TO TOUR OR NOT TO TOUR?

               On my very first two-week tour I encountered much more excitement, if that’s the right word, 

than I’d bargained for. On arriving in London, my sister and I saw and felt tension in the air. We learned 

that an IRA leader had died of a hunger fast and soon the streets erupted in  demonstrations and protests.

Our tour group met  and we left to begin our trip to the continent. 

  We enjoyed a visit to the Vatican one morning, then                  

drove from there to Milan. On arriving, we all noticed

new tensions. Our guide was soon shaking his head and

saying, “Something’s not right here. Let’s get back to

our coach.” When one of our group got in saying she

had been in the cathedral and had heard cries of

“Papa! Papa!” our guide told the driver to “get us out

of there.” We were quickly taken to our hotel where we

learned that Pope John Paul had been shot. 

               Our trip was then uneventful until we returned to

Kennedy Airport. Earlier that afternoon, a bomb had

exploded in the baggage area. Needless to say, we were

delayed for hours as luggage and people were searched.

               Why have I told you this awful series of events?

Simply this: in spite of all that happened, our trip

was wonderful. We saw and experienced events of a

lifetime; we enjoyed the company of an incredibly

interesting and fun group of people; and we got to go

to countries, cities, castles and museums that we

would never have seen otherwise. Over 25 years later

it remains one of my best memories.  I learned on my

first long trip that even in unhappy circumstances I

returned home with my love of travel intact.

               Have you ever struggled with the decision of whether

to go on a vacation on your own or with a tour group? 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of touring

with a group of strangers? If you’ve ever wondered

about any of these questions, then read on..

               I have talked with friends and family members who are

frequent travelers also, and I’ve done my usual

web-surfing. Here in the major groupings of PEOPLE,

PLACES, and THINGS are the Benefits and Disadvantages

of taking a tour. I hope you find these ideas helpful

in deciding whether you would like to try professional

touring.

BENEFITS

             PEOPLE

Fun:  When you travel with a group of 20-40 strangers,

you never know what to expect and that’s half the fun.

You will find that people on a tour are there to have

a good time and are generally in a happy frame of

mind. Unless you are a confirmed loner, traveling with

a group is just plain fun.          

Connect:  You have in common a love of travel and a

love of the places you are going to visit. You will

meet people from all over the world and may want to

stay in touch with some after the tour.

Relaxed: Your group will be in an environment that is

not quite real world because your guide and  tour

company have planned things so well that you simply

sit back, relax, and enjoy it as if you had a staff of

servants working for you.

Tip:  My sister and I always make it a point to sit

with different people during included meals. You learn

a lot about each other and quickly begin to feel like

friends.

            PLACES

Attractions: Tour companies can sometimes get groups

into places that individuals cannot go. They may also

include little-known attractions you might not

discover on your own. 

Pre-Planned: Admissions are included in your tour

package so you are not constantly wondering if you

want to spend the money for the next attraction. Most

tour companies do offer optional activities which give

you the choice of even more to see and do if your

energy and budget permit.

Time:  You get to see a lot of places, often many

different countries, in a brief amount of time. This

is especially good when you are going to a place

you’ve never been before. You can then decide which

areas you might like to go back to later and see in

depth. A well-planned tour by the experts will make

the most of your time.

Choices:  It is generally easy to add days on at

either the beginning or end of your tour. Often the

tour company will help you with special hotel and

flight rates.

Tip:  Carefully plan and select a tour with an

itinerary you will be happy with.

            THINGS

Planning: When choosing a tour,  look through catalogs

or check out web sites, knowing that someone else has

done the work of selecting the places to visit and

planning the itinerary. That lets you relax while you

contrast and compare. Experts deal with the hotels,

purchase admission tickets, and plan your routes. They

know what the ‘must sees’ are, when they are open, and

how best to get there.

Packing:  You seldom have to handle your luggage. You

will be asked to put your bags outside your room and

they will magically appear at your door in your next

hotel. 

Tip:  Pack carefully as you are generally allowed only

one suitcase per person. Watch for an article in this

column soon on what to pack and what to leave home.

Cost:  If you find a tour that has places  and

attractions you really want to see, you probably will

not be able to beat the price of a tour. They get

group rates on hotels, admissions, and even food.

Tours go from budget up to luxurious so compare like

dates, locations, hotels, included meals, etc. when

looking at prices.

Tip: Optional  tours will give you more control over

how much you may be willing to spend.

Security: Traveling in a foreign country can be

intimidating. Unless you speak the language you will

find it difficult navigating the highways and the

train systems, negotiating with hotels, and even

ordering from the menu. An experienced guide will

speak several languages. 

       Even in this country, your

guide is prepared to deal with unusual situations,

including highway problems, changes in the schedules,

bad weather, illness and even death of a traveler.

It’s comforting knowing someone is able and willing to

help with all these things.

Comfort:  If you have limitations in your physical

abilities, you may be pleased at how much you can

actually see and do on a tour. You must be fit enough

to get around on your own, but drivers usually drop

you at the front door of a castle, museum or theater.

Rarely do you stand in line as your guide takes care

of admissions for you. When in doubt, always inquire

about the amount of walking involved.

               Your tour company should meet you at the airport and

return you there so you don’t have to worry about how

to find your hotel in a strange place.

DRAWBACKS

PEOPLE

Numbers:  You simply may not care to travel with a

group of strangers. Sometimes there are group members

who are habitually late or get lost and separated from

the group.

Tip:  Ask the tour company how many people they are

planning for so you will know whether to expect 20 or

50 in a group. 

PLACES

Flexibility:  You won’t be as flexible as you would be

on your own as you cannot change the group’s schedule.

 You may like the synchronicity of taking back roads

and finding the world’s best barbecue by accident. You

may prefer to plan your trip day by day instead of all

at once. If so, you’re probably better off not doing

group tours.

Tip: Consider your interests and compare with the tour

itinerary carefully. Check the amount of independent

time available on a tour. 

THINGS

Planning: You have a lot more planning and research

when you’re on your own and maybe that’s the fun part

for you. I love researching for a trip whether I’m

studying tour catalogs or looking through brochures

and maps to plan my own route. While optional tours

may expand your choices, your schedule on a tour is

pre-planned.

Packing: You will usually be limited to one suitcase

per person and will have to pay more for the loading

and unloading of an extra bag.

Tip: On your own or with a tour, pack a foldable extra

bag for the goodies you’ll buy and unstuff your

suitcase when you’re ready to travel home.

Security: You may not want the potential of things

that can go wrong when you have a fairly large group

of people.

Comfort: One tour guide told us, “You don’t go on

tours to relax. You go on a tour to see and do things

you might never do on your own.” Always check out how

strenuous the tour will be - how much walking,

climbing, and how many moves the group will make. 

Tip: Plan for or look for a tour that has some 2-night

stays.

Cost: This is very dependent on your choices of

locations, hotels, attractions, and places you like to

eat. The costs of tours are generally nonnegotiable. 

Tip:  Remember, you are usually expected to tip both

your guide and your driver at the conclusion of your

tour so allow for that in your budget. 

_____________________________

 

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE & WHAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND

Tips for packing for non-car trips

By Louise Hamilton

 

It is so tempting - “I’ll tuck this in just in case I need it, and this will come in handy, too.” Then you lift your suitcase and groan in surprise. How has it gotten so heavy so quickly? And your biggest concern is that you are going to have to get your suitcase down a flight of stairs, out to your car, into your trunk, out of your trunk, into the airport shuttle, off the airport shuttle ... well, you get the idea.

                                                                                &nb