Colors of New England

Tour was excellent. Guide was organized, captivating, and very friendly. Bus driver was pleasant, courteous, willing to unload baggage as needed. Choice of hotels and meal locations was very helpful.

We enjoyed a great mix of experiences on our tour and couldn’t have picked a better week with the awesome weather. Fall is my favorite time of year and once we got into Woodstock VT and made our way to Stowe the fall views didn’t disappoint. I appreciate the small-town vibe during our downtown stops and really enjoyed the artisan visits (i.e. glass, cider, syrup, ice cream). Also, quite amazed by the presence of historic craftsman adorned resorts just out in the middle of nowhere. Our tour guide Marc Pascucci was phenomenal both with his wit and knowledge of the area and impressed with his attention to detail keeping us all organized. Really enjoyed Marc’s banter with bus driver Hardy who also did an awesome job getting us places. Coastal stop in Portland was very enjoyable but for what it’s worth I’d have given up Freeport and Kennebunkport for a chance to see the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

Going up to Mt. Washington. Beautiful day. So clear we could see the Atlantic Ocean. Our guide up the mountain told us interesting stories about his wife’s grandmother and her trip with the horses and buggy.. He Also about the big road race up the mountain. Our tour manager and bus driver were exceptional. Always doing everything to make the ride fun.

the colors of the trees when they peaked

I thoroughly enjoyed this entire tour from the beginning planning stages to the end of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the option of having transportation provided from my house to the airport at the beginning of the tour and the transportation provided from the airport back to my house after the tour. In addition, it was nice to have my baggage handled from hotel to hotel and during our stay at each hotel. What a great experience to have that also included as part of the tour as well. It seemed to me that all the people on the tour bus were friendly and easy to get along with. Those relationships that were formed during the midst of the tour made it all worthwhile. I believe that I could definitely travel with a group of people like that on another tour. Lastly, our tour Manager Paula Richter, was absolutely fabulous and amazing. As far as I am concerned, she really set the tone, the standard and the bar high. I didn't know what to expect going into this trip but in hindsight I do now. Any other guided tour I take in the future will be held up to this standard that was set. I will be going into it with a clear expectation of what a tour should be like as a result of this tour. Michael, by far, handled that motorcoach with much skill and God given talent. No time during that tour did I feel as if I were in danger or harm's way. Because of his ability to handle that bus the way he did I felt comfortable the whole time and was able to fully engage in enjoying the views that this Colors of New England tour was set up and designed to do. He was beyond kind, helpful, and respectful throughout the whole tour. I am so thankful and grateful to experience this tour with Collette. Collette showed me what a guided tour should look and be like. Thank you Collette.

couldn't have been better!

We were blessed with perfect weather. The lows were in the 40’s and the highs were in the mid-70’s. Everywhere we went, the colors were in full bloom. The towns we visited were each special in their own way. The recommendations for cafes, coffee shops, ice cream shops, restaurants and bars were all terrific. We managed to reach the top of Mt. Washington and the following day the top had 12” of snow. The tour manager made the trip all the more delightful with her detailed history of the regions we toured.

We were blessed with a wonderful group. I think I didn't have to see the Maple Syrup tour, But the Cider tour was wonderful. All the lovely scenery. The stop at the river was just what the doctor ordered!! There was always time to rest between stops.

It was a great trip, with beautiful scenery. To make it better, allow more time to eat and explore towns. So often, we were competing with other bus tours and cruise tourists, that we barely had time to grab any kind of food, so we could make it back to the bus. Definitely eliminate stop at Simon_Pearce. Food was so-so and prices for items were sky high. Glass blowers took a break just as we were going downstairs to watch. Would have much preferred more time outdoors.

Ben & Jerrys / Mt Washington

Mt. Washington and the Simon Pierce glass works.

White Mountain Lodge where we were able to order off the menu for both breakfast & dinner. The beautiful fall foliage & learning about tapping of sugar maple trees.

The tour guide and bus driver were amazing they made the trip exceptional and I was told by someone on the trip that it was the most fun trip they had ever had and they have traveled before.

Portland headlight light house and gift shop was so beautiful. The river cruise was spectacular on the Winnipesaukee N.H.. Mt. Washington was fun even if we didn't make it to the summit. Dianne's Bath was a favorite. Such beautiful scenery everywhere on the trip. Albony covered bridge. Rocky Gorge was so breathtaking. Rocks Estate, Ben and Jerry's, Simon Pierce, VonTrap. Qincey Market/Faneuil Hall is always a favorite .There is just was to many fun memories to list them all. There wasn't anything on the trip that was a let down. I loved the fact we had time to shop on our own and do a bit of off the path site seeing. The lodges were so warm and cozy and scenery from the windows was picture perfect. I tried new foods and getting to know new people. It was a blast! The best thing was from the moment I stepped on the bus I just struck up a conversation with people on the bus and it was like family from the start. I LOVED this trip! I would highly recommend it. I have already saw some of the people from the trip or texted or Facebooked with them. OH MY, my new friends with their lobster and bibs!! Loved it. I will be going on another trip with Collette.

The trip experience was wonderful. We selected the perfect date to go and the colors were stunning.

My favorite was Stowe Vermont which was the home of the Von Trapp family. My least favorite was the long layover in Salt Lake City and I didn’t arrive in my hotel room till 12:30 am. Coming from the west coast that was very inconvenient and I would not do that again!

Our bus driver absolutely made the trip. He was kind, polite, friendly, and professional. Vermont was breathtakingly beautiful. All the little side stories and films provided by Jean added so much detail to our trip.

Traveling in New England, I expected to have the opportunity to experience local cuisine in our included meals. We did not have the opportunity to taste maple syrup on a pancake in Vermont. We did not have the opportunity to taste clams, lobster, etc., until the final evening. The White Mt Resort was beautiful! The Stowe Mt Resort was a bit dated, but it was obviously under renovations and the owners were great. The hotel in Portland was centrally located but needed a refresh. Our tour manager and bus driver were the best I have ever had. The Tour Manager was incredibly knowledgeable about the area. The bus driver was amazing and went above and beyond. I recommend that you return to the practice of the Tour Manager meeting large groups at the airport rather than giving direction to find the transfer vehicles.