Should you go on a tour?

As you know I am a big proponent of independent travel. I have taken tours before and some were great, some were horrible and some were just fine. I find that is the thing with tours; you don’t really know how it is truly going to turn out. There are a lot of variables that you just don’t have control over, like who your guide is, what your tour companions are like and when and where and for how long you stop for.

You know what, though? I think there is a time and place for all types of travel. It is nice to be able to let someone else do all the thinking for you and the decision making. There are some great benefits to taking a tour if you keep some things in mind and can let go of the control to enjoy the tour for what it is. Before making your decision on a tour, make sure you are able to answer these questions.

Know the size of your group

I recommend when choosing a tour, to find a small group one. The larger the tour group the more likely someone will rub you the wrong way. Also when you are on a big bus, this can limit you to locations that can handle buses of this size. With a lot of people, it will also make your trip feel a lot more touristy as there are just so many of you, and to get those exclusive moments with smaller local activities is near impossible.

Know what you want out of your trip

Do you want to see the highlights or do you want some more unique experiences? You want to keep this in mind when you are choosing a company to go with. If the big highlights are what you are looking for, you can look at the full range of tour companies out there.

But if you are looking for more unique experiences, look for the small independent travel companies. These companies usually focus on more unique tours that are geared to a specific type of traveler and experience. The larger companies can’t always offer these exclusive tours because general tours appeal to a bigger range of people and they need that to sell the amount and size of tours they do.

Know the pace of the tour

Do you want to have free time to explore or do you want to be doing something for most of the tour? Make sure you look and discuss the pace of the tour before you book. Check out how often you move accommodations, how many activities there are in a day and if they build in free time to explore on your own.

Know what is included and what is not

You don’t want to pay for a tour and then not realize there are extra costs that you didn’t account for, making the trip a lot more expensive than you thought. Check to see what meals are included, if there are any drinks included, if you are in a place where drinking water is not readily available see if water is included, is tipping included.

Almost all tours do not include flights, but see if they have preferred rates. Ask if any of the excursions are extra, and if there is special equipment needed see if those things are provided, or if you can rent, or if you have you purchase these things beforehand.

Know the comfort level

You don’t want to end up sleeping on a floor mat at a home stay when you were expecting to have a comfortable bed in a hotel. Comfort is definitely a personal choice. I find it is not an issue if you were expecting a bit more rustic but you get comfortable accommodations through the whole tour. But if you are expecting a certain level of accommodation and experiences and you don’t get that, it becomes a big issue.

Now I am all for both sides of these travels to get you outside of your comfort zone, but maybe only 1 night of more rustic experiences to immerse yourself in the culture is good enough for you, and that is perfectly alright. Just know what you want out of your trip.

I hope these tips help you in choosing a tour that is right for you, or it shows you that you would prefer not to take a tour…both are relevant answers.

If you are looking for a small group tour, I am putting together unique experience tours starting in 2021 that have a focus on culture and photography.  I am creating these tours to be the type of tour I would love to go on so it is a memorable experience for you. To find out more about these upcoming tours check out the trip page.