The dreaded tour (the good side)

[suzanneschuelke]

I have decided to post having seen HappyTraveller's comment about it being seven years. I just back from a tour - yes a guided one with a group. First one and while the bad was expected the good was real. First, the reason. I have an extremely close friend who had a stroke about five years ago and is wobbly walking. Three years ago her husband (also a close friend) committed suicide (probably with beginning dementia based on his "reason" and his typical personality changing in the last few months). In early years they had travelled extensively, but he was much older and they had stopped before his death.

I wanted to get her traveling again since I know she loves it. So, I found a tour that left from Tucson (her current home) and went to Copper Canyon (which we had wanted to see). So, with her consent, I booked it for the three of us. She paid her own way and had her own room, I just organized. We agreed in advance that things she couldn't do she just wouldn't and it wouldn't stop us.

And it worked. Now, I didn't like what I thought I wouldn't like - menus that needed to be selected in advance, precise timings etc, in general I thought it far better than I expected. It was nice that suitcases appeared in rooms "automatically" and while I envisioned chaos checking in, rooms had been assigned before we arrived at each hotel and we were just given keys as we stepped off the bus. Mealsi varied from excellent to decidedly so-so, but that can happen individually as well.

And my friend (also never a group traveler before but now needing the support) has started talking about other groups that have good single supplements. She won't need us to travel with her each time, what we did is give her the push.

Oh, I loved Copper Canyon and the train ride up to it. Our room had a balcony overlooking the canyon and I loved it during the day, seeing more starts than I'd ever seen at night, and during a spectacular lightening storm.

[auntieannie]

oh, that's such a good thing you did for your friend! excellent idea.very inspiring.

I find organised travel can be good in small doses and/or for a specific purpose, like if you are going to spend a little time in a large city, take a tour, get the touristy bits out of the way and an understanding of the geography of the place.

[Voy]

well done you! and WELCOME BACK!!

[kuskiwi]

Lovely to have you back, and yes, tours can be the right option in some circumstances. I have reached the stage where I feel more secure on a small group tour (still have to pluck up courage to do a bigger numbers one), particularly in places where I don't have a support network if small issues become big problems.

Full kudos to you and your friend for finding a way to get her wanderlust back.