Touring by Bus is a Great Way to Travel for Seniors

When we decided we wanted to travel somewhere without having to actually drive ourselves or get on an airplane we chanced upon the Sun Tours website in Albuquerque, N.M., and found out about a July Mystery Tour. It sounded fun. It was affordable. We only had to drive to Albuquerque, N.M., after that we didn’t do a thing but enjoy ourselves.

Sun Tour Mystery Tours are never the same, we were told, and happen at different times during the year. Once a tour has been taken to a particular destination – depending on the after-trip evaluations – it either ends up in the catalog or disappears into the dust of destiny. The Mystery Tours are sort of a test market for the company.

The trip was enjoyable from the get-go. Our tour guide was an experienced fellow full of cheerful chatter and interesting facts. He kept us on tether hooks right up until the time we took the turn for Crested Butte, Colo. Yes we knew we’d be going to the high country somewhere. The literature said our lodging for three nights would be at an elevation of 9,000 feet, but we didn’t know it would be in Colorado until we started heading north from Albuquerque on our first day.

What I liked

The fun and adventure of not knowing where we were going. Meeting new people. How well we were treated and taken care of by the tour guide. The excellence of the motor coach driver. Our destination. Crested Butte lives up to its reputation of being the Wild Flower Capital of Colorado. The variety of activities. The day spent in Salida, Colo., an interesting town with a vigorous tourism economy. Water, water everywhere! The spectacular scenery. It was affordable. (Under $2,000 for the both of us including out-of-pocket meals)
With the exception of some meals, everything was covered including tips and baggage handling. We could both relax and enjoy the journey.

What I would do differently

I would have been more conscientious about following the tour recommendations about clothing and would have packed warmer gear. Even in July Crested Butte can be chilly. I would have gone up on the ski lift despite the rain. I would have taken a coffee pot to make Starbucks in the room. (Okay, we’re obsessed about this but what can you do?) One interesting fact we learned is that in Crested Butte there is a concerted effort to keep chain restaurants and stores out. They strive to keep the small town atmosphere alive and well. So don’t look for a KFC, a Mickey D. or a Starbucks. You won’t find one, at least not right now. I guess I have to admire that.

As a senior who likes to be active and enjoy life, I would recommend Sun Tours (and a Mystery Tour) as a travel option. The company has a catalog full of other tours. The fact that so many people come back time after time to Sun Tours is a recommendation in itself.

Happy travels wherever you go!

For more details about our trip, go to Gadabout.


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