Group tours sound easy—choose a destination and the tour company plans your trip, delivering you to hotels, restaurants and attractions—and you don’t have to organize anything.
Sue and Bruce Mitchell
But how do you find the right tour, one fitting your age, activity level and preferences for lodging, dining and sightseeing? And what is the difference between the $2,000 tour and the $8,000 tour to the same place and on the same date?
Here are some tips:
Do your research
Travel agents can suggest tour companies to match your interests and demographics. Tour companies are members of United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). At USTOA.com, the Find Your Dream Vacation widget lets you search by destination, tour company and activity. Talk to friends and relatives who have traveled to your destination.
Know what is included in the price
Most group tours cover hotels, guides and transportation to places on the itinerary and admission to attractions.
Usually, some or all meals are covered. Ask what types of meals are included. The larger the group, the harder it is to dine together in an intimate location.
Airfare is not included in the tour price, but it can be added. The biggest cost factors are group size and type of accommodations.
Budget tours may save you money by reserving hotels outside of city limits. However, this makes it difficult to explore on your own.
Time of year affects price. Holidays and summers are usually more expensive. Fall is usually less expensive, unless your destination is New England, where fall foliage is a draw.
Unlike cruises, group tours rarely are discounted or have last minute specials. Booking well in advance may get you a discount.
Traveling solo
Solo travelers usually pay more because they are single occupants in hotels designed for two people.
Single supplements can raise tour prices anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Some tour companies offer the option to share a room through a guaranteed share program.
Be flexible
Some dates sell out quicker than others. So, have at least three dates in mind. Also, ask if the tour is a guaranteed departure. This means the tour will depart even if it is not full. Remember, tours can cancel if they do not have enough participants. Always purchase travel insurance.
If you haven’t traveled in a while, or would like to know more, contact Sue or Bruce Mitchell, your Cruise Planners travel specialists. Visit our website at redmountaintravel.com. You also may send an email to smitchell@cruiseplanners.com, or call (480) 396-8084.