We returned last night (6/24) from this very enjoyable tour especially considering there were two three night stays during the 13 days tour. This was our 17th RS tour and the food and hotels just seem to be improving every year since we started in 2001. Great group and great guide. Looking forward to next years RS tour.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Charlie is one of the old-timers on this forum, he's been everywhere, done everything. Okay, Charlie, I'm hyping it a bit, but you and Frank are my heroes.
Posted by
Southern Oregon
557 posts
Tell us more Charlie!
Posted by
akron, ohio
503 posts
Yes, Charlie, please give us more details! That is a tour that I have looked at and considered many times but for some reason haven't done yet. Thx.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6487 posts
I'm waiting for Charlie to start taking Rick Steves around Europe! ;-)
Posted by
Freedonia
14944 posts
I took this tour two years ago (May 2017). Yesterday, I had lunch with one of my fellow tour mates.....in London. We did the same last June also in London.
Posted by
Florida
28 posts
I was on the May 13 Villages of South England tour last month. I can not believe they did not offer this tour until 2016. It is full of layers of history along the coast. Unlike Charlie, this was only my 3rd RS and I would highly recommend it! It has heightened my interest in the rest of the country; so I am considering the 14 day Best of England Tour. If you have you taken both, would you say this is a good idea?
Posted by
Birmingham, AL, USA
222 posts
Carole,
Glad you enjoyed the Villages of South England tour. We now wish to return to some of the towns where we felt there is more to see. We joined the Best of England several years ago and decided to join the Villages tour the first year it was offered. There is little overlap (i.e.Bath) but you do not have much time there on the Villages tour. The BOE tour will give you a broader view of England with a little Wales. We enjoyed both but confess to having the same guide for part of the BOE tour and the entire Villages tour. Mark was wonderful as well as Roy on the BOE tour. Perhaps you will have time for extra days on the BOE tour. The English people are lovely and so hospitable.
Posted by
OP
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
The itinerary shown on the tour web page for this tour is much more complete than I could ever remember. It was a busy tour but because it covers less ground, there was less bus time than I have seen on other tours. I have taken the England, Scotland,& Wales tour so was seeing a couple of locations for the second time. The tour ended in Bath where I had been before but I extended for an extra day after the tour was over. I also had gone to London for a week before the tour began, my fourth time there and I still have not see it all. Lots of free things. Expensive.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
This tour was my 20th RS tour, two years or so ago. It's an awesome tour and to this day remains one of my favorites. It's full of amazing sites and sights, wonderful food and really ridiculously "cute" villages. Even the larger towns (Bath and Canterbury) are pretty darned awesome! The local residents you will interact with along the way are some of the most personable and down-to-earth people I have met anywhere. Could not recommend this tour to anyone even considering it highly enough. I am happy to hear you enjoyed it so much, too, Charlie.