100 people in 2 busloads. And we got delayed on the road between Eilat and Sharm El Sheik (shortly before the Sinai went back to Egypt) when a rare rainstorm may have washed out the road. The rain had stopped but it was too dangerous to continue in the dark. We spent the night finding spaces to sleep at a kibbutz that had one available room given to the bus drivers.
This isn't necessarily a "largest group" comment, but, admittedly, perhaps a snarky group observation! And, it's so funny that even as adults, behavior like this is present and can be so annoying! This summer, we took an excellent group tour of the Changing of the Guard and Buckingham Palace in London. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic; intelligent, articulate, knowledgeable, and humorous - a perfect combination. Now the irritant. There were three pretty and very well-dressed women who, no matter what, ended up at the front of the line with the guide after slowing the group for their constant selfies, obnoxious poses, and loud commentary. The "teacher's pet" behavior prevailed throughout the entire tour. You'd think they would have grown out of that 20 years ago! Seems like there's always "that someone" or small group that should really just be on their own tour.
After I graduated from high school I joined 1000 other kids on a trip to Europe. I think it was called America's Youth in Concert. The group, two bands, an orchestra, and some choruses, was split in two with half starting in London and the other half in Rome. I think we met up in Austria and then proceeded on to either London or Rome, performing concerts along the way. It wasn't the best way to see Europe, although we were able to see many famous landmarks and monuments, but it was a truly wonderful experience with many memorable moments. For example, I'll never forget seeing an outdoor performance of Aida at an ancient Roman amphitheater with live camels on the stage. A few problems -- kids*, you know! -- but great memories!
*For example, on the first night in Rome, a flute player drank too much (alcohol was strickly forbidden) and ended up in a hospital in Rome and was sent home.
I have been on just one “big bus” tour with about 43 people through parts of Portugal and Spain. Fortunately it was well planned and things went generally well except for that ONE PERSON ( there’s always that one person) who was chronically late. The tour manager actually left her one place (arranged for a taxi to catch up with us).
How many fellow passengers on that Dingle Peninsula bus tour back in the summer of 1991 I don't know but it was a huge mistake, our tour host a terrible comedian, and to make it worse, a young female Mexican tourist, escaping one boy friend and looking for another, latched onto me. The scenery was great but the packed companionship not so much, Irish sardines trapped in an Irish tin-can nightmare, making it the very last time I ever joined a tour.
My husband and I traveled to Ireland this summer with a tour company. There were 45 people in the group. I think it was too many. At the hotel restaurants we got a choice of three meals-fish, no local specials or anything from the menu. Smaller groups are able to order from the menu or get more specialized meals. Also hard to see sights with so many people in one group.
My cousin who retired in Germany (his wife’s home) from the US Army gifted me a trip to Germany that ended with a bus tour to Paris. I took the night tour of Paris, he stayed at the hotel having been to Paris before. The night tour went to the Eifel Tower to walk around. Not speaking German, I did not realize that unlike the USA where you get ON the bus at the same place you got off, the bus would be in a parking lot. I went back to where we got off the bus –it was not there. Thinking they would realize the American was missing AND wearing a jacket of an easily spotted color, I waited there. Sure enough, the bus came around and stopped. They told me later they had made two passes had seen me and stopped and then I was gone (the first time a policeman had said I could not board there and I think the bus was told to leave). Second pass, a policeman stopped me saying I could not get on the bus there. I looked at him and said BS and got on the bus.
After one unfortunate experience, I ask a LOT of questions before signing up for a group.
Here's what happened. We signed up with an outfitter to raft the Colorado River thru the Grand
Canyon.
On day one, we realized we were with 14 people who worked together and were on a team-building experience. It was HORRIBLE.
100 people in 2 busloads. And we got delayed on the road between Eilat and Sharm El Sheik (shortly before the Sinai went back to Egypt) when a rare rainstorm may have washed out the road. The rain had stopped but it was too dangerous to continue in the dark. We spent the night finding spaces to sleep at a kibbutz that had one available room given to the bus drivers.
This isn't necessarily a "largest group" comment, but, admittedly, perhaps a snarky group observation! And, it's so funny that even as adults, behavior like this is present and can be so annoying! This summer, we took an excellent group tour of the Changing of the Guard and Buckingham Palace in London. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic; intelligent, articulate, knowledgeable, and humorous - a perfect combination. Now the irritant. There were three pretty and very well-dressed women who, no matter what, ended up at the front of the line with the guide after slowing the group for their constant selfies, obnoxious poses, and loud commentary. The "teacher's pet" behavior prevailed throughout the entire tour. You'd think they would have grown out of that 20 years ago! Seems like there's always "that someone" or small group that should really just be on their own tour.
After I graduated from high school I joined 1000 other kids on a trip to Europe. I think it was called America's Youth in Concert. The group, two bands, an orchestra, and some choruses, was split in two with half starting in London and the other half in Rome. I think we met up in Austria and then proceeded on to either London or Rome, performing concerts along the way. It wasn't the best way to see Europe, although we were able to see many famous landmarks and monuments, but it was a truly wonderful experience with many memorable moments. For example, I'll never forget seeing an outdoor performance of Aida at an ancient Roman amphitheater with live camels on the stage. A few problems -- kids*, you know! -- but great memories!
*For example, on the first night in Rome, a flute player drank too much (alcohol was strickly forbidden) and ended up in a hospital in Rome and was sent home.
I have been on just one “big bus” tour with about 43 people through parts of Portugal and Spain. Fortunately it was well planned and things went generally well except for that ONE PERSON ( there’s always that one person) who was chronically late. The tour manager actually left her one place (arranged for a taxi to catch up with us).
How many fellow passengers on that Dingle Peninsula bus tour back in the summer of 1991 I don't know but it was a huge mistake, our tour host a terrible comedian, and to make it worse, a young female Mexican tourist, escaping one boy friend and looking for another, latched onto me. The scenery was great but the packed companionship not so much, Irish sardines trapped in an Irish tin-can nightmare, making it the very last time I ever joined a tour.
My husband and I traveled to Ireland this summer with a tour company. There were 45 people in the group. I think it was too many. At the hotel restaurants we got a choice of three meals-fish, no local specials or anything from the menu. Smaller groups are able to order from the menu or get more specialized meals. Also hard to see sights with so many people in one group.
My cousin who retired in Germany (his wife’s home) from the US Army gifted me a trip to Germany that ended with a bus tour to Paris. I took the night tour of Paris, he stayed at the hotel having been to Paris before. The night tour went to the Eifel Tower to walk around. Not speaking German, I did not realize that unlike the USA where you get ON the bus at the same place you got off, the bus would be in a parking lot. I went back to where we got off the bus –it was not there. Thinking they would realize the American was missing AND wearing a jacket of an easily spotted color, I waited there. Sure enough, the bus came around and stopped. They told me later they had made two passes had seen me and stopped and then I was gone (the first time a policeman had said I could not board there and I think the bus was told to leave). Second pass, a policeman stopped me saying I could not get on the bus there. I looked at him and said BS and got on the bus.