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This was not our first Diamond Tours. This was the 6th one we have taken and it was the worst.
First of all we had a great bus driver Shayne. He is very polite and always helpful to all passengers. He is a very safe driver and obeyed all the rules.
This complaint has nothing to do with our leader. We have been traveling with her since 2017 and she and her husband are excellent. Diamond Tours is responsible for all planning on these trips.
Day 1. We left our leaving point July 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM headed to our first stop at the Wingate Inn in Raleigh, NC. This hotel is not the best of best. We had stayed there in May of 2024 on another Diamond Tours trip. The hotel was being renovated then and is still being renovated. Diamond Tours books the lowest rating hotels available and in the middle of no where. Most of them are not in walking distance of getting anything to eat. You always have to load back up on the bus and go somewhere to eat. Breakfast is your normal hotel breakfast.
Day 2. We left and headed for Somerset NJ. We stopped on the way in Triangle, VA at the National Museum of the Marine Corp. This was for an 1 1/2 self guided tour. The museum is great stop and a good break from riding. Afterwards we headed for Somerset NJ to the Comfort Inn and Suites. The bath tub will not drain when you take a shower. We stood in 4" of water taking a shower. We were not the only travelers complaining about this. Breakfast is your normal hotel breakfast. As always Diamond tours books the cheapest hotels.
Day 3. We headed to Bangor Maine for a 2 night stay at the Country Inn at the Mall. Pray that you all get the 1st floor. No elevator. Not your top of the line hotel. The hot water in the shower would not adjust right. It would get hot and during middle of your shower would go cold. Topically breakfast food.
Day 4. We boarded a different bus for Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor Maine. We toured Acadia National Park until around 1:00 and ended in Bar Harbor which was just free time. We had 3 1/2 hours in Bar Harbor which is entirely too much time for lunch and just shopping. After you eat lunch and walk around to 100 T-shirt shops there is nothing else to do. The town is all up hill. If you have to use a walker for help walking or a cane this trip is not for you.
Day 5. We headed to Enfield, NB. We stopped in Woodstock, NB for lunch. Not much of a choice there. Subway, A&W and McDonald's. After lunch we head to Enfield, NS for our nights stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Halifax. This was the best hotel we stayed for the duration of our trip. Again, it's in the middle of no where right by the airport. We stayed here for two nights. The best breakfast we had was here.
Day 6. Tour of Halifax and Peggy's Cove. Ended in Lunenburg which is nothing but eating and shopping. Peggy's Cove was a good tour but again this trip is not for people that has walking problems.
Day 7. Depart for Charlottetown. Not much of a tour for Charlottetown. Lunch on your own and shopping. Shopping, Eating and riding. That's all you do on this trip. Again not for people that can't walk very far. The motorcoach parked about a mile from the shopping area which is all down hill and then up hill coming back. Headed for Summerside, PE and stayed at Quality Inn & Suites
Day 8. Tour of Prince Edward Island and Ann of Green Gables. Toured Ann of Green Gables and Cavendish Beach.
Day 9. Hopewell Rocks and Bay of Fundy. Hopewell Rocks was the highlight of this trip. It was the best site that we saw. The Bay of Fundy is neat to see also.
Day 10. Kings Landing. We were told prior to arriving at King's Landing that we could do the Walking Tour or the Horse Drawn Wagons. There was several in our group that could not do the 2 hour walking tour and was planning on riding the wagons. The guide told us that the wagons would not be in use that day because the horses were working. This was a big disappointment for some of our group.
Day 11. Boott's Cotton Mill Museum. Being from a cotton mill town, this museum was not what I expected. It was a waste of time.
Day 12. National Harbor - this was a good stopping point. Enjoyed the harbor.
Day 13. Home sweet home -
This trip should have had 2 more days added to it. One going and one coming back. This is a long trip and very tiring. Not enough of down time to rest when you get to your room at night. Depending on the time zone you live in you lose an hour or two hours in Canada. All you do is ride and eat. Ride and eat.
We had a nice bus but is was not comfortable. It had added seat that would seat around 54 people. That makes less leg room. The seats were leather and very uncomfortable. As I said before this is not for people that has trouble walking. I would not recommend this trip for anyone. Too much shopping and not enough seeing sites that could have been seen. We will never take another bus trip. This one done us in.
