Cost of a Bus Tour (Ottawa)

 May 2025 - Toronto ON

Tour packages are designed to offer convenience and comprehensive travel experiences by bundling transportation, accommodation, meals, and guided tours.

Let's break down the cost of a tour. I always have to do this in my head as it always seems a lot of money. 

So from what I read a tour will cost about 50% more than if you planned it yourself which is close to my calculations.

 I'm using our latest, to Ottawa Tulip Festival, as it is a simple 3 night 4 day trip.

ASSUMPTIONS - tour organizers get discounted rates.

TOUR PACKAGE - FRONT LINE TOURS - May 16 - May 19 2025

Cost per person $1099 CAD based on double occupancy including taxes

$100 deposit December 2024

$899 balance April 2025 

    

Pick up Burlington - 1,000 KM (return) to Ottawa, started in London ON. 

Divided by 48 passengers

Mileage, gas, tolls, driver salary. hotel/meals $  50 ($2.400)

2 guides salary/hotel/meals                              $ 25 ($1,200/4 = $300/2 = $150 per guide/per day) LOW

Office overhead (premises/utilities, staff, supplies, advertising etc) $ 5

Water aboard and                                                                           

Treats dietary restrictions taken into consideration                           $  5

Profit $473 - $100 (rounded up) ABOVE COSTS = $373 X 48 ppl = $17,904

BREAKDOWN

3 nights Lord Elgin Hotel w/ buffet breakfast $300/2 ppl = $150 X 3 nights =  $450

City Tour transportation and 3 hours Local guide guesstimate ($200)                $5 per passenger 

Transportation to ByWard Market and hotel (2 trips)

Oh Canada Eh transportation and dinner (website)                              $100 per person
History Museum transportation and entry                                               $21  (senior rate)

Boat Cruise transportation and entry                                                       $45

OPTIONAL transportation to casino                                                       $  5

$450

$    5

$100

$  21

$  45

$    5

TOTAL $626

BALANCE $473

Other notes

This tour company offers very fair payment guides taking only $100 upfront and full payment a month before departure. Unlike some companies that want all your money way up front.

They offer four pick up options outside Toronto. I did not include the additional gas and staff schedules.

Passengers have to make their way to the pick up destinations and may incur overnight car parking.

This tour company typically use casinos rather than city hotels. Casinos typically are not in downtown locations. Casinos offer rooms at deeply discounted rates counting on people gambling and eating/drinking on the premises.

They made an exception for this trip.

OPINION - I would not book a tour using a casino. I do not want to be stuck outside a city.

TIPS optional PER PERSON NOT INCLUDED ABOVE

2 guides ($5 X2 guides) X 4 days = $40 X 2

1 driver  ($5 X 4 days) = $20 X 2

Local guide $5 X 2

Servers Canada dinner $20 x 2