I am very familiar with this company after having taken many tours over the last 20 years. I can tell you that in the last 3-4 years things have changed. The shopping tours to the Windy City have went down hill. It used to be a great time. Now, it is still fun, just not a wow. The changes include:
1. They used to coordinate and designate busses for pick up in different areas, so when you went to a pickup stop you could get on the same bus as a friend that was getting on at another town along the way. Now, if you don't get on at the same stop, you can't make the trip together and must meet up after your arrival. I drive 30 miles to ride with my friend instead of being picked up in my hometown, and then have to drive 30 miles to get home after the bus drop off.
2. They used to have 2 drop off points. One at Marshall Fields (now Macys) on Randolph, and the other at Water Tower Place. Pick up was always at Water Tower Place. This made it so you could choose to walk one way down the Magnificent Mile, instead of the now down and back.
3. Earlier return times-used to leave Chicago at 7pm, Now we leave at 4:30. Not enough time to walk the Magnificent Mile down and back, and
still have time for lunch.
4. Used to be served juice, water, and donuts on the trip up and no restroom stop on the way there--used restroom on the bus. I think most people like stopping on the way there. I would prefer to skip it.
They now take 1 bathroom stop on the way up and 1 food stop on the way back.
5. The stop on the way up was not a toll plaza stop, so no large restroom, just 1 stall for 60 women--the quick bathroom stop took 30 minutes or more.
6. The stop on the way back was at Chesterton where many fast food places are within walking distance. I think I preferred the toll plaza stops with all eateries in the same location, and no long lines at the restrooms.
7. The cost has risen over the years and is almost to the point where it would be cheaper to drive ourselves to Chicago.
8. Getting to the busses--they are all getting very old, and need to be replaced.
9. This trip I was comfortable on the way there. On the way home we started with the heat on--it was 30 degrees out--and felt good after a day of walking on icy cement. Then someone must have complained they were too hot. I felt cold air running down the right side of the bus near the window. I thought someone had opened a window, although I don't think the windows are the kind that open. I put my coat back on. I tolerated the cold, even though I think the hot sweaty women should bring their own personal fans--not everyone is having hot flashes. After a few minutes my friend said her eyes were burning. I told her it was likely due to the exhaust smell from the cold air vent they turned on. We suffered the exhaust smell and the cold air for 45 minutes or so, then it stopped 30 minutes before we arrived back. Good thing, because it was starting to make me nauseous.
10. Remember when you take a bus trip that you have to suffer the other passengers and the tour guide. Our recent tour guide Pam, was pretty good, although she made changes to the itinerary when we arrived in Chicago late from the extended restroom stop. She tried to allow us an extra 30 min and the majority voted yes, while 2-3 voted no. We were told to arrive back at 3:45 for a 4 pm departure. My friend and I had trouble getting our check at a restaurant and were not at the bus at 3:45. Pam called my friend at 3:58 and asked where we were. We replied we were paying the bill and only 2 blocks away--a 5 minute walk. My friend was upset over the conversation, due to the tone Pam used with her--trying to make her feel guilty for holding up 3 busses of passengers all hellbent on leaving exactly at 4 pm. We returned as quickly as possible. The passenger in the 2nd seat--one who voted no--was very rude and commenting loudly. We could not foresee a missing waitress.
Then, to appease the no vote people, instead of an eating stop, we had to get our food to go. I only had time to use the long line restroom, not time for any drink purchase, since I did not want to be the last person on the bus, lest I get a lashing from Pam.
Some are very obnoxious, like the lady sitting in the 2nd seat, who complained loudly when the return time was a little later than advertised. She appeared to be alone, but maybe she was friends with the tour guide, Pam. There was some, not sure which ones, who were not flexible at all and the whole bus kowtowed to their needs. One has to keep in mind that travel times can vary due to weather and traffic, also injury, accidents, etc. If you have a hard and fast "must be home time" don't take a bus trip. My friend and I accepted the blame for Pam. As our public gets ruder, the trips have become unbearable, but for the brave they are still tolerable if one takes a chill pill. I am out of pills.
This is a review of December 3, 2019 bus trip. read more