookie Notice . You can find further information on the use of cookies at any time in our Cookie Notice and our Privacy policy . You will find the Imprint here.

Choose which cookies are permitted by using the “Status”-Switch. Save your settings with the button “I Agree”.

You can find further information on the use of cookies at any time in our Cookie Notice and our Privacy policy . You will find the Imprint here.

Lead singer for the Grammy winning, Billboard topping R&B group Tavares dies

NEW BEDFORD — Arthur “Pooch” Tavares, member of the iconic music group Tavares, has passed away.

His brother, Perry Lee “Tiny” Tavares, posted a photo tribute on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, with the message, "Miss what we had."

On the final photo, depicting Pooch with brother Ralph, who passed away in 2021, he wrote, “Now you two can get the stage ready for us. RI-Paradise.”

Post drew hundreds of expressions of sympathy

The post quickly drew over 400 expressions of sympathy and condolence.

"You have to take your music seriously. You have to have a passion for it. If you don't work hard at it you will never last," said Pooch in a previous Standard-Times article . "The constant rehearsing the fighting for everything you want ... without that passion for it you have nothing."

Pooch suffered a massive stroke in 2014, which ultimately led to his retirement from the group.

It was only a little over a week ago that the New Bedford City Council met to discuss the dedication ceremony for Tavares Brothers Way, a street honoring the brothers and their accomplishments.

Councilors had hoped to schedule Tavares dedication quickly

Councilors had hoped to set the ceremony as quickly possible, knowing that Arthur had been ill.

Councilor Derek Baptiste, who had made the motion to honor Tavares, said Wednesday, "It's a tough day. I wish we could have gotten everything done earlier so he could have celebrated — let him see the day. You want people to get their flowers while they're here. I'm just having a hard time with it today."

Baptiste said he received a text this morning from a family member confirming his death.

He said there was some comfort in knowing that Arthur knew the dedication was going to happen.

But it was still difficult.

It's tough when you start losing legends

"It's tough when you start losing legends, when you lose people you look up to," he said.

New street signs proclaiming Tavares Brothers Way have been prepared, it was reported to the council on April 8.

Councilors and city officials were coordinating on a date for the ceremony.

Councilors had also supported incorporating a memorial with benches at the site, which the city was working on.

New Tavares Way will replace part of Griffin Court

The new street replaces Griffin Court, from South Second Street to JFK Memorial Boulevard, which has no houses or businesses.

Baptiste had said the site was especially appropriate because the area selected was once a thriving Cape Verdean community.

Tiny Tavares was in attendance at the January meeting in which the council initially approved the new street.

He said after that meeting, "It's a privilege to finally have it done. I'm glad it's being done, especially on behalf of my family. I want my brothers to witness it. We've lost one [Ralph Tavares], and I don't want to lose any more before it happens."

How Tavares became famous

The five Tavares brothers made New Bedford proud with numerous chart-topping songs, tours with The Jackson Five and even winning a Grammy.

The R&B group  Tavares  featured brothers Feliciano, aka “Butch,” Perry Lee, aka “Tiny,” Antone, aka “Chubby” Arthur “Pooch" and Ralph Tavares who grew up in Providence and later New Bedford.

New Bedford street: could be named for hometown music icons Tavares

They had eight singles on Billboard's Top 40, 12 Singles on the R&B Top 10 Chart (Including three No. 1 records), three Dance Chart Hits, including a No. 1, and 10 Hit Albums. This included their best-known 1976 hit " Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel " and the  Bee Gees  song " More Than a Woman .”

Their work on the soundtrack to the iconic movie, “Saturday Night Fever,” won them a Grammy in 1978.

The brothers were inducted into the Cape Verdean Museum Hall of Fame in 2006; in 2013, they were honored with "Lifetime Achievement Awards" by The National R&B Music Society Black Tie Gala; and they were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ralph, the oldest member of the group, passed away in 2021 of natural causes two days shy of his 80th birthday.