The Misconceptions of Tours

One thing Jessica and I have learned over the last year or so is that people have a lot of misconceptions about taking tours as a vacation, or as a part of a vacation. Truth be told, I should raise my hand first, as I too used to have the same misconceptions. A couple of years ago I would have responded to tours by saying some of the following:

Why would I want to be ushered around with 85 people following someone waving a flag annoying everyone at every major site visited?
I don't want to be on a bus full of people driving around from place to place listening to someone on a megaphone.
Why would I want to have every second of my vacation planned.... I'm on vacation to relax!

While it is true that there are tour companies that run tours like the points mentioned above, 98% don't (thank goodness). In fact, I have been blown away by the different offerings of tour companies, their professionalism, expertise, access to behind the scenes locations, the structure of the tours themselves, and the ability to take such tours for an amazing price. I thought I'd list some of the finer facts of what tours have to offer for travelers while abroad:

1. Nearly every tour company has limits to the number of people allowed on each trip. Typically, the maximum number allowed on any given trip is between 6 and 15 people. Essentially we're talking about 3-4 couples or families. Furthermore, nearly every tour company has private tours as an option as well. This means private guides, transfers, meals etc for you or your group. And while most people think this is substantially more expensive, you'd be surprised how often the price is nearly the same or nominally more.

2. The level of expertise of local guides is a huge asset while traveling. How many times have you been to a historical site, museum, building, or archaeological ruin, and wondered of its significance and/or history? Having a knowledgeable local guide really enhances the experience as you learn infinitely more than you will on your own. And by the way, any reputable tour guide doesn't carry flags!

3. Most tours do not plan every second of every day. In fact, nearly every tour company provides as much free time as they do planned tours. It's typical that a standard tour has transfers, lodging, internal flights, some tours, some meals, and a few extras included in their packages but provide built in free days or portions thereof. Sure, you can find tours that will keep you busy the entire time your gone (some people prefer this), but by and large tour companies know people want to relax as much as they want to sight see.

4. Tours can be customized. Any time you are looking at a pre-set package on a tour operator's Web site, know that most tour operators post itineraries as much as suggestions as they do canned packages. If you want to take a trip that includes 90% of a trip online but without one day or activity, ask them to amend it. You'd be surprised how often trips can be changed (this is especially the case on private trips).

5. You don't have to take a tour for your whole vacation! If you like to explore cities on your own, and see adventure in getting from point A to point B, then a two-week tour probably won't make much sense to you. That said, why not hire a guide for a day in a region you want to learn more about? Or in a museum full of art you'd love to know the history of? There are plenty of options out there for every travel personality.