Tour Company Relocates 79-Year-Old Biz to Falls Township
After operating out of New Jersey for 79 years, third-generation owners of Starr Tours, Sandy and Pete Borowsky, relocated Starr Bus Charter & Tours, their thriving charter bus and touring company to the site of a former car dealership in Falls Township.
“We were hidden where we were,” Sandy said of the family’s former Hamilton, N.J. site. “Now we’re kind of front and center on Lincoln Highway.”
Sandy’s grandfather began the business in 1947. Until its April 1, 2026, opening at 394 Lincoln Highway, Starr had always called New Jersey home.
“Being closer to Philadelphia is better for our pool of drivers,” Sandy said. “More than 50 percent of our staff lives in Pennsylvania. It really makes sense to be closer to our staff.”
Relocating to Bucks County provided better workforce access, opportunities for operational growth, modernization, future expansion, and investment in the county.
Plus, the owners live in Lower Makefield Township, where they raised their three sons. The couple have been operating the business together for the last 10 years. Sandy joined her parents in running Starr in 1998.
“My parents and I never really had a conversation about me coming to work for Starr,” Sandy recalled. “They didn’t want to feel pushy about it.”
Her parents had hired a recruiter to fill an open position. A friend of the family, the recruiter suggested hiring Sandy. At the time, Sandy and Pete were contemplating being able to afford a starter home in Los Angeles, where they had been living.
“She caught me at the right time,” Sandy said of the recruiter. “I came and I interviewed for the position. I talked to my dad and the president. I had to learn all about the day-to-day operations.”
Since opening locally, the community and elected officials have supported the company. Bucks County Department of Workforce and Economic Development, as well as Visit Bucks County have offered help as Starr seeks more drivers and mechanics. Sandy has also fielded calls from folks eager to come and work for the company.
“We’re planning people’s vacations for a living,” she said. “What could be bad about that?”
In all, Starr supports tens of thousands of travelers annually throughout the northeast and Mid-Atlantic region between escorted vacations, charter services, student transportation, and cruises.
Seven-day trips to Mackinac Island, Michigan are among the most popular. The island, which is featured in the 1980 film “Somewhere in Time,” prohibits cars and isn’t easy to get to by plane, making a bus tour a good solution. Plus, Starr plans convenient, escorted touring, which provides a stress-free travel experience for guests who can build friendships during vacation instead of worrying about planning an itinerary.
“People will travel literally halfway across the country to go to Mackinac Island,” Sandy said, noting they offer six full departures yearly. “We help them every step of the way. You pick the trip you want. You show up and we do all the work.”
Other popular trips include Cape Cod, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., Savannah and Charleston, Ga., as well as day trips to Lancaster, Broadway shows in New York City and outings to Washington D.C.
“I have people that book a year in advance, and I have people that book a week in advance,” she said. “The further out you book the better chance of being able to get on the trip. Our trips do sell out.”
The company also provides charter bus transportation for school/youth groups, athletic teams, corporate and convention travel, and social outings.
In 2018 Sandy and Pete launched a major expansion initiative, College Break Bus, which transports students to and from 13 university campuses across multiple states during college breaks. The couple also launched a tour company in Maryland, Eyre Tours powered by Starr, which serves Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
With comfort as their guide, they also recently outfitted some of the buses with sleeper seats similar to those found in first class on an airplane.
Since the days when her grandfather ran the company, Sandy said Starr has been able to offer a wider assortment of trips and more professionally curated and escorted trips.
“We still pride ourselves on personal service, but technology helps us support our guests every step of the way,” Sandy said. “From the moment they book online to receiving updates during their trip, we’re able to stay connected and responsive.”
Technology has also helped Starr streamline operations and expand the number of trips and experiences the company is able to offer travelers.
Looking ahead to the future, Sandy said she’d love for Starr to one day become a fourth-generation company, but she’s committed to letting her sons find their own paths first. Her oldest is a teacher, while her two younger sons are majoring in business.
"I want them to experience working for other companies before they come and work for Starr," she said. "I think it’s important to build confidence, gain outside perspective, and bring fresh ideas to the table. If they choose to be part of the company someday, I want it to be because they’re truly passionate about it."
As Starr Tours continues growing in Bucks County, Sandy is excited about the future of the company and the travel industry. While the business remains proudly family-owned, Starr continues to modernize and evolve, finding new ways to enhance the travel experience while staying true to the personal service and relationships that have defined the company for nearly eight decades.
Learn more
Starr Tours is located at 394 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company provides a variety of one-day and multi-day bus trips, as well as charter bus rentals. For more information, please visit https://www.starrtours.com/ or call 609-587-0626.