$273. When my mom’s friend told me that’s how much I owed her for two tickets to the Tea Around Town bus, I thought I’d bought seats for everyone boarding. Or at least the five people in our group. Nope. Two seats. Nonrefundable.

I swallowed hard. That was about $200 more than I’d wanted to spend for a 90-minute tea time and tour of Washington, DC, but the damage was done. I might as well swallow my cheapness and make the most of it.

But could it possibly be worth that price tag?

No…and yes? Two months later, my mom, daughter and I are still reminiscing about it. In fact, it became the highlight of our weekend in Washington, DC, where we had roughly 48 hours to cram in as much fun as we could before my mom helped her friend move across the country, and we headed back to New York. We had hibachi, we visited art galleries, museums and gardens; there wasn’t a dull moment.

But, out of everything, the Tea Around Town tour stands out.

Why? Because it was enchanting—a break from the ordinary. Our tickets were pricier because they were offered during a peak time (the weekend, during cherry blossom season) and were the Luxe offering, which nets you priority boarding, a seasonal mocktail and a wider, fancier selection of snacks and treats. (It was an extra $34 per ticket, at least during my visit.)

The ‘Luxe’ Tier Lived Up to Its Name.

For us, that meant we got to sit on the top level of the double-decker bus, right in the front, so we had panoramic views of the city, at its most gorgeous time of year. The bus itself was decked out in faux florals, and we were greeted with a three-tier tray of snacks. There was plenty of food to serve as brunch, which included caviar blinis, lobster rolls and smoked salmon on rye (all Luxe-tier offerings), as well as deviled egg “baskets,” egg salad sandwiches, mushroom crostini, chicken salad sandos, cucumber sandwiches and triple-decker steak sammies.

My favorites? The smoked salmon, mushroom crostini and delicate cucumber sandwiches. My daughter preferred the steak—and the desserts. My mom agreed with her, and also liked the crostini and chicken salad.

The Range of Teas Was Delightful—But the Mocktail Was Arguably the Best.

We sampled the mocktail, which was berry-based and “rosé-inspired,” and it was the only drink my six-year-old liked. (Womp, womp.) The rest of us enjoyed each round of tea, despite not being big tea drinkers ourselves. A server brought them periodically on our trip, with about seven drinks served in all, running the gamut from fruity and floral teas to a minty one.

To avoid spills, they gave everyone a souvenir tumbler with a lid, and poured directly into it each time. (If you weren’t ready for the next round, the server would give you a few extra minutes and come back.)

One caveat: The teas could be tongue-scorching, so it was worth giving them a few minutes before (gently) taking a sip.

The Desserts Stole the Show (Particularly for Kids).

Along with the sandwiches and savory snacks, there were seven desserts—ranging from traditional cream puffs and layered mousse cups to more modern cake pops and mini NY-style cheesecakes. The dessert tray also came with two types of scones, as well as mascarpone cream and berry preserves to top them with.

Since we were touring around brunch, the scones quickly became my favorite treat, while I had to pace my daughter from devouring the whole tower, starting with the cake pops.

The treats seem to vary seasonally. When we attended, there was a matcha mousse, but it looks like it’s been replaced with a Ferrero Velvet Delight mousse—a welcome swap, since that was the one dud of the bunch. (Everyone in my group felt it was overly grassy and had a lingering, dirt-like flavor that overpowered everything.)

The Tour Itself Is Very Relaxing.

Throughout the bus tour, our guide would periodically point out sights and share the stories behind what we were seeing, interspersing her dialogue with the occasional jazzy song. I actually didn’t realize it was her singing until about halfway through the tour, but it made for a pleasant ambience.

Would I Recommend the Tea Around Town Bus Tour?

Honestly, going into it, I thought no way. The price alone just felt too exorbitant to be worth it, especially compared to other tea times in the area. However, it wound up being a magical way to see the city, while enjoying a meal and taking in each other’s company.

Would I recommend looking into promo codes and going during an off-peak time? Absolutely. The regular, off-peak price—$74 per person—feels much more reasonable per person. (Luxe, at a $109 per person starting price, really depends on how much you enjoy lobster rolls and caviar. For kids, it’s probably not worth the extra cash.)

But, if you want a break from the ordinary—and a truly unforgettable experience—it’s worth the splurge. At least once. Plus, there are plenty of free and low-cost things to do in DC (like visiting the Smithsonian and other museums) to offset those costs.