- 1) Why are you different from a coach tour?
If you travel with Discover Dorset Tours you will spend more time off the minibus than on it. We provide guided tours utilising our minibuses as means of transport between different locations.
What you will find if you travel with us, is that you will have an entertaining, fun and interesting day out.
- 2) What about shopping and souvenirs?
We pride ourselves in not talking you anywhere that you are made to feel compelled to buy anything. We do not receive any commissions from any shops or pubs/cafes etc. There are plenty of opportunities during all our tours to buy postcards and souvenirs should you wish to.
- 3) Lunch and refreshments?
We normally stop somewhere for our guests to buy a morning coffee or afternoon tea. If the tour goes over lunchtime we endeavour to stop in places that have a variety of lunch options. You may wish to visit a café, pub or restaurant, or grab a sandwich from the bakers and have a picnic. Some people bring a packed lunch and we can advise you of somewhere comfortable to stop to eat this.
- 4) Who are the guides?
The guides are all local, very knowledgeable and have a great passion for the places they are taking you too. Additionally they all hold PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) driving licences, which ensures they are trained to the highest standards.
Discover Dorset Tours selects the guides very carefully to ensure they are professional, knowledgeable but also fun to be with. Often having been born and brought up in the area, they will tell you stories and anecdotes you will never see in the guide books, stopping to see things that even some of the locals don’t know about.
- 5) What vehicles do you use?
Our scheduled Day Tours are delivered on one of our minibuses. These are all relatively new and comfortable, with surround sound. They are fitted with comprehensive traditional English Air Conditioning, in as much as we open the windows when it is hot and close them when it is cold.
Discover Dorset Tours is a registered PCV operator and all our vehicles go through a detailed government specified safety check every eight weeks. All seats are fitted with three point seatbelts as standard.
Each vehicle can take a maximum of 16 passengers so groups sizes are small and tours have a very personal touch to them. If you are part of a larger group we will either use multiple vehicles of bring in a luxury coach for the day, depending on your requirements.
- 6) How do I book?
You can book by ringing our booking line, 01202 557007, online at our website, http://www.discoverdorset.co.uk/, or at your hotel or language school reception.
We also have a number of agents throughout the area who can organise your booking for you. Please see the list on the reverse of our leaflets.
- 7) How late can I book?
If there are still places available, we can accommodate bookings up until the time of departure. However, this is only possible if you call our booking line, 01202 557007.
During the summer the tours tend to fill up quite quickly so it is best to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
- 8) What if I want to travel on a date when no tour is showing?
We schedule an outline tour programme in advance and then as we get closer in time we add additional tours depending on demand. If the tours showing do not fit in with your travel plans, please let us know. We may still be able to schedule a tour that suits you.
- 9) What if I am the only person booked on the tour?
At Discover Dorset Tours we realise that at well as you giving us your payment, you are also giving us your precious time and giving us the opportunity to take you out for the day. We think that it is unfair on our customers that if due to insufficient demand a tour is cancelled so that is why we NEVER cancel a tour on that basis.
Once you are booked on a tour and have a booking reference you have a guaranteed departure, unless there are circumstances beyond our control.
- 10) Don’t you lose money in that case?
In theory yes, but we have a lot of experience and can predict most of the time the level of demand for different tours at different times of the year. So in reality we will normally have other passengers who wish to travel on that day as well.
If we don’t that is our problem, NOT yours!
- 11) What if I am ill or my travel arrangements change?
If there is a genuine reason for you missing the tour we will do all we can to put you on the tour on another date in the future, or a different tour. If you miss the tour because you have overslept or forgotten then no refunds will be given.
- 12) Aren’t you being too flexible and considerate?
No, we are a family run business that takes great pride in offering a first class customer experience. The company is run by people with hearts and minds and even a little soul, not by a faceless corporation run by accountants at the mercy of their shareholders. We are also experienced travellers and know that sometimes plans change and we all need a little bit of flexibility, this gives us confidence that in the long term this approach is right.
- 13) Do I have to pay before I travel?
Many of our customers find it more convenient to pay before they travel, it’s one less thing to remember on the day.
However if you do not wish to, you can book a seat and your guide will be happy to accept payment in cash on your day of travel.
All we would ask is that if for some reason you will no longer be able to make the tour you give us as much notice as possible so that we can free up the places for others who may wish to travel on that day.
- 14) Do I need to have a group of 16 people?
No, you can book a tour for any number of people.
- 15) What about if our group is bigger than 16 people?
Contact the booking line 01202 557007. We can either arrange for a coach or take out a couple of our minibuses. We can build a tour to suit your groups requirements, picking up and dropping off at a place and time convenient for you.
- 16) We are not staying near any of your standard pick up points?
We pick up from locations throughout Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Hotels, Language Schools and standard Pick-up Points.
If, for whatever reason, none of these are convenient, please call our booking line, 01202 557007, and we will do our best to help you.
- 17) We are not very mobile, can we come on your tours?
Although many of our tours require some walking they are also very flexible.
Please give us a call to discuss you requirements. All our tours can be adapted on the day to suit everyone’s mobility. Your guide make sure you have a great day out.
- 18) What if I am in a wheelchair?
Our vehicles cannot take wheelchair users in situ, however if you can get in and out of a car then you should be able to get in and out of one of our minibuses. If this is not possible we are only too happy to help advise you on which places are ‘wheelchair friendly’ and can help you plan a day out using your own transport. If you are travelling as a group and you have your own vehicle we can provide a guide at a very reasonable rate.
- 19) What footwear is appropriate?
Just bring footwear that you are comfortable walking over rough ground in. If the day looks wet try to wear something warm and water-proof.
Avoid high-heels if possible, trainers/sneakers are fine.
- 20) What will happen if the weather is bad?
At Discover Dorset Tours we try to run tours whatever the weather. Some of our best days occur when the weather is less than clement.
Sea cliffs are more spectacular in the wind, the New Forest more beautiful when a frost blankets the heathland.
Wrap up warm and bring waterproofs if the weather looks a little intemperate.
- 21) What about if it is really hot?
During June, July and August the weather can get very warm, with temperatures up to 30C. If the day is going to be a hot one, please come prepared with a sun hat, light coloured clothing and sun screen. There are lots of places by buy cold drinks and ice-cream and shady spots to sit and relax. Except for the Bath Express, all the tours are out in the countryside or along the coastline for much of the day. Being out of the urban environment means that even on a hot day is still feels quite pleasant.
- 22) I thought Jurassic Park was a Steven Spielberg film?
The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site contains the 95 mile length of coastline between Old Harry Rocks in the east and Orcombe Point in the west.
A World Heritage Site is an area designated by the UNESCO as having some unique international importance.
- 23) Why can’t I feed the ponies?
New Forest bye-laws prohibit the hand feeding of the stock animals. This is to protect the animals, and stop them becoming too reliant on visitors for food.
Hand feeding of inappropriate food can cause health problems. Hand feeding also attracts stock animals to the roads increasing the likelihood that they will be involved in road traffic accidents.
- 24) Are entrance fees included ?
Generally we do not include entrance fees on our tours.
This helps keep the overall cost of the tour down and gives you the choice of whether they visit the location in question. Also places like Stonehenge and Corfe Castle are free to National Trust and English Heritage members. If you are coming from overseas, short term visitor memberships are available. Please visit the National Trust or English Heritage for details
- 25) Where will I be dropped off when our tour is over?
Your guide will drop wherever he picked you up, or, alternatively, in Bournemouth, Poole or Christchurch town centres. Please let you guide know on the day.
If you wish to dropped at a different location, ask your guide before your tour starts for home and they will endeavour to accommodate you.
- 26) If I didn’t enjoy the tour what can I do?
Let us know! We are always looking for ways to improve the tours and really value customer feedback. If there was an aspect of the tour that did not meet your expectations then please let us know via the booking line or email feedback@discoverdorset.co.uk.
Equally if you did have a wonderful time as most of our passengers do, please let us know. We will add your comments to our testimonial page so that others can read them and get a feel for what the tours are like from the customer’s point of view. It also makes us feel warm inside and reminds us of how wonderful the places we visit are, particularly for customers who are seeing them for the first time.
- 27) I still have a question?
If you have any questions about any of our tours or services that we offer, please get in touch with us and we will happily try and help you as best we can. Our office is open all year and if no-one is able to give you an immediate response we will endeavour to get back to you within the day.
