As you probably know, trip planning is not an easy and straightforward process. In fact, it can be a total hassle (and headache) at times. Sure, I appreciate the freedom that comes with doing it yourself, but I’ve long wondered what it would actually feel like to be on vacation and not have to worry about all the things. Enter Choice Touring with Globus Journeys.
I recently went on my first ever group tour and was amazed by the experience! It was a 9-day guided tour of Northern California with Globus Journeys, which covered a mix of well-known and lesser-known destinations in Nor Cal. No stress and no hassle. I just had to show up to the bus every morning and everything else was taken care of. Such a different way of traveling for me!
This trip was considered a “Choice Tour”, which offers a level of customization and flexibility that you don’t get with traditional tours. More on that below, as well as everything else that made this group tour experience with Globus so special!
Overview of My Globus Journeys Experience
Here’s my tour experience at a high-level. I will cover each area in detail below, so jump to the relevant section if you’d prefer!
- Introduction to Globus Journeys: Trip planning can be a hassle, but Globus offers stress-free, guided tours. See how they changed my perspective on group travel in the introduction.
- The Northern California Itinerary: Discover iconic spots like San Francisco, Sonoma, and Yosemite with this well-paced itinerary.
- Choice Touring Benefits: Enjoy flexibility and free time to explore with personalized excursions during the Choice Touring experience.
- People and Connections: Travel is all about the people, and this tour introduced me to amazing fellow travelers. Read more about the people who made the trip memorable.
- No Reservations or Driving: Leave the stress of planning and driving behind with Globus, where they take care of everything for you. Learn more about the no-reservations-needed benefit.
- Safety and Convenience with the Globus Go App: Stay organized and updated with Globus’ app, ensuring smooth travel logistics. Find out how the Globus Go App made the trip easier.
These highlights give you a sense of why this guided tour was so special. Let’s dive into the details and discover why a group tour with Globus could be the best choice for your next adventure!
The Northern California Itinerary
The most important part of any trip is the itinerary. And I’m happy to report that Globus brought me to some amazing places on this “California Dreaming’: Northern California by Design” tour.
The trip started with a night in San Francisco, followed by visits to Sausalito, Sonoma, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, and Yosemite National Park. We covered a lot of ground in a short period of time, but it didn’t feel rushed one bit! Here’s a high-level breakdown of the trip:
- Day 1: San Francisco
- Day 2: Sausalito, Sonoma, Sacramento
- Day 3: Sacramento
- Day 4: Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes
- Day 5: Mammoth Lakes Region (Bodie Ghost Town + Mono Lake)
- Days 6-8: Yosemite National Park
- Day 9: Morning in Yosemite, then back to San Francisco
The benefits of Globus Choice Touring
At these destinations, we got to enjoy a mix of guided sightseeing and curated excursions. There was also plenty of free time so we could explore some sights on our own. The hotels were centrally located, which made it easy and convenient to get around.
In addition to this Northern California itinerary, Globus offers 12 other Choice Tours throughout North America and Europe. As one of the world’s leading tour companies, Globus—along with sister companies Avalon Waterways, Monograms, and Cosmos—lead more than 450 tours across 70 countries. This includes everything from budget vacation tours and independent travel packages to river cruises and choice tours. Each comes with a super knowledgeable local guide who provides rich commentary and depth to the experience!
The highlights of my first ever group tour experience
Going into this trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I hadn’t been on a group tour before, so I was curious (and nervous) to see how it would compare to my usual way of traveling. Would I like the people? Would the style of traveling hinder my energy or positively contribute to it? How about the itinerary – would it inspire me and give me a solid enough overview of Northern California? Thankfully, to all the above – Globus over-delivered and exceeded all of my expectations.
Left to right: Caz (Y Travel Blog), Will (Going Awesome Places), and Matt (Landlopers)
An unforgettable Globus Choice Touring experience
From the Northern California itinerary to the relaxed style of traveling, this Choice Tour with Globus was unforgettable for me. For the first time in a long time, I felt totally relaxed and at ease. I didn’t have to worry about getting from Point A to Point B or anything in between. Our tour guide, Derek took care of all the details. It truly felt liberating.
And here I thought that solo travel (and traveling with my wife) provided me with the greatest sense of freedom. If anything, a DIY approach to traveling can sometimes make you feel less free. The stress and hassle that comes with doing things all on your own can sometimes exceed the benefits of the creative freedom, especially in today’s world where Covid adds a lot of additional preparation (and worry) to the mix. The only real stress I experienced on this trip was what to order for dinner each night. Now that’s the life…Haha!
In addition to the itinerary and stress relief, here are some of the other amazing aspects of my Choice Tour with Globus:
Choices and free time, galore!
With a jam-packed itinerary, I was surprised by the sheer amount of choices and free time that came with this tour. Of course, like other tours, a significant part of each day is dedicated to guided touring and structured activities. However, what sets Choice Touring with Globus apart is the level of customization, where you’re able to experience many of the destinations in your own way.
The choices for excursions were fantastic
For example, in Sacramento, each tour guest had a choice between a local food tour and a railroad museum and scenic train ride. And in Yosemite National Park, we were offered a choice between a guided photography tour and a nature walk. Everyone on the tour has different interests and preferences, which makes choice touring very attractive!
Lots of free time
In addition to the custom experiences, I really appreciated the free time allotted to us on this tour. Each day began with breakfast included at the hotel, followed by a day of touring (typically from 8 or 9am until 5pm). In some destinations, like Sonoma, we were given a couple of hours mid-day to do some exploring. In others, like Sacramento, we had the afternoon off to check out the city at our own pace. Lunch and dinners were on our own most days, giving us the opportunity to experience the local flavor in the way of our choosing.
I’m sure you aren’t exactly excited by the thought of being on a tour bus all day. I wasn’t either – and thankfully, this tour wasn’t like that at all. Sure, sometimes there were substantial driving times between destinations, but the freedom and flexibility really made this quite different from a typical group bus tour.
The People
From the tour guide to the tour participants and fellow travel bloggers, I loved meeting all the people on this tour. After all, traveling is all about the people. It sure makes the experience that much more enriching!
During our nine days together, there was no shortage of opportunities to laugh with one another and make lasting friendships. Globus gave us assigned seats on the bus, which changed from day to day. We also had group dinners and plenty of excursions and free time to make new memories together.
I thoroughly enjoyed striking up conversations with folks from all over and learning about their travel experiences while sharing my own!
Mix of nature and city destinations
With a selection of city and nature destinations on the tour, Globus’ Northern California itinerary offered the best of both worlds.
We started and began the tour in San Francisco, which had plenty of iconic sights worth exploring. We also visited Sacramento, the capital of California, which I had no intention of visiting on my own, but I’m so glad I did!
While the cities we visited were awesome, I enjoyed the nature spots even more. Yosemite National Park is one of the most bucket list-worthy destinations imaginable, so I was thrilled to spend three days there. I was also mesmerized by Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe, each offering a variety of outdoor activities and excellent lodging and dining options. We only spent part of a day in South Lake Tahoe, which I felt wasn’t enough time, but a great reason to return.
Given that Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Tahoe are all a bit of a hike from the major cities, it’s definitely worthwhile doing a group tour to get there.
Read next: Top Cabin Rentals on Lake Tahoe
No reservations needed
During my trip, Yosemite National Park had a reservation system, which required advanced planning for visitors wishing to enter the park. This is problematic for travelers like myself who like to plan road trips at the last-minute. Thankfully, Globus took care of this for all of us. In addition, reservations at various restaurants were handled by the Globus team. This is certainly one of the many perks of doing a guided group tour!
No driving
I enjoy driving and all, but boy, did it feel good leaving the wheel to someone else. Long car rides can get old quickly. They can also be stressful, particularly in places like national parks where cell phone reception is spotty at best.
Our bus driver, Ron, did a great job getting us to and from our destinations safely. Even on bumpy and windy roads, he somehow managed to keep the ride smooth, which we all greatly appreciated. Ron also kept the bus clean and sanitized it each day, helping to keep Covid worries at bay.
On my nine-day Northern California tour with Globus, it was so nice to sit back, relax, and gaze out the window for a change. I could definitely get used to this!
Though if you do want to do your own self-guided driving tour, check out my Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary.
Travel made simpler with the Globus Go App
Leading up to the tour, Globus did a great job preparing each of us for the trip and providing helpful information about the itinerary and logistics. This was made even easier thanks to the Globus Go App. Here, you can refer to the itinerary for each day, as well as important documents and tips for the destinations you’re visiting.
One of the best features of this app was the map, where you could check out sights and attractions around you. The app also includes your accommodation for each night and the choices you have for excursions. There’s even a journal feature where you can jot down notes and upload photos.
While the Globus Go App is a super plus, you can still rely on the Tour Director to relay all the important information to you each day.
Covid / General Safety on this Globus Choice Touring Trip
During normal times, Globus does a great job providing safety and care to all guests. One repeat customer on the tour told me she keeps coming back because she can count on Globus to keep her safe and make sure she gets on/off the bus everyday. While young people may take this for granted, older travelers really appreciate the peace of mind that comes with group touring with Globus.
In addition to general care provided to all passengers, Globus went above and beyond to provide a safe touring experience in light of Covid. At the time of my tour, all customers needed to be vaccinated, masks were to be worn at all times indoors (including on the bus), and temperature checks were performed daily. The bus was also sanitized/disinfected each morning by the bus driver.
Unfortunately, due to wildfires and Covid restrictions, we encountered a few obstacles along the way, including some plans and excursions that needed to be changed. However, our Tour Director, Derek, always had a Plan B, C, and even D to ensure our safety and satisfaction. Everything ran super smoothly and we were never in harms way. I wouldn’t recommend doing a Northern California road trip by yourself during the wildfire season, but I certainly felt safe and taken care of on this Globus tour.
Globus Choice Touring in 2025 and beyond
Are you considering a guided group tour in the near future? Have any questions that I haven’t answered in the article? Let me know in the comments or on Insta. I’m always happy to provide travel tips whenever I can!
Happy Travels!
Jon
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