Karen Barnes and Mary Jane Padilla have been friends for more
than 40 years. So when Barnes decided to start her own tour company
with Mary Jane as her primary assistant, it seemed only fitting to
call her new business Friends ‘4’ Ever Tours.
Karen Barnes and Mary Jane Padilla have been friends for more than 40 years. So when Barnes decided to start her own tour company with Mary Jane as her primary assistant, it seemed only fitting to call her new business Friends ‘4’ Ever Tours.
“I’ve been taking bus tours for about 20 years,” Barnes said. “I used to book my trips through Golden Years. I can’t remember quite how it started, but if I remember during one of the trips there were two buses. I ended up being a hostess for one of the buses. Since then, I’ve been hostessing trips.”
Barnes worked at San Benito High School for 14 years, but said now that she’s a grandmother she wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren and traveling.
“It seemed the right time to start my own tour company,” she said. “Mary Jane and I have gone on a lot of trips together. She’s been my rock with getting this business going. She’s my PR person.”
Through the years, Barnes and Padilla have taken several gambling trips together. Knowing how fun these types of tours can be, Friends ‘4’ Ever Tours include Lake Tahoe, Reno and Laughlin in its agenda, but they’re still open to suggestions from the public.
“Companies can use our services to book tours for their employees,” Padilla said. “One person said they would like to go to the Crystal Cathedral. This is something a church group might like to do. Another person said they’d love to go see the Ice Follies. This could be another trip for an interested group.”
A trip to Reno is planned for July 11-13 and another to Laughlin in October.
“Though casino trips are the most popular, we’re not limited. We’ve already had people suggest winery tours or trips to San Francisco,” Barnes said. “To go on gambling tours you have to be 21, but if you want to go somewhere like Disneyland you can be any age.”
Barnes said she met a woman who’s never been to Disneyland but doesn’t want to drive on Southern California freeways.
“She needs somebody to take her,” Barnes said. “I would love to make her dream of going to Disneyland come true.”
Friends ‘4’ Ever Tours is open to booking tours for businesses, groups or families. Those interested in receiving first choice on upcoming tours as well as other perks are encouraged to become members, which costs a one-time fee of $10 per person or $15 per couple.
“We opened in March of this year and already have 78 members,” Barnes said. “Members have the first chance at booking on a tour. They also receive a regular newsletter and are invited to our annual barbecue. During our trips we play bingo, games and have videos. We also give away prizes that only members can win. This includes the chance to win free trips.”
Friends “4” Ever Tours will book tours for weekends and weekdays. The advantages to weekday tours include less crowds and better hotel rates. The company currently operates only in California and Nevada, but one day Barnes hopes to branch out.
“We’re even talking about doing cruises eventually,” Padilla said.
“As a business, the thing we really want to let people know is that a person can afford to have fun at a reasonable cost,” Barnes said. “We have a lot of family and friends that go with us. It’s also a great way to meet new friends.”
For more information, call 637-7650 or (831) 801-9667.
