Planning a trip with Starr? Whether you’re a first-time traveler or a longtime Starr guest, you may have questions about everything from what’s included in your trip to where you’ll catch the bus and how seating works.
Our Travel Advisors and staff answer questions from our customers every day, so we’ve gathered some of the questions we hear most often and put the answers all in one place.
Before You Book
Found a trip that caught your eye? Before you make your reservation, you probably want to know a little more about what the trip includes, what to expect, and whether it’s the right fit for you.
1. Where can I find all the details about my trip?
We’ve put a lot of work into our website to make it easy to find the information you need when planning your next adventure.
You can browse our full selection of tours alphabetically, or narrow your search based on your interests, travel dates, number of days, and more. You can also use the search bar to search by keyword.
You can also find links throughout our website to help you explore specific types of trips, including:
- And more!
Once you find a trip you’re interested in, head to its individual tour page. This is your go-to resource for everything you need to know about that particular trip.
What can I find on a tour page?
Each tour page includes several sections designed to give you a complete picture of your trip.
Detailed Overview:
Explore the trip’s highlights and attractions, along with important Need to Know information, meal details and selections, and accessibility information.
Tour Itinerary:
See what each day of your trip looks like, including scheduled activities, attractions, meals, and free time.
Accommodation Details:
Find out where you’ll stay during your trip, including information about the hotel, its amenities, and what you’ll find nearby.
Pick-Up Points:
See the available Starr departure locations for your trip.
Departure Dates & Pricing:
View available departure dates and pricing, and book your trip online. If you’d rather speak with someone, you can also request a callback from one of our Travel Advisors.
Together, these sections provide the information you need to understand what your trip includes and what you can expect along the way.
2. What’s included in the price of my tour?
The best place to start is the individual tour page. There, you’ll find the details of what’s included in your specific trip.
Depending on the tour, your package may include:
- Hotel accommodations
- Included meals
- Deluxe round-trip motorcoach transportation
- Attractions and experiences
- A Starr Tour Director
- Baggage handling
For our Fly & Cruise Vacations, packages may also include transportation to and from your local airport or pier, airport transfers, overnight accommodations, and the services of a knowledgeable Tour Director.
Because every trip is different, always check the individual tour page for the most accurate list of what’s included in your specific vacation.
3. How much walking is involved?
Not every Starr trip requires the same amount of walking, which is why we encourage you to check the Accessibility information before booking.
You’ll find accessibility details under the Detailed Overview tab on each tour page. This section can help you determine whether a particular trip is a good fit for your needs.
Still have questions or aren’t sure how much walking a tour involves? Give our office a call. Our Travel Advisors can help you find a trip that best suits your needs.
4. Will we have any free time?
For many travelers, free time is an important part of a vacation—and we understand!
Most Starr trips include some free time on your own, although the amount varies from trip to trip.
You’ll find this information in the itinerary for each tour. Look for wording such as “Free time on own in…” to see when you’ll have an opportunity to explore independently.
Many of our tours include time in interesting towns and destinations where you can shop, grab a bite to eat, explore local attractions, or simply relax.
If you prefer a more laid-back getaway with plenty of time to explore on your own, look for trips that offer more free time, such as our Virginia Beach Getaway.
5. Where can I catch the bus?
For Day Trips, we typically limit the number of pickup locations to no more than three. This allows us to get everyone on board and begin the journey without spending too much time making stops along the way. If you don’t find your first-choice pickup location on the trip date you have selected, you may find it on a different date.
For Multi-Day Tours, we offer additional pickup locations. In some cases, guests are shuttled from their local departure point to a central location where they meet the main motorcoach. This helps us get everyone together efficiently and get the trip underway.
View Starr’s Departure Locations
One important thing to keep in mind: departure locations are not guaranteed. We require a minimum of three guests at a pickup location in order to stop there. Approximately three to four weeks before departure, if three or fewer guests have selected a particular location, Starr may remove that location from the trip’s routing. If that happens, a Travel Advisor will contact guests booked at that location and help them select another departure point.
6. How does seating work on the bus?
Your seat is assigned when you make your reservation, and seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not assign seats for transportation to or from airports or piers, including cruise transfers.
We’ll always do our best to accommodate seating requests, whether you’d prefer the door side, a particular area of the coach, or another available seat. If you have these preferences, please book early and communicate these preferences at time of booking. It’s important to note that seating requests cannot always be guaranteed and are always subject to change.
7. Why does a single traveler pay more?
The difference comes down to the cost of your hotel room.
When two or more people share a room, the cost of that room can be divided among the travelers. A guest traveling alone is responsible for the full cost of the hotel room.
The other components of the trip remain the same, but the single traveler is paying the full hotel accommodation cost rather than sharing it with another guest.
While solo travelers may pay a little more for their own room, there are plenty of benefits to traveling with Starr! We offer special tours and programming designed with solo travelers in mind. Learn more about special tours and programming for our Solo Travelers here.
Ready to Book?
Once you’ve found a trip that looks like the right fit, the next step is making your reservation. Here’s what you need to know about booking, payments, and protecting your trip investment.
8. How do I join a Starr tour?
It’s easy! Once you’ve found the trip you’d like to take, you can book online or call our office. Our Travel Advisors are happy to walk you through the booking process and answer any questions you may have.
You’ll select your preferred departure point during the booking process. If you need to change your pickup location later, simply contact our office and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Once your reservation is confirmed, we’ll take care of the details and send your trip information as your departure date approaches.
9. When do I have to pay my balance?
For Multi-Day Tours, final payment is typically due 45 days before departure.
A deposit is required when you book your trip. From there, you can make additional payments along the way if you’d like, or wait until the final payment date to pay the remaining balance in full.
If you choose to add Tour Protection to your trip, you can wait until the final payment due date to pay for it.
For Day Trips, payment is due in full when you book.
10. What happens if I need to cancel?
If you need to cancel your trip, please contact Starr as soon as possible. Cancellation policies vary depending on the type of trip and how far in advance you cancel.
For motorcoach tours, our standard cancellation policy is:
- More than 45 days before departure: Your deposit is refundable, less a $25 per person cancellation fee.
- 45 days or less before departure: Deposits are non-refundable and additional cancellation fees may apply.
For complete details, including cancellation policies for day trips, cruises, fly vacations, and special events, please visit our Cancellation Policy page.
If you must cancel, please call us. During business hours, call 609-587-0626. After business hours, use extension 1600.
Want more flexibility? That’s where Tour Protection comes in.
11. What does Tour Protection cover and why should I purchase it?
Life is unpredictable. When you book a vacation, you’re looking forward to the experience—but sometimes, things happen that are completely out of your control.
You could become ill, have a family emergency, experience a car breakdown on the way to the bus, or face unexpected weather that changes your plans. Tour Protection gives you peace of mind knowing you have added flexibility if the unexpected happens.
With Starr’s Tour Protection, you can cancel your motorcoach vacation at any time and for any reason, right up until one hour before departure, and receive a full refund of your tour cost, less the Tour Protection fee.
It’s simple—there are no doctor’s notes, pre-existing condition clauses, forms to be filled out, penalties, or cancellation charges. No questions asked!
And the protection doesn’t stop once your trip begins. Starr’s Interruption Assurance, included with your Tour Protection, provides a refund for the cost of the remainder of your overnight vacation if your trip is interrupted due to illness or emergency.
To activate your Tour Protection, you must alert us at least 1 hour prior to your tour’s departure. During business hours, call 609-587-0626. After business hours, use extension 1600.
You can learn more about Starr’s Tour Protection, including what’s covered and the terms and conditions, on our Tour Protection page.
What about Cruise & Fly Vacations?
For Cruise & Fly Vacations, we recommend purchasing the National Tour Association (NTA) Travel Protection Plan, administered by Aon Affinity.
This is a separate travel protection plan designed to provide comprehensive coverage, with options that may help protect your cruise, flights, and other prepaid travel arrangements.
If you purchase the enhanced plan within 14 days of your initial trip deposit, you may be eligible for coverage of pre-existing conditions and/or Cancel for Any Reason benefits, subject to the plan’s terms, conditions, and eligibility requirements.
Learn More About the NTA Travel Protection Plan
View Travel Protection FAQs
To purchase, call 800-388-1470 or purchase online.
Starr’s Tour Operator location number for Aon is 306035.
Your Trip Is Booked—Now What?
Congratulations! Your trip is on the calendar. As your departure date gets closer, you’ll receive the information you need to prepare, pack, and get ready to travel.
12. Who will be my Tour Director?
This is a question we hear often—and for good reason! Your Tour Director is more than the person who keeps the trip on schedule—they’re an important part of what makes a Starr tour feel like a Starr tour.
Our Tour Directors are carefully selected and specially trained to help make your trip as enjoyable and carefree as possible. From the moment you board the motorcoach, they’re there to welcome you, keep you informed about what’s happening throughout the day, and help everything run smoothly.
Behind the scenes, there’s a lot that goes into making that happen. Tour Directors help coordinate hotel check-ins and departures, oversee luggage handling, reconfirm included meals, keep guests up to date on daily schedules, and help navigate the many little details that come with traveling as a group. They’re also there when you need a recommendation for a restaurant, an idea for your free time, or assistance with a reasonable special request.
But being a great Tour Director is about more than checking things off an itinerary. Every group is different, and every trip brings something new. A good Tour Director knows how to adapt to the group, keep the energy positive, and make the experience fun—even when the day doesn’t go exactly according to plan.
As one of our Tour Directors put it in a previous Starr blog, every trip brings a new “challenge of the day.” Even when a Tour Director has led the same trip many times, it may be a guest’s first time experiencing it. That’s why our Tour Directors bring enthusiasm, personality, and, yes, sometimes a few jokes, to every journey.
They also work closely with our professional motorcoach drivers throughout the trip. Together, the Tour Director and driver are a team, working behind the scenes to keep your journey safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.
Want to know who’s leading your trip?
If you have a favorite Starr Tour Director—or you’re simply curious about who you’ll be traveling with—you can check our Tour Director Schedule to see which upcoming trips they’re escorting.
And if you haven’t traveled with us before, don’t worry. Our Tour Directors are here to welcome you, answer your questions, and help you make the most of your Starr experience.
13. When will I receive my trip information, and what is included?
Your trip is getting closer! So when will you receive all the details? The timing and format of your trip information depends on the type of trip you’re taking.
Overnight Motorcoach Tours
For overnight motorcoach tours, your Trip Kit will be mailed to the address on your reservation approximately 2½–3 weeks before departure.
Your Trip Kit includes everything you’ll need to prepare for your trip, including:
- Boarding Pass
- Trip itinerary with general timing and schedule information
- Starr’s Overnight Tour Information, including helpful details about luggage, bringing snacks and water, and what to expect while traveling with us
- Emergency Information Form
- Luggage tags
- Canadian travel information, when applicable
Please bring your Trip Kit and its contents with you on your trip. The itinerary provides general timing; your Tour Director will announce any updated or specific times throughout the tour.
Haven’t received your Trip Kit? If you have not received it at least 7 days before departure, please contact our office. We can email you the information included in your Trip Kit so you have everything you need before you leave. The only exception is your luggage tag—your Tour Director will have one available for you when you check in.
You’ll also receive an email on the business day before your overnight trip with your pickup schedule and departure information, so you’ll know what to expect on travel day.
Day Trips
For day trips, your Boarding Pass will be emailed approximately two weeks before departure from our Tour Information email address.
Your Boarding Pass will be attached as a PDF, and you do not need to print it. It includes important information such as:
- Trip name and date
- Names of all travelers and their assigned seats
- Pickup and drop-off times
- Departure location and meeting information
- Your Booking Reference Number, which you’ll need if you need to cancel
- Meal selections, when applicable
- Whether Tour Protection was purchased
- Cancellation instructions
The email may also include a general itinerary and links to additional information about your trip.
You can also download and complete your Emergency Information Form before departure. We recommend completing it ahead of time and bringing it with you to give to your Tour Director. If you don’t complete it in advance, your Tour Director will have forms available for you to fill out on the motorcoach.
Fly & Cruise Vacations
The timing varies depending on the type of trip and the travel provider.
For Cruise Vacations, Starr typically sends your cruise documents approximately two weeks before departure, once you’ve completed your cruise line’s online check-in and the cruise line has made your documents available to us. Each cruise line has its own check-in timeline, so the exact timing may vary.
For Fly Vacations, we must first receive the travel documents from the tour company, such as Cosmos or Premier World Discovery. These materials are typically sent to us approximately two weeks before departure.
Your trip kit will include:
- Cruise or tour vendor documents
- Airline confirmations and e-tickets, when applicable
- Your Starr paperwork
- Luggage tags, including Starr luggage tags and any cruise or fly-vacation tags
- Emergency forms
- Cruise boarding passes, which you’ll need to board the ship
- A detailed itinerary and packing list for fly vacations
Tip: Keep your trip information handy—you’ll find many of the important details you’ll need for a smooth and enjoyable travel day right in your Boarding Pass or Trip Kit!
14. What should I bring on my trip?
The essentials, a little preparation, and your sense of adventure!
What you’ll want to pack depends on where you’re going and how long you’ll be traveling, but here are a few things we recommend bringing along:
- Your trip documents – Keep your boarding information, itinerary, hotel information, and any other trip documents handy.
- Medications – Bring enough medication for the entire trip, plus a little extra in case of unexpected delays.
- Comfortable clothing and shoes – Many of our tours include sightseeing and walking, so comfortable shoes are always a good idea!
- Weather-appropriate clothing – Check the forecast before you leave and pack layers when temperatures may vary.
- Personal essentials – Toiletries, glasses or contacts, chargers, and anything else you use every day.
- Snacks and a reusable water bottle – You’re welcome to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on the motorcoach.
- Entertainment for the ride – Bring a book, headphones, tablet, or whatever helps make your journey even more enjoyable.
- A little spending money – You may want cash or a credit card for meals, souvenirs, optional activities, or other personal expenses.
And don’t forget the most important thing: leave a little room in your suitcase for the memories—and maybe a souvenir or two!
For your specific trip, be sure to review your trip itinerary and travel documents for any additional packing recommendations or special requirements.
15. What happens if I have dietary restrictions?
When you book your trip, please let our Travel Advisors know about any dietary restrictions or special food requirements, such as vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or food allergies. The more advance notice we have, the better we can prepare and communicate your needs to the restaurants and venues included on your tour.
We do our best to accommodate dietary needs, but options vary by tour, restaurant, and destination, and we cannot guarantee that every request can be accommodated. Vegetarian options are typically available at most of the restaurants we visit.
If you have a specific allergy, dietary restriction, or other concern that may affect your ability to enjoy a meal, please tell us before your trip—not just when you arrive at the restaurant. We’ll do our best to help you plan ahead and avoid surprises along the way.
Your best bet? When in doubt, ask! Our Travel Advisors can let you know what information is available for your specific tour.
Almost Time to Go!
You’ve booked your trip, received your travel information, and packed your bags. Now there’s just one thing left to figure out: when do you need to be there?
16. What time do I need to be at my pickup location?
Your scheduled pickup time will be listed on your boarding pass.
We recommend arriving at your departure location at least 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. This gives you extra time to locate the pickup point, park, and get ready to board so we can depart on time.
More Ways to Save & Stay Connected
We couldn’t let you go without sharing a few more ways to get the most out of your Starr experience—including ways to save on your next adventure!
17. Are there ways I can save on my Starr trip?
Yes! We offer several ways to save on your next Starr adventure. While we work hard to price our trips fairly and consistently, there are also several special discounts and programs that can help you save.
New Customer Savings
Traveling with Starr for the first time? Welcome!
New customers can receive savings on their first trip:
- $50 off a tour 5 days or longer
- $25 off a 2-, 3-, or 4-day tour
- $15 off a day trip
Military Discount
We proudly offer a 5% military discount to U.S. active-duty and retired military members, disabled veterans, and military reservists.
A few restrictions apply:
- The discount applies only to the qualifying individual, not family members or additional guests.
- It cannot be combined with other discounts or coupons.
- It generally cannot be applied to existing reservations unless approved by a manager.
- It is not available on Fly & Cruise Vacations.
- A valid military ID number must be provided at the time of booking.
- The maximum military discount is $50 per trip.
Refer a Friend & Keep the Savings Coming
Love traveling with Starr? Share the experience with your friends and you can both save!
Our Refer-a-Friend program rewards you for introducing new travelers to Starr:
- Refer a friend and introduce them to Starr’s amazing travel experiences.
- Your friend will receive a New Customer Savings Certificate worth up to $50 off their first Starr trip, and you’ll be entered into our $100 monthly Refer-a-Friend Sweepstakes.
- When your friend travels with us for the first time, you’ll receive a $25 Starr Gift Certificate!
It’s a great way to share the fun—and the more friends you refer, the more opportunities you have to save.
Important: The person you refer must make their own reservation and cannot be added to your existing reservation as a guest. They must also reside at an address that does not currently receive Starr catalogs.
Keep an Eye Out for Special Offers
We also offer special coupons and promotional offers throughout the year. The best way to make sure you don’t miss them is to join our mailing list.
You’ll receive our vacation catalogs along with special offers, coupons, and other Starr updates delivered right to your mailbox.
18. Can you mail me a catalog?
You bet! We’d love to send some travel inspiration your way. 📬
Fill out our Catalog Request Form, and we’ll add you to our mailing list so you can start dreaming about your next adventure.
Keep an eye on your mailbox—you never know where Starr might take you next!
Still Have Questions?
We know that planning a trip can come with plenty of questions—and we’re here to help!
Our Travel Advisors are happy to help you understand the details of a trip, choose a departure location, answer questions about accessibility, walk you through the booking process, and more.
Looking for even more answers? We have you covered! Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information about traveling with Starr, including answers to many of the questions we hear most often from our guests.
Have a question we didn’t answer here? Give us a call and let our team help you plan your next Starr adventure!
