Tour operators offering multi-day trips will organize almost everything for you: accommodation, sightseeing, meals and transport. But group size, travel style and budget are among the considerations travelers should take into account before choosing a tour. Read on for tips.
Large or small group
Start your research by thinking about how many people you want to travel with and what your tolerance is for the social demands that come with group size.
Smaller groups can move more agilely and potentially see more. But they can also be more intensely social, as you spend a lot of time with the same people on tour and at dinner.
Larger groups tend to take more time to get around, but can also offer more social variety – you can change your lunch partners more easily, for example.
“Large groups offer anonymity so travelers can choose their level of interaction,” said Deborah Miller, travel consultant and owner of Edge of Wonder Travels Unlimited in San Francisco. “Conversely, smaller groups promote intimacy between travelers, guides and the destination itself.”
Look for age-appropriate outings
Think about the demographics of your travel group and consider matching them to a tour operator.
Operators often divide their trips by age, assuming that people of similar ages have more in common or prefer the same pace. Road Scholar, for example, is aimed at an intellectually curious audience of over 50 people.
On the other end of the spectrum, G Adventures offers a travel category for “18- to 30-year-olds” and Intrepid Travel offers trips for 18- to 35-year-olds.
Due to their inherent age range, it can be difficult to integrate families into larger groups, which is why companies tend to divide family offerings by age group.
Active travel company Backroads offers three age segments for families, including trips for those with children ages 4 to 19, those with older teens and younger adults up to 20, and those with children ages 20 and older.
“By definition, this also creates a kind of age segmentation among parents,” said Tom Hale, founder, president and CEO of Backroads.
Be general or specific
A popular option for first-time visitors, a general tour takes you to the highlights of a destination, such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre in Paris or top attractions in Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan.
Beyond the general approach, there are numerous alternatives based on themes, travel styles or hobbies.
Themed trips include a culinary tour of Sicily, a deep dive into literary England, Europe’s World War II battlefields and how women live in India.
In addition to the themes, travel often revolves around the mode of transportation, such as traveling by train, on foot, or by boat (a category that can be further segmented by size, from a cruise ship to a barge or a Kayak).
Tours also allow you to pursue a hobby like swimming or knitting in a unique destination.
Analyze tour inclusions
Once you’ve decided where and how you want to travel, prices range from budget to luxury.
“For travelers on a budget, large group tours are typically best as they are a great way to see key attractions for a cheaper price,” said Cheyenne Schriefer, travel advisor and owner of All Travel Matters in Golden Valley. ND
But not all tours are created equal. To compare them, consider what they contain.
For example, G Adventures offers a 10-day hiking trip in Switzerland starting at $1,799 per person and a 10-day hiking trip in Portugal for $4,499. The latter is billed as a luxury trip, so accommodations are more expensive, but it also includes most meals, transfers and activities. The Swiss tour offers simpler accommodations, transfers, optional activities for a fee, and fewer meals.
“Sometimes fewer inclusions are better than more,” said Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer Media, publisher of Frommer Guides. She pointed out that restaurants that can accommodate busloads are unlikely to attract local traffic and that independent tours allow one to “walk through local neighborhoods to get a feel for local life.”
The expertise of the guide or tour guide can also impact the price and the experience. For a tour led by a specialist, such as an Egyptologist leading a group along the Nile, you can expect to pay a higher price.
Measure your level of independence
Would you rather stick to a strict schedule that saves you from having to find a restaurant for dinner, for example? Or do you value a certain amount of structure – such as the peace of mind that your hotel reservations are covered – but also want to have free time to explore the area on your own?
Tour operators control the entire spectrum. Before booking, read itineraries carefully to find out if the schedule is tight or loose. If this isn’t clear, call the company and ask.
For truly independent travelers, self-guided tours offered by companies such as Inntravel, Exodus Adventure Travels and Macs Adventure organize your trip locally and provide an itinerary for you to follow. Popular in Europe, these routes are typically inn-to-inn walking or cycling tours that include luggage transport.
“Self-guided travelers are independent but value the assistance of organizing a trip and no longer want to hike with a large backpack,” said Jasper Verlaan, US sales manager for Macs Adventure.
Ask for recommendations
If you’re still unsure about paying a deposit after you’ve completed your research, ask the tour operator if you could speak to a previous client.
“Ask for references,” said Lynn Cutler, senior vice president of travel for Smithsonian Enterprises, the tour operator Smithsonian Journeys. “We will find a traveler who has made this trip before and make contact.”
For more travel tips, check out our collection of Travel 101 tips and hacks.
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2024-07-03 09:00:06
www.nytimes.com
