No backpack needed

by Debbie Johnson

Based on today’s demographics, with baby boomers being the largest population traveling, “small-group touring” has come onto the scene. We’re living much longer, with a whole life after children—and before assisted living! We’re traveling with kids, grandkids, and parents in tow. We’re taking trips with friends, old and new, who share the same interests. We’re learning new things, always reinventing ourselves and looking for new experiences.

Our parents, the WWII generation, took large bus tours through the U.S. and Europe, if they traveled at all. They visited 16 cities in 16 days, getting just a glimpse of the highlights. We are more adventurous. Heck, we backpacked through Europe! We still want that same sense of cultural immersion and excitement—but with the comfort and ease we have grown accustomed to.

A Complete Experience

Small-group touring through Europe with Back-Roads Touring Company Ltd. is about experiencing new destinations rather than just passing through them. They believe that groups should be “small and personable, where each person is treated as an individual, and that meeting locals and relaxing over delicious meals are important components of your trip.” Their philosophy is to take you behind the tourist façade, down back roads through country lanes and cobbled streets, away from the masses.

The Back-Roads scheduled tours are designed to be a balance between visiting well-known sites and locations and taking you to lesser-known gems via their 7- or 16-seater Mercedes minicoaches. Their drivers and guides boast a wide range of backgrounds, including photographers, botanists, authors, business owners, sailors, and ex-service personnel. All are passionate about the areas they visit.

Back-Roads Touring handpicks accommodations that complement their philosophy. Each B&B, guesthouse, boutique hotel, converted manor house, and even castle is unique in character. Rooms are private and comfortable, staff is friendly and inviting, and meals are sumptuous.

Exciting Possibilities

You can take part in a small-group tour, or if you have your own small group, you can plan your own tour! I can meet with you to determine your desires and work with Back-Roads Touring to put together an itinerary to your specifications. Some ideas that might appeal to you could be genealogy tours, spectacular garden tours, rock and roll legends, musical Britain, food, wine and whiskey, golf or fly-fishing tours in Scotland, to name just a few.

Rest assured that with a small-group tour you don’t have to dig out your old backpack or obtain your youth hostel card to enjoy the same excitement of experiencing new things and immersing yourself in the local culture!