No planning, no map reading, no driving, no parking - coach holidays equal exploring minus the hassle.
Domestic coach holidays, selling well in these money-conscious times, can be amazingly cheap.
A late-deal, eight-day holiday to Devon with Shearings - including transport from the South East and back, half-board hotel and evening entertainment - was available last week for just £189.
While overseas coach trips are, of course, more expensive, they are often the most affordable way to see a country. You can tour pretty much anywhere in the world where there are roads: not only Europe (by coach all the way and back, or fly/coach), but also North America, South Africa, India, Japan, Australia ...
So, if you're intrigued by the idea of a coach holiday, who should you book with and what should you check before you book? Here are some pointers.
WHO TO TURN TO
FOR UK BREAKS: Leading companies include Shearings (0844 824 6351, www.shearings.com), which has just invested £10million in 30 new state-of-the-art coaches, and Grand UK Holidays (01603 619 933, www.grandukholidays.com). You can find smaller coach tour operators based where you live on www.coachtourismcouncil.co.uk.
FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR PICKUPS: While many coach operators will pick you up near your home from local departure points, a few companies go further. Titan HiTours (0800 988 5858, www.titanhitours.co.uk) promises most holidaymakers free transfers from their front door. For journeys of less than 100 miles, Collette Worldwide Holidays (0800 804 8705, www.colletteworldwide.com) also offers free door-to-door transfers. And Shearings provides a similar service in parts of the Midlands and the North for £12.50 per person each way.
FOR UPMARKET TRIPS: Several companies offer pricier tours using coaches reconfigured with fewer seats, which therefore have more legroom. You also get extra perks such as headsets for listening to music and watching DVDs.
Options available include: Platinum Tourer with Cosmos Tourama (0871 423 8472, www.cosmostourama.co.uk) and premium tours with Insight Vacations (01475 741203, www.insightvacations.com/uk), to Europe and North America. Silver Service tours are available with Leger Holidays (0845 408 0769, www.leger.co.uk) and Grand Tourer holidays with Shearings (01942 824 824, www.grandtourer.com) in Europe.
Other well-regarded companies with upmarket tours include Collette, Journeys of Distinction (0845 372 6006, www.jod.uk.com) and Tauck (0800 961 834, www.tauck.com).
FOR COUNTRY SPECIALISTS: Consider: Jetsave (0871 231 2295, www.jetsave.com/tours) for America; VFB Holidays (01452 716 831, www.vfbholidays.co.uk) for France; and Christopher Pollard Tours (01823 286 097, www.christopherpollardtours.co.uk) for small-group cultural explorations of Spain.
FOR OLDIES: Most bookers of coach holidays are not spring chickens but with Grand UK Holidays, which offers European and UK breaks, either you or your companion must be over 55. Saga Holidays (0800 096 0078, www.saga.co.uk) offers a wide range for those aged over 50.
FOR SINGLES: Just You (0800 567 7393, www.justyou.co.uk) specialises in touring holidays for singles. Titan HiTours and Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7003, www.vjv.com) have no single supplements.
FOR THEMED HOLIDAYS: Travelsphere (0800 567 7372, www.travelsphere.co.uk) has put together a Buddy Holly US tour in September to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the singer's death.
Many of the best themed tours are offered by specialist companies. For battlefield tours, try Holts Tours (0845 375 0430, www.holts.co.uk); for archaeological tours, Andante Travels (01722 713 800, www.andantetravels.co.uk); or for garden tours, Brightwater Holidays (01334 657 155, www.brightwaterholidays.com).
More options at www.aito.co.uk - the website of the Association of Independent Tour Operators.
FOR A ONE-STOP SHOP: Best bet for mainstream holidays is Coachholidays.com (0845 330 3747, www.coachholidays.com), an agent for more than 50 of the leading tour companies. The website has good search options and tempting deals.
FIVE POINTS TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BOOK
1) Do tour managers stay for the duration of the trip? Are they employed by the firm? Yes, with Titan HiTours, for example, but not necessarily with others.
2) What's the board arrangement? Half-board (breakfast and dinner) or B&B? Often it's unclear in tour summaries, making comparing deals difficult.
3) How long do you spend on the coach each day? A whistle-stop 'highlights' tour that whizzes round Europe in a fortnight is likely to be less rewarding, and likely to allow less time for exploring, than one that focuses on just Provence or Tuscany. Most firms spell out itineraries in detail on their websites.
4) Are there many stopovers for one night only? If so, the tour may be rushed and tiring. A tour with day trips from one or two bases may be more relaxing.
5) Is porterage (carrying bags from the coach to your room) included? With many firms yes (usually one bag per passenger), but it varies. For example, Leger includes porterage only on Silver Service tours.
