Good Times Travel

I just returned from the «Safari» tour of Central California Coast. This was a 2 night 3 day tour which included a stay at a fine hotel on the sand in Pismo Beach and dinner at McLintocks. Our bus driver George and Tour Director Allen took us to see: elephant seals (it was birthing season), migratory monarch butterflies, many farm animals, blue heron nests, hawks, ostriches and emu and other wonderful creatures. Water and snacks on the bus plus tips on where to shop and dine. Good Times Travel takes you to sights, gives information on what you are seeing and then allows you time to explore on your own.
I have taken several tours with GTT, some day trips, New York (fabulous) and now this Central Coast trip. I highly recommend this company located in Fountain Valley but with several pick up locations.

We just got back from a tour to Yosemite. The bus driver Allen and J the tour guide we very professional.
We enjoyed the trip very much. We will use Good Times Travel again.

Christmas in San Antonio was a memorable experience thanks to our Tour Director, Jasmin. She showed us lots of sights and shared important facts about San Antonio and surrounding cities. She was available to us ²⁴⁄₇ and made everyone in our group feel special. Jasmine was professional, well organized, personable, and FUN. Good Times Travel has a gem in Jasmin Paul.

I love this company and have taken their tours for years. My friends and I get together as soon as their catalog comes out and plan our day trips together. The buses they use are like new and very comfortable. The hosts/​hostesses that accompany each trip are courteous, knowledgeable and helpful. I’m always recommending the company to people. On our most recent trip to the Virginia Robinson estate, Helga, the hostess, acknowledged our discomfort with a new vendor that they used to transport us from our bus to the estate by treating us to ice cream. It was a nice touch. The trips are a great way to see the sites in Southern California (and further) and leave the driving and planning to someone else.

Mom and I went on one of their tours last April and I was impressed! Helga and Riley were first rate. I’m trying to convince mom to go with them again. I’ve never been on a tour group that operated so smoothly as this one! I tell everyone I meet that they should look into them if they are considering taking a land tour. I especially like the fact that, Helga takes the time to really get to know you and tailor the program to your needs. Riley was our bus driver and he was always there to give us water and make sure we were comfortable! Good Times Travel is the best!!!

We had a wonderful time going to the races at Del Mar. Our tour leader Jasmine was terrific. Knowledgeable, well organized with a delightful sense of humor. She kept things moving smoothly. It was a fun filled day.

Last Friday my husband, myself and 6 friends went on the Chocolate Sinsations Tour to Los Angeles. We left Orange County at their office in Fountain Valley at 8am and started sampling in LA at 10am (there was another pick up near Long Beach Airport). We sampled at 6 locations where we ate Chocolate filled Churros at Mr. Churos and Mexican Hot Chocolate on Olvera Street, Chocolates and warm liquid chocolate in a cup with whip cream on top at Mignon Chocolate (I’m addicted and had 2 samples), Chocolate Baklava at the Baklava Factory, lunch at The Tam O’shanter (I had a Prime Rib Sandwich). After lunch we sampled at Scoops for gelato (a very substancial sample) and finished at the Monastery of the Angels for a sample of their marmels. Enjoyed looks and stops along the way at historical sights and enjoyed stories from our guide about some of the famous people that built LA. Friendly and knowledgable staff. The only thing that drove me crazy was waiting to exit the 40+ passenger bus. Wish there were 2 doors.

I would not ever recommend this company! I booked three different tours through Saddleback College Community Education program. The trips that I booked were:
Del Mar Races By Rail; Malibu Retreat; Santa Barbara Rail N’ Sail. The trip that I ended up taking first was the Malibu Retreat. The Tour Instructor was a little bit off, very unorganized and wasn’t in a good mood at all that day. Her name was Jill (I didn’t get her last name). We ended up leaving the Saddleback parking lot late, Jill was late getting on the bus she was talking in the office to the customer service reps at Saddleback (rude to keep a whole bus waiting).
The drive to Malibu was long! The bus was warm and they served no food or water. I was a bit younger then everyone on the bus. The tours are more for seniors citizens. If you’re looking for more of a younger atmosphere, this is not for you.
We stopped at the Adamson House first. I’ve seen my share of old Historic Homes all over the country, this home was very small and took way too long to tour. Next stop was the Malibu Lagoon Museum and Self-​Realization Lake Shrine, this also took way too long and was ok. You were not allowed to talk (or smile, laugh or have fun!) The last part was the Malibu County Mart… this to me was the best part and of course, we had no time to stay! This is where you would see celebrities and do some fun great shopping!
Jill (tour guide) was so worried about everyone getting back to Saddleback by 5:00 p.m. that she rushed everyone back on to the bus. While waiting for the bus, myself and another lady walked off to get a coffee really fast. When we didn’t get back to the bus in time, Jill started Yelling at us on the street in Malibu! Right dead center of the County Mart! It was so embarrassing! I honestly wish I would’ve started yelling back at her, called the police or got a ride back to Saddleback on my own. I was so appalled. I immediately called Saddleback the next day and told them what had happened. I then requested my money back for the other two Tours that I had signed up for. I also called the Good Times travel owner, who could care less about what happened. He just wanted his money. They never refunded me for the Malibu Tour like I had requested. I should’ve filed a police report on her for harassment, bullying and public humiliation.
Think twice about going these tours! They are long and not a «Good Time» like they claim. I would’ve had a great time driving up to Malibu with some friends in one of my own vehicles (which are a lot more enjoyable… think convertible and much sought-​after SUV… then a stuffy old tour bus with a Horrible Tour Guide).

I have now taken 3 tours with them, all not local. I find they are very thoughtful in the timing and scheduling of everything. Our guides have been excellent, accommodations good, not too fancy, but good value. I recommend them for places you are interested in, but might not be able to do yourself, or for more in-​depth knowledge. I like that they make all the arrangements and you just sit back and have a great time. The guide Dennis N. Is the best! I am looking forward to more trips with them, and will definitely do more.

Headed on an adventure to Louisiana! I leave in a few weeks but I am already impressed with the in depth pre-​departure meeting this tour company provided. I was able to meet all the wonderful people that I will be traveling with and the owner gave a wonderful presentation on expectations of packing/​luggage, detailed information on our itinerary and we received a lovely gift. I chose the travel bag but others got an umbrella or blanket for the plane. I can’t wait for this tour and will be sure to update when I get back.

I am a veteran traveler with Good Times and owe all my wonderful memories to this company. Just uploaded my new catalog from the website and can’t wait to sign up for all the new tours.

In January I took a day trip to Balboa Park and the Natural History Museum in San Diego to see the King Tut Exhibit. The convenience of having someone else handle the details was wonderful. We didn’t have to worry about parking and the bus dropped us off just steps away from the front door of the museum. Jill was our Tour Director and she did an excellent job providing information about what to expect at the park when we arrived, maps of the park, and historical information about the park and the exhibit. The bus was spotless and the driver was on time and did a great job of driving. On the return trip we received bottled water and treats to eat while we enjoyed a funny movie Jill had brought for us to enjoy. It was a delightful day and I would highly recommend Good Times Travel. I’m sure I’ll travel with them again.

I recently too a trip of the Los Angeles Metro Stations. Perhaps I’m just not a fan of bus tours, but I didn’t like this at all; though others seemed head over heels. Bus was nice, but not very spacious as far as leg room and the seat backs had a mini rope hold all that was only good for holding a tissue. The driver was fine. The tour director had her hands full and she tried, but lots of repetition and selling of the company’s other tours. I had booked through a local community college. We ended up having to pick up more people at another location and they were late. The «specialist» tour guide Jonathan was a joke. I knew more about Los Angeles history than he did. No history of how the metro came to be or the building of it. Tour guide passed around an envelope for tips for him which I found offensive. Also tips for drive and guide. If they had done anything special perhaps they might have warranted it. We bought our own lunch which was fine and got our free water once we were on the way home because «there are no bathrooms on the metro and you will be stuck if you drink it now». Finally, lots of people with mobility issues. They should be the first off, the first on and at the head of the line. They really slowed things up. Also the number of head counts was ridiculous. There are much better systems for keeping track of a group. An itinerary and phone numbers and all our materials should have been passed out as a packet when you got on the bus. As it was we wasted a lot of time pass out things, repeating information etc.
Went on a second tour to San Diego. Tour guide in San Diego very knowledgeable; however, due to train and bus schedules, everything ran behind schedule and was rushed. They tried to cram too much in and didn’t allow for extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Tour should have been bus only, no train, and then only to the Del Coronado.