The internet is abuzz with predictions about when travel will resume and what it will look like when it does. Putting aside the crystal ball allows us to realistically plan what we want to do, even if we don’t know when. Last week we discussed the pros and cons of doing organized tours. This week we will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of traveling on your own.
Again 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 2 – Travel on Your Own
Ken has always been a “do-it-yourself” kind of guy so travel planning is no different. “The ability to be flexible and do exactly what I want”, is the main reason for travelling on his own. Travelling light is essential for “on your own” type of travel as you have to carry all your own luggage. Getting an international driver’s license and packing a GPS that has Europe programmed onto it is also a must in order to rent a car if you want to drive.
Let us then compare the benefits and disadvantages of this method of travel planning.
- The biggest benefit is the ability to budget what you want to spend and stay within that budget. Using 2 or 3 star hotels or efficiency apartments instead of brand name hotels is one way to achieve that goal. They are often centrally located as well.
- Booking early before demand sets the price is another cost effective measure, for both accommodation and flights. Flexible dates may also help to save money as certain days of the week are cheaper than weekends for travel. There is a leap of faith when you book really early that your plans will not change, but travel and cancellation insurance is one way to dampen the anxiety, albeit expensive.
- You can also budget less for food when you can buy local food, prepare picnics or eat in smaller pubs or less expensive restaurants. If you can or want to apartments with cooking facilities also means you can save money on some meals in order to splurge on others. This will also save you time so that your day can be spent seeing more sites.
- Although a new destination may seem daunting, he often starts by looking at organized tours and travel guides to get an idea of what’s available, popular and recommended. It’s not always our taste, or even what ends up on his itinerary, but it’s a way to start. Online sites like Trip Advisor are also handy starting points.
- You chose your itinerary and have the opportunity to research what you want to see. This makes the destination more familiar and the time spent there more fulfilling. The time allocated at each site is based on your preference and interest. The pace is not set by the slowest in a group.
- In Europe language is not really a barrier to travelling on your own. English is the language of commerce in the European Union, so with a few local phrases you can communicate in most situations.
- Transportation can be the most challenging but with an excellent rail and road infrastructure and many cities with bus and subway options getting around is easier than you may think. If you are travelling to a number of different countries consider smaller budget airlines. They are cheaper and faster than other options.
You can probably add your own pros and cons to each list, and I hope you will share them with us.
Whether you want to be catered to, or stay independent, how you travel is as much a personal choice as why and where. What really matters is that we do.