globus tours california

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California Classics

• Fully Guided
• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

Traveled in September 2023

Places You’ll See

• Meet your guide and group over welcome drinks
• Explore San Francisco's iconic sights and sounds
• Sip wine in Sonoma's renowned vineyards
• Marvel at Yosemite's majestic natural beauty
• Drive through Big Sur to the historic Hearst Castle
• Introduction
• Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
• Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO
• Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO–EXCURSION TO SAUSALITO & SONOMA
• Day 4 SAN FRANCISCO–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
• Day 5 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY
• Day 6 MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL
• Day 7 MONTEREY–BIG SUR–SAN SIMEON–SOLVANG
• Day 8 SOLVANG–SANTA BARBARA–LOS ANGELES
• Day 9 LOS ANGELES
• Day 10 LOS ANGELES

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Operated by

Number of tours

5 to 80 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

It began more than 90 years ago, when a young man purchased a boat to transport visitors across Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Who would have thought that this single boat would launch one of the world's leading travel companies? Today, the Globus family of brands is a global company reaching every...

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Good 4.0
• Guide Bad 1.0
• Transport Good 4.0
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Good 4.0
• Tour Operator Globus 5.0
• Most Recent
• Most Popular
• Highest First
• Lowest First
• A Belinda · 21st September 2023 It was definitely higher end as far as tours go. Bus driver and tour guide were excellent. Accomodation great. Well chosen itinery. Trip date: September 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A tatiana · 4th September 2023 this was our 3rd trip, most likely will book again in 2024 Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Rhonnie · 1st September 2023 Darren, was pleasant, remembered our names and was always available to listen or discuss the trip. Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Antoinette · 31st August 2023 My family and I were disappointed that the tour of Los Angeles did not include Universal Studios. It could have taken the place of the Getty Museum or the Farmers Market stops. We would have also enjoyed additional time In San Francisco. Overall, we... Show more Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Nancy · 30th August 2023 Darren, was very caring and offered to bring us dinner because I did not feel well and could not go to dinner. He also checked on us the next morning. I appreciate his kindness and compassion. We enjoyed our adventure! Nancy Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Elizabeth · 29th August 2023 Road conditions shortened our time in Big Sur, but I would love to see more hours allocated to Yosemite and Big Sur in the future. Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A JAMES · 29th August 2023 The overall tour was very good. The Farmer's Market experience was alright, but I think that working in a studio tour instead might have been more interesting. Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Rochelle · 26th August 2023 Darren has been a fabulous Tour Director and Oze has been a fabulous driver. They have both been kind and informative at all times. They have made our tour first class. Both of them are an asset to Globus and they should be given bonuses. Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Harriet · 13th September 2023 Good balance of natural world & urban environments…the tremendous variants of California. Substantial breakfasts to start our busy days. Guide is lively, energetic, caring, kind, informative, patient, a good partner with driver. Well-prepared... Show more Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Martyn · 26th August 2023 Darren and Hose go above and beyond and both are excellent . You should promote both and give them bonuses Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Globus

Dates & Availability

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• Upcoming departures
• September 2024
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• -9% Get Instant Confirmation Friday 6 Sep, 2024 Sunday 15 Sep, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €3,796 €3,467 Confirm Dates
• Friday 13 Sep, 2024 Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 English Sold Out €3,796 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• -12% Get Instant Confirmation Friday 9 May, 2025 Sunday 18 May, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €3,919 €3,448 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
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• Get Instant Confirmation Friday 30 May, 2025 Sunday 8 Jun, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €3,957 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Friday 20 Jun, 2025 Sunday 29 Jun, 2025 English Sold Out €4,456 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• -2% Get Instant Confirmation Friday 27 Jun, 2025 Sunday 6 Jul, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €4,013 €3,919 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
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• Friday 29 Aug, 2025 Sunday 7 Sep, 2025 English Sold Out €3,957 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• -6% Get Instant Confirmation Friday 12 Sep, 2025 Sunday 21 Sep, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €3,957 €3,721 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates

What our customers ask about this tour

The tour ends in Los Angeles, after breakfast with your new travel companions at The L.A Hotel Downtown. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. Please be aware that the meeting / departure points are subject to change until your final trip documents are released.

Your tour starts on Day 1, when you arrive in San Francisco and check into the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Spend the day settling in and exploring your surroundings before meeting your travel companions at 6pm for a welcome drink. Please be aware that the meeting / departure points are subject to change until your final trip documents are released.

Arrival transfers are available for this tour at an additional cost, please contact our customer support team to arrange this. Complimentary departure transfers are provided on the final day of the tour.

Of course we can! If you wish to arrange additional accommodation then please contact our customer support team once you have a confirmed booking.

The age range for this tour is from 8 to 80 years old. Due to the style of the tour, it is not suitable for children under the age of 8.

If you are travelling alone on this tour, a mandatory single supplement will be added to the tour price. You can see the additional surcharge on the 'Book Now' page.

Flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price and you need to arrange these separately by yourself once your tour is guaranteed. As we specialise in organising the best tours around the world for you, we are unable to advise on flight prices or book flights on your behalf. If you have not already booked your flights we recommend checking out the following link which is powered by Skyscanner - https://flights.tourradar.com

This tour can accomodate up to 40-45 travellers on a fully booked departure.

All accommodations are subject to change until 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and your specific accommodation details will be listed in your final trip documents. This is a list of accommodations that the tour operator will typically use on this tour: SAN FRANCISCO MARRIOTT MARQUIS EMBASSY SUITES NAPA VALLEY YOSEMITE VIEW LODGE HYATT REGENCY MONTEREY HOTEL CORQUE THE L.A. HOTEL DOWNTOWN Hopefully, this list will give you a better idea of what kind of accommodation you can expect while on tour.

Good to Know

• Currency $ US Dollar USA

As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 11th October 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 11th October 2024, a minimum payment of €250 is required to confirm your booking with Globus. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 50 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Globus will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Globus" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Globus. Please familiarise yourself with the Globus payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Tour Review: Globus’ Golden State of Mind California

More activity choices and deeper dives into destinations sets this california tour apart..

Globus Debuts New Independent Touring Option

• I went on Globus’ Northern California tour that includes stops in San Francisco, Sonoma, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite.
• Though the tour covers a lot of ground, it offers great activities in each major stop and the chance to choose your own guided activities with Globus’ YourChoice Excursions.

Globus’ Golden State of Mind: Northern California by Design tour mixes history, culture and nature for a busy trip that will appeal to many different types of travelers. Starting in San Francisco, this California tour makes stops in Sausalito, Wine Country, the Lake Tahoe area, and a surprisingly vibrant Sacramento before ending with a bang at Yosemite. Along the way, there’s time to find out about the Gold Rush and the Pony Express. Three nights near Yosemite National Park means there’s time to soak up the wonders and wilderness of the land that has inspired humans for thousands of years.

THE SCOOP: What to Know About Globus Before You Book

This Globus California tour is a Choice Touring by Globus itineraries. More than a dozen Choice Touring itineraries in North America and Europe are designed to offer travelers more choices along the way, with both guided sightseeing of the biggest sights and YourChoice Excursions, curated experiences that you can choose from along the way. All of the YourChoice Excursions are built into the price of the tour.

Things to Know About Globus’ Golden State of Mind California Tour

• Globus’ first “Choice Touring” offering in the U.S. gives travelers options along the way. That means, for instance, that you can sail Lake Tahoe while your travel companion opts for a scenic gondola right. Three of the days on this itinerary include activity options, so you can mix and match, together or apart, to best satisfy everyone, including the person who craves an afternoon nap.
• All breakfasts (8) are included (at the hotels), plus two dinners. The format makes it easy to connect with fellow travelers early to share some of the meals that are not included. On my trip, some solo travelers occasionally dined alone for the evening meal, but the convivial group was more fun when gathering together. The tour guide always pointed out restaurants with a variety of price points.
• This tour suits older adults who are curious and eager to travel, but would rather have someone else arrange the details. From the moment you connect with your tour director, you no longer have to handle your luggage, or deal with almost any other arrangements. Also, having a tour director in charge means any unexpected snafus, which you can expect on any trip, are handled by someone else.
• On my tour, most of the group were couples, retirees with an urge to travel. A handful were solo travelers who melded easily with the friendly group. Two couples were extended family—a brother and sister and their spouses—and the tour seemed especially suited for that kind of group. Keeping four people happy is easy when there are options on activities.

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• The best hotel of the trip is at Yosemite, the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, with a heated pool, spa and on-site nature trails. There’s just one restaurant, but all the food was good (sometimes great) and the prices were fair, with lighter options for those who don’t need three square a day.
• Being a bus passenger has its downsides, but the big plus is that you don’t have to drive. It’s a joy to watch the scenery glide by without worrying about finding your way on unfamiliar roads. This is especially true on this tour with its many zig-zagging mountain roads.
• The location of the Embassy Suites in Sacramento makes it ideal for a tour group. It was easy to head out on foot to a variety of Sacramento attractions, and it’s close to the city’s old town and its vibrant appeal.
• For many, Yosemite will be the highlight and it’s at the end of the tour. That could be a drawback, but instead it keeps the excitement high for the duration.

SOLO TRAVEL TOGETHER: 10 Best Tour Companies for Solo Travel

Important Details About Globus’ Golden State of Mind California Tour

For most travelers, the Yosemite National Park stop at the end of the trip will be the big draw. The tour begins in San Francisco, and Day 2 is a a full day of sightseeing in and near the City by the Bay. This is one of the Choice Touring Days; you can choose to go on a food tour in North Beach, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, or go to Golden Gate Park and visit the Academy of Sciences.

On Day 3, it’s time to hop the bus and head toward Sacramento, with a stop in Sonoma for a wine tasting at a winery as well as a lunch stop in downtown Sonoma. Sacramento, California’s capital city, is a surprisingly vibrant destination, and the overnight here includes a sightseeing tour and a group dinner.

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Next up is two nights in Lake Tahoe, where the YourChoice excursions include a Lake Tahoe cruise, a trip to historical Virginia City, or a trip up Heavenly ski resort’s year-round gondola for some incredible views.

Then, it’s on to the three nights in Yosemite with plenty of time to experience this natural wonderland. The time in and around the national park starts with a general tour, and is followed on Day 7 with YourChoice Excursions options including a two-hour tram tour of the Yosemite Valley, a naturalist-led walk, or a private guided photography tour.

Route Notes

Sometimes on this tour, the bus rides are longer than you might like. But part of the reason for that is you are traversing mountain roads into wilderness areas at Yosemite. There are frequent “comfort” stops along the way, but a bathroom at the back of the bus is available as well. Globus utilizes a rotating bus seat assignment plan that means no one can hog the front seats and no one is continually stuck in the back. Chatting with an ever-changing group of nearby seat mates is a great way to get to know everyone on the trip.

Breakfasts were different at each stop, but the food was always plentiful, and buffets were the most common option.

Lunches are mostly not included in the package, but this works well because you are often en route from one place to another. Sometimes you’re picking up a sandwich or something light.

With just two dinners included, many of your evening meals will be on your own. What this means is that your tour director will provide suggestions on places for you to try out that are usually within walking distance of your hotel. The benefit of the group dinners is that you don’t have to make any plans, or spend any extra money. The disadvantage is that you’re dining with a group of 30-plus folks.

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Amenities Along the Way

Most of the hotels along the way had pools and similar amenities, but there wasn’t much free time to use them until the last stop at Tenaya Lodge. Here are a few amenities that stand out.

The nightly happy hour at the Embassy Suites hotel in Sacramento served us well. Arriving in time for happy hour meant we could exit the bus and head to the lounge for free drinks while our luggage was sorted. Sounds like a small thing, but it was a pleasant and unexpected way to end the day of bus travel.

At Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, we spent three nights, so there was time to take advantage of some of the hotel amenities even while getting in lots of time at the National Park. The main pool is heated and has underwater speakers if you’re keen to listen to jazz while swimming. The spa and fitness room are top notch, with excellent massages, though the prices are typical of hotel spas: high. Bikes and short guided nature hikes at the hotel are also great ways to spend some down time. An outdoor fire pit is a fine place to savor some after-dinner s’mores.

Hotels Ratings

San Francisco: The San Francisco Marriott Marquis gets a rating of 8.3 out of 10 on Kayak , 4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor , and 8.5 out of 10 on Booking.com . The rooms are pleasant and clean, the location is central, and I loved the rooftop bar.

Sacramento: Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade receives a rating 8.4 out of 10 on Kayak and of 4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor . I appreciated the location close to Old Town Sacramento and the happy hour.

Lake Tahoe: The Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel gets a rating of 7.2 out of 10 on Kayak and 3.5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor . The hotel has a central location in downtown South Lake Tahoe.

Yosemite: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, situated just beyond the park’s south entrance in the town of Fish Camp, is rated 8.4 out of 10 on Kayak and 4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor . This is the longest stay of the trip, and Tenaya has nice amenities like its pools, though there aren’t a ton of restaurant options nearby.

Best for/Worst for

This tour suits older adults who are excited to travel, but don’t want to drive and would rather not arrange all the details. It’s especially good for groups of couples or other relatives since the choice option suits many different kinds of travelers, including people who are used to traveling independently.

With a lot of travel time, this tour isn’t a great fit for families with young children.

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Northern California By Design – Globus Tours USA Review

Last Updated August 14, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Companies » Northern California By Design – Globus Tours USA Review

If you’ve never been to Northern California, you’re 100% missing out! From the iconic cable cars of San Francisco to the granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park, stories of the Gold Rush in Old Sacramento, crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe, the mysterious tufa towers of Mono lake, and exquisite varietals in the wine region of Sonoma, this is a trip of a lifetime.

The easiest way to see and do it all without doing any of the hard work of planning is to booking the California Dreamin’: Northern California By Design tour by Globus. In this Globus Tours USA review, learn what it’s like to travel with a company that has 90-plus years of experience through my own eyes and what sets them apart.

The mountains are calling and I must go. – John Muir

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How to get the best deals in travel

• Hottest deals – Bookmark the travel deals page .
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• Hotels – Use corporate codes or get Genius 2 tier with Booking.
• Flights – Have you ever heard of the “Everywhere” feature ?
• Insurance – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about where to buy the best travel insurance .

In This Article

Who is Globus?

What is choice touring, why did i choose globus, itinerary map, highlights of the trip, welcome drinks and first meeting, bus experience, sightseeing experience, meal experience, accommodation experience, departure experience, epic landscapes, unexpected surprises, amazing tour director, having choices, stress-free health & safety, travel-minded people, where i thought the tour could be improved, top tips you need to know before your globus tour, is it worth it, closing thoughts, frequently asked questions, travel resources for your next trip, northern california by design review.

There’s been a ton of gushing over the beauty of the Golden State through the thorough breakdown 9 day Northern California road trip itinerary . It managed to WOW me at every turn even for someone that’s spent some time in NorCal before.

I will admit that we normally don’t travel by tour for most of our trips but on occasion, we’ll work with a tour bus company if we believe in the product and the company that stands behind it. One that comes into mind was our epic trip doing the New Zealand Reverse Traverse with Flying Kiwi .

Over the years, we’ve learned to never put different forms of travel in a box. There’s a time and place for every style of travel and it just so happened that for the timing of this trip and what I wanted to see and do, the California Dreamin’: Northern California By Design by Globus worked out better than I expected.

Globus is a company that started over 90 years ago by a gentleman named Antonio Mantegazza in Lake Lugano, Switzerland. That kind of legacy and experience in travel has translated to a Globus family of brands that has a footprint all over the world.

While you might’ve heard of Monograms, Avalon Waterways, and Cosmos, Globus is the company’s bread and butter.

With their history, they’ve been able to hone and re-imagine how escorted bus tours look like. They’ve built up one of the best reputations in the business and are geared towards budget-minded travelers. They’re not meant to be overly luxurious but they certainly don’t skimp out on the finer comfort details.

The elephant in the room though is their target audience. I’ll be the first to admit that they’ve traditionally marketed to the 50+ retirees. This is starting to change and with the introduction of ChoiceTouring and how their overall marketing strategy is evolving.

At its core, Globus always makes sure you see the classic sights and make sure you cross off items on your bucket list. They also leverage their industry power and access to get you exclusive access to tours and experiences that you can’t get anywhere else.

Choice Touring is a style of travel recently introduced at Globus.

The idea is simple. We all want to have a bit of freedom when we’re on a trip even with a guided tour. We also all have different interests. With YourChoice Excursions , they’re able to offer a wider range of experiences to cater to a dynamic group that range from something for food lovers and another for off-the-beaten-path adventures.

The key is that Choice Touring allows you to pick from a menu of day-trips that don’t come with an extra cost like a cruise does.

Practically speaking though, from having done the Northern California By Design tour which is a Choice Touring offering, not every day has YourChoice Excursions and sometimes it’s also subject to availability and seasonality.

Let me breakdown a few reasons why I ended up choosing to jump on the Northern California By Design tour , one of the Globus Tours in the USA.

• California forest fires – This year was an unprecedented year of forest fires including in the Northern California region. Not having a good understanding of their impacts and how to plan around them was something I didn’t have a good grasp of.
• Stress of driving – Like we learned in New Zealand , it is really nice now having to worry about driving especially when there are unexpected detours.
• Lazy to plan – While I love planning trips , sometimes you just want someone else to do it.
• Don’t have to worry about reservations – Whether they be reservations at Yosemite National Park or the restaurants that were included with the tour, this wasn’t something I needed to worry about even when joining last minute.
• Meet like-minded travelers – Everything above is about the planning and logistics but the most important and rewarding part of these type of tours is being able to meet new people and create new friendships.

For this Northern California By Design review, we thought it’d be helpful for you to see the entire itinerary in map form.

What were the most memorable experiences from our California Dreamin’: Northern California By Design tour with Globus?

These were the top 5 highlights:

• Giant Sequoias
• Brees Lookout
• Tufa Towers
• Yosemite Valley
• Train History

Back to the top

Book with Globus

Take a closer peek at the Northern California By Design tour by Globus. If you’re thinking about exploring more of the Golden State, we highly recommend this tour.

BOOK YOUR TRIP

How Globus Tours In The USA Work

From my experience with California Dreamin’: Northern California By Design tour, here’s what you can expect if you book any of the Globus tours in the USA.

After you book your trip and close to your departure date, they are stellar with their communication.whisp

• EDocs – You’ll receive an e-mail a PDF document with your tour code and booking reference that contains all of the pertinent pre-trip information you need including contact information, what to do if your flight is delayed, departure information, hotel list, itinerary, excursions, tips on what to pack, etc.
• GlobusGO app – Before you leave, they encourage you to download the GlobusGO app ( iOS / Android ) which allows you to see your trip itinerary through your smartphone. This is a nifty app that works offline, has map functionality to help you find points of interests, day-by-day breakdown of your trip, and ability to keep track of expenses and write your own trip diary.
• Open email communication – You’ll be able to ask all the questions you have through e-mail (or phone if you’d prefer) prior to your trip.

You might think that this is just an informal meeting to say hello to your tour director and other travel mates on the trip but this is actually an integral part of the tour that I’m glad that they do.

Here’s what actually happens at this meeting:

• Sign in – An official sign in process where they pass along any documents and personal notes to you for your trip regarding customizations or any questions you may have had. Lastly, you’ll receive an envelope with additional documents.
• Drinks – The most important part right? This is typically catered by the hotel and there’s a very large selection of beers and wines. Yes, you can come back as many times as you’d like.
• Introductions – Not only will the tour director formally introduce him or herself, everyone in the tour will also have a chance to say a quick line of who they are and when they’re from. I know this sounds a little nerve-racking but it was actually nice to get a big picture of who’s in the group and see who you might get along with.
• Detailed itinerary – In your envelope is a physical printout of the itinerary but unlike the others you’ve seen, this one will include an actual timeline. This is the one you’ll be using forward because it includes times for breakfast, departure, and a guideline for how much time you’ll have at each destination.
• Baggage pick up procedure – Inside your envelope is also your own baggage tag. Your tour director will explain how the pick up procedure works and that you need to have this tag attached to the suitcase that will be at the bottom of the bus.
• Form to confirm requests – The other document in the envelope is a paper form that you will have to fill out to re-confirm room requests (i.e. 1 king vs 2 queen beds), farewell meal choices, departure flight information, special requests, and special occasions. You will fill this out during the meeting and hand it to the tour director at the end.
• Miscellaneous notes – The tour director will talk about expectations on the bus, any changes to the itinerary, and other miscellaneous items.

Expect this orientation meeting to last 1 hour.

Here’s a definitive guide on what to expect from a Globus bus tour.

Let’s start with photos of what a typical coach bus looks like.

Standard bus operation procedures

• Overhead storage – There are overhead bins above each seat.
• Garbage bags – There are small plastic bags at each row that can be used for garbage. There’s also a larger garbage bag up front by the driver.
• Bathroom – The back of the bus has a toilet. It’s for emergency purposes but with the understanding that if you need to use it, you can.
• Outlets and USB – Every row has 2 electrical outlets and 2 USB outlets. This is super handy to make sure your devices are always topped up.
• Wifi – The bus is equipped with wifi but the speed is slow and is location dependent. Think of it as a wifi hotspot device that’s shared between every passenger. To give you an idea, I ran a speed test in San Francisco and I saw 0.19 Mbps down and 0.16 Mbps up. To give you an idea, LTE with Koodo in Canada can be anywhere between 150Mbps – 200 Mbps down and 20 Mbps – 50Mbps up.
• TVs – There are TVs mounted above every 5 rows. That said, I did find it hard to watch the TV if you were the furthest away from the TV. That said, it was only used for the Globus introduction video and a few times the tour director wanted to show us a video that explained for instance, the Donner Party.
• Speakers – The audio quality and volume is evenly distributed throughout the bus and if you can’t hear, you can always let your tour director know.
• Seating rotation – This is perhaps the most interesting. On your first day, seating is first-come-first-serve. Cards are later passed out where you’ll write your name and stick them above you. Every day, the tour director will move the cards 3 rows in a clockwise direction. This way, it’s fair for everyone.
• Seat spacing and features – Standard coach buses are used in Globus tours USA. There are arm rests, seats can recline, there’s a small tray that can be folded down from the seat in front of you, there’s a small hook and handle, and there is also a footrest. Overall, seats are comfortable and quite spacious.
• Shade – If your window is too sunny, you can pull down a sun shade. These aren’t individual row shades though so if you pull them down, it’ll affect 3 rows of seats.
• Buses are not owned by Globus – It’s worth noting that the coaches used are not owned by Globus. As a result, they are labelled with another name depending on where they’re being contracted from.
• Bathroom breaks – Something Globus does remarkably well is build in a ton of bathroom breaks along the itinerary and it was always the tour director’s point of emphasis to mention where they’re located and whether they’re clean or not. Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever felt the urge to go to the bathroom because there was also the right break at the right time.
• Water – An unexpected bonus on the tour was that the bus always had complimentary bottles of water available for everyone. At the very back of the bus is a cooler and anyone is free to go back there to grab a bottle if they need it.

When it comes to making stops during your Northern California By Design tour , because of the type of places you’ll be visiting, you’ll appreciate that you’ll have quite a bit of freedom to explore as you’re interested and capable of doing.

While every stop is a little different, these are a few interesting points to take note of:

• Stories and commentary – The tour director is great at teeing up stories and commentary about upcoming stops.
• Clear communication – Prior to each stop, you’ll also know exactly when you’re expected back at the bus. This is repeated several times. This level of detail isn’t on your itinerary sheet so you’ll want to make note of it.
• Ideas for what to do – Where it makes sense, your driver and tour director will do an orientation drive around the area you’ll be exploring, pointing out recommended places (i.e. shops, viewpoints, and restaurants).
• Guided – Typically in a city walk such as in Old Sacramento, your tour director will take the entire group out. In these situations, they will hand out wireless “Whisper” headsets. This allows you to hear the guide’s commentary no matter how far or close you are.
• Free to explore – In most cases, your tour director will give you a few ideas of where to go before disembarking your bus. Once on the ground, you’ll have the freedom to go wherever you want.

For the Northern California By Design Globus tour, all breakfasts, 2 dinners and 1 lunch are included. This means that for everything else, you’ll be responsible for your own meals.

When it comes to lunch, there will be spots built into the trip and they do a fantastic job and recommended places to eat.

For dinner, this is a similar story. Keep in mind that one of the dinners included is the farewell dinner on the last evening.

Something that Globus tours are great at is choosing stellar hotels. There’s not one bad thing I can say for each of the properties that you’ll stay at in the Northern California By Design trip.

Upon arrival in a new destination, the check-in process works similarly as follows:

• Passengers stay on the bus while the tour director goes to the front desk to check-in.
• Tour director comes back on the bus and hands out room keys.
• You have the option of picking up your own bags to bring to your room if you need them right away or you can wait to have them delivered to your room (can take up to 30-40 minutes).

These are the properties (this may be subject to change):

• Marriott Marquis San Francisco
• Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade
• Mammoth Mountain Inn
• Tenaya Lodge

On days where you’ll be changing hotels, you’ll leave your suitcase with the special Globus tag by your door, inside the room, at the time specified on your itinerary (the paper one received at the welcome meeting). The hotel concierge will pick them up and load them onto the bus for you.

This is an incredibly handy service since you don’t have to carry your heavy suitcases. That said, you do have to make sure you have everything packed ahead of time.

More specifically, let’s talk about what the final day of the Northern California By Design tour is like. The day prior, the tour director will confirm your travel plans as some may decide to stay in San Francisco longer.

You’ll also be asked to write on your luggage tag, the airline you’re taking. This will help your driver sort out the order of how the bags can be pulled out.

Upon arrival at SFO, the bus will go from terminal to terminal. At this point, all of your farewells should have been made on the bus and the night before because once you’re off the bus, you’ll want to head to the check-in counter quickly and the bus will move onto the next terminal.

How Did I The Like Northern California By Design Tour?

The 9 days of the Northern California road trip itinerary were exactly what I needed. I got to explore new landscapes, take incredible photos, try new food, and meet amazing travellers.

There is a lot to like about Northern California By Design Globus tour which I’ll break down below.

The photos from the tour itinerary breakdown give you a glimpse of the type of scenery we encountered during our 9 days.

Any of the superlatives I could use wouldn’t be able to do it justice but I’ll say that this Globus tour in the USA delivered in spades when it came to landscapes.

While places like Yosemite and Lake Tahoe are well-advertised, I learned to not underestimate any of the other stops along the journey.

In fact, if I were to plan this trip on my own, I definitely wouldn’t have stopped in Sacramento, I might’ve picked Napa over Sonoma, driven the wrong way around Lake Tahoe, and might’ve skipped Mammoth Lakes entirely.

By travelling with Globus, you’re taking advantage of years of experience and fine-tuning. They know the best way to put together a 9 day Northern California trip.

Of everything, I was the most impressed and surprised with Sacramento and Old Sacramento specifically. From the world-class California State Railroad Museum, and historic architecture, it was a step back in time that I did not expect.

With Globus tours USA and the rest of the world, the tour director is the backbone of the trip. In many cases, this is an element of a guided tour that can make or break the experience. Our guide was Derek Lundgren, an expert in the region of more than 10 years and he was absolutely amazing. He was compassionate, a clear communicator, highly knowledgeable, and a great storyteller.

There were a few key moments that really stood out to me for what sets Globus guides apart:

• Bus temperature – Derek asked throughout the trip, whether we were comfortable with the temperature on the bus.
• Daily breakdown – At the start of every day, you’ll hear a detailed walkthrough of what the day will look like.
• Easy to digest facts and stories – For bus tours, it’s often easy to get overloaded but Derek had the ability to break down complicated concepts through great analogies and simple terms.
• Attention to the details – Whether it’s Derek double-checking headcount and that all luggage is onboard, letting everyone know whether there’s cell signal in an area or not, or letting us know which bathrooms are good and which ones aren’t, it truly felt like the Globus tour director was able to answer a lot of our questions before we would even think of them.
• Always reachable – On the printed out itinerary is the tour director’s cell phone number so you can contact him at anytime. That’s not something I’ve really seen before.
• Music for long stretches – During those long drives, Derek put on what he jokingly called “Globus Radio” which was a mix of some classics but it was quiet and non-intrusive.

Choice Touring was one of the key features of this itinerary and for the most part, I liked all the picks I made. From the railroad-centric activities in Sacramento to the Ansel Adams photography tour, I got to do what I wanted instead of something that didn’t quite suit my travel style.

Unique to our trip was the fact that 1) the California forest fires were still raging and 2) COVID-19 was still making a big impact on local businesses and parks. These both had real impacts to the trip but I was very impressed with how Globus and the tour director was able to adapt.

Here are a few examples:

• Folsom Prison Museum – As one of the Sacramento choices, this was unfortunately closed. With undoubtedly some folks disappointed, Derek did his best to make up for it by including the Johnny Cash mural in our tour of the city, something that isn’t normally a stop.
• Kayaking Mono Lake & Panorama Gondola – The local kayaking operator wasn’t running and neither was the gondola. You could say we didn’t have much of choice as Bodie State Historic Park was the only one left but Globus managed to turn that into a positive by upgrading our boxed-lunch to having dinner at Nicely’s Restaurant, and also including a stop at Mono Lake. In the end, we got to do more than if the original plan was followed.
• Yosemite Tram Tour – The National Park Service closed all trams which was a bummer but to make up for it, Derek and our driver replicated all of the stops the tram with our bus so in the end, we all got to do it.
• Forest fires – This was primarily luck but while there were forest fires blazing in parts of Northern California, we were never significantly impacted by them. At most, smoke descended into Yosemite Valley on our last day.
• Alternative to Mariposa – I didn’t manage to mention this in the 9 day NorCal road trip itinerary but our tour director arranged a bonus trip to Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias on the third day in Yosemite. I wasn’t able to take advantage of this because we had organized our private tour but I loved that Globus was constantly looking at ways to increase the value of the trip despite elements that were out of their control.

Beyond the official choices, I appreciated that the Northern California By Design tour wasn’t jammed with activities. Don’t get me wrong, we did and saw a ton but it was never overly exhausting. There was a nice pace and flow and in addition, there were key moments of free time that opened the doors to new and unexpected possibilities.

• Brees Lookout – This wasn’t on the itinerary but was added added because of a last-minute discovery on Instagram. We asked Derek and the hotel staff at Mammoth Mountain Inn about how to get there and we managed to book a cab (albeit very expensive) to fit it in before the bus departed for Bodie.
• Minaret Vista – Stay at Mammoth Mountain Inn gave us an opportunity to do the hike from the lodge to a viewpoint known as Minaret Vista. It wasn’t officially on the itinerary but our tour director pointed it out and for those that were able and interested, we hiked there to see the sunset.
• Private Tour of Yosemite – The third day in Yosemite was meant to be a free day to relax at Tenaya Lodge. A few of us in the group were more interested in seeing more of the national park and so we were able to arrange a separate day tour on our own.

9 Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary

Make sure to read the full breakdown of what we saw, did, ate, and where we stayed with this comprehensive guide.

It’s worth noting that this was also my first international trip since I was coming from Canada so beyond an incredible trip, I got first-hand experience in how travel works today.

As a Canadian, I had a unique perspective of this trip because this was also my first time leaving the country since the pandemic. With that, I learned quite a bit through the process and ultimately why I felt like I made the right choice going with Globus.

• Departure testing – This part was all on me. I had to figure out what kind of test I needed to enter the US and to make sure I had all of that paperwork ready to show when flying.
• Globus takes care all of the details in-destination – Once you land in the US, Globus had all of the details covered. Primarily, I didn’t know where I could get testing before flying back home but they had that all sorted out by figuring out that SFO has rapid PCR tests at the airport. They booked an appointment for me and it went off without a hitch. In the event of a positive test result, they also had contingencies communicated to me.
• Masks on buses were enforced – I’ll admit that this wasn’t initially comfortable but I got used to it and it gave me the peace of mind that we were playing it safe in indoor environments.
• Bus always clean – Our driver, Ron, made sure the bus was clean everyday and it helped to know that he was wiping things down with sanitizer as well.
• Trust and comfort – More of a psychological factor, this trip helped me be more comfortable travelling again, feeling normal to be around people again, having that experience with fellow travelers, and being confident about the safety protocols.

Beyond the epic sights, yummy foods, and fun experiences, what sticks out in my mind are the connections I made with my fellow travel mates on the Northern California By Design tour .

I’m not going to lie, the demographic of the passengers for Globus certainly skews a little older and while I thought that would take away from the experience, I turned out to be completely wrong.

I gained newfound perspective in spending time with the older travelers because I got to learn their story, laugh at their jokes, and their unending passion for travel. Their ageless energy and spirit lifted me and I’d like to think that I also provided a new kind of energy to them that they might not have expected.

On the other end of the spectrum, we had a dynamic group of travelers that swung to the other side of the demographic.

It was our diverse group that enhanced the entire trip experience. All of us got along incredibly well. We helped each other with photos, swapped travel stories, and enjoyed each others company.

It’s these personal connections that always make travel the most memorable and special.

No trip is perfect and this wouldn’t be a complete Northern California by Design review unless I spoke on the other side of the coin.

Here are a couple of things that I thought could be done better:

• Better wifi – I know Globus doesn’t have as much control of this since they contract local buses but talk about a way more delightful experience if we had blazing fast connections on the bus.
• Even more choices – I’d love to see Choice Touring taken to the next level with even more options to cater to more interests and range of physical activity.
• River Fox Train – I would have preferred a more authentic steam/diesel locomotive ride along the Sacramento River . While River Fox Train was an ok Happy Hour ride, I didn’t find it particularly scenic.
• Yosemite with a large bus – With a large coach bus, you’re not able to drive up to Glacier Point. I would have loved to have seen one of the Choice Touring offerings to be a sightseeing tour around the national park in a smaller van for those that are interested.
• Photography-centric – I’m biased here but I was often times thinking about how I could potentially shoot a sunrise or sunset. While this is tricky to do with a tight schedule on a tour bus, I also would have loved to have seen more options for photography lovers. That said, the Ansel Adams photography workshop was fantastic.

If you’ve read our other travel itineraries , you’ll know that the value of our guides is that we try to go beyond the surface. The big advantage of this Northern California By Design tour review is that having done it in person, I’m able to go a little deeper.

These are 11 tips that you need to read before you go on your Globus tours in the USA.

Tip #1:  What should you pack?

Packing is highly personal and so I’m not going to list an entire packing list but there are a couple of things you should remember to pack for a Globus tour.

• Carabiner – This is the least obvious but since the seat in front of you typically has a handle or something you can loop around (in our case, the tray’s cup holder hole), a carabiner is great to hang water bottles, bags, and accessory pouches like the Peak Design tech pouch .
• Layers – If mountains are involved and/or you’re travelling outside of summer, you’ll want to make sure you always have a jacket or extra layers with you. The bus could also be a bit colder than you’d like.

Tip #2:  Stay charged

Most of us carry a smartphone with us while we travel and with how much we use it, whether for photography, watching a video, browsing, or checking e-mails, the battery drains incredibly fast.

Thankfully, Globus buses are equipped with USB and electrical outlets to make your life a lot easier.

While each bus is different, our particular bus had 2 electrical and 2 USB outlets per row. This is way more than you need.

For simplicity, I recommend you bring a USB cable to charge your phone. If you’re looking for quicker charging, you can also bring a charging block.

If you have other devices that need charging along the way such as a wifi hotspot or camera batteries, you can easily do that on the bus with all of the outlets available.

Something I notice was that since the bus did not have a front pocket, it was really handy to be able to loop the charging cable through the carabiner and then stuff my phone into the Tech Pouch . This helped keep things nice and tidy.

Tip #3:  Keep your bags organized on the bus

One of the biggest learning curves of being on a bus is that you need to have a strategy for where you keep your things and how you stay organized at your seat.

Under the bus

When you’re transitioning hotels, your suitcase will be at the bottom of the bus. What you need to know is that any of your belongings under the bus are more-or-less inaccessible.

In theory, you could ask the driver to open up the bottom compartment to access your bags but it’s inconvenient and you also don’t know if your suitcase is easy to get to or not.

At your seat

While on the bus, you want to make sure you have quick access to all of your comfort items that you need. Here are my thoughts on the optimal set up.

Overhead – This should be reserved for large items that you can’t fit by your seat but need in case. This could be a large jacket or perhaps souvenirs you bought during the day. These items are hard to get to while the bus in motion.

Your seat – There often isn’t much room on the seat itself. If you’re sitting by the window, you could slot in something small like a water bottle or a few snacks. If you’re lucky and you have the whole row to yourself, you could put your backpack in the seat next to you.

In front of you – This is the under utilized space that you can take advantage of. In some buses there may be a tray you can pull down, some may have a handle and others might have a pocket. Since it’s inconvenient to have the tray down the whole time, I learned through our New Zealand bus trip that it’s incredibly handy to have carabiners hooked in to hang onto additional pouches, bags, and water bottles. The Peak Design Tech Pouch is super handy in this situation with all of its pockets to hold things like charging cables, charging blocks, headphones, and even snacks but a reusable bag works as well.

At your feet – Depending on whether you’re comfortable with this because of cleanliness or closing off of leg room, you can put your backpack here as well.

How to organize your bags

Even more important is to have a good strategy for your “bus things” and “explore things”. The ideal configuration is to have a day bag and a bus bag. To start, the bus bag fits into your day bag so you can bring it all in at once but once you’re on the bus, you can unpack it into its two parts.

For example, your day bag could be a backpack and your bus bag could be one of those reusable grocery bags. When making quick stops, you don’t want to lug everything on your back so you transfer those extra things to the grocery bag. There are different ways to do this but have something modular so at the end of the day you can stuff that smaller bus bag into your day bag.

I personally use the Travel Backpack as the bus bag because of all of the camera gear I travel with and the Everyday Sling is the smaller bag I use as my day bag.

Sound like overkill? Maybe just a little but trust me, I learned the hard way that having a good system on the bus will make everything way easier.

Tip #4:  Faster data connection

While there is free wifi available on the bus, it’s unfortunately not very fast. If you want to make sure you have a good connection, you have two options:

• SIM card – If you’re from the US, this is a given. If you’re visiting, I recommend T-Mobile’s prepaid sim cards where $40 gets you 10GB of data (there’s a $10 activation fee).
• Wifi hotspot – As a visitor the USA, it might make more sense to get a wifi hotspot such as the Solis (formerly Skyroam) or Pokefi . The benefit here is that you’ll be able to share the connection with multiple people and it’s a device you’ll be able to use for future trips whereas SIM cards are more-or-less disposable.

For those that are interested in Pokefi , this is what I personally used on the Northern California By Design trip . In testing the speeds, I tested 18 Mbps download and 6.05 Mbps upload which was significantly faster than the wifi’s 0.19 Mbps down and 0.16 Mbps up .

While there are certainly speed differences between the options, one thing you can’t control is cellular signal strength and the terrain. This means that when you’re in Yosemite National Park and the signal drops to 0 bars, all of your devices including wifi, your SIM card, and wifi hotspot will stop working.

The good news is that all hotels chosen by Globus have free wifi so you’ll be able to catch up every evening.

Tip #5:  Do a little planning ahead of time

As much as the Globus tour will have everything planned and laid out for you, there are a few instances where it doesn’t hurt to do a little of your own homework in order to maximize your trip.

You’ll be selecting your Choice Touring excursions but what about some of the other free time you might have?

Being prepared for the day

• Camera gear – Do you need a GoPro? What mounts do you need?  How many extra batteries or memory cards?
• Extra clothing – Depending on the activity for the day, do you need extra layers?  Is it going to rain?

Restaurants

With the lunches and dinners on your own, you could easily decide where you want to eat when you’re there but if you want to make sure you eat at the best restaurants, do your research ahead of time on TripAdvisor or Yelp.

Yosemite planning

There’s a good amount of free time in the Yosemite Valley. Your tour director will have a ton of great suggestions for where to go or you could follow what I did in Yosemite .

However, if there’s something in your research where you’d really like to go see, a trail you’d like to do, or specific photo you’d like to take, research will serve you well.

Lastly, if you’re keen on hiking Half Dome, you will need to secure permits on your own or book a guided tour ahead of time. What you need to know is that the you need to grab those permits in March or take a gamble on daily lotteries (good for 2 days prior to the hiking date). That is why you may have better luck booking a tour which you can do on the free day in Yosemite.

Tip #6:  Useful apps to download

Before you head out on your trip, there are a few apps you should consider downloading:

• Globus GO – This is the Globus app where all of your trip information is stored digitally.
• NPS App – This is the National Park Service app which you’ll be able to use in Yosemite including maps, points of interests, and trails. It also has an offline feature!
• Gaia GPS – If you’re looking to do any hiking, Gaia GPS Premium (1 year free trial included) gives you fully detailed trail maps.

Tip #7:  Pack snacks

There are several long stretches of driving on this Globus USA tours. Your tour director will normally point those days out so if you’d like something to nibble on, pack some snacks from home to save money or you can purchase them on your own time.

Tip #8:  Drones

Thinking about bringing a drone on this trip? California doesn’t require specific licensing to fly a drone as a hobbyist and your drone weighs less than 0.55 lbs (250 grams). If it is, you’ll need to pay $5 to get it registered .

As a recreational flyer , there are many rules you need to abide by so make sure you’re familiar with them.

When it comes to the destinations visited on Northern California By Design , the areas you absolutely can’t fly are:

• Yosemite National Park
• Bodie State Historic Park
• Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
• South Lake Tahoe (near airport)

As a result, you’ll be somewhat limited in where you can fly, especially on the back half of the tour.

Tip #9: What about tipping?

We’ve gone so far without talking about tipping but it’s always one of those awkward things that’s never clear.

The good news is that Globus tells you upfront that all gratuities are included for all tour experiences where there’s a third-party party vendor including the YourChoice Excursions.

That said, gratuities to your tour director and driver aren’t included in the tour price. Globus recommends in the document that they provide is $5 to $7 USD per day per tour member for the driver and the same for your tour director.

To pay the gratuities, your tour director on the last day will offer envelopes for those that want them and you can hand them back to your tour director before you depart.

Lastly, for any of the restaurants and activities outside of the tour itinerary, you’re responsible for your own tipping (15-25%).

Tip #10: Start on the right side of the bus

Based on the timing of the scenery of the tour I would recommend that you should try to get a seat near the middle of the right side of the bus.

Since you’ll be driving into Yosemite National Park from Tioga Pass, most of the action is on the left side of the bus. With the seat rotation system, you’ll want to be on the left side by the end of the tour.

Tip #11: Don’t forget your hotel status

When checking into the Marriott Marquis San Francisco make sure to get them to add your Marriott Bonvoy points to your reservation. The thing is, you won’t get any points from the stay but your status benefits may apply if you have any.

The Northern California by Design tour also has a stay at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade . Thankfully, Hilton does recognize membership for base points, bonus points, and stays. If you have Hilton Honors Gold, you’ll be eligible for water and snacks.

After all is said and done though, is it worth it?

The current price of this tour starts at $3,089 USD per person (based on double occupancy). When you consider that this is 8 nights of hotels, all breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, and 3 Choice Touring excursions, this certainly isn’t bargain bin cheap, but is in line with guided tours of this calibre.

If you’ve never been to Northern California and you’re looking to see the best highlights without doing any work (planning, booking, driving, and guiding), this will open your eyes to how incredible this region is.

Going with Globus also guarantees a level of gold-standard when it comes to the quality of the itinerary, tour director, customer service, and itinerary planning that is hard to beat.

So yes, if you’re interested in a guided bus experience and want to see NorCal, the Northern California By Design tour by Globus is a great choice.

With this Northern California By Design review , hopefully we’ve been able to provide a thorough breakdown of everything you need to know before you book and also before you embark on your trip.

The bottom line is that I enjoyed this tour very much. The sights were incredible, I made new friends, was surprised by a number of destinations, but above all else loved how carefree I could be with Globus because they had everything taken care of.

If you have specific questions about this Globus tour, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us !

Go California Dreamin’

See the best that Northern California has to offer with this Globus USA tour.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BY DESIGN

Northern California By Design is great all year round when it is operating. That said, spring is a fantastic time to visit the region because of the spring bloom and flowing waterfalls. By the time fall comes around, most of the waterfalls have dried up. Summer is a great season as well although San Francisco tends to be much cooler than you’d expect.

Yes, the Globus tour, Northern California By Design, is an an excellent way to see many of the highlights. They are a reputable company that knows how to run escorted tours the right way with their customer service, experience, and superb tour directors.

Tips for the tour director and bus driver are not included. However, gratuities for the included experiences and meals are included

Choice Touring is a new style of travel for Globus that touts additional freedom by providing a number of options for travellers to choose from. These are known as YourChoice Excursions. This allows you to tailor your tour to your own interests and passions.

What you should read next

• Epic 9 Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary – Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Tahoe
• Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park
• Utah and Arizona 10 Day Itinerary – A Photographer’s Dream
• A Few of My Favourite Spots in California
• The Best California Destinations Along the Pacific Ocean

This article was brought to you as a result of the Globus trip, a project between Monograms and iambassador but all opinions on Going Awesome Places are our own.

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100% .

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eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. The one we find using the most is Airalo . Save money by getting region-specific eSIMs and use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase. Ubigi is another one that we’ve had success with where they uniquely offer 5G coverage. Use code AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order. The newest eSIM we’ve tried is KnowRoaming that sneakily has great rates on unlimited plans. We’ve partnered with them to give you a custom code GAP10 to save you 10%.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts . The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. TripAdvisor is also useful for reviews and bookings.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental.

Tours: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

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About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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California Classics with San Diego ( AAE)

13 Day Tour from San Francisco to San Diego

California Classics with San Diego

Starting at: $ 4679

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From the City by the Bay to the City of Angels, this ten-day tour takes you to the top California sights that earned the Golden State its name. Yosemite’s Cathedral Spires, Big Sur’s rugged coastline, 17-Mile Drive’s spectacular views, and San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are just a few memorable Classic California experiences. Between the bright lights of Hollywood and the high style of Beverly Hills to the grapevines in wine country and farm-to-table cuisine in the Central Valley, this encompassing California vacation weaves in plenty of kickback time with visits to a Sonoma vineyard, the quiet Danish village of Solvang, and the tony resort zip codes of Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Barbara. Don’t forget your shades! Surf’s up at the 70 miles of beaches along Southern California’s most laid-back city. Hang ten at the beach or hang out with wildlife at La Jolla Cove or Balboa Park, ferry to timeless Coronado Island, enjoy San Diego’s museums then shop, stroll and dine in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter or at the Liberty Public Market.

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ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink. SAN-FRANCISCO-ALAMO-SQUARE.jpg

With Globus, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

RANDY SCHUSTER

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

" Being a Tour Director has afforded me the opportunity to travel more than I would have ever dreamed. During my many years as a Tour Director, I have had the opportunity to lead tours in Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Western U.S. I am extremely proud of my home state of California. Come with me on tour and I will show you the unique beauty, ethnic diversity, tempting local cuisine, and, hopefully, help you spot a celebrity or two! "

KEN HARTFORD

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

" The West has been my home since I was born, and its incredible diversity has kept me engaged since my earliest memories. It is a world of iconic places and undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. Experience the bustle of its cities and the serenity of its open spaces, hear the stories of its people, and embrace the wonder of its beauty. No matter who you are or where you come from, there is something about the West that will never leave you. "

SAN FRANCISCO

San francisco marriott marquis, yosemite national park, tenaya lodge at yosemite, hyatt regency monterey, hotel corque, los angeles, westin bonaventure, embassy suites san diego bay.

This hotel is located directly across the street from Seaport Village and is walking distance from the San Diego Convention Center. The hotel is also just minutes from the San Diego attractions such as SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Old Town and more. The hotel has an indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, game room, business center, concierge service, hair salon, gift shop, restaurant, room service, and complimentary evening manager's reception.

The following optional excursions may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased).

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Globus to launch Small Group Discovery tours in 2025

Post date: Aug 19 2024

Date: Aug 19 2024

By: Travelweek

TORONTO — Globus is going small in a big way in 2025 with its new Small Group Discovery tours.

This entirely new type of tour is specifically designed for travellers looking for a more intimate atmosphere with small group travel. More than 50 Small Group Discovery tours will be available around the world in 2025.

“Our new Small Group Discover tours were built from the ground up, specifically for small groups, with unique accommodations, exclusive excursions and special access throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the South Pacific,” said Scott Nisbet, president and chief executive officer, Globus family of brands.

Small Group Discovery tours are available throughout Europe, North America and exotic destinations like Kenya, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cambodia, Australia and Japan. 

Sample tours in Europe include:

•  A Journey Through Time: Armenia & Georgia
•  Croatia Island Hopper
•  Extraordinary England & Scotland
•  Enchanting Italy
•  Paris & Provence
•  Legendary Greece
•  Captivating Spain
•  Swiss Splendors by Train
•  Inspiring Iceland

Sample tours in North America include:

•  Enchanted New Mexico  
•  Quebec in Depth & the Gaspe Peninsula
•  Majestic Montana & Yellowstone
•  Southern Charms
•  Exploring Cuba’s Culture, History & Colonial Cities

Sample tours in exotic destinations include:

•  Costa Rica: Coast to Coast
•  Patagonia: Journey to the End of the World
•  Jewels of Colombia
•  Kenya & Tanzania: The Safari Experience
•  Kenya: A Classic Safari
•  Tanzania: The Serengeti & Beyond
•  Splendors of South Africa & Victoria Falls
•  Alluring Vietnam & the Temples of Angkor
•  Discover South Korea
•  Gems of Indonesia:  From Bali to Java
•  Majestic Japan
•  Icons of India: Taj, Tigers and Beyond
•   Australian Safari

With an average group size of 15 (18 outside of Europe), Small Group Discovery tours offer more freedom and flexibility to explore local sights and participate in immersive experiences. These include spending the night in a former Franciscan Monastery in Pienza (‘Enchanting Italy’); a ‘Viking’ sushi tour (‘Inspiring Iceland’); guided sightseeing with a local painter and a painting class in Arles (‘Paris & Provence’); a horse-drawn carriage tour in Beaufort (‘Southern Charms’), and overnighting on the islands of Brac and Hvar (‘Croatian Island Hopper’). 

In addition to new Small Group Discovery tours, special small group departure dates will be available on most other Globus tours, limiting the group size to an average of 24 travellers. This means Globus will offer nearly 250 tours and 5,000 departures of tours catering to small groups.

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Protect Your Trip »

The 5 best guided colosseum tours of 2024.

Gladiators battled on the arena floor. A good guide will help you battle the crowds.

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Courtesy of ArcheoRunning

As the most enduring symbol of the Roman Empire and one of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Colosseum receives more than 6 million visitors per year – which means it's not easy to escape the crowds. A visit to see the world's largest amphitheater – once known as the Flavian Amphitheater – is well worth it, though.

Inside the ancient complex, there is very little signage explaining what you're looking at, which is why tours are a popular way to explore. A good tour will not only get you skip-the-line access but also bring this incredible place to life.

Keep in mind that most Colosseum tours only give you access to the arena floor and upper level. If you want to visit the hypogeum (Colosseum underground), you need to make sure it's included in the tour.

• Best Overall: City Wonders – Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Best Underground: The Ultimate Italy – Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

• Best Private: Roma Experience – Private Colosseum Tour With Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
• Best for Families: LivTours – The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access

Best Nighttime: Rome Tours – Colosseum Night Tour

Best overall: city wonders – colosseum & ancient rome tour with roman forum & palatine hill.

Price: From $42.86 per person Duration: 3 hours

This comprehensive tour covers the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and the Via Sacra (Sacred Street), and tourgoers are given headsets so they can better hear and follow their guide. Recent reviewers praise the expert guides, saying they are knowledgable about the history of the Colosseum (as well as the entrances with the shortest lines). Reviewers also appreciate the pace of the tour.

When booking, you have the option to choose your group size – 24, 15 or 10 participants – and tour rates vary accordingly. City Wonders also offers tours of the Vatican Museums , as well day trips to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and more.

Check prices & availability on:

Price: From $87.25 per person Duration: 3 hours

This highly rated tour provides access to the underground of the Colosseum, where you'll discover the network of passages, cells and chambers that once served as the backstage area of the arena. Along the way, you'll hear about the behind-the-scenes preparations of gladiators and wild animals; then, you'll explore the arena floor, imagining what it was like for them 2,000-some years ago. Finally, you'll spend some time at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Recent visitors highly recommend this tour, noting the underground portion made their visit to the Colosseum extra special.

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Best Private: Roma Experience – Private Colosseum Tour With Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Courtesy of Roma Experience

Price: From 499 euros per person (about $548) Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes

For a deeper understanding of the Colosseum, a private tour with Elisa Valeria Bove, CEO of Roma Experience, is one of the best you can take. As an archaeologist, Bove has been involved in excavations at the Roman Forum and other historic sites. Her Colosseum tour typically includes the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine, Via Sacra and the House of Vestal Virgin. Be sure to specify if you want to visit the hypogeum (Colosseum underground) when you book.

Roma Experience organizes bespoke private tours throughout Italy, including multiday itineraries. Bove will work with you to customize your experience and bring you to places you wouldn't think to visit, like Quintili's Villa on the ancient Appian Way.

Best for Families: LivTours – The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access

Courtesy of LivTours

Price: Adults from 139 euros (about $153); kids from $124 (about $136) Duration: 3 hours

Recent visitors praise the guides on this tour for bringing the stories about ancient Rome to life and entertaining everyone along the way — kids included.

Upon booking this tour, participants receive an invitation to download an app. During the tour, the guide gives everyone a cardboard virtual reality headset that works with the app and shows a reconstruction of the Colosseum and the surrounding valley. After visiting the Colosseum, the tour continues to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, where the virtual reality headsets show you a reconstruction of the Circus Maximus and the structures in the Roman Forum. At all the sites, you get skip-the-line access.

These semiprivate tours are guaranteed to have no more than six people, making them a more personalized experience than other group tours. However, because the tours are small, the guides don't use headsets, and some participants note that it can be difficult to hear the guide over the noise in the Colosseum.

Price: From $60.46 per person Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours

A nighttime tour of the Colosseum not only affords an opportunity to see the famous landmark aglow, but it also allows visitors to avoid some of the crowds and high temps that come with a daytime visit. Recent tourgoers say they enjoyed the tour for these reasons, also noting that the guides are excellent. However, many wish the tour were a bit longer (or priced cheaper considering its short duration). The tour does not cover the Roman Forum or Palatine Hill.

Evening departure times vary by time of year.

Rome Tours offers a variety of other tours throughout the city, from a comprehensive daytime tour of the Colosseum to a bar crawl .

Frequently Asked Questions

Most tours last about three hours and require that you arrive at your departure point early. Factoring in transportation time, you'll want to allot at least a half-day of your vacation itinerary for the Colosseum.

The best time to visit the Colosseum is from November through February during the offseason (and when temperatures are cooler).

There isn't a dress code for the Colosseum, so plan to simply wear comfortable, seasonally appropriate attire (and know that summers in Rome can be extremely hot). No matter when you go, comfortable walking shoes are a must.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Laura Itzkowitz is a Rome-based freelance journalist who thinks about the Roman Empire all the time. She has visited the Colosseum in the morning, in the evening after the crowds have left, on group tours and private tours. To curate this list of the best Colosseum tours, she used her own experience as well as her research expertise, culling tips from locals and visitors.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Rome Hotels
• The Best Small Group Tours of Italy
• The Best Travel Insurance for Europe

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