Trip Idea: Travel by Train
There are few modes of travel more relaxing and refined than trains. And though the heyday of railroad travel in the U.S. is behind us, train trips can still offer an ideal way for groups to tour the country. Amtrak offers several popular routes through the Southwest, the Mountain Northwest and New England, and train trips across Canada are perennially popular with groups. A weeklong trip will allow you to relax and enjoy the scenery on the train, as well as stay overnight in hotels and spend some time exploring destinations along the way.
Trip Idea: Take a Cruise
Many travelers find a week to be the ideal length of time for a cruise vacation, giving them enough time to enjoy the ship and ports, but not enough to get bored. Major cruise lines offer a host of five- to seven-night cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, New England and Canada. To make these experiences special for your groups, work with a tour operator who can plan some land activities and shore excursions just for you.
Trip Idea: Go Abroad
Thanks to the marvel of modern air travel, your group can be anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours. This means that a weeklong trip will allow you to enjoy a full five days anywhere you want to go, as well as a day of travel to and from the destination. You may not be able to pull off a grand panorama tour of Europe in this time frame, but it’s a convenient length of time for exploring Ireland, visiting the ruins in Peru or taking a pilgrimage through the Holy Land.
Practical Tip: Consider Flying
Traditionally, tour groups have used motorcoaches for all but the longest trips, stopping in city after city between their hometowns and their final destinations. But today’s travelers aren’t very content to spend long days on buses. If your budget will allow it, you should seriously consider flying to your destinations on weeklong trips, especially if it would take more than a day to drive there. This allows you to maximize your time in the places you visit and saves you from having to plan overnight hotel stays and multiple bathroom stops along a driving route.
