what is coach tour definition

Small group travel vs coach tours: which is better?

Because group travel is so much more than the inside of a bus…

Whether you’re exploring your home country or taking an international adventure, the idea of booking a tour can be overwhelming… especially if you’re torn between taking a coach and small group travel. The main difference between the two styles comes down to the size of the group; coach tours use huge motor coaches that hold up to 60 people, while small groups are (plot twist)… small, averaging about 10 travellers per group.

Over the past 30 years, Intrepid has figured out what travellers really want on a group tour: the ease and peace of mind of travelling with others plus a mix of local secrets and authentic experiences that help you experience the pulse of a destination… and not just see it. Just because you’ve handed over the planning and logistics to someone else shouldn’t mean you need to sacrifice comfort or settle for mediocre experiences.

We’ve weighed up the biggest factors to consider when booking a trip, so whether you’re in your 20s and embarking on your first trip to Europe or you’re a senior who’s always dreamed of seeing the Grand Canyon , you’ll be able to decide which style of travel is right for you. We may be biased, but the winner is pretty clear…

So you’ve made all the important decisions, like where you want to travel and when. But when you’re daydreaming about your perfect trip, how many people are travelling alongside you? Do you picture blending in with a crowd of 50 from your home country? Or getting to know an intimate group of travellers from all over the world?

If your answer leans more toward the latter, small-group travel is definitely for you. While group size can vary depending on the destination and type of trip, Intrepid averages about 10 people per tour — the perfect number to hop on a local bus, squeeze into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and get to know people on a deeper level.

Intrepid travellers are folks of all ages and backgrounds, so you could spend your time with a combo of solo singles in their 20s, couples in their 40s, seniors, retirees and beyond. If travelling en masse and zoning out with a prerecorded headset is how you envision your holiday, a coach tour might be more your vibe, but for those looking for a unique adventure, more isn’t always merrier.

As the name implies, coach tours are just that: tours that utilize massive coach buses for long-distance travel. All fun and games until you’re filing off to grab lunch, right? Getting off a coach bus takes much longer than you’d think (especially if you do it multiple times a day), and don’t even get us started on the headache of choosing seats.

The benefit of travelling with small groups is you can explore as the locals do; think small 4WDs on a South African safari , tuk-tuks in Thailand and overnight trains in India . Travelling with a tight-knit crew will give you all the benefits and authentic experiences you’ll get if you go solo, minus all the stressful logistics and safety concerns.

We realised pretty quickly that when exploring a new destination, you need more than a guide … you need a local. Intrepid’s leaders aren’t just tour guides; they’re teachers and friends who know their country inside and out. They’ll be by your side for the major highlights, of course, but they’ll also happily provide recommendations for the best street food, help you learn the local language and steer you away from any experiences that don’t feel so… Intrepid. Unfortunately, not all coach tours can say the same, so it’s essential to work with a company that supports local economies, respects local cultures and protects the places we love to visit.

The small group sizes of Intrepid trips provide the perfect guide-to-traveller ratios, and you’ll never have to worry about not getting 1-1 time. Have a question about a local custom or want to chat about a football rivalry over dinner? It’s not so easy with a group of 50, but it’s all part of the experience when your travel crew is small.

Itineraries

We’ve all been there… you’re stressing about needing a bathroom or a snack break but don’t want to be  that  person making the entire group stop. When you travel on a small group tour, bathroom breaks, snack stops and photo ops can be as frequent as you’d like. Plus, with fewer people to keep track of, you’ll never have to worry about your driver leaving you behind (does everyone have this recurring nightmare, or is it just me?). Strict timelines and feeling like you’re being herded around just aren’t Intrepid’s speed.

The speed is more like this: hitting the major highlights like the Acropolis, the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu while also including some out-of-the-ordinary experiences in unexpected places. Think: sampling your way through a family-owned Greek pistachio farm, learning the art of Chinese cuisine at a homestay in Beijing and sipping pisco sours with Peruvian locals. We speak from experience when we say these moments, the ones you never even knew existed, leave the longest-lasting memories.

Although most Intrepid trips have a base itinerary, there’s always time set aside for your own exploration or downtime. When dealing with a smaller group of people, itineraries can be reasonably customisable, allowing your guide to make appropriate, impromptu changes based on the group’s preference. For example, if you’re in Italy and half of your group is feeling museum-ed out… no problem! With guidance and tips from your expert local leaders, you’ll have the freedom to embark on a tour de pizza or a gelato crawl instead.

Accommodation

One of Intrepid’s favourite ways to get to know a place is through its people… which is why we employ local guides, eat at family-run restaurants and incorporate community homestays into most trips. On coach tours, hotels usually have to accommodate 50+ people at once, so you could end up at a chain hotel that feels far from the centre of the action.

That might be cool if you simply want to scratch the surface, but Intrepid does things a little differently. A community-based tourism approach allows you to get to know a place through a local’s lens and ensures that you’ll be travelling in a way that positively impacts the communities you visit.

Some of the best experiences are the ones that won’t show up on Google Maps or get reviewed on Tripadvisor; we’re talking about playing volleyball with indigenous locals on an overnight in Lake Titicaca, sharing a homecooked meal with a family during a rural Cambodian homestay or getting a lesson on local traditions on a Varanasi homestay in India. Imagine trying to organise this with 50 people? Impossible.

The choice seems pretty clear. Small group travel is not only more comfortable and enjoyable, but it’s just an all-around better way to see the world. As the world’s largest travel  B Corporation , Intrepid wants to change the way we all see the world by creating positive change through the joy of travel. We want you to leave your trip with more cultural understanding and the knowledge that your trip benefits local people, communities and the planet. 

With a range of trip styles and themes catering to a diverse group of travellers, we’re confident there’s a small group adventure for you. Feeling inspired? Let’s go!

Explore top small group trips

Will travel for food. From al pastor in Mexico to camel burgers in Morocco, khao soi in Thailand to perfect tomatoes in Greece, I've traveled far and wide for a tasty meal. When I'm not abroad searching for the perfect bite, I'm enjoying some good ol' home cooking in my tiny Seattle kitchen.

You might also like

All aboard the rail renaissance: 7 reasons to..., the undeniable benefits of slow travel, explore these 7 tea rituals from around the..., why travellers are choosing the galapagos off-season, tips and hacks for train travel in europe, why train travel is the one experience you..., everything you need to know about a night..., mind your manners: dining etiquette around the world, 5 places to escape the crowds in italy..., is australia safe everything you need to know, 10 fun facts you might not know about....

Definition of 'coach trip'

Coach trip in british english.

Examples of 'coach trip' in a sentence coach trip

Trends of coach trip

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically coach trip

• coach screw
• coach station
• coach transfer
• coach-and-four
• coach-built
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'C'

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

• About Melanie
• Invergordon Cruise Port
• Loch Ness Tour
• Travel Articles
• Annual Travel Insurance
• Money Saving Page
• About The Professional Traveller
• Coach Holiday Expert
• Airport Lounges
• Coach Holidays
• Work With Me
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

10 Things You Need to Know Before Booking a Touring Holiday

• 5 June 2024

Are you thinking of taking a touring holiday?

Want to know a bit more before you decide what to book?

I’ve taken over 9500 guests on coach tours all over the world.

This list is based on that experience and it’s here to help you know what to think about and ask before you book.

Check it out now.

Links You Might Find Helpful: Lots of Touring & Escorted Holidays from TourRadar 9 Reasons to Book a Coach Holiday Coach Holidays – All You Need to Know

Touring Holiday

Table of Contents

1. Know Exactly What Is Included Before You Book

There is nothing worse than guests being frustrated or disappointed by issues such as these when on coach trips and it can make it hard for the Tour Manager to get over such issues. Arranging the contracts with suppliers is not something that Tour Managers have any control over usually.

This can sometimes be because it isn’t entirely clear, or because there have been assumptions made about the itinerary. If guests have travelled on coach trips previously they may have assumed that what they experienced on another holiday will be similar to their current one as this is not always the case.

A quick example is whether wine is included with dinner. Whilst it is clear from the itinerary that meals are included there is often no mention of drinks. Many people assume that wine will be included with meals.

This can vary from company to company and also from country to country. Wine is very cheap in Spain for example so it is often included in meals on coach trips, but wine is much more expensive in the UK so is therefore not generally included.

Over the years I constantly meet passengers who haven’t considered these things in detail before booking their coach trips – sometimes making assumptions, and sometimes thinking it would be the same as last time. This can be very frustrating and disappointing for them when they experience something different.

To avoid this issue double-check in advance exactly what is included in the itinerary.

Other examples of things to check in relation to coach trips;

• Are transfers included and if so are they individual or shared? (Shared transfers may mean waiting at the airport or a longer journey if in a car from home.)
• What meals are included? Is there a choice of menu, is it fixed or a buffet, and what drinks are included?
• If breakfast is included is this continental or a full buffet? Also, bear in mind that some tours don’t have breakfast in the hotel but are out on the road which can mean some very early starts.
• If lunch/dinner is included is there a choice of menu or is it a set menu?
• Does the tour use a tour coach and driver or a local coach and driver?
• Are tea and coffee facilities included in hotels? Most hotels in Europe do not provide this but often those catering to British guests do. Again checking can avoid disappointment.
• Are drinks included? (This varies from country to country, not just company to company).
• Is luggage handling included or do porters take your luggage up to your rooms at hotels or do you have to do this yourself?
• What trips or activities are included and which ones are optional? (There are more details on both later on)
• Are tips included for everyone or just for some people? Again this varies from company to company and country to country and of course, cruise companies have different policies too. Be clear about what the extra payments are and the budget for them – the people receiving them are counting on them!

2. Is it a UK Tour Manager, a Local Tour Manager or Local Guide?

One of the plus points of taking coach trips is that there are generally included tours. So it’s important to understand more about these before you book.

Is there a UK Tour Manager that will be travelling with you from the UK and back again at the end of the tour or is there a local Tour Manager that will meet you when you arrive in the country you are visiting?

If there is a local Tour Manager meeting you when you arrive what support do you have in case of any problems with flights? Are there airport representatives or is there a number to phone?

Who does the guiding? The Tour Manager or local guides? (There is more information on this further on.)

A great tour manager can make a good tour a really great and memorable experience. It’s what we love to do and why we do the job. Likewise, a poor tour manager can make a good tour poor and a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons.

As a general rule Tour Managers/Tour Directors are self-employed and they could be working for several companies at once. They may not have visited the destination you are going to before.

This is generally not a problem if the tour uses local guides because the local guides are the experts in each local area or attraction.

However, in recent years more and more companies have been cutting back on the use of local guides and using Tour Managers to guide instead. This requires a great deal of knowledge to do successfully.

I know Tour Managers who have fantastically detailed knowledge of the places they visit and are mines of useful information.

Equally, I know of Tour Managers that have little knowledge and fill in the gaps by talking in general terms, or talking about other places they visit.

I am not saying that all local guides are fantastic – goodness knows I have worked with some ones that were memorable for all the wrong reasons over the years.

However, on the whole, local guides can often give a real insight into a place that a Tour Manager can’t and it also means that there is someone else leading a part of the tour, another perspective, another approach and another voice to listen to. This variety can be welcome on a tour.

The other issue to consider is that if the Tour Manager is doing all the guiding for the tour as well this can put them under quite a lot of pressure, particularly if something goes wrong. This may change the level of support that is available to you as a traveller if something happens.

There is no right or wrong answer to whether it should be a Tour Manager with Local Guides or a Tour Manager on their own, again it is just something to consider and be aware of in advance.

Perhaps asking if the Tour Manager has taken coach tours to the area you are visiting before would also be a helpful question to ask in conjunction with this section as well. Knowing the answer to both will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Just so you know a Tour Manager or Tour Director (a different term for the same role) is generally responsible for running the coach tour holiday. This means they operate the itinerary according to the brief/outline given to them by the holiday company.

They generally liaise with all the suppliers such as hotels, tour companies, guides, coach companies, drivers, porters and local agents. They are responsible for dealing with all the problems on tour whether that be travel disruption or illness and they are also responsible for the on-tour paperwork and accounting.

A tour guide is responsible for guiding groups around a particular area or attraction. They should have a detailed knowledge of the area being visited but also the themes/background. For example, if visiting Pompeii a tour guide would be expected to have a great knowledge of Roman history, society etc.

Whoever is doing the guiding, excursions are a very important part of coach trips so it is important to fully understand what you are buying when you book.

3. Know Your Touring Holiday Terminology

What I am referring to here is the terminology used to describe what is included in the coach trips programme. For example, are you going to ‘visit’ or ‘view’ a particular place?

One well-known holiday company uses ‘view’ because you view the attraction from the inside of the coach and don’t visit i.e. you just pass by it. Not ideal if it is something you want to see!

Other examples include enjoy vs. experience and discover vs. explore. There are plenty of variations.

When you read a coach holiday itinerary it is not always obvious what is included and this can often be the case when looking at activities and excursion programs. Having a clear understanding of what things you are going to spend time at, and whether you will have free time, which things you are going to see (but not stop) will avoid frustrations on holiday.

One of the most common problems I see guests experience is that they read mention of a particular place in a coach trips program and assume that it is going to be a big feature of the itinerary. They then arrive on tour and find out that because of the amount of travelling that needs to be done on that day they will only get an hour or so to visit and they are disappointed.

This can also be the case with pictures. There may be pictures on the coach holiday company website that feature places or attractions that the tour doesn’t necessarily visit, or perhaps they are optional at additional cost.

Being clear about coach trip terminology, in combination with what is included as mentioned in Tip 1 will help you have a much better idea of your tour itinerary. There is no law or restriction on asking plenty of questions before you book!

(Check out my post on Coach Trip Terminology – What Does an Orientation Tour Mean?)

4. What Size is the Group?

Group size can cause issues both ways. The group can be bigger than expected or it can be smaller than expected. Differences in expectation can cause issues on coach trips.

One guest I travelled with booked a coach tour holiday to India. It was a guaranteed departure tour for a small group and he was told there would be another 3 people on the tour. When he arrived he found a driver and a guide waiting just for him. Fortunately, finding out he was the only guest and that he had a driver and a guide to himself was not a problem and he promptly tore up the itinerary and headed off the beaten track. However, for some people, such an experience would be quite intimidating.

I have had the experience of a very small group too. I once led a week-long coach holiday in Italy with just 4 guests. There was myself, the coach driver and a trainee guide that I was teaching so 4 guests and 3 staff. It worked out OK but it was not what the guests expected and it certainly felt odd taking a full-size coach out on tour with such a small group.

A large group can also cause problems for those not expecting it or used to it. I often work with groups of 47 guests on a 49-seat coach. This can mean that it takes a long time for everyone to get off the coach, even using both doors. If travellers have been used to smaller groups this can cause frustration for them. It also means check-in takes longer, getting onboard the coach in the morning takes longer and so on.

The other issue with a larger group is that there is still only 1 Tour Manager. Guests who have been used to travelling on smaller coach trips and decide to take a coach holiday with a bigger group can sometimes feel disappointed that the Tour Manager does not have the same amount of time to spend with them.

Knowing the group size in advance can help with aligning expectations of your coach tour holiday.

5. Are There Any Groups booked on your Touring Holiday?

It is not uncommon for a group of people to book together on coach trips. This could be a social club, group of friends, family members, alumni etc.

The problem with this on a coach tour holiday is that you can have an ‘us’ and ‘them’ type situation with the members of the group within the group sticking together. This can often be for the simple reason that they do not see each other that often so travelling together allows them to really reconnect.

Whilst that is great for them it can cause issues for the travellers in the wider group who perhaps feel left out or feel that there is a large part of the group they are unable to interact with.

The other issue I have experienced is that the group within a group wants to do something different to the itinerary and feels they should have precedence because of the number of people in their party. There can be other issues such as these guests wanting to sit together for meals i.e. not allowing other guests from the main group to join them.

Only once have I seen this work in the sense that you could not tell who were members of the group within the tour group and it only worked then because they spent time preparing their guests for travelling before the holiday, including encouraging them to mix together. I have heard lots of travellers’ tales of groups being split when there has been a group within a group and how it has affected the overall coach holiday experience.

Guests have often told me that if they had known there was going to be a big private group travelling on their coach trips they would have chosen to travel on a different date so asking this question in advance can be useful particularly if you like this type of travel as a way to meet lots of new people.

6. What Nationalities Will Travel Together?

Some companies (and cruises) take bookings from different nationalities. This can sometimes lead to groups within groups but it can also cause some cultural clashes. If you have ever had to calm a British group who have queued neatly only to be overrun by guests with a more laid-back approach to queuing you will know what I mean.

This can also be especially important if the groups don’t speak the same language as translation may be required.

I did a river cruise with 140 British guests and the crew loved the fact that everyone was one nationality telling me that they often have to have each part of the welcome meeting translated into 6 or 7 languages which made it a long and painful experience for everyone. This was also the case with lots of their activities and some of their tours when groups from different countries were allocated to one coach.

For most coach tour holiday companies in the UK, the chances are that you will be travelling with people from the UK but it might be worth double-checking this in advance of your holiday rather than assuming.

7. What Is Included with Tours/Excursions/Activities?

To avoid any disappointment or confusion with included activities, and to understand what you are paying for on your coach holiday you need to know exactly what is included. Guests often tell me of being frustrated that lunch is not included in a day tour for example when they had thought that it was, or perhaps entrance fees not being included during a visit to an attraction.

Things to consider include;

• The duration of the tour or is it a half day, which means it is unlikely to include any meals, a 3/4 day or a full day? If it is a full-day tour does it involve any particularly early starts or late returns?
• The travelling involved in the tour. How much time are you going to spend on your coach? Is there any other travelling for example on ferries as part of your excursion?
• What additional costs are involved i.e entrance fees, meals etc. knowing this in advance can ensure that you have the budget to cover these things which can add up over the course of a tour.
• Are there optional elements to included excursions? For example, you might visit a certain destination and then have the opportunity to pay extra for an activity in that destination, perhaps a boat trip, train ride, entry to a museum, etc.
• What the alternative is if the optional tour can’t run? This could be due to weather conditions or local conditions.

8. What Are The Options with Optional Excursions?

Optional tours are often where some of the profit comes from coach trips. Optional tours are just that, optional. You may have the chance to book them in advance of your holiday too.

Here is what you need to know about them;

• Is the optional tour being operated by your tour coach and Tour Manager? I often find that guests assume an optional tour will be led by a local guide but this isn’t always the case so if in doubt it is best to double-check.
• Is it being operated by a local company on behalf of the holiday company? If this is the case it may mean that you are part of a larger group which can include other nationalities, and there may well be several pick-up and drop-off points around the area before the tour starts.
• Minimum numbers are important to the overall group number too. I mentioned previously that I once did a tour with 4 people, as such even though they all booked each optional excursion we still never met the minimum number. The company did not want the tours to run but I explained the fact there were only 4 in a group wasn’t the fault of the travellers and that they shouldn’t miss out as a result.
• A final point to consider is sometimes payments for optional tours can only be made in the local currency and cash, this can often catch guests out if they don’t realise in advance. I have seen guests unable to book tours because they don’t have enough local currency, assuming that they could pay with a credit card.

Some companies offer the opportunity to book optional tours in advance of the holiday for a discount – again I would advise checking what happens in the event of numbers being too low and cancellations. It is important to know when cancellations and calls offs will be advised. Is it the day before or 48 hours ahead? The more notice you have of these things the more opportunity you have to make use of your time to do something else.

Excursions are important parts of coach trips so it’s key to understand more about them!

Can you do the optional tour cheaper another way? I would always advise comparing the holiday company’s price to a local company. Sometimes the holiday company will simply be booking the tour with a local operator in which case you might get a good deal going direct.

However, the decision is not just about the cost. If you book a tour with a local operator and you are due to make a connection or move to another destination on your touring holiday you will be liable for any costs if you miss that connection and have to catch the main tour up. If you book the optional tour through your holiday company and there are any delays it is up to them to sort this out at no extra cost to you. This is especially relevant for cruise ships, or where there are onward transport connections such as ferries, trains etc.

9. What Is The Seating Policy?

Different coach tour holiday companies have different approaches to seating on coaches. Some will charge a premium for the front seats, some allocate to whoever books first and some operate seat rotation to ensure everyone gets their turn.

This can often cause quite a lot of angst for people who were unaware beforehand. Some people feel disappointed that they missed out on the front seats and this can often lead to conversations amongst guests about who booked first.

Some guests do not like the idea of seat rotation, while others think that it is a fair way to ensure as many people get a turn in the front seats as possible.

One of the most common concerns I hear about is from guests who, like me, experience coach or motion sickness.

Whatever the seating policy, guests who experience motion or travel experience can generally request a fixed seat. Often the compromise is that they will not get the front seat and I would recommend a seat ahead of the front wheels of the coach to reduce problems. Another good seat to avoid  travel sickness  can be the seat that is directly behind the middle door. However, this can sometimes have slightly less legroom and if the onboard toilet is being used it can mean there is a danger of experiencing a smell from the toilet which isn’t very nice.

As with seating on coaches different coach tour holiday companies have different approaches to room allocations. Some companies give repeat customers the best rooms, some allocate in booking order ie. those that booked first get the best rooms, some offer room upgrades – it can vary greatly.

10. Hotel Room Allocation Policy

Coach trips will generally have an allocation of rooms at a hotel. This can be in a particular part of the hotel or a particular room type. Room requests are generally for double/twin-bedded rooms with twin-bedded rooms being the most common.

If you have particular room requirements it is best to advise these at the time of booking and then again when you meet your Tour Manager. This could be low floor rooms, high floor rooms, accessible rooms, double bedded rooms, rooms close to others in the party etc.

You may also want to ask in advance if there is the option to upgrade your rooms and of course, ask what the allocation policy is.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had guests upset that they have been given ‘lesser’ rooms than other travellers. This can be due to the allocation policy of the travel company as detailed above or it can simply be that the hotel has allocated rooms to guests in no particular order.

I have had first-time travellers given suites and repeat customers given standard rooms, as well as different single travellers in the same group being given a mix of single and double rooms (for single use) at the same hotel.

As with all the other tips knowing this policy in advance can help avoid any frustration or disappointment on tour and it can also ensure that you know exactly what type of room you should expect.

Touring Holiday Conclusion

• As with anything spending a bit of time researching things is worth the effort. It helps you find the right coach holiday for you.
• Don’t assume when you read coach holiday itineraries. Start from the beginning and go through everything from what time the flights or pick-ups are all the way through.
• Get in touch with the holiday company to ask any questions – better to double-check than to misunderstand something.
• Coach holidays are great holidays and there is a coach holiday for everyone. A bit of research will help you find your perfect coach holiday.

Itinerary Review Service

• I’ve spent 36 years working as a coach holiday Tour Manager for Travelsphere, Titan, Saga and Newmarket Holidays
• Let me do a review of the holiday you are interested in, giving you much more detail on what to expect alongwith things you might want to check before booking
• Don’t risk spending all that money on a holiday that might not be right for you.
• Want to see an example? Check out my review of a Douro River Cruise , Lake Garda Holiday , Highlands of Scotland Railway Tour , Azores Holiday

Further Reading

If you liked my 10 Things to Know About Coach Trips you might also like;

9 Reasons to Choose a Coach Holiday – based on feedback from my guests over the years

Coach Holidays for Single Travellers – what you need to know

You can also find plenty more resources on my Coach Holidays page

Other Articles

• [email protected]
• 0207 603 1111
• Wedding Coach Hire
• Airport Transfer
• Corporate Travel
• Minibus Hire
• School Coach Trips
• Heritage Sites
• Safari Parks & Wildlife
• Theme Parks
• Travelling In London
• Get a quote

Coach Trip Terminology — What Is An Orientation Tour?

• September 27, 2021
• Posted by: Vladimir Dimitrovski
• Category: Blog

When you look at a holiday brochure for a coach trip you may well see some different types of terminology. It is worth noting that whilst they may seem similar they can mean very different things.

What Coach Trip Orientation Tour Mean?

An orientation tour is likely to be a tour led by the Tour Manag e r who is with the group and not by a local guide. As a Tour Manager taking groups I am not legally allowed to guide tours of places that I am visiting with the group unless I am a qualified guide for that area. For example, I cannot lead a tour of London because I am not a Blue Badge guide. Becoming a qualified guide generally involves lots of hard work, study, exam and of course expense.

Once these trained guides are qualified the rates that they charge are generally set by the guide licensing agency and they are able to start earning back some of the money they spent training.

This applies to most cities and localities that coach trips visit on holiday. Each city and locality will likely have their own trained guides who are experts in that particular area, having spent a long time learning all the history and knowledge that any visitor might want to know.

This often applies to particular attractions and museums. A Tour Manager going to the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg for example is not allowed to take the group around the museum, the group has to go with a museum guide who are specialists in the museum and it’s treasures.

As such when you see that a tour is an orientation tour it means it will not be run by a local guide because this is the only type of tour a Tour Manager is allowed to do when visiting cities etc. These tours are supposed to be just about orientation, giving details of where things are rather than what things are. They are supposed to be about things like how to get to attractions, how to get around, where shops such as pharmacies are, how to use the local transport and to help find things that you might want to visit, do or places to eat at.

They are not supposed to be full of historical information, cultural information and detailed facts about the place you are visiting because that would make them a tour.

Of course this a bit of a grey area.

I have certainly done orientation tours and included some aspects of history and culture because learning that sort of information is what I love doing before a tour. However, I haven’t given a blow by blow historical account of the city, town or area and I haven’t spoken in length about the history of any particular building or monument.

Likewise, I have also done orientation tours which have been focused on where things are. Showing the nearest cashpoint machines, pharmacies, supermarket, bus stop, train station and all that more practical type of information.

Things to Consider About An Orientation Tour

My point really is that if you see “orientation tour” on the description of what is included in your  coach holiday , don’t expect a full-blown tour with a local guide. You are not going to get that.

You should really expect an orientation tour focussing on what is nearby and how to get around — anything more than that is a bonus.

Over the years I have seen companies move away from using local guides with some companies now expecting the Tour Managers to do all the guidance for all the excursions and all the commentary on the coach as well for the duration of the coach trip. Given the coach trip can be a couple of weeks that’s quite a long time!

It seems clear that they have been doing this as a matter of cost-saving. Logistically it can also be quite challenging to sort out local guides, confirm all their details, sort out with them where the tour needs to go and what you need to see. Each local guide has a different way of doing things which can also be challenging as a Tour Manager to deal with.

No tour is generally the same when you use a local guide in the same way that each Tour Manager is different. I have worked with my fair share of local guides who weren’t great and I have even sent some of them home.

That said a local guide is generally a local expert, able to give much more in-depth information into a place, museum or area. Often they will have personal experience and stories to add to their tour which I think always helps.

A good local guide can help you see a place in a new way and having done tours to the same places with different guides I have really noticed all these differences and learned a great deal accordingly.

From a tourist point of view, it can be quite monotonous if the only voice you are hearing is that of the Tour Manager. If they are doing all the guiding, all the coach commentary and all the practical information about the coach holiday as well that is certainly a lot of talking.

A local guide can add a change of voice, a change of tempo and a change of focus and interest.

If you see several “orientation tours” on your coach trip brochure it might be worth asking a bit more about this.

In fact it might be worth asking more about who will be doing the guiding for your coach trip whatever the wording on the brochure says.

Further Reading;

Over 25 years of taking coach trip holidays I have seen guests experience all sorts of issues. Check out my article on 10 Things You Need to Know to avoid experiencing these issues too.

Want to Have A Look At Some Coach Trip Brochures?

Have a look at these companies which I know quite well.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

• What is a Coach Bus And How Many Seats Does it Have?

Despite the increasing variations in coach buses and their interior designs, most will be able to seat between 36 and 60 passengers. This will be largely dependent on the comfort and luxury levels offered as well as on-board amenities to facilitate smoother travel. 

If you are planning a long-distance group trip and you want to know how many seats a charter bus offers, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading below to find out everything you need to know about the seating on a charter or coach bus.

Definition of a coach bus

A coach bus or a charter bus, is by definition, a bus that is used for large group travel over long distances. These buses generally have a smaller seating capacity than standard public transportation buses and they do not cover circular routes with many stops along the way but instead, they cover predetermined routes with a fixed pick-up and drop-off point for the passengers. 

Designed with comfort and luxury in mind, charter bus sizes tend to be similar in size to public buses. However, in terms of design, they have an elevated floor, meaning that there is luggage space in the undercarriage compartment. This is something that standard public buses do not have. 

In addition, charter buses generally have amenities on board such as a private restroom, wider and more comfortable reclining seats, USB ports and other facilities for the use and enjoyment of electronic devices, monitors and screens, PA systems, radios, CD and DVD players, an AC and central air heating system, among others.

Standard seating capacity of a coach bus

The typical charter bus seating or coach bus capacity with Bus Connection’s full-size motor coach is up to 56 passengers. Although charter bus sizes will vary from one service provider to the next, the general answer to the question how many seats are on a charter bus will range from 36 to 60 seats.

Are there variations in seating capacity?

Wondering how many people fit on a bus ? The answer is that it depends on the type of bus that you choose. A public transportation bus will normally be able to fit in a larger number of passengers due to both seating arrangements and the poles built into the bus for passengers that stand. 

In contrast to this, charter bus seats are generally fewer in number because they tend to be larger in size and more comfortable for passengers, giving them enough legroom and sufficient space to reclien their chair, should they wish to do so. These latter options are not available on public buses.

Seating configurations

Despite the variety in seats on a public bus vs. a coach bus, seating configurations are quite similar. In the case of coach buses, the seating consists of rows of two seats on either side of an aisle. 

Factors influencing the number of seats

When it comes to how many seats are on a coach bus as well as what is the tour bus capacity , it is important to note that every provider’s spacing and seat numbers will vary. 

This differentiation is due to the luxury and comfort levels that a coach or charter bus company offers, onboard amenities such as a private restroom, as well as the fact that it is mandatory to have wheelchair-accessible space for individuals with disabilities. 

The number of wheelchair-accessible spaces will also depend on the service provider although in most cases, it is necessary to allocate at least one spot on the bus for a wheelchair.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of coach in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

coach noun ( TEACHER )

• The coach issued a diktat that all team members must attend early-morning practice .
• Our football coach has worked hard to inculcate a team spirit into the players .
• The world's number one tennis player and his coach parted company earlier this month .
• She's an excellent coach who knows how to get results .
• We got a rollicking from the coach at half time .
• academician
• associate professor
• board of education
• co-principal
• homeschooler
• housemaster
• housemistress
• schoolmaster
• teaching assistant

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

coach noun ( VEHICLE )

• The teachers counted the students as they got on to the coach.
• The coach has air conditioning and reclining seats .
• The coach stopped for us to eat lunch but within half an hour we were on our way again.
• The pick-up point for the long-distance coaches is now in the new bus station .
• The coach, taking children on a school trip , careered down a slope and collided with a bank .
• bus captain
• bus conductor
• double-decker
• single-decker
• take the bus
• teach She is teaching me French.
• instruct His job is to instruct people in the use of the gym equipment.
• train She trains new hairdressers.
• coach He coaches young football players.
• tutor She tutors students in French.
• educate How much does it cost to educate a child privately?
• He coached the England team for years .
• She coaches rich kids to pass their exams .
• She was coaching the basketball team .
• I've been invited to coach the under-eleven rugby team .
• His opponents accused him of coaching witnesses on their testimony .
• Presidential candidates are coached by armies of advisers .
• asynchronous
• chief academic officer
• miseducation
• multi-course
• non-conditioned
• non-didactic
• sex education
• show/teach someone the ropes idiom
• socialization
• socializing

Related word

• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled

coach | American Dictionary

Coach noun ( part of vehicle ), coach | business english, examples of coach, collocations with coach.

These are words often used in combination with coach .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of coach

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

desertification

the process by which land changes into desert, for example because there has been too much farming activity on it or because a lot of trees have been cut down

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• coach (TEACHER)
• coach (VEHICLE)
• coach (PART OF VEHICLE)
• Collocations
• Translations
• All translations

To add coach to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add coach to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

Motor Coach Tourism

• Living reference work entry
• Latest version View entry history
• First Online: 05 February 2022
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Michael O’Regan 3  

While a motor coach traditionally refers to a passenger road motor vehicle designed to seat 24 or more persons (including the driver), motor coach tourism is a guided coach tour over a short or extended journey, for a group of holidaymakers. It follows a regular or bespoke scheduled itinerary and is escorted by a tour guide.

Motor coach tourism, which emerged in the 1930s, boomed between the two world wars and during the early 1970s, after railway dominance but before airborne package tours (Walton 2011 ). As people sought to cheaply escape from home and search for something different, motor coach tourism made an important contribution toward developing national and international tourism across the United States and Europe. Coach travel has continued to be an important component of tourism and has developed strong links to tourism-related companies and destinations by building scheduled itineraries with accommodation providers, food service organizations, shopping malls, motorway...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Banica, M. 2016. Coach pilgrimage: Religion, pilgrimage, and tourism in contemporary Romania. Tourist Studies 16 (1): 74–87.

Article   Google Scholar  

Rhoden, S., and M. Kaaristo. 2020. Mobile landscapes and transport tourism: The visual experience of mobility during cruises and coach tours. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research 14 (3): 307–319.

Walton, J. 2011. The origins of the modern package tour? British motor-coach tours in Europe, 1930–70. The Journal of Transport History 32: 145–163.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Swansea University, Swansea, UK

Michael O’Regan

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael O’Regan .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

School of Hospitality Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI, USA

Jafar Jafari

School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Honggen Xiao

Section Editor information

Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda

Peter U. C. Dieke PhD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Cite this entry.

O’Regan, M. (2022). Motor Coach Tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_615-2

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_615-2

Received : 22 March 2021

Accepted : 31 August 2021

Published : 05 February 2022

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-319-01669-6

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-01669-6

eBook Packages : Springer Reference Business and Management Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_615-2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_615-1

• Find a journal
• Track your research

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of coach

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Illustration of coach

Definition of coach  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Examples of coach in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coach.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Noun and Verb

Middle English coche , from Middle French, from German Kutsche , from Hungarian kocsi ( szekér ), literally, wagon from Kocs , Hungary

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

1608, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing coach

• hackney coach

Dictionary Entries Near coach

coach-and-four

Cite this Entry

“Coach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coach. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of coach.

Kids Definition of coach  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on coach

Nglish: Translation of coach for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of coach for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coach

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More commonly misspelled words, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, birds say the darndest things, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), games & quizzes.

What Is A Travel Coach And How Are They Different From Travel Agents?

When you think about getting some help with your vacation, the first person to come to mind might be a travel agent . A travel agent presents you with some travel options, helps plan your itinerary, and makes the proper arrangements, such as booking accommodation, while trying to earn a commission. You know, typical travel agent stuff.

A travel coach, on the other hand, is more of a life coach but for travel. While a life coach helps you navigate your life and career to hit your goals, a travel coach focuses on your travels. While travel agents zoom in on the details, a travel coach will guide you to have a bird's-eye view of your travel plans. In other words, travel agents deal with the whats and the hows while a travel coach deals with the whys.

And, while travel agents might go to a destination to experience what it offers travelers, a travel coach has traveled to or lived in the area for years. They most probably have been in your shoes before too. So, travel coaches know a destination — and your situation — better than travel agents typically would.

How a travel coach can help you

Travel coaches go beyond providing advice on destinations and booking travel arrangements, straddling the line between travel advisor and life coach. Most travel coaches are travelers with extensive experience and expert knowledge in a certain destination or way of traveling, such as cruising or backpacking. Some even specialize in a niche that you would be hard-pressed to find, such as traveling with food allergies or a disability, relocating, gap years, or volunteering.

They bring this subject matter expertise to the table to help you achieve your travel goals. And that's also a big reason they exist. "Travel coaches help people set intentions for their trips," Travel Coach Network founder Sahara Rose De Vore told The Washington Post . "When you can identify the 'why' for your trip, you can better decide where to go. You can also decide when to go, who to go with, how long to go for and what you need to do during your trip. That will help you gain the outcome, transformations and experiences you desire."

So, a travel coach can help you uncover the forces that are driving you to travel, whether that's for adventure, relaxation, family bonding, or other reasons. Another big part of these transformative travel experiences includes overcoming your fears — the fear of traveling, fear of being alone, or fear of the unknown. They guide you to process your fears and other travel issues and provide the tools necessary for you to overcome or solve them.

Finding a travel coach

Similar to travel agents, travel coaches can have certifications too. The Travel Coach Network issues such certifications and its database is a good place to start. Or, go to the International Coaching Federation (ICF) website to find or verify a coach. If you travel to know yourself more, improve, or grow, the Transformational Travel Council offers a list of travel coaches who can lead you down this path. And, if you enjoy crossing the pond to quench your travel thirst, the family-run Euro Travel Coach offers custom itineraries and travel coaching.

You can also ask for referrals from friends or acquaintances who travel frequently. Or go on Google and try searching for [destination] coach tour [minus] bus [minus] tours or similar keywords to find more relevant results. As always, your first find doesn't mean the final one. Do your due diligence: Ask for references, do an interview, and research their reputation. Try typing [name] + review or [name] + complaints on Google and see if anything comes up.

Expect to be asked many questions but also inquire about their travels and experiences. Once you find a travel coach you like, be prepared to shell out about $100 or more per hour. Their services don't come cheap, but remember you're paying for their time, knowledge, expertise, and tools. You could do it all yourself, but having a travel coach can eliminate the stress of travel planning and that might be invaluable to you.

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of coach noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• the head/assistant coach
• a basketball/football coach
• the team coach
• the England coach
• Italy’s national coach
• Coach Bob Shapiro
• the Giants coach Tom Coughlin
• coach of/with/for somebody/something the coach of the New York Knicks
• a coach with the Chicago Cubs
• a coach for the US Olympic team
• He is a former college football coach.
• a top basketball coach
• The Giants coach had this to say last night:…
• The national athletics coach was interviewed after the event.
• Who's the team coach?
• See you tomorrow, Coach.
• a pitching coach

Definitions on the go

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

What’s the Difference Between a Bus and a Coach?

So you’ve heard the words coach, motorcoach, and charter bus thrown around, but how exactly are they different from a plain bus? There are actually quite a few differences between coaches and buses, including purpose, design, history, and amenities.

History of Buses and Coaches

Buses and coaches have similar origins starting in Europe during the 1600s as horse-drawn vehicles.

The term “bus” comes from the word “omnibus,” which originally referred to a horse-drawn carriage that served as a public bus line. One of the earliest iterations of an omnibus was launched in Paris in 1662, but they eventually spread throughout France and soon Great Britain, where the first bus line opened in 1824. Early motor buses were developed in the late 1890s but were not produced and used on a mass scale until 1910.

Modern coaches started with stagecoaches, also sometimes referred to as carriages. Horse-drawn stagecoaches often traveled pre-scheduled routes but could be hired for long-distance travel with a small number of passengers with light luggage. Great Britain was home to the first recorded stagecoach in 1610 that traveled between Edinburgh and Leith. Longer distance routes were developed between cities like London and Liverpool with coaching inns along the way for travelers to rest. Once railways were introduced in the 19th century, horse-drawn coaches became all but obsolete.

The earliest motorized coach was the charabanc, which was introduced in the 1920s and quickly became the preferred vehicle for companies that previously operated horse-drawn coaches.

Different Uses for Buses and Coaches

To keep it simple: All modern coaches are technically buses but not all buses are coaches. Both types of vehicles are used to transport a large number of passengers across different distances.

A bus usually refers to public transport or pre-scheduled transportation like transit (city) buses and school buses. Buses are usually built for efficiency and not necessarily comfort. They serve the public and travel along predetermined routes, making several stops along the way. The main purpose of a transit bus is to offer cost-effective transportation for as many passengers as possible within metro areas. Bus services can often be split into different categories like standard buses, which service normal routes and express buses, which often service fewer stops for faster rides.

A coach may also be called a motorcoach, coach bus, or charter bus. Smaller models may be considered minicoaches or minibuses. Unlike normal buses, coaches are primarily used for private transportation and are often used for long-distance travel where convenience and comfort are key. Coaches are usually private modes of transportation and travel on routes determined by the riders or trip organizers. Some intercity coach services like Greyhound travel along fixed routes and are open to the public via a ticketing system. Although the schedules of coach buses vary, most coaches don’t make more stops than necessary since many are traveling long distances.

Designs of Buses and Coaches

Vehicles like standard city buses are oftentimes a similar length and overall body style to coaches. However, buses that service public sectors can also come in modified designs like the articulated bus. These extended vehicles shave multiple cabins and optimize the number of passengers that can be transported along any given route. Transit buses also include standing areas and railings that can be used when seats fill with passengers. Most transit buses can accommodate anywhere from 40 to 60 passengers, depending on the model.

Other notable design choices may include :

• Multiple entry doors
• Straphangers for standing passengers
• Dedicated seats at the front of the bus for passengers with mobility concerns
• Ramps for passengers with mobility aids on ADA-accessible buses

Coaches have a raised floor that creates space underneath the bus for luggage storage, making it taller than your average transit bus. This gives the interior of coach buses a platform-like appearance compared to normal buses, and passengers have a raised view of the street. Coach buses usually have anywhere between 18 and  56 seats. Buses on the lower end of that range usually qualify as minibuses or minicoaches.

Here are a few coach design differences from transit buses :

• One entry door at the front of the vehicle
• Storage compartments beneath the bus for at least one piece of luggage per passenger
• Uniform rows of seating throughout the bus
• Ramp at entry or wheelchair lift in the rear of the vehicle on ADA-accessible coaches

Amenities of Buses and Coaches

Bus amenities.

Transit buses aren’t known for being the most comfortable rides and don’t always include amenities to improve rider satisfaction. Of course, there are newer models of buses that may have updated features for riders, but this will vary depending on the transit service and city.

Some transit bus amenities may include :

• Free public wifi
• Covered bus stops and bus shelters

Coach Amenities

Since coach buses are primarily built for comfort across long distances, they often include additional amenities not found on transit buses.

Amenities on coach buses may include :

• Plush reclining seats made of cloth, leather, faux leather, or a combination of materials
• USB and electric outlets
• Dropdown TVs
• Overhead storage compartments
• Reading lights and personal climate controls

Bus and Coach Services Today

Today, many private group transportation companies in the U.S.A. operate a fleet of minibuses and charter buses. Charter bus rental services like those provided by National Charter Bus are often used as alternatives to rideshares, carpools, or public transportation for short- and long-distance trips. Private charter buses are often used for business travel , sporting event transportation , wedding shuttles , and personal events like group tours . The National Charter Bus rental team can be contacted at 1-844-755-0510 to organize transportation services across the United States.

Latest posts

How to travel and sleep comfortably on a charter bus, things to do in atlanta that aren’t the world of coke or the georgia aquarium, 10 of the best national parks in the united states, group guide to visiting arches national park.

Charter Bus vs. Tour Bus: Differences in Use, Accommodations, Features and Storage

What is the difference between a charter bus and a tour bus? It’s a commonly asked question and a reasonable one: Both types of buses serve different groups in many ways.

Charter buses and tour buses also look similar from the outside. However, depending on your needs, knowing the differences in use, accommodations, features and storage is key to choosing the right bus. Below is a brief overview of these essential factors that will allow you to compare and contrast charter buses and tour buses to decide which works best for you.

Charter Bus

Charter buses are a type of large coach that organizations or coordinators use to transport groups to a predetermined destination. Whether traveling short or long distances, charter buses are the most popular option to travel comfortably as a group. To help you decide if a charter bus is right for you, take a look at its typical use, accommodations, features and storage options below.

Large groups require efficient service that is scalable depending on the event, from weddings to school field trips, and a charter bus is the perfect choice. If you are an event planner, school administrator or leader of a group, you may wish to select a charter bus for:

• church or military transport
• conventions
• family reunions or other traditional occasions
• professional conferences
• school field trips
• senior citizen outings
• sports competitions
• winery tours

Accommodations

Charter buses are scalable, which means that the number of seats can range from 36 to 60. However, the typical charter bus seats about 56 people. A minibus can seat fewer than 35 people. Smaller sizes are especially great for intimate events that require a shuttle experience, such as extended family going on a wine tour.

Charter buses are equipped with premium features that are designed to maximize the passenger experience. Such features include WiFi, reclining seats, power outlets, DVD players/TVs, radios, luggage storage and more. 

Charter buses have some of the best storage options. Due to the wide range of passengers, a charter bus usually comes with a long row of luggage bays just underneath the main cabin.  

When you think of the term “tour bus,” what comes to mind? 

You may think of an escorted holiday tour or bus service that takes you sightseeing along designated routes to visit popular monuments or other tourist attractions. Tour buses are also widely used in the entertainment industry for artists, musicians, troupes, comedians and other groups traveling long-distance.

To help you decide if a tour bus is right for you, review its standard use, accommodations, features and storage options below.

Tour buses have many synonyms based on their use, such as entertainer buses, nightliners or sleeper buses. While mostly used in the entertainment industry, politicians and their support staff also take advantage of tour buses for long campaigns. Tour buses often travel hundreds of miles in a stretch to reach a destination.

You may be surprised to learn that a tour bus is usually a similar size as a charter bus. The differences lie in the details when it comes to construction and accommodation restrictions. Technically, standard tour buses contain fewer seats, enough for 35 to 40 passengers. The seating arrangements are also perpendicular vs. facing toward the driver as in a charter bus.

While charter buses contain reclining seats, an entertainer bus may contain eight to 12 bunk beds on average. However, entertainer buses may hold up to 18 bunk beds. A master suite is located toward the back in standard designs. A full bathroom, lounge area, kitchen, GPS, WIFI and TVs are also included in standard tour buses. 

These features make tour buses perfect for entertainment groups and anyone on tour.

Entertainer buses transport crews for months or years at a time. That’s a long stretch requiring versatile storage options, from convenient storage in the lounge and bed areas to the luggage bays. Performers may also need an extra trailer for stage equipment and lighting.

  The difference between a charter bus and a tour bus isn’t so apparent from the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Atlantic Coast Charters has helped make smooth travel arrangements for group trips since 2010. For more information, contact us by filling out this form .

Most Recent

• Spanish (Chile)
• English (UK)

What does coach tour mean? See a translation

• Report copyright infringement

It's a holiday where you travel on a coach with other people and drive around to see different places. Sometimes it's one day long, sometimes it's a number of days and you spend each night in a different hotel.

Was this answer helpful?

• Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
• Your feedback will not be shown to other users.

viaje en autocar

• What does buswork mean?
• What does travellers mean?
• What does travel desk mean?
• What does travel agency mean?
• What does college coach mean?
• I will apply to be a coach in an accounting foundation course, there is an interview next week, c...
• What is the difference between "to coach" and "to train" ?
• What does coach (here) mean?
• What does I'm gutted mean?
• What does Yah kya bhej diya bhai mean?
• What does Hi, could you tell me what this means in that context? "fairy lights" Maybe nothing s...
• What does One day or day one.You decide. mean?
• What does legit mean?
• What does GO GREEN T-shirt mean?
• What does "for the thots" in "free designer bags for the thots" mean?
• What does Hand me your dad. mean?
• What does sideways (This sideways asshole is in my back seat humming "Danny Boy.") mean?
• What does lighter note mean?
• What does kicking harder than a sensei mean?
• What does Draw a line in the sand mean?
• What does Wyf mean?
• What does Make adjustment mean?
• What does set a clock mean?
• How do you say this in Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)? 先生があまりにこの小説を勧める物だから、すぐ図書館から借りて読んでみました
• How do you say this in German? Although he looks serious, he is a nice person

The Language Level symbol shows a user's proficiency in the languages they're interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that aren't too complex or too simple.

Has difficulty understanding even short answers in this language.

Can ask simple questions and can understand simple answers.

Can ask all types of general questions and can understand longer answers.

Can understand long, complex answers.

Show your appreciation in a way that likes and stamps can't.

By sending a gift to someone, they will be more likely to answer your questions again!

If you post a question after sending a gift to someone, your question will be displayed in a special section on that person’s feed.

Ask native speakers questions for free

Solve your problems more easily with the app!

• Find the answer you're looking for from 45 million answers logged!
• Enjoy the auto-translate feature when searching for answers!
• It’s FREE!!

• What does coach tour mean?

How gospel artist Smokie Norful continues being a father-coach to his children

• By Malik Brown
• Jun 13, 2024

Gospel artist Smokie Norful thought he was done making music 10 years ago — then his sons had the urge to make a record with him. After his hit song “I Need You Now,” Norful is back with “I Still Have You,” showing that God has never left his side. Outside of the music, Norful prides himself on being a great father, and he’s taught his children many things throughout life.

How would you say you led your kids through their musical journey?

It is the joy of my life. I love music; music has always been a part of my life and part of who I am. I’ve been doing it since I was four or five years old. I will always be passionate about music; I will always love music, but the industry side was something that I had pulled back from. Not because I didn’t appreciate all that God has allowed me to experience in the season; I appreciate every single moment and I don’t take it for granted. It is definitely the grace of God, but my passion in this season for even doing what I’m doing now is because my sons are able to watch me and [are] able to participate with me this time.

Twenty years ago, they were little infants and not here. This time, I get to actually walk through and model for them the favor of God and how to handle it. They are already super-smart, articulate, and highly favored, but I want to show them how to be in the spotlight because they’re going to have the spotlight. They are writers, producers and musicians, and they’re working with some of the biggest names in R&B, hip-hop and gospel. They’re going to have the spotlight, and I want to make sure that they carry it with grace, with dignity and with humility — and … how to do that.

How did you become a father-coach for your children when it came to music?

I play several instruments and had every instrument in the world in the house, but I never pushed them to play one. I had stuff in the house I didn’t even play. Even when they would beg me to teach them, I would say no because they would hate it. Because if I do it, I’m always going to be dad. So, it wouldn’t be, like, “Oh no, do that again,” it would be “Aye, boy. Get that right.” I didn’t want them to hate it, so we got them piano and guitar lessons. Everything that they wanted to learn how to do we made sure they had access to learn how to do it, but we never forced it on them. My wife even advocated in the opposite direction.

My sons were huge in basketball. They were both point guards. They were starting point guards and team captains all the way up to high school and AAU travel ball. My wife would tell them they can’t major in basketball. There’s no basketball major — and it was the same thing with music. I didn’t major in music; I majored in history. I have a history degree, so it wasn’t about music. Music was my passion. It is my purpose. It is my love, but I majored in other things. So, we’ve done the same thing with them. My oldest son is a finance major. My daughter is a business administration major. My youngest son is a finance major. My oldest son [is] working on his MBA and about to get a Juris Doctor.

Sign up for Rolling Out news straight to your inbox.

• Father , I Still Have You , Music , Smokie Norful , video

Trina ready to debut 2 major projects

Diddy returns key to New York City

Viral couple proud to represent healthy Black love in hilarious fashion

Yung Joc reveals the 1 thing fathers should never hide

Witnessing divorce as a child, TyTheGuy is determined to keep family together

John Legend aspires to be a father just like his dad

• More in Father Coach Club

Morehouse College alum hosts ‘Honoring Our Fathers’ scholarship brunch

How Morehouse alum Leonard McReynolds helped his son follow in his footsteps

• Community News
• Justice For All
• All Entertainment
• Reality Check
• All Culture
• Relationships
• Cocktail & Beer
• Creative Lens
• All Business
• Black Intellectuals
• Diversity Equity & Focus
• Sisters with Superpowers
• Home Ownership & Real Estate
• Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders
• Executive Suite
• Finance & Wealth
• Marketing & Branding
• Be the Match Atlanta
• Food & Nutrition
• Browse Places & Events
• HBCU Culture
• Privacy Policy

Change Location

Find awesome listings near you.

839 episodes

A master-class in personal and professional development, ultra-athlete, wellness evangelist and bestselling author Rich Roll delves deep with the world's brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self. More at: https://richroll.com

The Rich Roll Podcast Rich Roll

• 4.7 • 10.8K Ratings
• JUN 17, 2024

Can Fasting Save Your Life? The Danger Of Visceral Fat & The Incredible Benefits Of Prolonged Water-Only Fasting With Dr. Alan Goldhamer

Dr. Alan Goldhamer is a pioneering researcher, founder and director of TrueNorth Health Center, and a leading expert on water-only fasting. This conversation explores the science behind fasting and its potential to reverse chronic diseases. We examine Dr. Goldhamer’s groundbreaking research, which involves fasting patients for upwards of 40 days, their success stories, the importance of a whole-food, plant-based diet, and the challenges of integrating fasting into mainstream medical practices. Throughout our discussion, Dr. Goldhamer provides insights into the obesity epidemic, details the connection between fasting and longevity, and offers his thoughts on the future of healthcare. Dr. Goldhamer is a maverick, and this conversation is instructive for anyone seeking to optimize their health. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors:  On: Enter RichRoll10 at the checkout to get 10% OFF 👉on.com/richroll Eight Sleep: Use code RICHROLL to get $350 OFF Pod 4 Ultra 👉eightsleep.com/richroll  AG1: Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs 👉drinkAG1.com/richroll  This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp: Listeners get 10% OFF 👉BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• 1 hr 56 min
• JUN 10, 2024

Sam Harris On Consciousness, Meditation, Misinformation, AI, & What Ails The Modern World

Sam Harris is a renowned neuroscientist, philosopher, bestselling author, and host of the wildly popular Making Sense podcast. This conversation explores the crisis of misinformation and the erosion of critical thinking in society. Sam shares his journey of understanding consciousness through meditation and psychedelics, and how recognizing the illusion of the self can lead to profound inner freedom.  We discuss the importance of reason, science, AI, and open conversations to navigate the challenges of our time and build a more rational, cooperative future. Sam's insights are thought-provoking and timely. This is a conversation not to be missed. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors:  LMNT: get a FREE Sample Pack with any drink mix purchase 👉drinkLMNT.com/RICHROLL ROKA: Unlock 20% OFF your order with code RICHROLL 👉ROKA.com/RICHROLL Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF 👉gobrewing.com Momentous: Save up to 36% OFF your first subscription order of Protein or Creatine + 20% OFF 👉livemomentous.com/richroll Whoop: Unlock the best version of yourself 👉join.whoop.com/roll Waking Up: Get a FREE month, plus $30 OFF 👉wakingup.com/RICHROLL Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• 2 hr 49 min
• JUN 6, 2024

Roll ON: Journaling, Creativity & Process—Plus Transformative Books, Thoughts on Regenerative Agriculture & Remembering Swimming's Greatest Coach

Mr. Adam Skolnick and I are back in the saddle for Roll On—ready to unpack all that’s transpired in our worlds and beyond!  Specific topics include the creative anxieties of book publishing (Adam finished his novel!), a recent podcast kerfuffle (i.e., Ozempic), my trip to India and meeting with the Dalai Lama, heading to Paris for the Olympics, paying respect to legends lost, book recommendations, and wading into the Sage Bistro regenerative farming debate.  Let’s make up for lost time, shall we? Put us in your earholes! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Peak Design: Get 20% OFF my favorite products 👉 PeakDesign.com/RICHROLL Inside Tracker: Enjoy 10% OFF the InsideTracker Subscription and any plan 👉 insidetracker.com/richroll On: Enter RichRoll10 at the checkout to get 10% OFF your first order   👉on.com/richroll  Eight Sleep: Use code RICHROLL to get $350 OFF Pod 4 Ultra 👉eightsleep.com/richroll Squarespace: Use code RichRoll for a FREE trial + 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain 👉BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL AG1: REE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs 👉drinkAG1.com/richroll Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• JUN 3, 2024

Psychiatrist Phil Stutz Knows What’s Wrong With You & Has The Tools To Fix It

Phil Stutz is a renowned psychiatrist, author, and the protagonist in the Netflix documentary “Stutz”. This conversation explores the intersection of spirituality and Phil’s iconoclastic perspective on personal growth, which emphasizes actionable tools over traditional talk therapy. We discuss Phil’s backstory, his therapeutic philosophy, the drivers of happiness, the importance of embracing reality and uncertainty, the role of faith, finding purpose through service and action, and many other topics. Along the way, Phil expertly psychoanalyzes me. Phil is a treasure. And this conversation is a gift. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Momentous: Save up to 36% OFF your first subscription order of Protein or Creatine + 20% OFF my favorite products 👉 livemomentous.com/richroll Bon Charge: Use code RICHROLL to save 15% OFF 👉 boncharge.com Waking Up: Get a FREE month, plus $30 OFF   👉wakingup.com/RICHROLL Brain.fm: Get 30 days FREE of science-backed sound 👉brain.fm/richroll This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month by visiting 👉BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL SriMu: Get 22% OFF artisanally crafted plant-rich cheeses w/ code RRP 👉SriMu.com Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• 1 hr 37 min
• MAY 27, 2024

Navigate Modern Dating & Create A Healthy Love Life: Relationship Coach Matthew Hussey on Breaking Destructive Cycles, Attracting Authentic Connections & More

This week, I’m joined by Matthew Hussey, the celebrated relationship expert and bestselling author, to discuss the intricacies of modern dating and to raise standards for authentic connections. With honest truths, he addresses embracing self-worth, setting boundaries, and cultivating a mindset that attracts an equal partnership based on decency, kindness, and respect. Exploring internal fears, anxieties, and the allure of chaotic relationship dynamics, Matthew discusses unreliable instincts and recognizing red, amber, and green lights. He provides a practical roadmap for breaking destructive cycles, navigating vulnerabilities, and nurturing healthy interdependence. Additionally, we examine gender differences in dating insecurities and societal pressures. Matthew emphasizes the importance of open communication, productive arguments, and empowering your partner’s growth. Please enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Bon Charge: Use code RICHROLL to save 15% OFF 👉 boncharge.com Waking Up: Get a FREE month, plus $30 OFF   👉wakingup.com/RICHROLL Roka: Unlock 20% OFF your order with code RICHROLL 👉ROKA.com/RICHROLL Go Brewing: Use code Rich Roll for 15% OFF your first purchase 👉gobrewing.com  AG1: Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs 👉drinkAG1.com/richroll SriMu: Get 22% OFF artisanally crafted plant-rich cheeses w/ code RRP 👉SriMu.com Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• 2 hr 20 min
• MAY 23, 2024

Ozempic: Weight Loss Miracle Drug or Something Darker? Johann Hari on The Benefits & Risks

This week, I’m joined by Johann Hari, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and speaker, to explore his journey into the world of the new weight loss drug phenomenon: Ozempic. Johann shares his surprising firsthand experience injecting himself weekly with the drug for over a year, leading to dramatic weight loss but also complex side effects. We discuss the staggering potential of these “magic pills” to curb the global obesity epidemic, but also the alarming risks like thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, and muscle wasting. Johann provides a nuanced look at the bigger picture—examining the role of pharmaceutical profit, societal pressures around body image, and whether medicalizing thinness addresses root causes. His investigation stretches from the science labs of Iceland to the food culture of Japan. This discussion ultimately confronts sobering philosophical questions about the ethics of pharmaceutical shortcuts versus growth through struggle. Please enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: InsideTracker: Use code RICHROLL at checkout and enjoy 10% OFF the InsideTracker Subscription and any plan 👉insidetracker.com/richroll Seed: Use code RICHROLL25 for 25% OFF your first order  👉seed.com/RichRoll  On: 10% OFF your first order of high-performance shoes and apparel w/ code RICHROLL10 👉on.com/richroll  Momentous: Save up to 36% OFF your first subscription order of Protein or Creatine, along with 20% OFF all of my favorite products 👉livemomentous.com/richroll Squarespace: Use the offer code RichRoll to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain 👉Squarespace.com/RichRoll  Peak Design: 20% OFF thoughtfully designed carry solutions 👉PeakDesign.com/RICHROLL SriMu: Get 22% OFF artisanally crafted plant-rich cheeses w/ code RRP 👉SriMu.com Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

• 2 hr 11 min
• © 2012-2023 Rich Roll Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

10.8K Ratings

More ROLL ON

In the name of all things glorious, please, more Roll On shows. Once a month would be a treat and standout in the landscape of noise.

Sam Harris episode

I’m wondering why there was no pushback or interrupting in this episode like they’re normally is when someone comes on who is dogmatic. Harris being a known anti Muslim , and once again couching the Israeli genocide as a good versus evil dynamic. He goes so far as to suggest antisemitism to those who disagree. Not only does Rich not shut this spew down, he asks him to expand on it. Shameful We can do better, and we normally do on this show.

My absolute favorite podcast

Listening to Rich feels like hanging out with a good friend, who has really interesting friends. His voice puts me at ease like the Calm app. I count on Rich to deliver relevant info and I trust his opinion about the products that sponsor his show. Most notable is Rich’s vocabulary- he uses diverse and articulate language, its a real treat to learn from him.

Top Podcasts In Education

You might also like.

• SI SWIMSUIT
• SI SPORTSBOOK

Oregon Basketball's Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics Handled by Dallas Mavericks in Game 4

Arden cravalho | jun 15, 2024.

• Oregon Ducks
• Boston Celtics
• Dallas Mavericks

No NBA Finals sweep in 2024.

Oregon basketball star Payton Pritchard will have to travel back to Boston to try to finish up the series against Dallas. This was an absolute beatdown by the Mavericks (122-84) and something you want to erase from your memory bank if you're the Celtics.

"We understand what it's like from their point of view, and you know, they came out super aggressive," Celtic forward Jayson Tatum said. "They played harder tonight. Obviously, we didn't shoot the ball well at all. It's something that we can learn from."

Boston only scored 35 points in the first half, which was the fewest points in any half under head coach Joe Mazzulla (regular season or playoffs).

This is where Pritchard got a larger opportunity to show more of what he can do in front of a national audience. It may have been garbage time after both Dallas and Boston's starters got pulled late in the third quarter but a couple of coast-to-coast layups may do well for his confidence going into Game 5.

Pritchard finished with 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting to go along with three assists and three rebounds in 22 minutes.

The 38 point win by Dallas ended up being the third largest margin of victory in NBA Finals history.

Luka Doncic set the tone all night, as he finished with 29 points on 12-for-26 shooting, adding five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. He did struggle shooting from deep, missing all eight of his attempts.

"We were locked in, especially on the defense end," Doncic said. "We played with pace. It helped them. I'm here to help them in every way I can. We just got to play like that."

Doncic was noticeably playing faster and controlling a higher tempo on offense than he had implemented in this entire series.

When the NBA sends in referee Scott Foster , you know the league wants to extend the series for TV money purposes, viewership, ratings, etc.. Just something to keep in mind as we look forward to Game 5 on Monday at 5:30 p.m. PDT on ABC at the TD Garden.

Payton Pritchard and the rest of the Celtics want to finish this series up in front of their home crowd of Boston very badly.

Stay up to date on all things Oregon Ducks by visiting  Oregon Ducks on SI  daily and following Oregon Ducks on SI on  Facebook  and  X .

ARDEN CRAVALHO