Rethinking Road Scholar trip

I've been on 3 Road Scholar tours. One was in Mexico, but not Mexico City. I loved one, I thought one was ok and I didn't enjoy the 3rd one at all. Bottom line, I think their tours are very inconsistent. I think the guides are mostly average or below average. Their hotels were the same. I agree most of their meals were in the hotel and below average. One of the things I like about my Rick tours is eating in smaller, more local restaurants. I've taken 9 Rick Steves tours and found all of them to be above average. I've had only one hotel room that was way below standards. I've had only one guide that I felt was not up to standard, but I still enjoyed the tour itinerary and the group I traveled with. The Road Scholar tour I LOVED was the one to Cuba in 2013. They really do a wonderful job all around on that tour.
All this being said, I still look at Road Scholar tours. If I find a topic and itinerary that looks interesting I may give them another try. I'll just have different expectations than when I go on a Rick tour.

I have never been on a Rick Steves tour so can't compare to that. The only other group tour I have been on is through Blue Roads which I think is a bit higher end.

There is so much good food in Mexico City, and at very reasonable prices, that eating most dinners in the same hotel sounds really sad to me. Traveling independently (solo, 70s), I found it easy to get around by public transportation; uber is also very available.

I'd second what CD in DC said. One of the joys of Mexico City is its restaurants and street food.

Here's an option to consider: https://culinarybackstreets.com/trips/mexico-city/layer-by-layer-a-mexico-city-culinary-adventure

I have been on four Road scholar tours, and have four more lined up. We are the same age. While I am often at the young end of the spectrum for the tours I have never been bothered by that in the least. While all of their tours are different, I've always found a good amount of activity on them.

Whatever head counting is used on their tours, it's no different than the head counting that I've experienced on tours with all of the companies I've traveled with, which is Road Scholar, Rick Steves, Overseas Adventure Travel, and Odysseys Unlimited and more.

I don't know what the dinner choices are for your particular tour, but we've always had a mix of in the hotel and restaurants outside the hotel. Dinners are fine...but I'm not a fancy food person at all.

Some of my favorite guides have been with Road Scholar...one was so good I'm doing his exact tour again this year, but that's in France.

My Mexico guide was fantastic but I don't know if he does any Mexico City tours for them. He was Artemio from Andiamo Travel.

And without knowing which tour you are doing, I looked at their standard Mexico City tour, and it looks like one or two meals at the hotel, three meals at local restaurants, and two meals on your own.

I've done a few RoadScholar tours, and yes, the group meals tend to be disappointing.
I think the best thing at this point is to go ahead with the tour, but opt out of at least some of the included meals.
I assume the tour will stay in one hotel in Mexico City? I would check the location on Google maps and scope out food possibilities nearby.

I only opt for RoadScholar when I can't find a better itinerary, and will continue to use them. Nothing is perfect, and I hope the plusses will outweigh the minuses.

I had a closer look at the itinerary - it includes five dinners - only two dinners are the hotel, the other three dinners are at different restaurants so that makes me feel better about the meals. The accommodation is at one hotel for all nights. I had checked that out first before paying the deposit. It looks quite nice.

Added:
LizinPA, you are right, nothing is perfect. I'll be happy to get away from the snow and cold for a week and see sites I'm interested in. It's sunny and 21 C in Mexico City today.

Susan, I'm glad you feel better about the tour and yes...getting some sunlight is indeed a plus!

I've done 13 Road Scholar tours, 12 Rick Steves tours and 6 with a small tour group company owned by a former Rick Steves guide. I've never done a tour to Mexico so I am basing my opinion on my trips in Western Europe with Road Scholar.

I generally do as Liz suggests about food and maybe eat the first meal at the hotel and then just opt out of the other hotel meals. I had a Road Scholar tour in 2022 where all meals at one location were in the hotel. It was in Ghent which has a jillion restaurants so after night 2 I just told the leader that I was going to skip dinner. I also told the other solo women as we had all wound up sitting together at dinner and I did not want them to be concerned because I didn't show up.

I'm glad yours only has 2 hotel meals so you can manage with them. I think another forum member did a Road Scholar to Mexico and might have done a trip report, I'll see if I can find it.

In my opinion, they are now asking about mobility and needs because there are people who underestimate their physical abilities. It's very aggravating for others who do meet the criteria for a tours' physical activity level to have people who know they are not able to manage the walking and standing. I don't mind if someone opts out of activities at all. Most guides are very skilled at showing them where to wait for the rest of the group.

Editing to Add: Here is a link to Tammy's (DiveLoonie) Road Scholar trip to Mexico Jan 2024. It's a different trip from yours but it might still be an interesting read for you.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/road-scholar-best-of-central-mexico-magical-towns-bustling-cities-january-2024

My first RoadScholar trip was to Andalusia, Spain, and I chose it because the place and time worked with a friend GTG in Valencia I enjoyed the things we saw, but all dinners were at a large resort-type beach hotel 2 miles outside of Nerja, and mostly buffet style. Very disappointing.
A friend who is a serious hiker said that the Iceland tour, clearly rated as challenging, had to be dumbed down because too many people couldn't manage. Obviously that could happen with other companies, too, and there are certainly people here on the forum who question the Rick Steves activity level.

It really is important to read all the information provided.

My experience isn't recent, it was 2015 Cuba but I did find the pace incredibly frustrating. At the time I was mid 50s. I was (and am) still very active.
The ordeal on and off the bus...like herding chickens. Some were always late, then more waiting, the counts and recounts. I adapted a technique where as soon as the bus stopped I rudely launched out of my seat and out the door the second we stopped!
OTOH the adventurous spirit despite mobility challenges of many tour members was an inspiration.
I found the dinners an ordeal, wherever they were.
But, maybe like for you, it's served as a means to an end, as a solo female traveler. The main thing is you're going to sunny Mexico!

"My experience isn't recent, it was 2015 Cuba"

My experience with someone who was completely physically unable to manage on a Road Scholar tour was in 2014. I can't remember the exact year but after 2016 (did a hiking tour that was listed as moderate 5/miles a day and was actually 8 miles per day consistently) Road Scholar revamped their activity levels and made them much clearer and now, just in the last couple of years, have started asking about tour members' mobility and needs.

I'm fairly fit when I go on vacation with the ability to walk 5-8 miles per day even though I'm in my mid-70's now. On a 2021 tour I was dismayed to see several people with canes and walking poles BUT they did not slow the group down and knew when to sit and wait.

I do NOT want my posts to sound like I am biased against those with mobility issues. I DO think it's important for people to recognize realistically what they are and are not capable of when signing up for group travel.

Susan, it will be interesting to see what your tour group is like! I hope you will do a Trip Report.

Pam, thank for your additional comments and information about changes Road Scholar has made in recent years to be clearer about activity levels.
I can appreciate that they need to know some information for hotel bookings as the business caters to older travelers.

We have been on one group tour. While the itinerary was great, some aspects were not. Our group was 24. We were varies in age and mobility. At the time we were on the younger side of the average age and more mobile. As a result the tour, as a group was not for us. There was always a laggard or two and always the same people. They were not at all concerned about holding up the group, despite being spoken to by the guide. There were people with mobility challenges, which based on the pre tour information should have precluded them from coming on the tour. So effectively four to six people held the group hostage.

The guide the made accommodations to accommodate the people who were the problem. I do not blame her, she couldn’t leave them behind. It did spoil the trip for others, including me.

As a result we have not done another group tour. we have travelled since then extensively, but rather than with a group we have done private tours. More expensive, of course, but more satisfying for us. Excellent guides and a more personal experience.

We have done self driving tours of New Zealand and in Canada. Accommodations and tours are arranged for you, but the guide is yours. We have done similar on cruises, hiring our own guides, a much more authentic experience. We visited a fish market in Cambodia while it was active and were leaving when the cruise tour group showed up and the activity of the market was over.

Tours, regardless of who operates them need to accommodate the lowest common denominator.

We are very fortunate to be able to travel in this manner: many cannot. Group tours are not for us at the present time. Likely when they are we will be the people others are complaining about.

Done not overthink things. If you like the itinerary go and deal with the potential frustrations and benefits of a group.

I am in Mexico City, just having finished Day 1 of my Road Scholar Villages of Central Mexico tour. After just this one evening, I am so happy and excited to be here.

We are at the Zocalo Central Hotel, about a 1 minute walk from the cathedral. Is that your tour hotel? If so, it's wonderful. Friendly staff. Nicely appointed rooms with plenty of storage. Happy to tell you more if it is where you are staying.

Our Mexico City born guide seems phenomenal, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with a degree in archaeology and 35 years experience guiding in this region.

Our group are all retirees or hope to be soon. Everyone is fully capable of walking several miles a day and keeping the pace. I haven't noticed anyone with mobility challenges. Most of the group are very well traveled people.

Our first dinner was at a local restaurant with a meal of 3 courses, each typical to the area. It was fabulous!

I wouldn't mind spending a week here. Perhaps I'll add their Mexico City tour to my list!

And the inefficiency of the head count sounds tedious.

I haven't noticed our guide counting us, so he must be doing it very quickly and efficiently. We also have an assistant guide, who has been doing that role for 3 years. Perhaps she's counting us. She seems to be taking care of some logistical issues, such as talking to group members who have dietary needs to make sure they're taken care of.

They classify it as "keep the pace" with 3-4 miles daily

I noticed that there are 2 Mexico City tour departures that are classified at the lower On Your Feet level. So that one may be tailored for less walking and a slower pace.

ETA: I just found this in the overview of the Mexico City tour.

"Dates with an On Your Feet Activity Level are eight nights to allow for a more relaxed pace."

I just found that your tour stays at Hotel Barcelo Reforma. It's listed as 5 star, whereas ours is 4 star. I bet a 5 star hotel has a pretty nice restaurant!

We did Mexico City with Road Scholar.

I loved the city, the group, you name it!

You may be the youngest. You also may be surprised how vibrant,interesting and well-traveled some people even 15 years older than you are!

With Road Scholar, make plans for your free time. We went to at least three museums not included on the tour. We reserved a restaurant, yes, Contramar. We took uber or walked. Uber is cheap but slow,due to traffic. Arte Populare terrific.

I liked staying near Zocalo but your lodgings may differ. This was Nov. 2024. I thought the bus ride to the pyramids was great and a great way to see them.

Road Scholar almost always selects better restaurants than I do. Three of the lunches were out of this world. I also was skeptical about the first night’s dinner at the hotel. But it was relaxing after a travel day.

The head counting was not tedious..did not take time at all. People are very prompt and courteous to others.

The Ballet Folklorico performance Road Scholar planned was fantastic. Gorgeous building.

And they got us inside Frida Kahlo’s home, which isa tough ticket to get.

It was our second Road Scholar trip. Now we’ve done four more. We also went into our first with trepidation. You never have to take another if you hate it. But at least you will have experienced Mexico City!!

I think we skipped the last lecture. But the art lecture helped us appreciate what we saw. You can skip anything you like. Just let the leader know. And don’t use the tap water.

I almost wish I hadn't read this thread but I suppose a sobering wake up call was needed for this 70-year old couple.

There have been at least several participants in each of our last 5 RS tours who have required use of canes. Some have had more intrusive walking sticks. But I didn't realize this was such an issue. To me groups of 28 never move quickly and it's definitely not because of a cane or two.

One 40-something woman on our Best of Ireland was traveling alone recovering from knee surgery. She became one of our lasting good friends. She used a cane and definitely didn't impede anyone else and in fact always kept up with the group. We noted she remarkably made the rugged climb to Dun Aengus.

Another more senior fellow on that same tour was not very considerate of others with his longer walking stick. He definitely needed more skills in allowing others to maneuver around him and the stick.

We've seen so many people with assisting devices on tours that it didn't really occur to me that my husband's recent need for the cane would be considered an issue. He's very agile and walks very speedily but needs a balance assistance to avoid creating joint pain. He's the most considerate person I know in life. He's used it in several of our last tours and in my observation it has never been any issue.

After our last tour in Spain many of the participants continued their communications on Whatsapp. As an IT guy I always get involved in any tech activity and my husband would rather I handle all of it. One rather rude older woman and her husband continued on to a more resort-like site after the Spain tour. From that site she made a comment to the entire previous Spain group about the number of canes she saw among the clientele at their resort. I responded with a reassurance that I wouldn't mention that along to my partner. I so wanted to add that at least he's not a problem drinker with a lack of self-control! She definitely needed a censor during her bouts in Spain.

Now I'm considering whether to continue with several long tours I've booked. I haven't yet made the full payments but would lose the deposits. Knowing me this will now weigh on my mind in tour groups. Perhaps we should just carry on as a twosome as we are capable travelers.

I am only in my 50s and I walk with a cane, stick, device…whatever you want to call it.

I am fit…can walk 10+ miles a day…but my cane does serve a medical purpose.

I would hate to be excluded from tour travel because people might consider me unfit due to the mere appearance of my cane.

I always see people eyeing my cane the first few days - wondering what my limitation might be - but I just show up and take part and usually people just move on.

CWSocial, thank you for your in the moment information and information about the head count.

NYCMom, yes I,m expecting to be one of the youngest in the group

For my tour the maximum group size is 24. It a lot of people to be corraling. That's a much larger group than my only other group tour- that had 13 people, maximum size could be 18.

There have been at least several participants in each of our last 5 RS tours who have required use of canes. Some have had more intrusive walking sticks. But I didn't realize this was such an issue.

Gosh, I never realized it was an issue either. Ever since I walked the Camino I've had an emotional relationship with my walking sticks (trekking poles). In fact, they speed me up. (I will say that most people don't know how to use them correctly.) I don't understand how they could get in other people's way. There was a couple on my PHOF tour last spring who I envied for taking them along and I was thinking of taking them on my Ireland tour this summer. I have this lovely attachment to my poles. I walk the same speed as everyone else without them, but I stop to take photos. No one is required to wait for me to catch up, I'll just move fast to do so. Does this mean people will next be complaining about people with cameras?

Regarding the actual topic, I say take the tour. I am one to drop out of part of a tour if there is something else that I want to do, so if the meals are not good, go out on your own. Or if there is something else you want to see or go back to see more of, just do it. You don't have to be chained together. You'll never know unless you take the tour. There are pros and cons of everything. I say go for it.

We went on Road Scholar's 2-week Cuba tour from Guantanamo to Havana. The people in our group were very savvy travelers, some using their US homes only as a place to stay between trips and heading out again. These weren't fancy travelers but inquisitive, friendly, adventurous travelers. Everyone could handle the walking and touring. No bus seat hogs, no complaining (except a tiny bit from one less well-traveled woman), but a good group of people in their late 50s to late 70s. The following year, the world shut down.

This is a great thread and thanks for raising the subject. We have tended to travel solo, but covering unfamiliar territory or small boat trips often requires groups. From my perspective, the problem with “stick awareness” needs to be addressed. I, too, have had to use them for a trip post surgery. Please, please be aware of how you hold your sticks when you’re NOT using them. Always carry them totally in front of you. You are probably carrying them with the points (even with the rubber tips) behind you. There are probably fit, miserable walkers dodging your points as you turn or stop suddenly. People will still be nice to you and join in post trip communication, but this is still a problem.

LeighS
Thanks for mentioning that!
As a user of trekking poles, I wondered about the comments above. I have definitely seen people carrying their poles horizontal to the ground. Yikes!
I always cary mine vertically when not actively using.

Fortunately my hubby is really cognizant of the issues as we have been observing problems on many previous tours long before he needed the cane. His cane is kept close to the body when in use and he folds it into a small manageable piece that fits in the day pack when not needed. There was absolutely nothing to fault on his part. I've concluded that this particularly obnoxious drinker had concerns about her severely sun-damaged aging appearance which fueled her vicious comments about her resort comrades. In retrospect I recall some pained looks on her timid hubby's face.

I've decided to go ahead with the tour.