grand circle travel company

Grand Circle Travel

Global operator

Service level

Travelers age

Trip prices

$1,895 — 4,495

Tour languages

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• Great for : 60+, culturally curious
• Type of travel : relaxed pace, coach travel
• Group size : Large groups, 47 max
• Airfare included!
• Group Tours
• Small Ship & Expedition Cruises
• River Cruises
• North America
• Central America & Caribbean
• South America
• Australia & Pacific

How well do you know the world?

Grand circle travel reviews & ratings, value and service outstanding.

I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. We got an inc...

each one has been wonderful

Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful.

Excellent service

Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips.

Grand Circle Travel always has great specials

Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. You can request a roommate if you travel solo to save on the s...

Wonderful countries and great scenery

We had a great tour guide in Ivan, was very knowledgable, friendly and very considerate of peoples concerns. The coastal area's of Dubrovink and Kotor were wonderful...

See all Grand Circle Travel reviews

Editoral Review of Grand Circle Travel

The "older sibling" of Grand Circle Cruise Line, Grand Circle Travel specializes in land tours for Americans of baby boomer age and above (fifty-plus, but leaning toward the plus).

What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out?

• Unique local experiences
• Expert english-speaking guides
• International airfare included
• Relaxed tour pace
• Community feel

Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world.

They also foster a community of dedicated travelers, encouraging you to share your memories, images, and stories with them and the friends you meet along the way.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel?

• Budget minded
• Culturally curious
• Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join)
• Social travelers

If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you.

This is definitely a travel experience well suited to older American travelers in the 60+ range, seeking a degree of comfort, in their travel experience, within a mid to high budget range. 

Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. If relaxing on the cruise with a book in hand for hours on end, gliding by quiet European shores is your idea of a grand old time then Grand Circle is for you!

If you’d rather have a bit more action, or are after a "see a lot, do a lot" city and country hopping pace, this style of travel is probably not going to hit the right note for you.

Trips are mostly all-inclusive, focusing on comfortable accommodations, informative and easy paced guided walking tours, cultural encounters, learning experiences, and special events that they call their Discovery Series. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time.

Solo travelers make up nearly a third of Grand Circle's customers, and they're made to feel more than welcome on group tours, including some price breaks on single supplements.

Itineraries are designed for American travelers, with an aim towards immersive experiences such as visiting local homes, interesting walking tours, in-depth cultural interactions and culinary experiences.

Top Destinations

Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica.

Grand Circle Travel Style

The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, you’re sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time.

Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. Don’t expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however.

You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible.

Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. 

Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel?

• Leisurely pace
• Flexibility
• Unique cultural interactions
• Large groups of like minded travelers
• Budget friendly
• Airfare included

For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours.

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More Details

Solo friendly.

• No single supplement

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About the company.

Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Established in 1958 by Ethel Andrus, educator and founder of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), we view world travel as a powerful lever for lifelong learning. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value.

Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress.

Teamwork: We believe in groups of people who work together to create excellent results, solve difficult problems, support each other personally and professionally, and recognize their success. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Every member must be fully accountable for the team’s and one’s own personal results.

Thriving in Change: In these times of rapid change, global competition, and high volatility in the travel industry, we must be prepared to change course and move forward. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment.

Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance.

Grand Circle Travel Trips & Specials

Italy: Tuscany, the Alps & the Riviera

Best of the Canadian Rockies: Calgary to Vancouver

Ireland in Depth

Highlights of South Africa

England, Scotland & Wales

Spain's Cultural Capitals

Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe

Want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Grand Circle Travel Trip Categories

Grand circle travel company ranking by category.

Associations

United states tour operators association.

USTOA is a nonprofit professional association representing the tour operator industry.Its members are made up of companies who provide services worldwide but who conduct business in the U.S.

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RIVER CRUISING

SLOW TRAVEL

CULINARY WONDER AROUND THE WORLD

OCEAN CRUISING

VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD

Meet Grand Circle Travel

Posted on February 17, 2023 February 14, 2023 Author Chris Owen

Grand Circle Travel launched in 1958 to serve American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members. Now, Grand Circle Travel is celebrating its 65th anniversary of changing people’s lives through travel.

“We would not be here without our community of travelers, whose passion and curiosity about our world have grown with us throughout the years,” said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of Grand Circle.

Ethel Andrus, who founded the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 1958, founded Grand Circle Travel.  A former educator and activist, Ethel was retired herself, and, in the spirit of lifelong learning, dreamed of a way to help her peers lead more vital, active lives.

Alan and Harriet Lewis purchased Grand Circle in 1985 and stayed true to Ethel’s founding principles. When the Lewises added  Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.)  to their travel family in 1993, it became the first U.S. travel company to create, operate, and sell adventure trips to Americans aged 50 and over. The Lewises evolved Grand Circle into the family of companies it is today, which includes O.A.T.,  Grand Circle Cruise Line , Grand Circle Travel, and the philanthropic  Grand Circle Foundation .

Alan Lewis passed away unexpectedly in November 2022 at age 74.

“We got into this business to change people’s lives by opening their hearts and minds—and I am proud to continue this legacy along with my son, Edward, and daughter, Charlotte,” said Harriet Lewis, Chair of Grand Circle Corporation.

Between 2022 and 2024, more than 124,000 travelers have departed on or reserved a Grand Circle trip. With the help of 1,000 associates in 29 worldwide offices, the company continues to craft experiences that are authentic, thought-provoking, and truly representative of the local culture and its people.

As the industry leader in solo-friendly travel, the company offers free single supplements on all O.A.T. adventures and Grand Circle vacations on land. O.A.T. Small Ship Adventures and Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruises have the lowest single supplements in the industry. This, combined with immersive itineraries, earned O.A.T. Solo Traveler’s “Best Tours” award in their annual Solo Travel Awards for two years in a row.

Grand Circle invites travelers to join in the 65 th  anniversary celebration by offering a $1,000 per person travel credit to use toward  any  new 2023 reservation with O.A.T., Grand Circle Cruise Line, or Grand Circle Travel when reserved by  5/1/23 . Mention code  ARCQ 101.   Solo travelers are also eligible for this offer.

About Grand Circle

Grand Circle specializes in trips of international discovery for Americans age 50 and older. The Grand Circle family of companies includes  Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) ,  Grand Circle Cruise Line  and  Grand Circle Travel .

*Offer applies to new reservations only and cannot be combined with other offers, but can be combined with free or low-cost Single Supplements. Standard Terms & Conditions apply.

Flooding forces dozens of Iowa road closures. Here's where to avoid.

Travel continues to be discouraged across parts of northwest Iowa as flood waters block roads.

The Iowa Department of Public Transportation strongly discourages travel in Lyon, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Emmet, Dickinson, Cherokee, Woodbury and Plymouth counties. More than a dozen roads around those counties are closed.

Are interstates closed in Iowa due to flooding?

The Iowa Department of Transportation expects to close Interstate 29 and Interstate 680 near Council Bluffs on Tuesday night. The DOT originally expected to close the interstates around 11 a.m., but have been able to keep them clear of water and open.

I-29 is expected to close from mile marker 55 (25th Street on the north edge of Council Bluffs) to the interchange with I-880 near Loveland.

The state also plans to close a portion of I-680 west of I-29.

Live updates from Tuesday: Levee breached on Little Sioux River, Interstate 29 closing due to flooding

Where are there road closures in Iowa from flooding?

Many city and county roads are closed in flooded communities.

Here are the highways closed by the Iowa DOT due to flooding:

• US 169 at County Road C10 near Saint Joseph.
• IA 14 between County Road B53 and US 18 one mile south of the Emmetsburg area.
• US 18 between the branches of IA 4 one mile west of the Emmetsburg area.
• US 71 between County Road C13 and IA 10 in Sioux Rapids.
• US 18 county roads M50, one mile east of the Spencer area, and M54 near Dickens.
• US 71 between county roads B40 and B17 near Spencer.
• US 18 county roads M44 and B19 one mile west of Spencer.
• IA 9 between County Road M34 and IA 86 around three to four miles east of the Lake Park area.
• IA 10 between county roads M12 and M36 near Peterson.
• IA 10 between county road M12, four miles east of Sutherland, and M36 around three miles west of Peterson.
• IA 3 between US 59 and County Road C38 in Cherokee.
• US 59 between County Road C44 and IA 3 in Cherokee
• IA 141 between IA 31 near Smithland and IA 175 near Mapleton.
• IA 31 between IA 141 in Smithland and County Road D30 in Oto.
• IA 31 in between IA 141 in Oto and County Road D30 near Anthon.
• IA 31 between 141 near Anthon and US 59; County Road C63, three miles south of the Washta area.
• US 20 between IA 140; County Road K64 near Moville and County Road L43 near Correctionville.
• IA 12 between I-29 in Sioux City and IA 3 near Westfield.
• IA 3 between the South Dakota state line and IA 12 one mile west of the Westfield area.
• IA 12 between IA 3 and county road C12 near Akron
• At the South Dakota border two miles west of the Hawarden area.
• US 18 between county roads K18 and K24 five miles west of the Rock Valley area.
• US 75 between county roads A52 and A34 roughly four to nine miles south of the Rock Rapids area.

How can you check current road conditions? 511 Iowa has latest information

You can  check road conditions online through Iowa 511 , with an interactive map that can show you road closures, current radar, crashes and more.

If you don't have internet, you can call 800-288-1047, or 511 for updated road conditions.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at  [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at @ Kkealey17 .