I didn't love or hate this. It was just okay. I purchased tickets for my mom as her birthday gift. Her birthday was in February and our Tea Around Town excursion was yesterday, March 7th. I paid for the upgraded Luxe tickets. The Luxe package includes 17 menu items instead of 9 and priority boarding. Regardless of which package you choose, you get a souvenir tumbler which is used to serve your teas in. The bus departed on time and the staff members serving and narrating were very kind. The woman who was narrating was also singing live. She had a beautiful voice. Since we were Luxe, we received an extra item which was a Refreshing Rose mocktail containing no alcohol. While it was tasty, it was served in a glass cup with ice. When the bus made a sharp turn, my cup slipped off the table and shattered on the ground. This wasn't anyone's fault but I feel that maybe a plastic cup would be better suited for a moving vehicle. I don't think anyone got hurt, but the glass fell right near the table next to ours and thankfully no one's feet were exposed. There weren't any napkins at the table so there was no way to keep items stable or wipe anything off. The Flower Show was also taking place which made for a challenging ride in some parts of center city, especially Chinatown. The bathroom door didn't have a proper locking mechanism. Another rider accidentally walked in on me when I was using the bathroom downstairs. Both the teas and treats served were fresh and just what you'd expect them to be. My favorite tier was the first one with the dessert items. read more

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April 24th we had a reservation for 20 people from a Retirement Community. We were told to get there at 11:30 AM and board the bus at 12 noon. We arrived at 11 30....we left at 12 45 because the TEA bus never came, sent them an email that they answered at 1: 30. They said they cancelled the bus at 9 30 AM( it is now 4 pm and still no email from them. They gave no reason for cancelling, took our money ages ago when tickets were purchased on line. Since THEY cancelled we will expect our money to be returned. If we had cancelled, there would be no refund.A very poor experience for the driver and staff who brought us there......an experience we will not soon forget as we await our IMMEDIATE REFUND read more

Very disappointed. First, the buss was 45 minutes late. Second, the inside had FALL LEAVES, not pink flowers (btw, it's officially spring now). Third, we got a VERY SMALL amount of tea poured and when we asked for more, we were literally given a drop! Fourth, the amount of food was very small even though I paid for the upgrade. Fifth, this was not really a guided tour at all: you drive by places but nobody is talking and explaining points of interest at all. Sixth, the "speaker" only worked half the time with music playing. Seven, there is only one server: they need a second person to help and maybe offer waters and to speak about the area. TLDR: save your money and go to a real tea house and/or get a different bus tour if you really want to learn about the city. I think this experience really has potential but I guess people just keep booking it because they're curious. I sure was, and regret the waste of money. The best part of this tour was the cold brew coffee late was got at La Colombe while we waited for our late bus. read more

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No agent outside, no one to contact; Bus was late....12pm reservation received text Coming at 12:45pm. Disappointed kids read more

My daughter and I enjoyed ourselves, the best mommy daughter date. I was slightly skeptical because of previous reviews but our coach was on time, and we had a blast!! read more

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This was a gift from my daughter. The tour was set for 12:20 then she got a text saying now it is 12:40. We drove to the spot( hourly parking) and proceeded to wait on the corner of 6th and Market for 35 more minutes in the rain with all of the other ticket holders. We received 1 text during that time that we will be there shortly- very frustrating and bad start to the experience. Once on the bus, employee Dea was great and obviously in a bad spot with disgruntled patrons. He told us he just got this assignment and had travels from DC for this tour. The food was good and he served 3 teas- not the 5 promised. He didn't know the area, I guess, because there was no tour/explanation of the sights as we drove around downtown. The bus pulled out at 1:20 and we were parked back at 2:20. The tour was set for 90 minutes so we were shortchanged on time, tea and a joyful time after a long wait standing in the rain. The decor and fellow passengers made the day for us. This operation needs to be more timely, and to deliver what is promised read more

The tour was delayed by 1 1/2 hours The food was a disgrace ! Only one person for entire bus! No true tea cakes no scones but cookies and didn't even have utensils to spread the jams Truly a waste of money and time Find another tea room read more

Tour was horrible. Guide was not trained knew nothing about Philly. Pointed out 2 places reading from her phone. Then just started talking to a passenger about how her dorm had no air. Seemed very disinterested. Usually tour guides try to make the trip fun. Shelby did not. Food was sparse and just "ok". Tea options were crazy. You had to drink all of 1 then they came by with the next flavor. There is no 616 Market st. That we could find, so locating the bus is challenging. Also there are pretty steep steps to get to your seats on the bus. This is not noted on their website and people with mobility problems would definitely have issues boarding the bus. The lavatory is on the first level so once you're upstairs, you would have to go back down the stairs to use the lavatory. Would never recommend this tour. read more

Tea Around Town - Outside of bus. Seats on second level - Bus Tours Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We booked a birthday party w 7 guests. They canceled just minutes before we arrived. We had friends coming from 2+ hours away and had a couple people who are handicapped. This was a huge,HUGE inconvenience!! They did not call or offer any kind of customer service. When I call to talk to someone, the auto message says to fill out a form online. No refunds have been given. We will have to take this uo with the cc company. Absolutely avoid this company at all costs! read more

Worst customer service experience EVER! Do NOT, I repeat, never buy tickets from this place. They have no actual staff to return any requests to speak to customer service and this tour is severely overpriced. Save your money, go to a real tea house or better yet, do the hop on hop off tour buses that already have reputable experiences. I had bought tickets in hopes to take my niece with me; her flight got changed to a different day and I have yet to hear back if I could even change it for another day (which is 50% of the booking price and I was willing to pay). Highly disappointed as their number and website also just give you bot responses. This is honestly just a money grab. read more

Horrible experience, bus was 50 minutes late, and the host knew nothing about Philadelphia so there was no commentary. A waste of money. Food was so-so. And they barely gave you a cup of tea. Don't waste your good earned money. I am going to report the to the Attorney General. read more

Great service! Decor was beautiful. I highly recommend. My daughter's Xmas gift was such a great idea. Fun way to add memories. read more

Tea Around Town - My daughter surprised me with this experience. - Bus Tours Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Reserved the 2:30 Philadelphia tour on Saturday, April 25th. Confirmation recommended arriving 15 minutes early, 2:15. We arrived even earlier at 1:50 - to see the bus pulling out. We waved down the driver who stopped and informed us this was the 12:00 tour, just getting started, and that our 2:30 tour would therefore be late. As it was rainy and cold we asked if we could join this tour and were accommodated although we were advised the remaining seats for us (2 grandmothers and our granddaughter) were less than optimal. The bus driver and host were wonderfully accommodating, assisting us politely up the steep steps. What we didn't know at the time of boarding (1:50) was that at 2:00 I would receive a text advising that the new time for the 2:30 tour would be 4:30. So considering the recommended time of arrival was 2:15, we were given FIFTEEN MINUTES notice of a 2 hour delay. As this was a special day for our granddaughter, we smiled and made the best of it. After all, this was a rather pricey event, which I made even pricier by opting for the 'premium' tea service. The bus interior was just as lovely as advertised, although still the autumn decor vs. the pink spring decor shown in the advertising. The tea service/table presentation was quite pretty. Our host/server, Dia, was excellent under the circumstances. And what were the circumstances? No tour guide explaining the amazing Philadelphia sites we were passing, No singing/entertainment as advertised Piped in music that was sometimes audible, sometimes not Totally screwed up schedule Even though the food and tea were good, the sweets excellent, THIS EVENT DID NOT DELIVER AS ADVERTISED, NOT EVEN CLOSE. At almost $100 per person a refund of some type should be offered. I am copying this note to TeaAroundTown.com and the event sponsor CustomerService@topviewsightseeing.com to see if they can will do the right thing and provide some type of compensation for this disaster. read more

Scheduled a 12 noon event. Got a text at 10:30 pushing back to 1. Got a text at 1 pushing back to 2:30. Bus arrived at 3:10. Three hours waiting around hungry when they knew we wouldn't be picked up at 1 or 2:30. Then the driver got lost twice. At one point we were on Temples campus and in Yorktown. This ruined a birthday celebration read more

Sadly, Tea Around Town was very disappointing. First, the bus was an hour late. It decorated for fall with fall garland and pumpkins. Our trip was in April and we were expecting it to be decorated with flowers as depicted in their advertising. The first thing my granddaughter said was "It looks like Thanksgiving." There was very little food which was not very appetizing. They served just a couple of ounces of tea with each sample and there was no water option. However, the server was very nice and he did get us some ice because we were overheated. The temperature was 86 degrees in the bus while the outside temerature was in the low 70's. It was very uncomfortable. As for the tour, all the bus did was ride around slowly without anyone pointing out the historic sites, thus giving no tour at all. I would not recommend. read more

Absolutely fabulous time on the tea around town Philadelphia! We had a bridal shower right on the bus and it was absolutely perfect! The customer service simple outstanding from every staff member! The whole party ending the teas and the all the delectable delights! Big shout out to Jose the manager for all your help truly a blessing! Keep up the great work!! read more

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Went on Tea Around town today and I was a little disappointed. Our original departure time was @ 2:30 I received a text message @2 stating the departure time was now @4;30. We were already in route and had to turn around and go back home. There was not a tour guide to tell us where we going or what we were seeing. We found out later that the trip was delayed because they had to bring a server from another state to serve us while we were on the bus. The food was ok the tea was good but the mocktail was not. The decor was nice the server played music. We made the best of it but it wasn't worth the price. Oh and the bathroom smelled horrible and there was a sink but no running water good thing I had hand sanitizer. ​ read more

I've been reaching out about an extra ticket I purchased but never got a confirmation for it. The rep who contacted me said I needed to buy another one and promised to send me the link but never did. My daughter's event is coming up, and I still haven't received any response. I really about to asked for my money and we didn't even have the experience yet of it. How this small situation is going i could tell my experience will not be good. read more

We booked a trip with my senior center inin November and we were already in Philly when they canceled at the last minute. We rescheduled for December 9, and low and behold we arrive and are told are bus will be 1 hour late, we went to the Reading terminal to kill time. While at the terminal we were notified the bus is another 1:15 minutes late So instead of an 11:45 departure it is now 1:30 departure. It is now 1:00 and they are not here read more

This was the cutest experience! The team really put together a great experience! The treats were delish, I'm still thinking of the egg salad sandwich! I use my tumbler every day since being home. They sang throughout the tour while pointing out some great monuments in Philly! read more

Tea Around Town - Adorable bus! - Bus Tours Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is a super cute idea and your staff was amazing and engaging but it's very clear that your buses are kinda run down. Our res was for the day after Valentine's Day and the bus was still decorated for Halloween? Jack o lanterns and all. Not anything I'd go out of my way for again isn't worth the price in my opinion read more

Overall it was a pretty disappointing experience. Our start time got pushed back 3 times so our 12pm tour didn't start until after 3pm. Our tour guide and bus driver were not from Philadelphia so the guide didn't even try to talk about the city and they did not follow the route listed on the website - we spent a lot of time in North Philadelphia and barely passed through Old City. The food looked, smelled, and tasted like it had been sitting out for hours so we could not even eat half of the luxe menu items we upgraded our tickets for. The bus was also dirty and sticky and still decorated for Halloween (for our tour in March). The tea was good and now my friends and I have a good story to laugh about! read more

The staff was soooooo sweet and attentive. Totally in the tea vibe. Playing Bridgerton music. Felicity, Zack and (?) Maz were absolutely fabulous. My only gripe is to book the 1st tour. We didn't have napkins or utensils on our plate and had to ask for things. Ours was the second and last tour. Felicity and Zack sing! And well! The tour was great and informative. Absolutely my kind of tour. Sitting in a comfy seat, food and drinks and seeing the sights. Definitely would recommend for all Philadelphians and visitors. It was VERY warm and toasty. Be prepared in layers. It is on the upper deck and the steps are pretty steep. read more

Absolutely unacceptable experience with Tea Around Town Philadelphia. We booked a tour for a group of four, traveled 2 1/2 hours each way, paid for tolls, gas, and parking, only to have the tour canceled 15 minutes before boarding. No prior notice, no apology, and zero effort to make things right. Customer service? Rude, dismissive, and completely unhelpful. Their policy demands guests reschedule 14 days in advance with a fee, yet they canceled at the last minute and refused to take responsibility. I made multiple calls and sent several emails, and a week later, still no refund. I finally had to dispute the charge with my credit card company because they clearly do not care about their customers. This company is unprofessional, unreliable, and dishonest. They wasted our time at great expense. If you're considering booking with Tea Around Town be aware. Their offices are in New York for all Tea Around Town tours. If this is not usual they should of worked to keep my business and make it right. Yet no word from them from the initial day, email was received after tour canceled asking if I wanted a refund or to reschedule. Poorly handled Tea Around Town! read more

For someone who flew in just to experience Tea Around Town in DC, I felt robbed. The bus moved throughout the town too fast, it was impossible to snap photos. The food looked as if it was a day old and/or left out too long. For example the cucumber sandwich's top bread was hard. The deviled eggs were dark yellow, proving that they were not fresh. Most of the sandwiches we opted out of eating. Carmen was a great performer, she has a nice voice. Elijah was nice as well while serving tea and making sure that we had everything we needed. The teas were all unique but good. Im assuming Miguel was the driver? He was nice and welcoming on arrival. Overall, for the price per person, I would not recommend spending your money on this one in D.C. unless you are trying to get out of the heat to cool down. read more

Think twice about supporting this company. I purchased tickets for mid October to celebrate my daughter's 6th birthday. This weekend we learned of a death in the family, and services are the same day and time as our Tea Around Town. I reached out to the company (a full month prior to the event date) about rescheduling for the end of October so that we can attend oit family member's funeral. They wanted me to pay $500 to do so. I am really disappointed. This is completely cost prohibitive, and my daughter would be devastated to cancel her party altogether, so we just won't be able to go to the celebration for our relative. I am stuck now, but would never support a company like this again. read more

I wasn't impressed for the price. I bought the lock's package at $132. The only thing that that included was sitting in the upper deck of the bus.And a cheap non alcoholic glass of sparkling rose. The savory food was subpar and cheap and the sweets weren't much better. We only tasted two teas and they only give you a few sips in your souvenir cup. The seating is was very tight and you don't have anywhere to hang your coat. Also, it was so loud with chatter on the bus, you could hardly hear what the host was saying as we drove by landmarks. I was very disappointed. read more

Had a wonderful afternoon on the tour. The food and tea were good. The staff were amazing. The staff actually sang in between some info on various sites in Philly. The bus was comfortable and decorated inside so cute. Highly recommend read more

Cute idea but not a good experience. The food wasn't fresh. The sandwiches were hard from sitting out and the tea wasn't good at all. The bus is tight and there were finger prints all over the chocolate heart that sits on your table. Please save your money and time and go to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room & Garden. The best experience ever. Delicious tea, fresh yummy food, amazing customer service and it looks amazing. read more

Unfortunately our Tea Around Town experience was very disappointing. The bus arrived about an hour late with no explanation to the group. It was extremely hot and to have my 80-year old mother waiting in the blazing sun for so long was not good for her health. They should have had someone come to the departure site to provide information and updates to the group. After waiting so long with no information, we began to wonder if we were even at the correct location. After boarding the bus we observed flies landing on the tea cakes and finger sandwiches that had been placed on the tables. Other people were still boarding so the flies had the perfect opportunity to sample the food at many tables. MB, the host, was very polite but the choice of songs and the singing was quite dreadful. There is so much history along the tour that the singing could be eliminated and more information about the buildings, neighborhoods, and other attractions could be shared. Or, just play some relaxing music instead of the depressing singing. We purchased the deluxe tickets and were seated at the top of the bus and in the back. It was very hot and it never did cool off adequately throughout the entire ride. The icing on the cake was that after forcing us to wait in the hot sun while the bus arrived very late, there was NO WATER on the bus to drink. Cierra was very kind and managed to locate one bottle of water which we gave to my 80-year old mother, but there was no water for any of the other patrons. The server took forever to make it to the rear of the bus to give us a little splash of tea. (She was doing her best.) This wait wouldn't have been so bad if we had been given water, especially after making us wait outside for a late bus in 95 degree weather. The reason for giving 1 star is that the staff people we encountered were very pleasant (and they don't allow less than one star). Otherwise this was less than a one star experience. read more

My friends surprised me with this experience and my jaw dropped when we stepped onto the bus! The decor and atmosphere was decadent and the servers were so sweet. Sara, in particular, went out of her way to make me and my friends feel so welcome and brought an exciting energy on the microphone. She took hold of all of the guest with the talented singing as well! read more