April 27 – May 3, 2019
This was a Friendship Tours 6 night/7 day coach trip to Jekyll Island, St Simon Island and Savannah, Georgia ($1,549 pp). My travel companion/brother, Dave and I are very adventurous, resourceful people. We are able to make our own fun and in this case decided very early on in this adventure, that would need to be the case. Nothing was as anticipated. The whole coach tour experience was disappointing.
Four of our seven days were spent traveling to and from Georgia, in a very uncomfortable Peter Pan coach with 46 others. We traveled an average of eleven hours a day, which included two 20 minute rest stops and 1 to 1 1/2 hours for lunch each day.
Six breakfasts and six dinners were included in the tour. My brother and I follow a vegan diet and I have several food allergies. Prior to booking, Friendship Tours assured us that would not be a problem, they were wrong. Breakfasts were all hotel “buffets”, so each was basically the same as the last. Not one was cooked to order. The only meals that we thoroughly enjoyed throughout the trip were at restaurants we chose and paid for ourselves.
Day 1 … Leave Manchester, Ct 7:00 a.m. – Check into the Holiday Inn Express 1911 W Hundred Rd Chester, Virginia. 6:00 p.m. Dinner reservation for 7:00 p.m. Cesare’s Restorante Italiano 13301 Rivers Bend Blvd Chester, Virginia. The wait staff was very slow, disorganized and not prepared to accommodate our diets. Dinner took over three hours and we “probably” ate dairy. Not a good start. This scenario was repeated over and over throughout the trip.
Day 2 … I LOVE Jekyll Island! It is on my list of Top Ten favorite places. On previous visits, as we drove by in our RV, I would admire the Jekyll Island Club Resort. I remember thinking … “Someday I want to spend just one night there. We stayed two!
Our room was on the third floor of the Sans Souci House (no elevators). Eclectic, meticulous and loaded with ambiance! The view from our balcony was amazing!
Dinner the first night was in the main building, Reserve Room and the second the Grand Dining Room (Dress to impress). The chef did try to accommodate our diet, but it was obvious he was not prepared, the food was tasteless and no dessert was available. We should have gone to Tortuga Jacks on the beach. Not as elegant, but the food would have been good, it would have taken half the time and we would have had a beautiful view.
Day 3 … We start out with a Trolley Tour of the Resort which is a Historic National Landmark. Our Driver/Guide, Diana, was funny and very knowledgeable. What made this Tour GREAT was these audio ear phones that Diana provided. You could hear everything she was saying and block out the people around you that thought that what they had to say was more interesting.
Jekyll Island is a bicyclists idea of a bit of heaven. The over 25 miles of, mostly, paved and shaded, trails that circle and crisscross the island are premier. Next to nothing elevation change makes biking the island doable and enjoyable for all ages and “shapes”. Kudos here, to Brent, at Jekyll Wheels where we rented our bikes (one speed bike $20 for 24 hours). He was knowledgeable, personable and would not let us leave until he made sure everything was perfect. Thanks Brent!
The scenery changes and views are spectacular. The photos do not do the beauty justice.
Driftwood Beach is a must see. Fat tire bicycles are available to rent for sand cycling during low tide.
Day 4 …. We sadly leave Jekyll Island. One full day here was not enough. Back on the coach, next destination a tour of St Simon Island, more sitting 🙁 Thank goodness for the two 1/2 hour stops …
Hallelujah! We are allotted two hours “on our own” for lunch, in historic downtown St. Simon. Five Stars to Palm Coast Cafe’ 318 Mallery St for the awesome healthy menu, charismatic atmosphere, delicious food and quick service. I should have taken a photo of my lunch, but I was too busy savoring it.
We had time left after lunch to visit the St Simon Lighthouse and Museum ($12 adult), walk up the 129 steps to the top for spectacular views and watch the 10 minute movie in the gift shop.
We walked back to our meeting place along the ocean and enjoyed watching a mama dolphin and her baby frolicking in the waves. They’re out there, but were too quick for my shutter.
2:00 p.m. We leave St Simon Island and two hours later we are checked into the Doubletree by Hilton 411 West Bay Street Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is a walking city. The Doubletree is in a GREAT location! Only a few minutes walk to the Riverfront Plaza, Factors Walk, City Walk (closest Trolley Stop) some great restaurants and excellent entertainment.
Dave and I opt out of staying with the tour group and going to dinner with them at the River House 125 W River St. We just couldn’t take the chance of not enjoying another meal and wasting another 3 hours sitting.
Dave is in his element, big cities are his thing. I’m ready to let him navigate and let the fun begin! First stop The Savannah Theater built in 1818, the countries oldest continuously operating theater. We buy tickets for that nights 8:00 p.m. show “Savannah Live” a rock and roll variety show. Beautiful venue!
We picked to have dinner, before the show at Your Pie 110 W Bryan St, Savannah. This is a cafeteria style restaurant where you walk along choosing and watching “your pie” (aka pizza)” being made. Your options start with picking your crust (white, wheat or gluten free), numerous sauces, cheeses (including vegan)and every topping imaginable. Ten minutes later it’s delivered piping hot to your table. Yummy!
Day 5 … A Hop on Hop Off Trolley Tour and all day pass was included in our tour. This was a History Lovers dream and a great overview of the Historic District. Having the afternoon “on our own” the Hop on Hop Off is a great perk, especially if you’re not a walker.
Dave and I are walkers. Savannah has 23 “squares” (aka parks) and one of our goals, in the very short day and a half we are here, is to see them all. It was a LOT of walking, but the gorgeous weather and easy to navigate city “grid” made it thoroughly enjoyable. This slide show is just a small sample. Savannah is a very picturesque city.
A must stop visit is Leopold’s Ice Cream (212 E Broughton St). Always a line, but well worth the wait. Yes, they have dairy free!
Our Trolley Tour Guide had given us several suggestions on where to find live music. Starting at 5:00 p.m. in front of Wild Wings in the City Market (around the corner from the Doubletree) a guitarist would be performing in the plaza. This was a great way to relax, before heading out for the evening.
Dinner, with the tour, was at The Pirates House 20 E Broad St Savannah. A pirate themed restaurant in a rustic, historic inn. We decided to give it a try. If it was a disappointment we were in walking distance to other restaurants. The food was O.K., the service was great, we were in and out in an hour and a half. Best part they had a dairy free sorbet for us, for dessert. Had we known we still would NOT have skipped Leopold’s. 
We are liking Savannah a lot and after dinner we were not ready to call it a night. Another tip from our Trolley Driver, was Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos 314 Williamson Street (a few minute walk from the Doubletree). Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Wished we were there another night, we would have gone back. Doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside the entertainment was fabulous!!! Five stars for sure!
Day 6 … “Back on the Bus Gus!”
Another day of near torture … Ten hours in the coach, we finally stop at a Delta Hotel 555 E. Canal St, Richmond, Va. It’s in a construction zone, in the middle of the downtown Richmond business district. Uggghhh! No rest for the weary travelers. We are allowed just enough time to wash up and we’re back “on the road again” for another 1/2 hour ride to Maggiano’s Restaurant 11800 West Broad St Suite 2204 Richmond, Va. for another 3 hour meal. This time it’s “family style” and every dish including the salads had cheese. Their idea of accommodating our dietary preference was by bringing us a cereal size bowl of pasta with marinara to share. Double Uggghhhh!
Day 7 Cant wait to get home!. Half expecting ANOTHER Cracker Barrel stop for lunch, we are very pleasantly surprised. Lunch is at Mastoris 144 US Highway 130 Bordertown, NJ 08505. Ever in the area, this is a MUST stop. You are greeted by the most spectacular views and smells! 
Five Stars all the way. The food was amazing and the staff was awesome! They were actually able to seat and provide service to a party of 48 guests in a little over an hour.
Experiencing only three full days of enjoyment out of seven, is not my idea of a great vacation. This “Tour” was not a value, it was a valuable lesson learned.