Not only are people living longer than ever, but their quality of living is improving. Today it is not uncommon for seniors to travel with their kids, grandkids, and even great-grandkids. At GoCar Tours, we provide unique storytelling cars that are perfect for seniors. They allow your entire group to travel at the pace you choose, to stop whenever you’d like, and to skip those attractions you are not interested in. Keep reading for some tips on how to make traveling with seniors go smoothly for everyone involved. Then reach out to us to find out how we can help you plan the perfect tour in cities all over the world. Make every effort to fly non-stop It is not always possible, but if you are able to fly non-stop then we highly recommend doing so – even if it costs a little extra. Those with connecting flights require extra walking, standing, and waiting. They can also result in a higher chance of missing a connection. If possible, try not to ride on smaller, regional jets that require passengers to climb a flight of stairs to get on them. Be wary of senior discounts on airlines We generally recommend asking for a senior discount anywhere you can – it never hurts to ask – but when it comes to the airlines, it will be a waste of time. Some airlines claim to offer senior discounts but there are no fares available. An exhaustive study of fares from the last ten years found that the vast majority of so-called senior discounts did not offer any discount at all. Know how to alert the airline of disabilities If anyone in your party has a disability, then you will want to ensure the airline knows that. Some people assume this just means showing…

No one wants to pay more than they have to for plane tickets. As a result, there is a lot of information shared on the internet about how a person can save money on plane tickets. The bad news is that a lot of this information is false. Keep reading to find out seven myths and the truth, then contact GoCar Tours for the real deal on booking incredible, unique tours in cities across the world. 1. There is a day of the week to buy them One of the most common myths is that there is one day of the week (typically people say it’s Tuesday) to buy plane tickets. Historical data has shown this to be false. While rates may go up during three-day weekends, specific days of the week are not more likely to have deals than others. 2. There is a magic formula Another common myth is that you should buy your tickets X number of weeks before your trip. Some say three weeks for domestic flights and five weeks for international flights. We say there are better ways to do it. 3. You should be willing to fly out of different airports Too often, we see people driving six hours to get to an airport so they can save $50 on their ticket. Sure, if you’re flying from Butte, Montana to Porto and driving a few hours can save your family $1000, it’s likely worth it. But don’t get so caught up in getting the lowest price that you forget to take convenience into the mix. 4. There is one way to buy plane tickets The truth is that if you want the best prices, your first step is to find out what the flight generally costs. There are sites online that will tell you…

When planning a vacation to Europe you have a lot of excellent options. In fact, one of the hardest things can be narrowing down the list of destinations. At GoCar Tours, we have a lot of experience with travel and we cannot recommend Porto highly enough. Check out these five reasons that trip to Porto may be exactly what you are looking for. 1. Porto has many English speakers If one of your concerns about traveling to Europe is the idea that you may be in a country that does not speak English then you will be pleased to know that Porto has many people who speak your language. English is taught in schools so you can expect youngsters to have a basic grasp, at a minimum. Staff at hotels, taxi drivers, and others are likely to speak English as well. 2. There is incredible wine in Porto If you have heard of Port wine then you have heard of Porto. There are many wine tours to check out, or you can stick to the city and learn about vintage years and other issues that affect the way it tastes. You may even simply find out more about the wine by drinking plenty of it! 3. You will have beautiful coastline to explore You are unlikely to find any coastline in Europe that is more stunning than that of Porto. When you visit the place where the land connects with the sea, you will be treated to truly breathtaking views. Put your camera down – pictures don’t do this place justice. 4. Porto is more affordable than you may imagine When you are traveling to Europe it is likely that you want to find the most beautiful place but also a place that is affordable. You are unlikely to find…

As a student, you want to take advantage of a time in your life when you may have fewer responsibilities than you will in the future. That said, that are unique challenges too. How can you afford to travel? How do you know where to go? At GoCar Tours we work with students all the time and are happy to provide some simple yet effective student travel tips. Your school may be able to help you Many students have no idea that there are often travel resources within their school. Go talk to the people in the study abroad department. Even if you do not want to take one of these programs (they can, after all, be very expensive) you will find people there who are truly passionate about studying. They can help you find the best options available to you. Travel in the off-peak season if possible Yes, you are a student so you will likely have to travel during the summer or other school holidays. That said, try to avoid the busiest times. Taking a vacation the week before school starts or the week after it gets out is likely to be more affordable and less busy than traveling in the middle of summer. If you are traveling to a European country, then spring break can be a great time because it will not necessarily match up with holidays in Europe. Look for student travel tours You do not necessarily have to travel with a student travel tour for the entire trip, but once you get to your destination you can check out some unique student tours that allow you to check out everything your destination has to offer without the requirement to rent a car and the cost and hassle that can come with. Do not be…

Taking a vacation to San Francisco is something that many people can only dream of. If you are lucky to be able to do it, then you may wonder how you can best prepare yourself for the trip. Of course, you want to ensure that you are signing up for unique tours in San Francisco. Additionally, we have some packing tips to help you make the most of your trip and ensure you are prepared. Prepare for cold weather Yes, it is summer but that does not mean that you can simply pack shorts and t-shirts. San Francisco’s weather is notoriously chilly once you get into the higher elevations. Even the beach areas of California can have foggy bouts and fickle weather. When spending time on the coast, expect that even June, July, and August mornings can feel like California Decembers. Bring a pair of long pants and a jacket. Layering is the best option because it will get warm during peak sunshine hours. Focus on comfort over fashion San Francisco is a relatively laid-back city and you are not likely to see tons of people with designer labels. Instead, locals stick with comfortable clothes. Feel free to bring your leggings, shorts, and other cozy clothes. And remember – the idea that Californians love to wear Birkenstocks is not a myth it’s a fact! Don’t leave the sunscreen behind Even if you don’t plan to spend much time at the beach – or any time at all – you still need to bring your sunscreen. Even if San Francisco looks hazy and overcast while you are there, you still need sun screen. Remember that you are at a high elevation, which can leave you sunburned faster than you think. We recommend applying sunscreen in the morning and after lunch at…

If you asked 100 people what they would do if they won $1 million, many of them would immediately tell you that they would set off on the vacation of a lifetime. At GoCar Tours, we want to know: Why wait? There are some unique ways to save money both to travel and while you’re traveling. Today we are going to discuss six ways you could afford to take a vacation. 1. You may be shocked by how much your spare change can add up This advice may seem so simple as to be obvious but many people do not realize just how much money can be saved by just keeping an eye on spare change. Take a jar, a bowl, or any receptacle and use it to store your spare change. At the end of the year you’ll have a lot more than you think. 2. Consider ways to make extra money Do you have any skills that could translate into a little extra income? Do you knit in your spare time? Do you know how to fix guitars? Whatever your talent is, look for ways to pick up a little money doing it. Then put that money aside for your travels. 3. Take an honest look at your budget Too often, people assume that their budget is as tight as can be and they don’t bother to take a closer look. Remember that everything can add up. Do you have a few subscriptions that cost just $10 a month? Cancel three of them and you’ll have enough for a plane ticket by the end of the year. 4. Consider a travel credit card If you have good credit then a travel credit card can be well worth it. The key is to be able to pay it off…

Going on vacation should always be fun but unfortunately, that is not always the case. When you find yourself more stressed out and overwhelmed on vacation than you were at home, then it’s time to take a deep breath and consider some ways you can relax on vacation. 1. Don’t schedule too much Resist the urge to schedule every second of your trip. Yes, you want to plan some aspects of your trip to Madrid or wherever else you are traveling, but if you have plans every single day then you will not have time to relax. Plan some down days and leave some things open ended. 2. Find non-stressful transportation options Not only is it expensive to rent a car in many cities, but it can be a hassle. You may not be familiar with the driving laws in a certain country or you may not be aware of the customs. Then you have to consider the hassle of parking, the cost of gas, parking, etc. and it is easy to see that it may not be the best option. Consider public transportation or cool options like the storytelling GoCar. 3. Be flexible Know that everything is not going to go your way. You may have a day set aside for exploring a rain forest only to find that the road to it is closed. You may have your heart set on visiting a particular restaurant but find that it is not open. Be flexible and don’t let one thing ruin your trip. 4. Know what your must-dos are Do not get confused and decide that some of your wants are needs. Yes, you may want to check out the childhood home of one of your movie star favorites, what is the worst that will happen if you don’t…

In some ways traveling has gotten more affordable than ever before but in other ways it has gotten quite expensive – especially when a person wants to travel to incredible international destinations like Barcelona. While the cost of airline tickets is much lower than in previous decades, the cost of accommodations can be quite high. That’s where global housesitting comes in. Could it be the solution budget travelers are looking for? Free housesitting services The most commonly used option is free housesitting services. This is a program in which the homeowner who is going on vacation lists their home in need of housesitting. In most cases, they will have dogs, cats, or other animals that need to be looked after. A person who wants to visit the homeowner’s location will then apply to take over the housesit. They do not get paid to housesit but instead get access to free accommodations. In some cases, this can be well worth it but not always. For example, if you are planning to visit an in-demand, expensive city like San Francisco then it will likely be well worth it. You may have to take a dog on a walk three times a day and get it food in the morning, but when you consider how much it would cost to pay for a hotel, this is well worth it. On the other hand, there are some cities in which accommodations are very cheap and it may not make sense to limit your ability to sightsee at certain hours. In other instances, the city may indeed be expensive but the homeowner may be looking for services that they should be paying for. As an example, a person running a hobby farm with more than 20 animals should be paying someone to take care of…

We know that if you have been considering booking a GoCar Tour then it is likely that you have some questions. You can always contact us to get answers directly but in the meantime you can also read on to get answers to some of the questions we get asked most frequently. What exactly is a GoCar? It is the first GPSA guided storytelling car. It talks while navigating you through the city you are visiting. It points out the sites around you and tells you the stories that can help make any destination turn from a city to a magical, unique place. How long are the tours? How long do you want to be on a tour? One of the great things about our tours is that they last as long as you’d like. You can travel at your own pace, stop when you’d like to, and speed by the attractions you are less interested in. If you want, you can take a tour that lasts just an hour. You can also spend the entire day on a GoCar Tour – it is up to you. Can I stop whenever I want? Yes. You set your own pace. You stop at any restaurant you want. You can stop at any museum and see whatever you’d like. These cars are very easy to park and can be put into spots marked for cars or motorcycles. This makes it simple to get a quick parking spot to see what you’d like to see. Are the tours only in English? No. We offer a number of languages for each tour. The specific language available for specific tours will vary based on the location. Give us a call if you need more information. Who can rent a GoCar? You must be at least…

Is there a bad time to visit Madrid? We certainly don’t think so! That said, there are unique things about each season that make for a great reason to visit. Today we are thinking about upcoming fall trips and sharing some of the reasons that visiting Madrid in fall is a great idea. If you do decide to check out this world-class city, make sure to look into our one-of-a-kind storytelling car tour guides. 1. The weather is incredible Madrid can be very hot in the summer but fall is a great time to visit if you like cooler temperatures. The average October temperature is around 70 degrees F, which many consider to be just about perfect. When you couple that temp with the blue sky and sunshine you can almost always expect in Madrid, it is easy to see why this is such a popular time to visit. 2. The fall food is incredible If you are visiting Madrid because you love their food then fall may be the best time to visit. Braised beef cheek, Madrid’s signature stew Cocido Madrielno, stewed bull tail, churros, chocolate – all of it is better in fall. There are also cuisine tours throughout the fall that take you around the city to check out some of the best fall eats Madrid has to offer. There is also tons of fresh fall produce available including apples, pears, grapes, quince, spinach, pomegranates, chestnuts, persimmon, and much more! 3. The parks are beautiful You will be surprised at just how beautiful Madrid’s parks are in fall. Bring a picnic lunch, check out the fall leaves, and enjoy one of the many free parks throughout the city. You can expect to see a wide range of leaf colors from deep reds to bright browns. 4. There…