When travel opens up again and you are ready to book your next adventure one of the considerations may be deciding between booking an organized tour or confronting the destination on our own. As we grow older, get busier, and have some more money to spend on travel you may default to what you think is the easiest option. The question remains; it is the best option for you. We are strong proponents of travelling on our own but in all fairness I wanted to consider the other side. If you, like us, would like help when contemplating the pros and cons I have interviewed advocates of each option to get their perspectives.
To clarify, we consider an organized tour one in which the full itinerary is predetermined by the tour company. This precludes staying in one city and taking day trips to explore the area. Also, we would not consider cruises in this category.
Part 1 – An Organized Tour
Neil and his wife are recent converts to the organized tour option for travelling. “When you are under 50 it is easier and cheaper to do it on your own”, Neil admitted. This time however they wanted to travel to a number of destinations around England and were looking for an easier option then driving (on the other side of the road) or navigating public transportation by themselves. The tour company, Globus Tours, was recommended by friends who had used them in the past. Recommendations are a great start for finding the perfect tour.
The tour company offered a number of itineraries that differed based on number of days, destinations and focus. Neil chose one that highlighted the best and most diverse sites in England and that departed from and ended in London. The tour included accommodations, transportation and meals; flights were the responsibility of the traveler.
So what were the perks that really attracted the couple to this type of travel, and what were the downfalls?
- It included destinations they would not have chosen on their own, and therefore were of interest. Once the itinerary was confirmed they could research the stops and book excursions that suited their travel tastes.
- The tour could be booked directly with the tour company or through a travel agent. Using an agent allowed the couple to include aspects that were not part of the tour such as flights and pre- and post-travel hotels.
- They had a knowledgeable and personable tour director with them at all times and guides that provided insightful information about their destinations that might otherwise not have been available.
- The group was given priority status at almost all of their destinations and were shuffled to the front of queue, saving time overall. At many sites they were given special treatment or offered perks other visitors were not.
- They did not have to worry if the accommodations would be suitable since they were all 4 or 5 star chain hotels. They also saved money on the accommodations as they were part of the tour.
- The hotels may not have been centrally located, but it didn’t matter as they had coach transportation everywhere they went. As a result, their luggage was looked after and transported with them, a huge help for the more seasoned traveler.
- The flights were not included so they were able to budget what they could afford and chose an airline they were comfortable with. It also gave them the flexibility to travel when they wanted so they were able to land at the departure destination a couple of days in advance and stayed a couple of days after the tour finished. Having extra time to visit London was especially important for them.
- There was free time built into their itinerary for some meals and shopping on their own. Other than that the timing was rigid and the schedule adhered to. Even so not everyone in the group was punctual.
- For the most part everyone in the group got along (see point above) but it was a big enough group that you could avoid some and spend more time with others.
Overall Neil and his wife loved this travel option and would definitely do it again. When asked what he felt was the biggest benefit of a planned tour Neil replied, “Being looked after. It was well worth it!”
Next week we will explore the other side of the debate – travel on your own.