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The Scoop: What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours

Affordable, experiential, and accessible tours are ef go ahead tours' focus..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

• Curious about EF Go Ahead Tours? Here’s our objective snapshot of what to expect from the tour company.
• I’ve updated it for 2024 and verified that all the info is current.

The tour company EF Go Ahead Tours is owned by EF Education First, a company that’s been offering language, academic, and cultural programs for more than 50 years. The tour arm of the company focuses on being an affordable, experiential, and accessible way for travelers to connect with the world. 

TourScoop Takeaways

• Countries: 87 countries on seven continents
• Tour size average: The standard group size is capped at 38 guests. EF Go Ahead Tours’ small group tours range in size from 10 to 22 people. Private tours can be arranged with seven or more people, and custom tours with 14 or more people.
• Tour type: Coach, ferries, trains, flights

Credibility Check

EF Go Ahead Tours is accredited by the Better Business Bureau has an A+ rating from the organization, though currently user ratings are low on the site. The company is an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Note that there are many more ratings and reviews of EF Educational Tours (the branch of the organization that operates academic programs) than EF Go Ahead Tours, but that they are operated separately and for different audiences. 

Tour Destinations

EF Go Ahead Tours has itineraries in 87 countries on all seven continents. Some of its most popular destinations include Italy, Portugal, Kenya, Costa Rica, and Ireland.

EF Go Ahead Tours has many different tour types . On the more traditional end of tours are its multi-country and grand tours, which bundle multiple destinations into a single trip. There are also city stay tours, which give travelers the chance to go deep in a single European city for a week of guided excursions. There are also special event tours that focus on special access to major celebrations like Oktoberfest, New Year’s Eve, and St. Patrick’s Day. Additionally, the company has history tours; national park tours; religious and spiritual tours; tours geared to families; and tours for solo travelers.  

It also operates small group tours that range in size from 10 to 22 people and focus on adventure travel, food and wine, or safari and wildlife. 

Tour Guides

Tour leaders, known as tour directors, bring backgrounds in tourism, history, and/or education. Tour directors partner with local guides along the way to offer participants additional insights into specific destinations. Many tour directors have been with EF Go Ahead Tours for 20 years or longer. 

Inclusions/Extras

Itineraries are a mix of guided tours and group meals, plus free time so guests can explore at their own pace. Airfare isn’t part of the base rate, but EF Go Ahead Tours offers flight booking with airport transfers, plus help if flights are canceled. 

Typical Travelers

EF Go Ahead Tours guests tend to be 35 and older, with most tours attracting a mix of solo, couple, and group travelers. 

Communication 

Travelers who have booked a tour can download EF Go Ahead’s mobile app to access resources and pre-departure information. Within three months of tour, the company offers a pre-departure information session that’s also available on-demand. 

The company regularly updates its FAQ Hub with frequently asked questions. It also has a dedicated expert team for urgent issues that may arise before or during a tour.

Loyalty Program

EF Go Ahead Tours’ loyalty program, Club Go , allows guests to earn tour credits to put toward future trips, collectible moment and milestone badges, flexible rebooking benefits, and an online hub. 

Private Options

Any of the company’s 175+ itineraries can be packaged as a Private Tour . EF Go Ahead Tours allows groups of 14 or more to customize their experience on a custom tour, and offers private tours on existing itineraries for groups of seven or more. 

Sustainability Efforts

EF Go Ahead Tours has partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to create and conserve forests to plant 3 million mangrove trees. The company has been carbon negative since 2021, with the goal is to be historically carbon neutral (dating back to 1965).

The company collaborates with the communities it travels to in an effort to preserve local cultures and encourage sustainability. It also works with travelers to share how thoughtful travel choices can leave a lasting, positive impact on destinations, people, and the environment.

Health and Safety Practices

EF Go Ahead Tours puts into place health and safety protocols with its Travel-Ready Approach . As part of this, it operates both a crisis response team and its EF Global Safety Network, which constantly reviews national and international travel guidelines. It also offers 24/7 on-call support,  50,000 EF staff on the ground in 50 countries, and more than half a century of traveler support. 

Family Companies

EF Go Ahead Tours parent company EF Education First focuses on programs for students and teachers. It has language programs, university programs, and gap year offerings.

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Go Ahead Tours   Reviews

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Poor customer service

Poor customer service. I paid for my tour as a single with a single room. They said they can not find a single room for me. I booked the tour with my family . They said I booked late but no one told me about that this . My family was booked without me. Unbelievable company

Date of experience : June 27, 2024

Went to Quito and Galapagos Islands

Went to Quito, Galapagos Islands and several other cities in Ecuador. Our tour director and naturalist were wonderful. The issue was our first hotel. Very tiny rooms for the price of a pre tour stay at $240.00. And our cabin on the Galapagos Legend was not what we asked for many months in advance. They put us in the front of the boat instead of numbers of suites we requested in middle. The boat rocked all night and my wife felt sea sick. I had to prop up a pillow to stay in my bed. To make matters worse, the anchor in the front of the ship dropped several times in the middle of the night, causing us to wake up. The company know of our request of rooms and failed to do anything about it. They told us we should have requested that we be moved after we got on cruise ship but the ship was full, and the ship, and Go Ahead had our requests way in advance. They offered us zero compensation for the lousy accommodations after we talked with someone from Go Ahead Tours. Never again and we will tell all our friends and family not to use this company.

Date of experience : February 11, 2024

I have always recommended Go AHead as…

I have always recommended Go AHead as we always felt secure with them until this trip. Purchased travel insurance through Go Ahead Tours, they use Seven Corners. Flights were cancelled in Amsterdam and had to stay overnight, no help from Go Ahead Tours on finding hotel or things to do. Filed claim in June of 2022 with Seven Corners and still haven't talked to anybody just keep getting emails that they are backed up and working claims in order they are received. I guess they have older claims than June of 2022 (almost 9 months) about to file a claim with the insurance commission on them if I can find out what state to file it in. Have travel 5 times and always bought travel insurance but never had to file a claim, the one time I file we get the run-a-round!!

Date of experience : June 20, 2022

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EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

EF Go Ahead Tours is a world-leading guided tour company offering a comprehensive travel package with local guides and authentic travel experiences. You've likely heard of them before, but are they really worth it? What do they offer, and how do they stack up to other guided tours?

Guided tours are a great way to travel, make new friends, and enjoy new experiences without the hassle of planning the logistics of the trip. 

While guided tour companies boast of convenience, they tend to fall short when it comes to flexibility and customization. Hence, many travelers resort to planning their trips by themselves using helpful apps like  Pilot .

But, if you still prefer a guided tour with some level of flexibility, EF Go Ahead Tours is definitely a choice to consider. 

EF Go Ahead Tours is one of the world's largest tour companies that host small group tours with unique, authentic experiences. A great benefit of joining an EF Go Ahead Tour is that they allow travelers the benefits of hosting a free private tour with larger groups. 

However, are the experiences they're offering for you? What are the pros and cons? Here's our review of EF Go Ahead Tours! 

What is EF Go Ahead Tours?

EF Go Ahead Tours  is a brand under the EF Tours group that offers both guided and fully customizable tours to destinations worldwide. It caters to young and older travelers, admitting anyone from age six and above (under-age travelers accompanied by adults). The number of travelers in each group is capped at 14-38, and small group tours only admit 10-22 people. 

EF Go Ahead Tours aims to provide you with meaningful tours with flexibility and personalization. It also promotes responsible travel by supporting local communities and adopting sustainable practices.

EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app helps you easily manage your bookings and view tour details. It is available for both Android and iOS devices. 

What does EF Go Ahead Tours offer?

• Tour directors and local guides:  A tour director is assigned for each group to be in charge of all logistics of the trip. They will accompany you throughout, sharing insider knowledge and background information about places you visit.
• Accommodation:  3-4 star hotels that provide comfortable amenities while being located in close proximity to the city. 
• Meals:  Breakfast and some other meals are included in the pricing. Primarily, they focus on local food and beverage specialties. They will arrange meals meeting your dietary requirements if necessary.
• Transportation:  Transport between airport and hotels and other transportation required during the trip are included in the package. While flights are not included, you can get EF Go Ahead Tours to arrange them for you at an additional cost. 

How does EF Go Ahead Tours work?

You can browse for tours by  Destination  or  Travel Styles  on the website. Travel styles are further categorized as  Trip Type, Interests, Seasonal and Special Events , and  With Your Own Group . 

For example, all the related tours will appear if we pick Adventure Tours under travel styles. You can filter the results further by destination, dates, duration, price, and travel style. 

Check out its details, trip highlights, prices, reviews, etc. There's a list of FAQs below related to the trip and other similar tours for you to compare and choose from. 

What destinations does EF Go Ahead Tours cover?

EF Go Ahead Tours covers many of the popular destinations worldwide. Here's a list of where EF Go Ahead Tours covers:

• Europe:  Ireland, Italy, Greece, Iceland, England, France, and Germany 
• The Americas:  United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, and Belize 
• Africa & Middle East:  Egypt, Kenya, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates
• Australia & Asia:  Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, India, and Thailand

Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours

• Worry-free guarantee

If you cancel the booking within 60 days from the reservation date, you are entitled to a full refund. EF Go Ahead Tours also allows you to change the date of tour or destination up until your final payment day. It helps you book with confidence knowing there's ample time to make changes. 

In addition to covering many destinations worldwide, the tour company also offers a diverse range of tours. Group trips for solo travelers provide ample privacy while facilitating socialization. In addition, there are cruise tours, rail tours, food & wine tours, battlefield tours, winter tours, and many more!

• Fewer people 

The worrisome factor about large group tours is they can seem too crowded and noisy to have a quality experience. There's also less opportunity to get to know other travelers better. In this case, small group tours offer a more intimate travel experience. Guides can give individual attention and advice easily. Overall, it makes the trip more enjoyable and memorable. 

• Flexibility 

If you like to travel with friends but don't have the liberty to plan, get EF Go Ahead Tours to plan one for you. You can explain your requirements and get a whole new itinerary done or choose one they offer. Invite your friends and/or family, choose your travel dates, and enjoy. There's also the option of organizing faith-based tours!

Drawbacks of EF Go Ahead Tours

• Increase the number of tours 

While there's a variety of tours, different trip options under each category are quite limited compared to other guided tour companies like  G Adventures  or  Contiki . For example, there's only one tour option for India. They can also add more countries to their list of destinations. 

• Improve refund and cancellation issues

Customers had faced refund and cancellation issues for scheduled or booked tours during the pandemic. There were complaints of EF Go Ahead Tours not refunding the money as per its cancellation policy. But, it's a common problem that many tour companies dealt with their customers following the Covid outbreak. We hope they are resolved now. 

EF Go Ahead Tours vs. EF Ultimate Break

The most significant similarity between EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break is that they are managed by EF Education First Tours. This means that you'll most likely be getting a similar refund, cancellation, and customer service policies between the two tours.

EF Go Ahead Tours identifies itself as the 'older sibling' of EF Ultimate Break. Ultimate Break Tours is geared towards college students and folks aged 18-29, while Go Ahead Tours admits anyone 6 and above. So, the tours offered also tend to be different from each other. 

EF Go Ahead Tours has a wide variety of tours catering to all age ranges. It also provides both private and group tours. EF Ultimate Break only offers group tours and are tailored to suit youth's preferences. 

Read our  review of EF Ultimate Break  to learn more!

Is EF Go Ahead Tours worth it?

Yes! We came across great GoAheadTours reviews online about the unique and immersive experience EF Go Ahead Tours offers. Go Ahead tours are a great way to travel if you prefer to join a guided tour.

Like  Flash Pack , it's an excellent choice for older travelers looking for trips that involve activities beyond partying and drinking. Overall, the tours are ideal for anyone, really. 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

• Variety of tours
• Smaller groups 
• A limited number of tours 
• Refund and cancellation issues

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This tour was the perfect combination of organized tours and free time. It was extremely hot during August 2024 and we were able to tour in the morning and get out of the heat in the afternoon. Later on, we would then go out at night to various restaurants, or on the cruise,... Read more of Venice, Croatia, and Greek Islands Cruise

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The Golden Circle and Ring Road tour was spectacular! Every aspect of the trip exceeded my expectations. It was so well planned and to my liking a full schedule. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and extremely personable which enhanced the experience. It was a wonderful group of... Read more of Icelandic Adventure

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Although I would have liked the hotels to have pools, this was my only “complaint” if you can even call it that. Marcellus was a great guide, so fun and cool to hang out with. I had a great time and already looking at additional tours from EF for future travel plans. I wish I... Read more of Great Experience!

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2nd-time traveler Michele

Excellent tour. Extremely knowledgeable local guides, tour director was always on top of everything, kept the trip running smoothly and always willing to share about her country. Tour was so informative about religious history and the travels of St. Paul. Loved all the history... Read more of Fabulous Tour

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I loved the learning of it all, the places we got to see and visit and best of all our tour guide, Gràcia. She was so patient, full of energy, funny, kind, loving and more. She was so helpful with all of our questions and gave us places to visit just in case we wanted to try... Read more of Spain Trip

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The 1st 4 days of my Scotland trip was wonderful. Unfortunately on day 4 I started running a fever and got a sore throat and tested positive for Covid on the morning of day 5. That ended the trip for me. Had to isolate as much as possible and was not able to enjoy any other part... Read more of Not my dream trip

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I loved this trip all around and I’m amazed at how much ground we. covered. Geirangerfjord & Flam were hard to even describe. I’m extremely grateful to have made it to Oslo at the end & the Munch museum was a highlight for me. Lastly, I’d highly recommend Chris as a tour guide... Read more of Amazing 10 days!

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This was my best trip ever! Everything went smoothly from the flights, excursions, dinner, and activities. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Our tour guide, Roland was AWESOME! He was quite knowledgeable, fun, thorough, and patient. If I were to do this trip again, I... Read more of Trip of a Lifetime!

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Go Ahead Tours

Congrats on completing your first tour with us, and what an exciting tour it was! Thank you for your kind review. We hope to see you again... Read more of the response to Trip of a Lifetime!

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Vita, vino, e viaggio!

Review: EF Go Ahead Tours’ Highlights of England, Scotland, and Ireland

We’ve traveled a few times on guided group tours, I’ve gone with some girlfriends on EF Ultimate Break tours and Rick and I did a guided tour with Go Ahead back in 2018 on our Barcelona, Southern France, and the Italian Riviera tour .

We enjoyed that tour way back when and when we got home we got a travel credit of $100 and we put that toward the Highlights of England, Scotland, and Ireland tour with the plan to go in June 2020…

I’m sure you can guess that that did not work out as planned.

We decided to get a voucher for the amount we’d paid and we could use that for a future trip which ended up being the same itinerary just in September 2023 instead.

I’m happy to report we’ve finally crossed Scotland and Ireland off our travel bucket list and finally did this tour that we’ve been waiting to go on since before we were married five years ago!

Why group tours?

Just like any form of travel, group tours are not for everyone but they can also be great options for travelers!

One reason I like booking group tours is when we’re doing multi-country tours and I’m not in the mood to figure out trains, planes, and automobiles on our own. Most of the trips we’ve done with groups have been to several countries as it just makes it easy to hop on a bus and be taken to a new destination.

We also are planning a group tour to Japan in 2024 as it’ll be both of our first times visiting Asia and I’d prefer to have a guide. Otherwise, we’ve started to discuss unless we’re doing multi-country tours, we can navigate these trips on our own in the future.

Some benefits of booking a group tour:

• Organized transport: Like I said, there are some destinations that I’d rather just let someone else figure out how to get us from Point A to Point B and I can just enjoy the ride.
• Off the beaten path places: Another thing Rick and I agree on with these types of tours are that we have stops in small towns or places we wouldn’t normally plan to visit on our own. Like on this tour we stopped in Kendal in Cumbria, which we probably wouldn’t have gone out of our way to visit if we were on our own. But it’s definitely neat to visit some of these smaller stops.
• Mix of free time and organized activities: I also like that these tours know why people are visiting the cities we do and make sure to include stops to the important sightseeing stops or attractions while also giving us free time to explore on our own. Like this tour included Edinburgh Castle, Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, and so on, but also gave us time to do our own thing. I like the inclusion of the major sites as I don’t have to worry about buying tickets and getting the timing just right as so many attractions are moving to a timed entry system.
• The tour director: Lastly, it’s always nice having a tour director who organizes everything and takes charge of the day’s plans. Plus, the directors know what to recommend and what to skip so you’re not wasting your precious time in each stop along the tour.

The Go Ahead tour review

We chose this tour due to its itinerary as we wanted to see a variety of places in Ireland without worrying about figuring out how to get to all these places on our own.

The Highlights of England, Scotland, & Ireland itinerary:

• Day 1: Overnight flight
• Day 2: London (2 nights)
• Day 3: London (sightseeing tour & free afternoon or paid excursion)
• Day 4: Train to Edinburgh (2 nights) and included dinner
• Day 5: Edinburgh (sightseeing tour & free afternoon)
• Day 6: Liverpool (1 night)
• Day 7: Ferry to Dublin (2 nights)
• Day 8: Dublin (sightseeing tour in the morning and free evening or paid excursion)
• Day 9: County Kerry (2 nights) & a stop at Blarney Castle
• Day 10: Sightseeing tour of the Ring of Kerry
• Day 11: Dublin & the Cliffs of Moher
• Day 12: Flight home

So, we did change the itinerary just a bit! The tour officially started on Monday, September 4 and we figured we should fly out early to acclimate to the time change and add on a stop to our tour. I know, we were very ambitious.

We contacted Go Ahead and asked instead of flying us to London on Monday, could they fly us out to Paris on Friday instead? We just had to pay for the change in airfare otherwise it wasn’t a problem. We also obviously had to pay for our own accommodations in Paris and then get ourselves to London to join our tour group. No problem!

It worked out really well for us as I could finally get Rick to Paris for a weekend and then the Eurostar to London is super easy to navigate.

I was so excited for this tour’s itinerary as we got to go back to London but then see all new places in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Again, I like this style of travel when we’re visiting multiple countries.

I’ve had my eye on Edinburgh for a while now and Rick has always wanted to see Ireland so this itinerary was the perfect compromise. We got a taste of Scotland and now know we have to go back and we got to see quite a bit of Ireland!

What we did on our tour

Here’s a high-level breakdown of each day of our Go Ahead tour, with our included activities and our use of our free time.

We started our tour in Paris on our own and planned to arrive on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in London to meet up with our group. Day one of these tours is always a travel day with an overnight flight so most people were arriving on Tuesday in the mid-morning or early afternoon.

Some in our group did the tour extension so they arrived in London on Saturday. We got into London around 1:30 and bought our oyster cards so we could take the tube to our hotel in Kensington.

We had some free time to freshen up before our welcome drinks and dinner that night. We met in the hotel bar and got a complimentary drink as Colin, our tour director, introduced himself and discussed some housekeeping items and went over the itinerary for the trip.

He handed out printed itineraries (we could also use the Go Ahead app to track our day-by-day activities), and our Vox boxes and headphones so we could hear the local tour guides while on our walking tours.

Then it was off to our included dinner at a nearby pub where we could get to know our fellow travelers. After dinner, Rick and I went out to another pub as it was a lovely night.

On our full day in London we started off at 8:30 a.m. with a guided tour of London by bus and got off at Westminster Abbey (the tour does not include going inside the abbey) and then walked through a park to get a spot to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

Then, we had a free afternoon or London or we could have done the excursion to Hampton Court Palace (11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Rick and I were fine skipping the palace and just enjoying London on our own.

We collected our stuff from the bus and made our way toward a pub for a lunch of fish and chips and beer while we planned the rest of our day. We had seen posters for the Back to the Future: The Musical show while on the tube and then passed the theater on our guided tour that morning and found there were tickets available that night!

We had originally planned to do a Jack the Ripper tour, but we can do that anytime we return to London so we canceled our tour and booked tickets for the show. I mean, our blog’s name is in honor of that amazing trilogy, we had to go!!

But, we had some time to kill between lunch and our show. I’ve always wanted to visit the Shard and saw some spots open for afternoon tea. So, we booked a tea time for two hours later!

We then rushed back to our hotel to change for the evening and grab our portable chargers and anything we needed for the night.

We then hopped back on the tube back to the Shard for our afternoon tea at Aqua Shard. They had a Peter Pan-themed set menu and it was fabulous. We both added a glass of sparkling rose to our order!

My favorite savory item was the sausage roll though the cucumber sandwich was also very tasty. The desserts were delicious and we had a chocolate cake, raspberry mousse and a shortbread cookie, a coconut cake, and super yummy scones!

After our tea, we walked across Tower Bridge where I snapped 100 photos and went to visit a magic shop Rick likes.

Then we strolled through London back to the theater district to see the show.

It was an amazing performance and they adapted it to the stage so well! I’m so glad we skipped our Jack the Ripper tour to see this show as it doesn’t look like it’s coming to Denver anytime soon.

It truly was a fabulous performance for us Back to the Future nerds and the special effects were mind-blowing. There were a few changes to the story but Rick and I both agreed they still work within the movie’s original canon and made sense as to why they were changed.

The rest of our group also went to the theater that night as our tour director had scored a deal on some tickets to Wicked.

Afterward we hopped back on the tube back to Kensington as we had to pack up for our train ride to Scotland in the morning.

The next morning it was time to eat before boarding our train at King’s Cross to take us to Edinburgh! Of course we stopped for a photo opp at Platform 9 3/4.

We had to have our bags ready at 8:15 a.m. and our train departed at 10:30 a.m. and arrived in Edinburgh at 3:15 p.m.

We took the LNER train to Edinburgh and arrived mid-afternoon. We got checked into our hotel and then we joined Colin on his guided walk of Edinburgh which ended with a hike up Calton Hill to take in the amazing view over the city – and to try some typical Scottish snacks and drinks.

Colin lives in Edinburgh so it was great to get his perspective on what to do in the city and he gave us recommendations of pubs and restaurants to check out while we were in the city.

That night we had an included group dinner at Indigo Yard at 7:15 p.m. After dinner, Rick and I checked out our neighborhood and went to one of Colin’s recommendations, Pickles, the wine bar. It was a cute spot and we each had two glasses of red wine.

The next day we had a free morning in the city as we opted not to do the excursion to Abbotsford House and Melrose Abbey (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). I do think the abbey would have been neat to see, but Rick and I also just enjoy wandering through cities and seeing what we see as we stroll.

We took the time and wandered over to Dean Village for the picturesque views, then up toward Edinburgh Castle, and then down the Royal Mile while popping into some souvenir shops along the way as I was not leaving Scotland without some shortbread biscuits!

After walking along the Royal Mile, listening to the locals play the bagpipes and buying some Scottish souvenirs, we made our way to the end of the road to have lunch at The World’s End pub, where we dined on the traditional dish of haggis!

As soon as we had driven past The World’s End pub we knew we were going to be eating there at some point as I’m a huge Simon Pegg fan!

After lunch, we met back at our hotel to join our group for a guided tour of the city that ended at Edinburgh Castle. We had to be back at 2 p.m. as the bus was getting us at 2:15 p.m.

Our guided sightseeing tour was by bus and we drove around the city while learning about Edinburgh’s history before being dropped off at the Castle and walking around the grounds. We got some time to visit the castle, enjoy the views, and see the Crown Jewels.

I do wish we had had a bit more time to explore the grounds as I think we had an hour of free time there, but it goes by very quickly when waiting in line to see things or get into certain buildings.

After our tour of Edinburgh Castle we jumped back on our coach to go back to the hotel to change, get some more cash, and our chargers so we could head out for our ghost tour! The activity I was super excited about in Edinburgh as the city is supposed to be extremely haunted.

We didn’t have time for dinner as we were done at the castle around 4:30/5 and our ghost tour was at 6:30 p.m., but it was fine as we were sooooo full from our giant lunch.

So, we made our way back to the Royal Mile to meet up with our ghost tour guide and group.

On our ghost tour of Edinburgh we got to explore the Blair Street Vaults and Canongate Cemetery.

Some of the highlights from our Edinburgh ghost tour include:

• The grave in a parking lot that’s used today
• The story of half-hanged Maggie
• The story of William Barton and his deal with the devil
• The Blair Street Underground Vaults and the ghosts that reside there, including Jack, the cobbler, and Mr. Boots (AKA The Watcher)
• A visit to Canongate graveyard
• The story of Burke and Hare, the Edinburgh body snatchers and murderers

After our great ghost tour we made our way to Greyfriars Kirkyard to recognize some names from Harry Potter. We weren’t ready to turn in yet so we walked back up Calton Hill to see the view over Edinburgh at night.

We ended our evening at Keller which was just around the corner from our hotel and got a charcuterie board and some beers.

The next morning, we packed up everything on the bus by 7:45 a.m. and made our way toward Liverpool by way of some smaller stops for bathroom breaks, such as a stop in Kendal in Cumbria, which is famous for its mint cakes.

Most of the people in our group opted to do the Beatles museum while in Liverpool but Rick and I weren’t that interested so we just decided to Google what to do in Liverpool not Beatles-related.

We ended up booking a cruise on the River Mersey while learning about the history of Liverpool. The cruise afforded amazing views of the city, but the voice over was pretty rough and hard to hear.

So we mostly enjoyed our drinks and the views as we cruised the river for 50 minutes. The river cruise was only £12, so worth it even if we couldn’t hear the commentary.

After that we went for a ride on the ferris wheel that also gave us great views over Liverpool and the river we were just on.

After our ride on the Wheel of Liverpool, which was also £12 per person, we crossed the street to Royal Albert Dock and found this great wine and tapas bar and dug into some of our favorite foods from Spain!

To be honest, we were both a bit fish and chipped and beer’d out at that time.

So we gorged ourselves on sangria, croquetas, sardines, meatballs, and paella. It was amazing.

We had about five hours total in Liverpool before we had to be back on the bus to head to Chester, where we were spending the night.

Our hotel in Chester was gorgeous and had a lively bar scene, so we dropped off our suitcases in our room and went downstairs to be social with the other travelers in our group.

We couldn’t stay up too late though as we had to pack up and get ready for the ferry ride to Dublin! We loaded up our luggage on the bus at 8:15 a.m. and made our way to Holyhead to climb aboard the ferry over to Ireland.

On our way, we stopped at the seaside village of Llandudno to stretch our legs, get a snack, and use the restrooms.

After that stop we were back on the bus to continue our drive through Wales toward Holyhead.

But, before we got there, we had one more stop to make just for the photos alone! A stop at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch! It’s the Welsh village with the longest name in Britain!

As you can see, the English translation is below which is “The Church of Mary in the Hollow of the White hazel near the fierce Whirlpool and the Church of Tysilio by the Red Cave.”

That’s a name right there.

After that stop it was onto the ferry to head over to Ireland! The Stena Line ferry took about three hours and I was glad I brought a few books with me. The ferry is large but there aren’t many that many communal spots. We first had to snag seats in the theater but finally we made another lap by the bar and found a table to sit at.

I can get seasick when we travel by water but this ferry is so slow that I didn’t feel a thing while onboard. All in it was an easy journey. Good to know if you want to pay in cash on board it was euros, not pounds.

We got into Dublin around 6 p.m. and got picked up by a new bus and new driver, Declan, who took us to our hotel in Dublin. Luckily our hotel had a restaurant inside so we could eat when we got there.

After dinner, it was time to check out Dublin’s nightlife and we headed off to the Templebar district for some beers and live music!

We found a great spot where a musician was playing a fantastic mix of ’90s and early ’00s jams as well as some traditional Irish pub music.

Of course we got ourselves some Guinness and sang along – at least along with the songs we knew! It was exactly what we were expecting on our first night in Dublin.

We also did go out on a night when Ireland was playing football against the Netherlands, and unfortunately lost, but we were in our green cheering them on anyway!

The next day, our full day in Dublin, we started at 8:30 a.m. with a guided tour of Phoenix Park before a guided tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

We had time to get off the bus at the park, though it was raining so most of us just snapped some pics and got back on the bus. Then we drove over to St. Patrick’s and had time to explore inside the church and take our photographs.

After the Cathedral, we took a little walk to visit the Molly Malone statue. Poor Molly has been fondled for almost ten years as tourists will rub her bosom for “good luck.”

Next up on our itinerary was a stop at the Guinness Storehouse at 11:30 a.m.! We had to go and get a perfectly poured pint at the Gravity Bar!

The tour was interesting and really went in-depth on Guinness’ history, production, and marketing for the brand. The storehouse is a museum meets tasting room meets restaurant venue. Rick and I have been to Coors over in Golden, CO and the Guinness experience blew the Coors one out of the water. It was just floor after floor of beer history and information.

Of course we made a stop at the tasting room where we could smell the different ingredients that gives Guinness its flavor and ruby red (yes, ruby red) color. Then we learned how to taste the beer, much like doing a wine tasting.

We continued our exploration a bit and went to get our free beer up at the bar located on top of the building and then we headed back down for lunch. We stopped at the 1837 Bar & Brasserie where Rick tried a different beer and I opted for a black velvet cocktail which was a Guinness stout mixed with prosecco. Not going to lie, it was damn good!

Of course we also got Irish coffees at the end of our meal. It was still raining out so we needed something to warm us up before heading back out into Dublin!

We decided to take one of the carriages back into town and that was a mistake. They told us one price and then asked us for something different at the end, so I would not recommend going with them no matter how fun the ride looks.

I was also dumb and didn’t realize we would need tickets to see the Trinity College library, and we’d been dropped off there. So we walked the campus a bit but then headed back to our hotel to rest up and freshen up before our dinner that evening.

That night we were booked for the Go Ahead excursion of a Traditional Irish Dinner & Show at The Merry Ploughboy pub, from 6-10 p.m.

This was really fun as we got both live music, singing, and dancing! The dinner was a set menu and I opted for the cheese plate starter, the fish for my main, and the apple pie for dessert. Rick got the seafood chowder to start, chicken, and he also had apple pie.

The food was good but you’re really going for the entertainment and these guys and gals are true performers. They encourage audience participation for some songs and are all extremely talented.

Killarney + County Kerry

The next morning we were back on the bus at 8:30 a.m. and heading off to Blarney Castle, where yes, we did kiss the Blarney Stone!

I want to say we had two or three hours at the castle grounds so we had time to get in line to kiss the stone, check out the rooms of the castle (including the murder hole room), and walk the grounds and poison garden. We also had time for a little shopping and to pick up some lunch before getting back on the bus and heading off to Killarney for the night.

That night we had a group dinner near our hotel after getting checked in.

On our second day, we took a bus ride along the Ring of Kerry and made various photo stops as well as just enjoyed the stunningly beautiful scenery and many, many sheep sightings.

We checked out the Kerry Bog Village, had a stop for some shopping and complimentary Irish coffees, visited Sneem, and a few other coastal stops.

Our day included a stop at a restaurant with Ireland’s best known view (fog permitting). You be the judge:

I decided to try a seafood pie and Rick got a sandwich and some chips. We both got salads too as we were all set in the carbs department!

We explored a few more stops and enjoyed the rolling green hills before heading back to our hotel in Killarney.

Even though we had done the Irish Dinner & Show, Colin was also organizing a group in Killarney to see the Celtic Steps at 7:30 p.m. It doesn’t take much convincing to get me to a show, especially one that’s about dance, so we obviously asked for tickets.

The dancers at Merry Ploughboy were good, but the dancers at the Celtic Steps were another level. It was a fabulous show and makes me wish I was just as talented as those dancers!

After the show, Rick and I wanted to check out the nightlife there in Killarney and got dropped off in the city before the bus took everyone else back to the hotel.

We found a nice pub with live music and thought what the hell, we haven’t had enough Guinness yet in Ireland! We were at the pub for an hour to hour and a half before it was closing time and walked back to our hotel.

Killarney was very walkable! Again, I think our hotels were all pretty centrally located for anything we wanted to do with our free time and not needing public transportation or a taxi to get us there.

Cliffs of Moher + Dublin

On our last day of the trip we finally made it to the Cliffs of Moher!

We had about three hours to explore the beautiful work of nature and it wasn’t enough for me! I loved being able to walk the cliffside trails and we got extremely fortunate with our weather that day as it was sunny.

Everyone, and I mean everyone, that I’ve talked to who has been to the Cliffs of Moher warned me it would be windy, it would be cloudy, it would be rainy. It was none of those things when we were there the second week of September!

In fact, it was so warm I ended up getting some ice cream from the shop!

Afterward, it was time to head back to Dublin for the night before departing for home. We had our farewell dinner at the hotel which was ideal as we had a 5 a.m. alarm set the next morning for our flight to Zurich and then on to Denver.

It was hard saying goodbye to our fellow travelers! You would really have to go out of your way to not make friends on these types of tours.

Go Ahead also offers extra excursions at a cost during the tour. We ended up only booking one on this itinerary compared to our last trip where I think we ended up doing all of those add-on excursions. The only one that caught our attention was the traditional Irish dinner, music, and dancing show.

Our time in London and Edinburgh were too short to want to do excursions when we had our own list of things we wanted to see and do, such as afternoon tea, the theater, and a ghost tour.

The tour director

Our tour director was Colin and he was fantastic. Truly fantastic! He was always engaging, friendly, and knowledgeable. He was also very communicative, even when the group was having technical difficulties with WhatsApp. Like Rick and I apparently went against their terms of service, as did a bunch of people on our tour (I still never got a real answer from stupid Meta what that was about), but Colin just made sure to communicate through the Go Ahead app as well.

He even added his own excursions to the itinerary (we just paid him in cash for his add-ons), and it worked out well as some of his picks were things we wanted to do anyway!

Some of Colin’s excursions:

• A ticket to Wicked in London (we actually did end up going to the theater that night but opted to see Back to the Future: The Musical instead!)
• A walking tour of Edinburgh & hike up Calton Hill (he’s an Edinburgh local!)
• The Guinness Storehouse & Gravity Bar
• The Celtic Steps in Killarney

He also offered a few other excursions that unfortunately didn’t pan out due to low enrollment, such as the seaweed hot tub on our Ring of Kerry day and the Cliffs of Moher cruise due to weather.

Colin was always on time, energetic, and ready for whatever. He was a great guide and really made sure everything on our tour went as well as it could.

Accommodations

I did notice a change on this tour compared to our Spain, France, and Italy tour with Go Ahead. This time we stayed in more chain hotels, like Holiday Inns. It was fine, I just felt like our last trip we stayed at more boutique or locally-owned hotels.

Though, this change might be due to some of the travelers as people in our group complained in Dublin that the hotel didn’t have AC. Which the weather in Dublin wasn’t warranting the need of AC, at least in Rick’s and my opinion.

The hotels we stayed at:

• London: Holiday Inn Kensington High Street
• Edinburgh: Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre GAT
• Chester (Liverpool day): Indigo Chester Hotel
• Dublin: Cassidys Hotel
• Killarney: Earls Court House Hotel
• Dublin: Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport

All of our hotels offered breakfast each morning with most serving up a breakfast buffet or a continental breakfast with a limited menu for made-to-order eggs or pancakes. Most of the breakfasts also featured the standard hot coffee station that had americanos or lattes, so don’t expect our typical American drip coffee.

I really enjoyed the breakfasts at our hotels as I could make full English or Scottish breakfasts with beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs, and bacon, and even black pudding at some hotels.

We were booked in a double room, so we often had the two beds pushed together in our rooms, and all of our accommodations were comfortable and provided what we needed. Minus one very important thing for me. For the life of me I cannot understand why only one of our hotels had both shampoo and conditioner.

This was a lesson learned for me as I was trying to travel light and did not bring my own shampoo, conditioner, and soap as every hotel we’ve been to offers those things. Every hotel we stayed at had soap. But there was at least one hotel that didn’t have shampoo in our shower. So, lesson learned that I need to bring my own conditioner next time we’re traveling through Europe!

I realize this is a total first-world problem, but it was something I just didn’t expect.

But, all the hotels were very nice and most were very centrally located. We never had a problem walking back to our hotels after a night out, especially in Edinburgh and Dublin. The only one that wasn’t in walking distance of much was our hotel in London, but the tube is easy enough to manage.

Transportation

The transportation between all of our travel destinations was handled all by Go Ahead.

Our flights to and from Denver were fine, though they are booking us on cheaper flights as I know there are direct flights from DIA to Paris, but they booked us on a flight that had a layover in Munich, which was fine honestly. We flew out from DIA at about 4 p.m. on Friday and arrived in Paris at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

But our flight home from Dublin made no sense. We flew Dublin to Zurich and then back all the way to Denver. So we left Dublin at 8 a.m., changed planes in Zurich, and landed in Denver around 4:30 p.m.

Go Ahead is willing to take any accommodations you have into account if you’re willing to pay for those changes, like seat upgrades or when we switched from flying into London to flying into Paris. You just have to call the customer service line and make those requests.

The reason we do book flights with Go Ahead is in case anything goes wrong, their customer service will handle our rebookings and getting us where we need to be. Especially with so many flight delays and cancelations happening across the board, I’d rather know we have someone in our corner who can take care of the airlines should something go wrong instead of stressing out about it ourselves.

Airport transfers

If you book flights with Go Ahead, transportation to and from the airport is included with that fee. You can also add on airport pick up and drop off. I want to say it was around $25 when we looked at it for our Barcelona trip.

The majority of the transportation on this trip is by bus, but that wasn’t a problem for us. Most of our buses had giant windows so you could see everything, snap some pictures, and just enjoy the ride.

All the bus drivers we had were great drivers, friendly, and funny. They also do a lot of work in getting our luggage stowed away when it’s time to drive to a new hotel.

I am just truly amazed at how skilled our bus drivers are at navigating these small streets with super tight turns, but they all do it like it’s nothing!

Do note that it’s a toss up if your bus’ bathroom will be unlocked and available to you. On some we could use the on-board facilities and some we couldn’t or it was difficult to unlock the door. But, the itinerary allows for quite a few bathroom breaks on bus-heavy days so it wasn’t really a problem.

This trip did include a train ride from London to Edinburgh. You are responsible for getting your own luggage on and off the train though our tour director knew someone who worked for the train and gave him a tip to help us with our bags. Colin had all the connections!

Pace of tour

This tour is very fast-paced as you have a lot to see in two weeks! We were so, so glad we packed in carry-ons for this trip as we were changing hotels a lot. But, that’s to be expected when visiting four countries and cramming a lot of sightseeing in.

If the idea of spending one or two nights in a city before moving onto the next sounds too chaotic or challenging, this itinerary might not be for you. We were on the move a lot, but that’s what Rick and I were expecting. We’ll often use these types of tours to get a taste a place and see if we need to come back, like we realized with Edinburgh!

We knew we’d be moving around a lot on this tour and prepared accordingly by packing light and being able to pack up our room quickly.

Price of tour

Take our price of the tour with a grain of salt as we originally booked this tour in 2018.

Tour cost (per person):

• Tour: $3,659
• Flights (from Denver): $1,345
• Trip insurance: $329

Go Ahead does offer other excursions and add-ons, though we only did one, the Irish Dinner and Show. Here are the excursions offered on this itinerary and their costs per person:

• Windsor Castle: $119
• Abbotsford House & Melrose Abbey: $99
• The Beatles: History & Story Museum: $99
• Traditional Irish Dinner & Show: $109

We did apply a few discounts, such as an online promo ($200 off) and our Club Go rewards ($100).

Inclusions: Group dinners

Some nights of the tour do also include group dinners, which can be great especially after a long day of traveling, we didn’t have to worry about finding somewhere to eat.

Colin was great on these nights as I do have a food allergy and he always made sure to pop over and let me know if I had to avoid any dishes on the menu due to my allergy.

I will say that we heard some complaints about these included dinners from other travelers. Were these dinner like eating at a Michelin-star restaurant? No. Were they fast food dinners? Also no! I’d compare these dinners to conference or wedding catering.

It was typically a set menu with three or four options for mains, sometimes a starter, always a dessert served with tea or coffee, and a complimentary drink, such as white or red wine, beer, or cider. You could get more drinks with your dinner out of pocket.

Here’s what Rick and I had during our included group dinners:

• London: We both had the steak pie, London Pride (beer), and brownie with ice cream
• Edinburgh: We both opted for a beer and both got the same soup starter, then I had the shrimp pasta, Rick had the cheeseburger and fries, and we both got sticky toffee pudding for dessert
• Killarney: I started with a meat and cheese plate, then had the bacon and mash, and dessert was a coconut chocolate tart. Rick had the lemon sorbet, beef stew, and the same dessert. Rick had red wine and I had a cider.
• Dublin (farewell dinner at the hotel): I had the cod, a cider, and salted caramel cake for dessert. Rick opted for the chicken and same dessert as it sounded fantastic, and it was!

Overall thoughts

Rick and I were able to check off most items on our bingo card of what the other travelers would say to us as we were the youngest couple on the tour. These tours tend to have travelers from the 50+ age demographic, but we also don’t mind being the youngsters. You’ll still make friends and many of the people in your group are excited to be there and enjoy traveling.

We’re booked on another Go Ahead trip in March to Japan and we’ve got our eye on a food and wine tour of Spain with Go Ahead that might be put on the schedule for 2025.

Like I said, group tours are not for everyone. But, we’ve enjoyed the ones we’ve done with Go Ahead and would (and will) travel with them again in the future.

We really enjoyed this itinerary as it was just what we were looking for in a guided experience and we packed a lot in during our two weeks in Europe, which is exactly what we wanted.

If you’ve got recommendations of other group tour companies we should check out, please let us know in the comments!

Hey, I'm Stephanie! I'm a copywriter living in beautiful Denver with my husband Rick, and our dog Rocco. I love traveling, writing, reading, and being outside as much as possible - unless I'm on the couch binge watching Stranger Things with a glass of wine! Thanks for reading and being a part of the adventure with Back to the Passport! ❤️

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Off Duty Traveler

Travel tour reviews and views, ef go ahead tour review of portugal: porto, the algarve and lisbon.

We traveled with EF Go Ahead tours in March, 2023 on their tour of Portugal which includes Porto, The Algarve, and Lisbon. What follows is a review of that tour.

Porto, Portugal

Our tour started in Porto, also known as Oporto, a vibrant city located in the northwest of Portugal. Porto is the second-largest city in the country, after Lisbon, and is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and delicious wine. Porto is situated on the Douro River and is home to many iconic landmarks, including the Ribeira district, the historic center of Porto which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the famous Dom Luís I Bridge, which connects Porto to its neighboring city, Vila Nova de Gaia.

We had two days to explore Porto, its winding streets, beautiful riverfront, and incredible views.

The city is also renowned for its port wine, which is produced in the Douro Valley and stored in the numerous wine cellars that can be found in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The History of Port Wine in Portugal

Port wine, named after the city of Porto, has a long and fascinating history in Portugal, and is one of the country’s most beloved exports. Porto has been a center of port wine production for centuries. The wine is made from grapes grown in the Douro Valley, which are then transported down the river to the port houses in Porto, where they are aged and blended to create the unique and flavorful port wine.

Port wine has been produced in Portugal since the 17th century, and quickly became popular among British wine drinkers, who developed a taste for the wine during the wars with France. Today, port wine is enjoyed all over the world, and is considered one of Portugal’s greatest cultural and gastronomic treasures. We toured Ferreria and tasted some wonderful ports!

Porto Itinerary

• Guided bus tour of the city with stops at the beautifully tiled train station, the city square and the famed neoclassical Stock Exchange Palace.
• Group breakfast daily and one group dinner.
• Optional excursion included a Douro River Cruise and a tour and tasting at a local Port Wine Cellar

Coimbra, Portugal

After two days in Porto we checked out of our first hotel to make the trip to Evora, stopping first at the city and the University of Coimbra.

Coimbra is a charming city located in central Portugal, and is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe – the University of Coimbra . The university is a major attraction in the city, with its stunning architecture and rich history dating back to the 13th century. The university’s library, known as the Biblioteca Joanina, is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, with its ornate baroque design and priceless collection of books and manuscripts. So much so it was used as the model for the library in the Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast.

Outside the university, visitors can explore the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, visit the Sé Velha cathedral, and enjoy the breathtaking views from the top of the city’s hill, where the ancient Moorish castle of Coimbra is located.

We had some free time in Coimbra after our tour and decided to explore the beautiful streets and have some traditional lunch, which in Portugal typically includes some type of fish. In this case, octopus.

From Coimbra we boarded our bus for the trip to Evora, our next hotel stop.

Coimbra Itinerary

• Breakfast at our Porto hotel
• Drive south to Coimbra
• Guided walking tour of the Coimbra Chapel and the University of Coimbra
• Free time in Coimbra

Evora, Portgual

Evora is a beautiful and historic city located in the heart of Portugal’s Alentejo region. The city’s rich history dates back to Roman times, and visitors can explore the impressive Roman Temple of Evora, which is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Evora is known for its stunning architecture, with many of its buildings dating back to the medieval period. The city’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its narrow streets, charming squares, and picturesque whitewashed buildings. Visitors can also visit the city’s impressive Gothic cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and houses some impressive religious art, including the Chapel of Bones.

The Chapel of Bones is one of Evora’s most famous attractions and is a unique and eerie place to visit. The chapel is located in the Church of St. Francis and is decorated with thousands of human bones, including skulls, femurs, and other bones, which are arranged in intricate patterns along the walls and ceiling. The chapel was built in the 16th century by Franciscan monks as a way to remind people of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Despite its macabre decor, the chapel is a fascinating and thought-provoking place to visit, and offers a unique insight into the history and culture of Evora.

Evora Itinerary

• Overnight in a local hotel
• Free time in the evening to explore and have dinner
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Guided walking tour of Evora
• Visit to the Church of St. Francis and the Chapel of Bones
• Tour of Alentejo Cork Factory
• Free time to explore and have lunch the next day

Alentejo Cork Factory in Evora, Portugal

The Alentejo region is famous for its cork production, and a visit to the Alentejo cork factory in Evora was a fascinating way to learn about this industry. We were given a guided tour that explained the entire cork production process, from harvesting the bark of the cork oak trees to the finished product. We were able to see the cork being cleaned, boiled, and molded into a variety of products, including wine stoppers, floor tiles, and even handbags. Of course, they also have a beautiful gift shop. I came home with many cork products from the region, from a handbag (pictured above) and sneakers.

The Algarve Region, Cape St. Vincent and the Sagres Fortress

The Algarve region in southern Portugal boasts some of the country’s most spectacular beaches, dramatic coastal scenery, and fascinating history. Our tour included a short stop at the rugged coastline of Cape St. Vincent, the southwesternmost point in Europe, and we took in the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Nearby, the Sagres Fortress is a must-visit destination for history buffs, with its imposing walls and stunning views over the sea. The fortress was once home to Prince Henry the Navigator’s famous navigation school, which played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery. The Algarve region is also known for its beautiful beaches, which offer something for everyone, from secluded coves to bustling resort towns.

Our second day was supposed to include a boat ride along the coast, but unfortunately, the sea was too choppy. Instead, our guide took us to a new visitors’ area where we could walk the many steps down to the water and take in the spectacular vistas.

During our second night we explored the local beach, then had dinner on our own, which for me included one of the region’s local delicacies, grilled sardines.

Algarve Itinerary

• Overnight in a beachfront resort hotel
• Breakfast and dinner
• Stops at Lagos and Sagres
• Tour of the Sagres Fortress
• Stop at Cape St. Vincent

Lisbon, Portugal

We said goodbye to the beautiful Algarve region and boarded our bus for our final transfer to Lisbon, Portugal where we started our tour with a local guide before a quick lunch stop on our own.

Lisbon is a vibrant and captivating city that offers visitors a fascinating mix of old-world charm and modern cosmopolitanism. The city is known for its steep hills, colorful streets, and stunning architecture. I’ve yet to note this, but the sidewalks all over Portugal are made of mosaic black and white stone, everywhere! If you visit, be sure to look down!

As our guided tour continued as we stopped at the beautiful Monument to the Discoveries, the impressive Jeronimos Monastery built to honor voyagers, and the Avenida da Liberdade before enjoying a traditional Fado show and dinner in the heart of the city.

The Monument to the Explorers in Lisbon is a stunning tribute to Portugal’s great maritime history. The monument, which was built in 1960, stands in the Belem district of Lisbon and is over 50 meters high. At the top of the monument is a statue of Henry the Navigator, the famous Portuguese prince who played a key role in the country’s Age of Discovery. The monument is also decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures that celebrate the many explorers who sailed from Portugal to explore the world’s oceans and discover new lands.

Fado is a traditional Portuguese musical style that is characterized by its haunting melodies and melancholic lyrics, and is often performed in small restaurants or bars. During a fado dinner, visitors can enjoy a delicious meal of local specialties while listening to live fado performances by talented musicians. Whether you are a music lover or simply interested in experiencing the authentic culture of Portugal, a fado dinner is an unforgettable way to spend an evening.

Sintra, Portugal

After our hotel breakfast we again boarded our bus for an excursion to the castle at Sintra, which is one of the most iconic and beautiful castles in Europe. Located just outside of Lisbon, the castle sits atop a hill and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The castle itself is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture, with its intricate stonework, delicate tile patterns, and beautiful gardens. We explored the castle’s many rooms and halls, including the impressive Royal Palace, which features beautiful tapestries and furnishings from the 16th and 17th centuries. We then had lunch in the town of Sintra, and enjoyed a local delicacy, Ginja, a cherry liquor, in a chocolate cup.

From there we spent the day simply exploring the beautiful city of Lisbon, shopping, and enjoying the waterfront before heading to our final group dinner. I even bought myself an outfit that reminds me of the sidewalks of Portugal!

If we had more time I would have added the extension in Lisbon that included a tour of Tomar and Fatima, but alas, we headed home after our final night.

Lisbon Itinerary

• Two breakfasts
• Two night stay in Lisbon
• Sightseeing tour of Lisbon
• Optional Fado Show & Dinner
• Optional excursion to Sintra and the Portuguese Riviera
• Group farewell dinner

EF Go Ahead Portugal Tour Overview – If You Go

Lodging : Excellent! Our hotels were all modern, clean and comfortable.

Food : Breakfasts were magnificent! Our Fado and group dinners were also very good and typically included a welcome or farewell glass or wine or champagne and bottles of wine with dinner.

Excursions and Itinerary : They manage to pack in a lot for a short time. We had enough time to explore on our own as well, but admittedly we left the last excursion to spend more time in Lisbon and we don’t regret that decision.

This EF Go Ahead tour is a fantastic overview of Portugal. The pace is fast and furious, covering multiple cities and World Heritage sites with several hotel stops. Be prepared to do lots of walking, uphill, and spend time on the bus getting from one site to another. Be prepared to be punctual at each meeting point as well as you don’t want to keep the group waiting and there is so much to see and do! All in all I’d recommend this trip if you are interested in seeing as much of Portugal as you can in a short time. This is not going to be a relaxing trip to the coast, and that suits me just fine.

If you’d like to see all the photos check out my album on   Google Photos . I’ll see you on the next trip!

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One thought on “ EF Go Ahead Tour Review of Portugal: Porto, The Algarve and Lisbon ”

Another great tour review! Excellent pictures and descriptions! I’m jealous!

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EF/GoAhead Tours

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“ Just returned from a fantastic trip to Iceland with EF Go Ahead tours . ” in 3 reviews

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2 Education Cir

Cambridge, MA 02141

East Cambridge

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Have not gone on the tour yet. This review is about their customer service. I booked a tour to Germany for September with an extension to Vienna. I booked my airfare on my own after making the reservation. I recently received an email canceling the extension due to low participation. I called and requested that since I already have my airfare, that the company get me to Vienna. They declined but offered to pay for an excursion. I usually travel with Gate 1/Discovery Tours and when they had to make a change to my reservation, they made paid for my hotel since I had to arrive early. This is my first time using this company and probably be my last time.

Be careful when booking, especially if you are a senior citizen. Don't go by the itinerary description. Call first. Better yet, use a different company. We lost $1800 ($900 booking fee and $900 insurance) even though we canceled 92 days out. Itinerary description never mentioned walking, standing, or climbing stairs. My husband is 73 and uses a walker. Obviously, we had to cancel. The insurance claim was denied because it was not a reason on their list. So, we couldn't go on vacation and lost $1800. Nice thing to do to senior citizens.

I made a reservation last Thursday (11/16/2023) for a trip to Iceland from 12/02/2023-12/07/2023 and then I was told that I can't have my refund back. This entire situation has been a massive chaos. When I called on last Thursday (11/16/2023) to place my reservation, the agent (Kathy) I talked to stressed about she "cannot" guarantee that I will be able to go on the trip. Before I provided the payment information, I specifically asked if I will be able to get the refund because the trip is coming up so soon. The agent ensured that I will be able to get a full refund back within 60 days if I decided to cancel the trip. I was also told that I am basically on a wait list and someone will contact me once I can go on the trip. No one contacted me about whether the agency was able to process my information at all, so I've been left in the dark about this trip since the beginning. I called the help line this morning (11/20/2023) around 9:00 Eastern Standard Time to cancel my reservation. I was informed by the agent that I will not be able to get my full refund back since it's too close to the trip date. Basically I was told that Kathy gave me the wrong information, so I will have to pay the cancellation fee. The only reason I provided my payment information is because Kathy specifically stated that I will be able to cancel the trip and receive a full refund. I've never been so frustrated with a traveling agency. I made sure to ask this agent regarding the refund policy twice before giving her my payment information, and she still couldn't provide me with the correct information. It's unbelievable that such a big traveling agency cannot uniformly train their employees with the correct set of information.

I have yet to leave on this trip to New England, but thus far the customer service has been DISMAL at best. They have every device to discourage you from talking to an actual person. Additionally, be warned: there is a lot of FALSE ADVERTISING. Website indicates first two nights a hotel in Burlington, walking distance to many things, or close to public transportation. So, we booked a pre-stay for two nights in Burlington, Before we booked the extra nights, I was told by rep the hotel would be 'Delta Marriott in Burlington'. When the actual hotels were sent, I see we are at Hampton Inn in Colchester. Well this hotel is in the middle of nowhere, not walkable to anything, 30 minutes drive to Burlington. Their front desk informed me we 'really will need a car to go anywhere' (except Starbucks and Costco across the street). I have been on the line now 43 minutes as I type this to 'tour support' line. The rep when she finally came on tells me there is NO REFUND for the pre-stay hotel payment. It is 'close to public transportation.' Turns out she is referring to the Colchester bus station -- 13 minutes away!! Clearly, reputation and customer service are not important to this company. I will never book with them again.

Poor costumer service. They just want your money. I booked a single room and they told me they can not find a room for me since I booked late. How come they did not tell me this when I booked? I am travelling with my family and they were confirmed. There is a likelihood that I would not travel with them I find it so ridiculous that no one tells you anything.

Tour of Australia, June 2024 started off well enough in Sydney. Enjoyed the "Vivid" festival. After the transition to Port Douglas, the hotel that EF Go Ahead tours decided to put the group in, did not have an elevator or porter service. Then after dragging luggage up two flights of steps, down a long narrow walkway that all of the lights were burnout, found the air conditioning and TV not working. When I expressed my displeasure to the EF Go Ahead tour guide, his response was to let EF Go Ahead tours know. I complained to the hotel front desk that night and the manager moved my room in the morning. I received an email from the tour company reminding me to be nice and not yell at anyone. The tour company obviously did not care about the customer being taken care of.

This review is for the tour of London and Paris. This was my third tour with GoAhead in the past 10 years. My first two tours in 2011 and 2015 were both very good, but this one was a disappointment with a dramatic decline in customer service and quality. That pains me to say, but it's true. This was essentially a bargain basement tour with terrible customer service and a bad Tour Director, Reuben, who made the tour very stressful and unpleasant. He was unavailable to us, ignored messages, and made us feel like we were bothering him. The whole tour group was constantly talking about how Rueben the tour guide was ignoring them and acting put out, like he didn't want to be bothered with the group. The wait time to talk to anyone at GoAhead on the phone was consistently 45 min to an hour minimum leading up to the tour and after. That's ridiculous. For my past 2 tours I received a quality travel bag in the mail from GoAhead. This time, GoAhead mailed the travelers a cookbook. Like that will come in handy whilst on tour. It was an obvious attempt at some promotional collaboration that didn't serve the needs of its customers at all. The London portion coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth. It was understandable that there might be some adjustments made, but we were told in the hotel lobby that our bus had been "cancelled" and we would be traveling on foot. This was a problem, because we paid for coach travel throughout our tour. GoAhead sent us travelers an email on 9/15 that said "London is experiencing severe road closures, which do not permit buses to operate in the city." This statement was untrue. There were plenty of buses operating in the city, and numerous buses were outside of our London hotel every day transporting people from other tour groups. We took photos and video of these buses with time stamps. I understand that transportation is more complicated with activities around Queen Elizabeth, but to tell us that buses are "not permitted" to operate in the city is just false. For the excursions, there was never enough time to enjoy. It was rush-rush-rush, never allowing an appropriate amount of time to see the site, with no consideration to factor in time for restrooms or gift shops. Reuben was a downgrade from previous tour directors. It is the Tour Director's job to be available and hold our hands through the travel. Reuben left my husband and me at a London tube station after we couldn't get on due to overcrowding at rush hour. When we caught up later, he had the nerve to snip at us for not getting on fast enough. I'm a former New Yorker and know how to deal with rush hour subway crowding. There was NO ROOM to possibly get on. Then, when the group had just arrived in Paris, he took us on the Metro and then abandoned us all at an unfamiliar location in the Latin Quarter, saying that he would "challenge us" to see if we could all find our way back without him. Wow. Travel was chaotic and disorganized in his hands. The Paris hotel location at Place de Republique was shabby and filled with a constant stream of loud motorcycles at all hours and loud skateboarders, making sleep a challenge. I was also disturbed that GoAhead made a point to say that all of us travelers absolutely MUST have COVID testing just before travel, and that the Tour Director would be checking these test results as soon as we arrived. Reuben never once mentioned this testing, and certainly never came around to check our test results. I feel really lied to about this. When I contacted GoAhead with the documented issues we experienced and the demonstrable lies we were told on the tour, the representative acted all concerned and told us we were surely owed a partial refund. I asked for a $400 per person partial refund ($800 total), which is peanuts compared to the total cost. Of course, GoAhead later came back and said NO. No refund of any kind would be given. So that ended our relationship with GoAhead after 3 tours for use over the last 10 years. They didn't care at all about losing our future business. So, BEWARE. This company is not what it once was. It's a great shame. We will not be traveling with them again. There are a lot of other choices out there, and they don't care about making things right -- just getting your money and nickel and diming you to death. You've been warned.

We booked a trip and took the more expensive cancel anytime insurance. After 2 months of trying to get someone on the customer service line, I finally spoke to someone who gave me incorrect information. I was eventually connected to a supervisor who told me that cancel anytime meant, I could cancel, but there was no refund only a future trip credit. If you are brave enough to book with them-read all the fine print. I will never deal with them again

For the money spent, it was mostly a let down. I did Rome, Florence and Venice. We actually ended up leaving a day early and had to pay for the flight change to do so. I have celiac disease and was told I would be accommodated 100% and I ended up starving most of the trip. All 3 of the only dinners provided, it was a total surprise to them that I needed gluten free, so each time, I got an undercooked bowl of red pasta made last minute. None of the hotel breakfasts knew about me or labeled anything. I think this should have been handled ahead of time by the tour guide (who was barely present nor informative). His lack of....everything really set the tone for many people on the tour. The itineraries for the days they actually took you somewhere was maybe 2-3 hours. Everything else you had to pay extra foror you were completely on your own. The hotels (besides maybe Florence) were booked so far from anything you had to pay for an uber. Most people save for years for something like this and I couldn't wait to get home. :(

EF GoAhead Tours has a few good qualities but, their customer service and the ability to obtain refunds that they owe is the worst. We went on a European tour with them. We booked airfare, hotels and excursions through them. Total trip was well over $14,000. We paid all of this in advance by withdrawals from our checking account, as they require. They do not accept credit cards for payments except while on tour. To begin with, most of the booking part was a good experience. There were some challenges in getting and paying for the upgrade flight accommodations that we wanted but in the end, we did get those resolved. Now to the challenges and terrible parts. First, they cancelled our 3 day extension to Germany reportedly due to a lack of interest. The problem was, they did this after the cut-off date for us to cancel or reschedule. After pushing through to a Supervisor, that person did assist with booking our hotel and a return flight home, but nothing else regarding other travel or arrangements. Next, 4 days prior to the tour starting they canceled one of our excursions. This meant it was too late to book something else for that day. Then, they have refused to issue a refund for the entire amount we paid for that excursion. We are out $20 for this. Even though we have provided documentation of their error in the refund amount, no one at EF seems to understand and they refuse to address this issue. We then booked something on our own for that day. While on tour, they then offered another excursion for us for that day and were kind enough to credit us for the other excursion we then had to cancel. Problem here is they charged us an extra $10 per person for this excursion, citing their policy is that the price goes up once you are on tour. This is even though they canceled the other excursion just prior to the tour starting and did not offer us another option until we were on tour. We are out another $20 for this error or policy on their part. Next, they canceled two additional excursions while we were on tour. One was $198 for two persons and the other was $290 for two persons. They told us while on tour that they would refund these charges to us but, that it takes 8-10 weeks for them to process these refunds. Since the tour ended, we have been in constant contact with EF. Here are the problems related to this. First, you cannot speak directly to someone about these kinds of issues once the tour is over. You have to leave a message and then it usually takes them 3-4 days to call you back. The Customer Service reps are not empowered to do anything about this except to document it and then forward it on to someone else while you wait for a reply. I have asked several times for a Supervisor and each time I am told, they will ask one to call me but it also takes 3-4 days for them to call you back. They have asked for documentation of these issues and I have sent them emails, invoices, screenshots and all that there is. Unfortunately, no matter how clear the documentation is, nothing gets resolved. We finally established contact with someone we were told was a Supervisor. However, her title is Customer Loyalty and Engagement Specialist. We just can't seem to get to a Supervisor to assist us. This person has now told us several times that the initial $20 was refunded to our credit card. However, no refund has ever posted. Then, she told us an additional $238 was credited back to our credit card. That refund has also never posted and it has been over 2 weeks. She has also told us that the remaining $250 will be issued to us in a check. But, when asked when the check would be issued, were told they were completing their annual "audit" of finances and it would be another 3 weeks before the check would be issued. We are not confident at this time that this will ever happen. We were also recently contacted by another guest on our tour. Similar issue with a refund that was promised yet they have yet to receive theirs either. In summary, we had a pretty good tour experience with EF, it is the work on the back end and getting to talk to anyone or get refunds once we are off tour that is the problem. Their employees do not have any answers, they don't want to talk on the phone and want to try and handle everything by email and they are just plain difficult to work with. As of today, we are still waiting on $522 in refunds from EF with no understanding of when we might see our funds. Very disappointing!

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We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours.  

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Can Harris win on good vibes alone?: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of  From the Politics Desk , an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In today’s edition, Washington correspondent. Yamiche Alcindor previews Vice President Kamala Harris' history-making convention speech. Plus, senior national political reporter Jonathan Allen examines whether Democrats can ride good vibes all the way to victory this fall.

Programming note: Stay tuned for a special edition of the From the Politics Desk newsletter after the Democratic National Convention tonight, bringing you all the latest news and analysis from our team in Chicago.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

Can Harris win on good vibes alone?

By jonathan allen.

CHICAGO — For now, Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is running on vibes, and many Democrats hope she can ride them to victory on Election Day. 

That may mean she will try to avoid laying out a comprehensive policy plan for the country. Whether she can do that and still win remains an open question.

In the month since President Joe Biden stepped aside, Harris has offered a ton of talk about joy, vision and values, but very little in the way of detailed plans. The Democratic Party’s platform , released Sunday, didn’t change as a result of the switch at the top of the ticket. 

On the campaign trail, Harris has unveiled a handful of proposals that are largely retreads or souped-up versions of items on Biden’s wish list — among them, a 28% corporate tax rate , a $25,000 subsidy for first-time homebuyers, an expanded tax credit of up to $6,000 for the first year of a child’s life. The latter two could create inflationary pressures at a time when Harris is promising to keep prices low.

But Harris and her campaign team aren’t saying anything about a broader plan to bolster the economy or national security.

At a roundtable with reporters this week, hosted by Bloomberg News, Harris policy adviser Brian Nelson repeatedly said he didn’t want to “get ahead of the vice president” when pressed for details of her agenda.

“I think, you know, fundamentally she’s going to continue to do sort of more specific policy initiatives with a lot of detail behind them as she builds out this picture for her vision of the future both in the economy and domestic policy,” Nelson said.

At the same event, longtime Harris policy adviser Rohini Kosoglu suggested that the Harris campaign would rather draw contrasts with former President Donald Trump and the “ Project 2025 ” agenda he has disavowed than put down its own map of her plans.

“The questions about even what voters want to hear in terms of her work over her career, her time as vice president and then moving forward may sound a little bit different than our traditional sort of longer-term campaigns that have had, you know, these huge apparatuses,” Kosoglu said. “On the opposing side, there’s a Project 2025 out there, and people also need to understand what’s in those 900 pages. What does it mean for their everyday life?”

Harris campaign aides have said that she will not propose a single-payer, universal health insurance program — “Medicare for All” — as she once did and that she now opposes a fracking ban she once supported. 

Harris has yet to sit down for a major interview since she became the Democratic standard-bearer, so it may be some time before she is pushed to fill in her vision with more specifics — and do so in her own words, rather than through statements issued by campaign aides. 

There are risks to offering too few details and to offering too many of them. Democrats have tried to make Project 2025 an anchor on Trump. But given a short window to get to know Harris better, voters may not be willing to hold their breaths and hope that she will deliver what they want if she’s not willing to make hard promises on policy.

Only time will tell whether she feels compelled to do that — and whether she will be rewarded or rejected if she doesn’t.

Harris prepares for history-making convention speech

By yamiche alcindor.

CHICAGO — Harris is set to deliver what is arguably the biggest speech of her life Thursday night, when she will make history as the first Black woman and first Asian American person to accept a major party’s nomination for president. 

Harris intends to focus her speech on three areas: sharing her personal and professional background, contrasting her vision for America with the one offered by former President Donald Trump and rooting her vision in “a deep and abiding sense of patriotism,” according to a campaign official, who requested anonymity to share details about the remarks.

The speech will be one of her most significant opportunities to define herself since she took over the top of the ticket from Biden last month. She has been crafting the speech over the past two weeks, making trips to Howard University in Washington, D.C. — her alma mater — for both debate preparation and speechwriting sessions, two sources familiar with her preparations said. 

One person familiar with the speech preparations said Harris plans to dedicate the early part of her speech to praising Biden.

Harris also plans to connect her policy proposals with her middle-class upbringing, including talking about plans for issues like taking on price gouging, lowering rent and helping first-time homebuyers, the two sources familiar with the speech said.

A former aide familiar with the speech preparations said Harris’ team has also been cautious about how they will incorporate talking about race and gender while understanding that it will be important to acknowledge the history-making position Harris is in. The speech will focus on why Harris is qualified to be president, detailing, among other areas, her time as a lawyer and the types of cases she handled.

Read more from Yamiche →

🎙️ The lineup: Prior to Harris, several other prominent Democrats are slated to speak on the fourth and final night of the convention.

They include: Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords; Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Roy Cooper of North Carolina; Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; Rep. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida; former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; and state Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, also known as the “ Tennessee Three .”

In addition, Democratic candidates in key Senate races are on the schedule: Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; and Reps. Colin Allred of Texas, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. 

But as Henry J. Gomez and Bridget Bowman note , the party’s two most vulnerable Senate Democrats — Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio — are skipping the convention.

Alex Seitz-Wald also reports that a number of progressive lawmakers and officials, as well the United Auto Workers, have called on Democrats to reverse their decision not to give a Palestinian American a speaking slot.

🎶 Musical guests: Pop singer Pink and country trio The Chicks are expected to perform, per Monica Alba, Jonathan Allen and Summer Concepcion . 

📱 Trump’s plans: Trump said that he will do a “ live play by play ” of Harris’ speech on Truth Social.

Follow along with tonight’s speeches on our live blog →

Trump says he will make ‘provisions’ for mixed-status families but doesn’t rule out separations with mass deportations

By garrett haake, jake traylor and alexandra marquez.

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — Trump on Thursday said the cost to deport millions of undocumented immigrants is justified and would not rule out separating families that are compromised of citizens and immigrants. 

“It’ll cost trillions of dollars to keep these people, and I’m talking about in particular, starting with the criminals,” Trump told NBC News in an interview during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. “That’s costing us a lot more than deporting. But we have no choice, regardless, we have no choice, we’re going to have to deport.”

When pressed, Trump provided no details on how he would pay for his plan, which could cost billions of dollars to implement at scale. Trump spent much of his first term fighting with Congress to give him money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, an expensive undertaking that the legislative branch never agreed to fund. Ultimately, he took the money from other parts of the Pentagon budget.

Asked whether he would deport undocumented immigrants who are part of mixed-status families, like those married to American citizens or those who are parents to American citizens, Trump said: “Provisions will be made, but we have to get the criminals out.”

Read more →

🗞️ Today’s other top stories

• 🩺 Mr. Secretary? With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. planning to drop out and endorse Trump, Brandy Zadrozny takes a look at what the independent candidate might want to do if he were to serve in a future administration as health secretary. Read more →
• 🪙 DonChain: Trump is teasing a cryptocurrency project on his social media platforms. Read more →
• 🗳️ Vote watch: The Supreme Court partly granted a request from the Republican National Committee to make Arizona enforce measures requiring people to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Read more →
• 🚫 No dice: The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a decision from the secretary of state blocking a constitutional amendment to protect abortion access from the November ballot. Read more →
• 🤳 How do you do, fellow kids? A flood of politicians have joined TikTok in recent months in an effort to court young voters, even after Biden signed a bill passed by Congress that could ban the app. Read more →

That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at [email protected]

And if you’re a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here .

Brandon Marsh's go-ahead sac fly

Brandon Marsh lifts a go-ahead sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the 8th inning

• Season 2024
• More From This Game
• Brandon Marsh
• Philadelphia Phillies
• in-game highlight

• Pitch Type: Slider
• Pitch Speed: 83.9 mph
• Spin Rate: 2202 rpm

• Exit Velocity: 101.8 mph
• Launch Angle: 36°
• Hit Distance: 376 ft

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National Parks: Canadian Rockies, Glacier & Yellowstone

Alaska’s National Parks: Denali & the Kenai Fjords

Fall Foliage Tour: Vermont to Massachusetts

8 days | 10 days with Boston, Massachusetts extension

South Carolina & Georgia: Charleston to Savannah

4.2 out of 5 stars

U.S. National Parks for Solo Travelers: The Grand Canyon to Zion

9 days | 11 days with Las Vegas extension

4.5 out of 5 stars

New England: Vermont, Maine Coast & Massachusetts

U.S. National Parks: A Week in the Southwest

Denali National Park & Wild Alaska Cruise

12 days | 14 days with Vancouver extension

America's National Parks by Train: Rocky Mountains, Arches & Zion

10 days | 13 days with Grand Canyon National Park & Phoenix extension

4.8 out of 5 stars

Albuquerque Balloon Festival & U.S. National Parks

The Canadian Rockies Walking Tour: Banff & Lake Louise

7 days | 10 days with Glacier National Park Region extension

3.9 out of 5 stars

What travelers are saying about our United States tours

5 out of 5 stars

1st-time traveler Frank

Best use of time and money ever! New friends, new outlook on world; new memories that will always be special. Great company. I'm ready to go ahead tour anytime! Thanks for the... Read more of National Park tour

Traveled in Jun 2024 on U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon to Yellowstone

2nd-time traveler Karen

The tour was amazing! We saw so much of our country in only two weeks! I marveled at the beauty and vastness when traveling out West. The tour was well-organized and our tour... Read more of Grand Canyon to Yellowstone

Traveled in May 2024 on U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon to Yellowstone

1st-time traveler Nancy

My daughter & I went in this trip together and had a great time. We learned so much about the history of the people, geology and cultures. There was a lot of exploring time, which... Read more of Great SW American Trip

2nd-time traveler Elsa Helen

What a great way to see some of our National Park’s without having to drive it ourselves! A great driver in Robin and excellent Tour Director in Phil Pesch made our journey safe... Read more of A great experience !

1st-time traveler Don

Surprisingly and comfortably educational, Phil, our tour director, shared an abundance of detail, history, color and culture. Very well organized and efficient. Our driver Robin... Read more of National Parks Bus Tour

2nd-time traveler Barbara B

Tour Director Carrie planned daily breathtaking experiences. Supplemental videos and superb guides enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of the... Read more of Eye Candy For Your Heart

Traveling with a group?

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Add handpicked experiences and stay longer on a tour extension.

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Pick your perfect trip

We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

Put just $99 down

That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest- free, monthly installments.

Prep your packing list

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about.

Go far (and get rewarded)

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

Not sure which United States tour is right for you? We're here to help.

Chat online

Chat instantly with us during our normal hours, or leave a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

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We’re available every day from our offices in Boston and Denver at 1-855-590-1161

Know where you want to travel in the United States?

Grand Canyon

New England

Salt Lake City

Yellowstone

Travel tips for United States trips

While we could list quite a number things to see on tour in the United States, here are our top picks:

• The Grand Canyon  in Arizona, one of America’s most-visited national parks, for colorful hikes
• Hawaii , for beautiful beaches, spectacular sunsets, and a unique culture
• Zion National Park  in Utah, for canyons, rivers, and incredible views

You don’t have to leave the U.S. to go on a memorable vacation. One of the best benefits of our United States tours is that you can see beautiful sights right in your proverbial backyard. You won’t have to worry about long flights, exchanging currencies, or language barriers. Plus, you can learn more about the places your ancestors may have traveled or lived, as well as build a deeper connection to the country you call home.

The best time to travel in the U.S. depends on where you’re going and what you’re hoping to do.

Spring:  Consider  U.S. National Parks Adventure: A Week in the Southwest  for outdoor hiking and sightseeing when it’s not too hot outside.

Summer : Visit  Denali National Park  in Alaska for some of the most majestic landscapes and wildlife sightings when it’s warmer.

Fall:  Visit  Vermont and Massachusetts  for stunning views of fall foliage and colonial history, or go on our  Albuquerque Balloon Festival & U.S. National Parks  tour for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What to pack for USA tours depends on where in the country you go and what you are hoping to do. If you are going to  South Carolina and Georgia , you’ll want to bring a lot of light layers to keep comfortable in the heat and humidity. If you’re going to  Alaska , on the other hand, you’ll want to bring a lot of heavy layers to keep warm in the cold. All of our tours include custom packing suggestions, so check the clothing and packing tips in the tour you love.

FORECAST: Summer is not over yet! Heating up on this Friday

Latest forecast, weather headlines.

• NEXT 12: Warm afternoon but humidity stays tolerable
• SHORT TERM: 90s return this weekend
• LONG TERM: Intense heat and likely dry for most of next week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - August heat and humidity is slowly making its return to WAVE Country. Highs reach the mid to upper 80s Friday under a mix of sun and clouds.

We’ll keep the partly cloud sky around Friday night. It will be a warm and muggy night; expect lows in the 60s.

More of us will be in the upper 80s to low 90s Saturday as the heat continues to build. Skies remain partly cloudy. Lows fall into the 60s Saturday night.

Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies stick around into Sunday morning.

The more intense heat arrives Sunday and will be here to stay heading into next week. The hottest days will be Monday through Wednesday with in the mid to perhaps upper 90s. The heat index will likely reach or exceed 100 degrees each of those afternoons as well. While rain chances do return next week, they remain quite low until a cold front pushes through the region about a week from now.

Download the free WAVE Weather app for the latest on the forecast.

Copyright 2024 WAVE. All rights reserved.

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