Have you ever considered a coach holiday?
Perhaps you have heard that coach holidays are only for older people or people who don’t walk very well?
There are lots of myths about this type of holiday.
Having spent 25 years taking coach holidays all over the world as a Tour Manager I’m here to help bust some of the most common coach holiday myths.
Let’s crack on!
Links You Might Find Helpful:
Great Escorted and Touring Holidays from TourRadar
Understand the Role of a Coach Holiday Tour Manager
10 Crucial Things to Know Before You Book a Coach Holiday
Coach Holiday Myths – Let’s Get Busting!

Coach Holiday Myths
1. Coach Holidays Are Only for Really Old People!
Absolutely not.
This is one of the most pervasive coach holiday myths. People often tell me that they aren’t old enough yet to take a coach holiday!
Coach holidays attract a wide variety of ages, although generally, travellers are from their 40s upwards. It is not common to see children on coach holidays, some coach holiday companies don’t allow children. However, multigenerational coach holidays look like they will become more common in the future.
There are coach holiday options for younger people too with plenty of options aimed at travellers aged 18-30.
Many people picture coaches full of people who need wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walking aids when they picture coach holidays and that is not my experience of taking thousands of travellers.
Many coach holidays have fitness requirements, which give details of how much walking you need to be able to do in a day etc. Some don’t allow wheelchairs or walking aids, other than a walking stick perhaps.
Of course, over the years there have been some issues with mobility for some guests. Sometimes they just booked the wrong holiday completely, not understanding what was involved. For others, it has been a case of things changing such as needing a knee or hip replacement so not being as fit as they once were, or would be once their operation was completed.
We can all be guilty of making assumptions about people based on their age – what a big mistake this can be.
When I was training to start work with a coach holiday company one of the new potential recruits was firmly of the view that anyone over 60 should not be out unaccompanied and if they didn’t turn up to meet their friends the police should be called!
Often on tours, it is the younger people who find the program toughest. I have travelled with people in their 90s who have had more energy than everyone on the coach put together and climbed hills to prove it.
When it comes to coach holidays and life in general age is just a number.

Coach Holiday Myths
2. Coach Holidays Aren’t Active Holidays
This is not true in my experience.
This is also one of the popular coach holiday myths with people believing that travellers sit on a coach all day!
There are lots of differences between coach holidays, with a variety of types, paces and styles available – ideally something to suit everyone. Most coach holiday companies will give details about the pacing of the tour, and the fitness levels required and the itinerary should give an idea of the activity levels too.
In the tourism industry in general there has been a move towards more active holidays, with travellers wanting to have great experiences in destinations rather than just visit and leave.
Coach holidays can include walking, sports, adventure travel, cycling and much more besides.
There is a coach holiday for everyone, with a style, pace and activities to suit.
Coach Holiday Myths
3. Coach Holidays Are Cheap & Nasty
Absolutely not.
This is one of the top coach holiday myths not only amongst travellers but also sometimes amongst some ill-informed travel industry people. There is often a view that people on coach holidays don’t spend money which is also not true.
There is a huge variety in the type of coach holidays available, as there are with all types of travel. Coach holidays have adapted over the years to reflect the tastes and interests of their customers, who want more local experiences, more authentic experiences and more in-depth and active experiences.
Coach holidays can offer lots of value.
If you compare the cost of some coach holidays which have trips, meals, flights and internal travel in a destination included they can sometimes be considerably cheaper than you could travel yourself.
As you will see coach holidays are changing and adapting and they are options to suit all levels of budgets, with some very high-end options available too.

Coach Holiday Myths
4. Coach Holiday Guests Are Not Well Travelled
Totally untrue.
This is one of my favourite coach holiday myths because in my experience it couldn’t be more wrong.
The people that I meet on coach holidays are all well travelled, many of them better travelled than me and I have travelled a lot.
The way they travel depends on who they are travelling with, where they are going and their budget. This means over a year they could be taking trips on their own, domestic trips, group trips and self-catering trips.
It is rare to meet someone on a coach holiday that hasn’t got an interest in travel and many people have a fantastic knowledge of areas, countries and topics.
The coach holiday guests I have travelled with have come from all sorts of backgrounds, from teachers to nurses, directors to doctors and everything in between.
They are a truly varied bunch.
Assumptions can be dangerous things and that’s also true when making assumptions about coach holiday travellers.

Coach Holiday Myths
5. Coach Holidays From My Past
Coach holidays have already changed a great deal since I started taking them 25 years ago, partly as a result of how travellers have changed and how the whole travel industry has changed.
25 years ago there were no cheap flights, so coach holidays were the cheapest way to get to Europe. Whilst there are still a few holidays that include an overnight coach to reach the destination these are very much the minority. Spending over 24 hours travelling on a coach isn’t that appealing when compared to a 3-hour flight.
In the early days of coach holidays there also was no internet and there was much less awareness about places. As such companies offered excursion programs and packages covering the main attractions that people wanted to see, and people booked them, generally all of them.
Coach Holiday Myths
6. Coach Holidays Now
Coach holidays now offer much more personalisation. You can choose active trips, adventurous trips, or trips with more free time for exploring on your own. Some coach holidays offer a choice of accommodation, some offer a choice of coach to travel on, and some offer a choice of optional activities in each destination rather than one option.
There are options about how you join your coach holiday with flights, private cars, stopovers and upgrades generally available.
As travellers become keen to explore further coach holidays have adapted and there are holidays to all corners of the world. Generally, these holidays involve flying from the UK and then travelling on a local coach.
A coach holiday now is definitely not 47 people all doing the same thing – it has never been that in my experience.
Coach Holiday Myths
7. Coach Holidays of the Future
The big change in travel now is more solo travellers. As such many coach holidays are increasing the number of spaces available on tours that have no single supplement. There are of course dedicated solo travel coach holidays, but my experience has been with solo travellers who are part of a larger group.
There are now lots more solo traveller-only departure dates from companies that previously have not offered this. As demographics change in the UK I think there will be more growth in solo travelling for coach holidays.
Over the years travellers have wanted to become more active too – wanted to experience the places they are visiting, rather than being passive observers. Coach holidays are adapting to this trend, incorporating local authentic activities and things like homestays into their programs.
Personalisation of holidays is another trend that I think we will see continue, as people try and create unique holiday experiences.
Smaller group holidays look like a trend that is going to stay awhile too, having gained popularity as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns.
So having busted some coach holiday myths why not read more about this great way to travel.
Links You Might Find Helpful:
Great Escorted and Touring Holidays from TourRadar
Understand the Role of a Coach Holiday Tour Manager
10 Crucial Things to Know Before You Book a Coach Holiday
You Might Also Like
If you have found my article on coach holiday myths useful you might be interested in;
9 Reasons to Choose a Coach Holiday – Based on real traveller feedback
10 Coach Holiday Hacks to have an even better holiday experience
For more information to help you find your perfect coach holiday check out my Coach Holidays page
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
- Saga vs. Travelsphere: Touring Holidays to Italy ComparedTrying to decide about touring holidays to Italy? Italy is a very popular destination with 6.4 million visitors travelling there in 2022. That means there is plenty of choice when it comes to Italian coach holidays. In this article, I’ve compiled a side-by-side comparison of all the coach holidays to Italy available from two of… Read More »Saga vs. Travelsphere: Touring Holidays to Italy Compared
- 16 Essential Coach Holiday Hand Luggage Items – Expert GuidePlanning on taking a coach holiday? The size available for hand luggage on coach holidays is much smaller than on airplanes. Here on some helpful tips based on my 36 years as a coach holiday tour manager to help you plan and pack your coach holiday hand luggage. Links You Might Find Helpful:Huge Selection of… Read More »16 Essential Coach Holiday Hand Luggage Items – Expert Guide
- Coach Holiday Meals – What to Ask Before You Book a TripAre you planning on taking a coach holiday? Coach holiday meals vary. Sometimes it’s just breakfast that is included, sometimes it’s all evening meals as well. Meals can often be a source of frustration for guests. This is often because they assume what is included rather than checking. With around 5 million people taking coach… Read More »Coach Holiday Meals – What to Ask Before You Book a Trip
- Discover the Best Seats on a Coach Holiday With These TipsThinking of taking a coach holiday? Wondering what the best seats on the coach are? Here’s my guide to where the best place to sit on a coach is. For now, let’s just say that the best seat is not necessarily the front seat! With 49 seats to choose from on a standard coach, there… Read More »Discover the Best Seats on a Coach Holiday With These Tips
- Optional and Included Coach Excursions – What Are They?Heard the term coach excursion? Not sure what it means? A coach excursion is a tour that takes place during a coach holiday. There is usually a mix of included excursions in a holiday. These are included in the overall price of the holiday. Optional excursions are extra tours that you pay an additional fee… Read More »Optional and Included Coach Excursions – What Are They?
- What Crossing the Channel is Like on a Coach HolidayDoes your coach holiday involve crossing the channel? With over 21 million people just using the Channel Tunnel in 2019 there’s a lot of traffic across this busy route. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the differences in crossing the channel on a coach. It’s a very different experience than going… Read More »What Crossing the Channel is Like on a Coach Holiday
- What is a Cruise Escort and What Do They Do?Ever wondered what the role of a cruise escort is? Well here’s my guide based on doing the role several times over the course of my coach holiday career. It may be a bit different from what you think! What is a Cruise Escort? Cruise Ship Escort The Role A cruise escort is there to… Read More »What is a Cruise Escort and What Do They Do?
- Coach Holiday Seating: Know the Policy Before You BookCoach holiday seating is an important part of any holiday. There is nothing worse than spending a week or more in a seat on the coach with a column running through it so there is little view (yes coaches do have these!). Coach holiday companies all have different seating policies so it’s important to understand… Read More »Coach Holiday Seating: Know the Policy Before You Book
- Tour Guide Vs Tour Manager – What’s the Difference?There is a huge difference between a tour guide vs Tour Manager. The Institute of Tour Guiding gives the following definition; Tourist Guide Person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area, which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognised by… Read More »Tour Guide Vs Tour Manager – What’s the Difference?
- 11 Coach Holiday Hacks to Help You Have a Great TripPlanning on taking a coach holiday? Over 5 million take coach holidays from the UK each year so it’s a great holiday choice. I’ve taken over 9,500 people on coach holidays all over the world. That makes me a bit of a Coach Holiday Expert. I’m sharing my list of 10 Coach Holiday Hacks to… Read More »11 Coach Holiday Hacks to Help You Have a Great Trip
- Understand The Crucial Role of a Coach Holiday DriverHave you ever wondered what a coach holiday driver does? Over the years I have worked with more than 100 coach drivers, all over the world. Read on to learn much more about the role of a coach holiday driver in particular, including duties, responsibilities, and driving regulations. There’s a bit more to it than… Read More »Understand The Crucial Role of a Coach Holiday Driver
- 4 Coach Holiday Myths – Busted (By A Coach Holiday Expert)Have you ever considered a coach holiday? Perhaps you have heard that coach holidays are only for older people or people who don’t walk very well? There are lots of myths about this type of holiday. Having spent 25 years taking coach holidays all over the world as a Tour Manager I’m here to help… Read More »4 Coach Holiday Myths – Busted (By A Coach Holiday Expert)
- What Seat on a Coach is Best to Avoid Travel Sickness?Are you thinking of taking a coach holiday? Wondering what seat on a coach is best to avoid travel sickness? Here are my tips on the best seats to help you avoid travel sickness. These tips are based on a regular coach with 49 seats. Links You Might Find Helpful:Lots of Touring and Escorted Holidays… Read More »What Seat on a Coach is Best to Avoid Travel Sickness?
- Coach Holiday Tour Manager – All You Need to KnowHave you ever wondered what a coach holiday tour manager does? Read on to discover more about this role, which could be key to your holiday experience. Find out more so you can get the best from your Tour Manager on your next coach holiday. This article is an in-depth look at the role based… Read More »Coach Holiday Tour Manager – All You Need to Know
- 10 Things You Need to Know Before Booking a Touring HolidayAre 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.… Read More »10 Things You Need to Know Before Booking a Touring Holiday
- Coach Holiday to Lake Garda Review – Tips & InsightsAre you looking for a coach holiday to Lake Garda? This is a detailed itinerary review of the Southern Shores of Lake Garda tour which is offered by Saga Holidays. This tour stays in Sirmione, at the Southern end of Lake Garda. It has a good mix of free time and excursions to help you… Read More »Coach Holiday to Lake Garda Review – Tips & Insights
- Coach Holidays for Single Travellers – 3 Key Things to KnowAre you a single traveller? Solo travel is on the increase and predicted to grow further, up from 19% in 2019 to 23%. There are several coach holidays for single travellers. Here are the main 3 types of coach holidays available; If you are not sure which option suits you best check out this guide… Read More »Coach Holidays for Single Travellers – 3 Key Things to Know
- Coach Holiday Companies – Is Bigger Better?Ever considered coach holiday companies and their differences when thinking of booking? There are big differences between smaller and larger coach holiday companies and these can have an impact on all aspects of the coach holiday experience. In this article, I look at 4 main coach holiday company differences you consider when choosing a coach… Read More »Coach Holiday Companies – Is Bigger Better?
- Don’t Avoid a Coach Holiday – You Are Missing a Great TripHave you heard lots of bad things about coach holidays? As a result, have you tended to avoid a coach holiday as an option for your travels? In this article, I want to discuss some of the most common issues I have experienced over my 25 year career as a coach holiday tour manager. Instead… Read More »Don’t Avoid a Coach Holiday – You Are Missing a Great Trip
- What Is An Orientation Tour? Coach Holiday TerminologyHave you seen the phrase ‘orientation tour’ and wondered what it means? Do you know what the difference is between an orientation tour and a guided tour? There are some key differences you need to know about. Read on to learn all you need to know about this coach trip terminology and what it might… Read More »What Is An Orientation Tour? Coach Holiday Terminology
- Azores Island Hopping ReviewDo you want inside tips and information about the itinerary from someone who has been? Great! You are in the exactly the right place. I have taken 5 or 6 British groups on holidays to the Azores Island Hopping and it is somewhere I really enjoy visiting. If you haven’t already read it I would… Read More »Azores Island Hopping Review
- Are Coach Holidays Worth It? Here’s 9 Reasons Why They AreIf you have ever wondered ‘Are coach holidays worth it?’ then you might be interested in these 9 reasons why they are. They are based on feedback I’ve received from guests on coach holidays. I’ve taken over 10,000 people on coach holidays all over the world. Read on to see why they recommend coach holidays.… Read More »Are Coach Holidays Worth It? Here’s 9 Reasons Why They Are