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Independent Personalized Travel

If you are an independent traveller and prefer not to be with a group and would like to avoid the trouble of not only researching and planning your trip but also making the necessary reservations, why not let Goway be of assistance?

First of all, Goway already has suggested predesigned packages for cities, countries, cruises, rail journeys, self-drives and much more. All you have to do is take a look at the many trip ideas which are shown by region and country. They will give you a good idea of what is available and what is recommended. Secondly, taking a package could save you money. And all these independent travel ideas can be modified or extended.

LET US CUSTOMIZE A PERSONALIZED ITINERARY DESIGNED ACCORDING TO YOUR INTERESTS, TIME AVAILABLE AND BUDGET.

To give you an example of planning an independent itinerary, e.g. for Australia, we offer packages for all major cities for a minimum usually of 2 nights which include hotel accommodation with a choice of the standard of hotel, transfers between the airport and the hotel and basic recommended sightseeing. Simply take all the city packages you require. If driving between places, add a car rental package. Want anything else such as a cruise on the Great Barrier Reef, again just add it.

Once the required itinerary has been decided upon together with dates and style of the hotel, type of car etc. an overall price will be provided.

If flying, then request from Goway your desired routing including both International and regional air flights and you will be given a quote for these. For those travellers who enjoy making their own plans, simply browse Goway’s website for thousands of travel ideas.

Planning your independent vacation doesn’t have to be so involved it becomes a frustration. Let Goway not only give you ideas but do the work for you. We are at your service.

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4 Great Tour Companies with Independent Tours in 2024

These companies offer the benefits of a tour and the flexibility of independent travel..

Globus Debuts New Independent Touring Option

Say you want the convenience of a guided group tour but not necessarily the full tour experience. You’re hoping to book a structured trip that includes transportation , hotels , and some of the activities, but you prefer to not travel with a group of strangers. You’re not alone. In fact, a number of tour companies offer independent tours for people who want the benefits of a worldwide network of providers but who prefer to travel on their own.

Independent Tour Options from Tour Companies

Independent tours give you all of these benefits while still allowing you to choose your activities based on what you feel like doing on any given day. There’s also a spectrum of options that range from fully independent tours to more structured guided tours that build in a ton of free time for independent exploration. Here’s a rundown of the top tour companies and travel package companies that offer independent vacations. 

HOW TO DECIDE: 9 Tips for Choosing the Best European Tour for You

1. Independence by Globus (Offered by Globus)

A leader among major tour group companies, Globus touts its Independence by Globus offering as having the “many benefits of touring, untethered and unscheduled.” There are two formats—one called Independent City Stays, the other Independent Tours—and together they cover a wealth of itineraries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the South Pacific. 

Independent City Stays by Globus

Globus’ Independent City Stays focus on cities like Buenos Aires, Paris, and Tokyo. Included in the stay are hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, sightseeing orientations, and transportation between cities. You’ll have the support of Globus Local Hosts in the city as well as the GlobusGO app with its many traveler resources. 

• Independent Buenos Aires City Stay (4 days)
• Independent Tokyo and Kyoto City Stays (7 days)
• Independent Paris City Stay (4 days)

Independent Tours by Globus

Globus’ Independent Tours include hotel accommodations, daily breakfasts and some other meals, some guided sightseeing, and transportation between cities. You’ll also benefit from the expertise of Globus Local Hosts and have access to the GlobusGo mobile app. These independent tours include plenty of free time so you can choose what you want to do and when. Some examples include:

• Independent South Africa and Victoria Falls (11 days)
• Independent Highlights of Cambodia and Thailand (13 days)
• Independent Costa Rica Wonders (7 days)

2. Self-Guided Tours (Offered by Exodus Travels)

With its self-guided tours, Exodus Travels does the heavy lifting on the planning of European cycling, walking, and cultural adventures, freeing up more room for you to just enjoy your travels. The golden ticket on these self-guided tours are its in-depth trip notes that give you detailed guidance right down to the best spots for lunch and where to stop along the way.

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These independent tours also include accommodations, luggage transport between hotels, plus plenty of local support (and 24-hour emergency support). They make bucket-list experiences like hiking in the Swiss Alps, walking the Camino de Santiago, or cycling through Portugal a lot easier to plan, while still doing it on your own rather than in a group. Sample Exodus Travels self-guided holidays include:

• Walking the Camino de Santiago Tour (11 days)
• Porto Coastal Cycling Tour (8 days)
• Classic Swiss Alps Walk Tour (8 days)

3. Intrepid Basix Trips (Offered by Intrepid Travel)

Intrepid focuses on adventure and off-the-beaten-path destinations, and with its Basix trips it offers independent travelers a sort of tour-light experience that’s big on independent vibes. The budget-minded option packages accommodations such as simple, clean, centrally located hotels, hostels, and even sometimes camping accommodations. Most Basix trips also include a night or two of homestays to give you a feel for local life.

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You’ll have a local tour guide who meets you between stops and offers recommendations for food, attractions, and so on. There are optional activities that you can choose to join a group for or opt out of and explore on your own. Some examples of Intrepid Basix Tours are:

• Mexico Unplugged Tour (15 days)
• Serengeti Trail Tour (8 days)
• Essential Vietnam Tour (11 days)

4. Independent City Tours (Offered by Road Scholar)

Like Intrepid’s Basix tours, Road Scholar ‘s Independent City Tours offer the basic structure of a guided tour but with miles more flexibility and free time than the typical tour. It’s like a tour in that you have a Group Leader and Road Scholar’s signature educational programming ( geared toward senior travelers ), but you also have lots of free time plus resources that help you make the most of your independent hours (think self-guided excursion programs and transit and museum passes). Some sample Road Scholar Independent City Tours include:

• Jazz, Jambalaya, and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans (6 days)
• Independent Venice: Art, Culture and Canals (8 days)
• A Taste of Montreal (5 days)

It’s always important to ask yourself whether your travel style is better suited to a guided group tour or something more independent. If you’re curious about guided tours but have never tried one, here’s a helpful checklist of important things to consider before booking a guided tour .

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What are independent tours and why you need to do them

• December 23, 2021

Until recently, there were two easiest ways to go on a trip: buy a ready-made small group tour from an agency or plan everything yourself. Package tours are good when you don’t want to decide anything and want Yin, but it’s better to dive into an independent trip with a thick supply of Yang.

Independent Travel

We found harmony: the richness, depth of immersion and unconventionality of independent travel plus a ready-made program on a unique itinerary with a guide. We tell you how and why you need such trips.

My first ever package tour was “burning” Mexico . It was there that I found some crazy friends who, like me, were bored all the time sitting on the beach and we had as much fun as we could:

• bungee jumping;
• river rafting with waterfalls;
• ancient fortresses;
• loud shouting at the World Cup in a bar among the locals.

Then we went to Lima for a day, and six months later we were already traveling around Peru by ourselves, rejecting ready-made tours as a class.

Now everyone has different ways: weekends in Europe , winter in Morocco , business trips in Russia and dacha or package tours to the sea (had to return – there were children). Some choose luxury, some want more life, and go for hostels and couchsurfing, and some are drawn to the exotic. Not everyone has the strength and time to plan a voyage, and to go alone to some places at random is scary. But everyone wants to fill a vacation with unusual experiences to the brim. One of us went on an independent tour this summer, and I think we found a way.

How did independent trips come about ?

The Internet made traveling easier and longer. Buying a ticket and making a hotel reservation is a couple of clicks, and the work can fit into one laptop. There are noticeably more people going away for long months. Once in a new region for a long time, returning again and again or even moving permanently, these travelers gain experience, learn about places not in the guidebooks, make friends among the locals, learn languages, and get involved in the culture. The new nomads have chosen adventure among all the possibilities of the world, and some of them have realized that they can make travel qualitatively different for everyone. Especially for those who, after seeing pictures of the planet’s unique places, can no longer sleep well.

What is an independent trip?

It is a trip that was organized without the involvement of a major tour operator by a more experienced traveler. Drawing on his own worldview and experience, the author offers to join his itinerary; such a tour is more than just a road from one attraction to another, it is a real reality hunt.

Small groups and a carefully designed itinerary allow the participant to feel like the protagonist of the trip. The guide can give everyone maximum attention, and you will definitely be able to participate in all the activities, see and try all the most interesting things. The charisma of the author, the depth of his knowledge and his ability to captivate depends on whether the trip will be a discovery or a disappointment. Not the least of these is the technical organization of the trip. Lack of overlap, ability to react quickly to the situation, to change the route depending on the weather or the desire of participants add points in the karma.

How do independent tours differ from package tours ?

Package tours in the agency include:

• transfer to the place of rest;
• paid room at the hotel;
• Medical insurance and selected meals;
• The agency will also help with visa formalization.

Ready-made tours often offer a resort holiday with a standard set of entertainment: hotel – beach – restaurant – disco or hotel – ski – restaurant – disco. You can not buy a trip to non-touristy places with unusual activity.

On the spot you will be offered to choose excursions, or you will go sightseeing on your own, constantly returning to the same hotel.

Usually the most favorable conditions for double occupancy, so you may need a companion.

The main technical difference of the author’s tour is that you often get to the starting point on your own, although there are some exceptions. But you can choose yourself the most budget way or a specific airline.

More often it is necessary to make medical insurance and visa by yourself.

Airport transfers and meals vary depending on the conditions of the tour.

Hotels are usually paid for the entire planned route. There are also accommodation in a tent. Then you have to bring equipment; however, the guides will help with its selection.

The main emotional difference – all these amazing places you travel in a small group of three people or more. On the one hand, you don’t have to beg your friends, who often find reasons to merge, and you can safely go alone; on the other hand, it may take some time to adapt to new people. But we know a lot of stories about how new acquaintances turned into true friends, and we’ve heard about weddings – where without them. And to share the cost of a small company is always more profitable than to pay the entire amount on an independent trip.

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• Adventure Travel

Comparing Guided, Self-Guided, and Independent Travel

Liz is a collector of grand adventures. She first discovered her passion for meaningful travel wh...

• Before You Go
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It’s nearly time for your next overseas trip and you’re daydreaming about the new places you’ll see, the new friends you’ll make, the new foods you’ll taste, and the stories you’ll be able to tell when you return home. Traveling can be full of adventure, curiosity, and laughter, but it can also be stressful when you’re in the planning stages.

Finding your ideal type of travel is your ticket to seeing the world.

So, how do you decide between a guided tour vs. independent travel? From visas and flights to accommodation and sightseeing, the nitty gritty of traveling can be daunting. Luckily, there are many different options when it comes to traveling so you can create an experience that feels fun and exciting for you—whether you want to go solo or let someone else take care of the logistics for you.

With options to join guided travel tours, self-guided tours, or embark on independent travel, you can make your next overseas trip anything you desire it to be. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to planning your travels abroad. Ultimately, it depends on your personality and what kind of experience you’re after. If you’re stumped on how to get the most out of your next trip abroad, here you’ll find everything you need to know about a guided tour vs. independent travel .

What is a guided tour?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed when it comes to researching and planning your travels, guided tours can be a game-changer. So what is a guided tour? Guided travel tours are the most convenient way to travel—all you have to do is pay a fee to a tour company and they create the experience for you.

Most guided tours are all-inclusive, meaning everything is taken care of for you. They often provide a local guide who can teach you about local customs, an itinerary packed full of cultural experiences, and even pre-booked accommodation and food so all you have to do is show up. Guided tours usually target specific age groups too, so you have the opportunity to connect with other travelers and make friends easily.

3 pros of guided tours

1. it’s convenient..

There’s no arguing that guided travel tours are the most convenient way to travel. Your tour company will take care of all the logistics for you, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself without having to think about your next move. If you’re a first-time traveler , don’t speak the local language, or feel overwhelmed by the planning process, guided tours can relieve some of the pressure to create an easy, more enjoyable experience.

2. You’ll make friends easily.

Lifelong friendships might just be a bonus to your guided tour package.

If you join an age-appropriate tour, the odds are, you’ll make friends fast . You won’t have to stress about putting yourself out there when you spend your days with the same group of people, exploring together, eating meals together, sharing the same accommodation. While it’s possible to make friends outside of a tour group, solo travelers often thrive on a guided tour because they never have to worry about feeling lonely.

3. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the culture.

When you’re exploring a new country with a local guide, you get a sneak peek into the culture that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Local guides will take you to all the right places, teach you fun facts about your destination you might not learn anywhere else, and fill you in on the basics when it comes to speaking the local language . Guided tours often cram a lot into a short period of time, too, which means you’ll get to visit some of the best places in your destination and see parts of the country you may not be able to see on your own.

3 cons of guided tours

1. it can be expensive..

Prices of guided travel tours vary, and most times they can be more expensive than traveling on your own. Ultimately, you don’t get to pick and choose your experience with a guided tour, meaning you pay for what the tour company organizes for you. If you don’t want to do everything that’s included in the tour or if you’d prefer to stay in budget accommodation , you may end up spending more on a tour than if you were to travel solo.

2. You’ll have less freedom.

While guided tours make travel feel easy, they take away the pleasure of going with the flow. You’ll need to stick to an itinerary that is often packed full with little time to relax and explore on your own. You won’t necessarily have the ability to wake up at your leisure, get lost in new cities, and stumble upon holes in the wall when you’re off on organized activities all day every day.

3. You may never leave your comfort zone.

When it comes to travel, there are endless opportunities to learn and expand your horizons . If one of your favorite parts of traveling is putting yourself out there, getting lost, making mistakes, and laughing with locals, guided tours may not be the most exciting experience for you. Guided tours are your comfort zone, and it’s likely you won’t have the same growth experience you would if you travel on your own.

What is a self-guided tour?

Can you picture yourself trekking this mountain?

If a fully-guided tour doesn’t appeal to you, but traveling completely solo sounds intimidating, a self-guided tour will give you something in between. But what does “self-guided tour” mean? Unlike a guided tour, you won’t have a tour guide; however, you will receive information about your destination and an itinerary to follow at your own pace.

The perfect self-guided tour example is trekking. Whether you head out to the rhododendron-filled Annapurna region of Nepal or the snow-capped Patagonias , or you walk El Camino across Spain, almost all popular trekking routes provide self-guided tours.

Once you apply for your trekking permits, you’ll receive official information about the trek and its trails, as well as information on where to start, stop, rest, sleep, and amenities along the way. With a self-guided tour, you may even have the option of adding on transportation options or organized accommodation to relieve even more of the stress of planning.

3 pros of self-guided tours

1. you set the pace..

While a guided tour doesn’t leave much room for flexibility, a self-guided tour allows you to set your own pace. You’ll often receive an itinerary or route options, but ultimately, you are in control of a self-guided tour. You can follow the route or go your own way. You can go as slowly or quickly as you desire, making pit stops along the way, skipping the parts that don’t appeal to you, and creating the experience you want.

2. It’s safer than independent travel.

Because self-guided tours do the research for you, they often leave less room for error than if you embarked on a solo journey. You’ll receive all the information you need to stay safe , and you don’t have to worry about doing all the research on your own. Self-guided tours are also often available in well-populated travel destinations, which means you’ll be surrounded by other travelers consistently throughout your journey.

3. You can pick your travel buddies.

Independent travel can often get lonely, while guided tours run the risk of getting stuck with a group of people that you might clash with. Self-guided tours offer the perfect alternative. With a self-guided tour, you can choose your people. Perhaps that looks like planning to travel with a group of friends or traveling solo and meeting others along the same self-guided route as you—either way, you can spend time with the people you like, and avoid the people who aren’t your vibe.

3 cons of self-guided tours

1. you still need to take part in the planning..

You’ll still have a hand in planning when you go for self-guided travel.

While there are perks of receiving a lot of information in a self-guided tour, you still need to be proactive and take responsibility. After all, not everything is organized for you. You still have to do a little research on your own, stay organized, and manage your own time. If you don’t want to have to worry about any of the logistics, self-guided travel might not be your best option.

2. There’s no group to make immediate friends.

While self-guided travel is a great opportunity to choose your travel companions, no official tour group means you don’t quite have access to meeting people as easily. If you’re traveling on your own in a self-guided tour, there will definitely be people to meet along the way, but you’ll still have to put yourself out there and strike up conversations with strangers to make connections.

3. You won’t have a local guide at your fingertips.

Sure, it might be nice to not have to follow a guide, but it’s always important to take into consideration what might happen when the unexpected arises . No local guide means you don’t have an expert with you if you get lost, struggle with language differences, or find yourself in an emergency situation. It means you’ll have to navigate the unknown on your own.

What is independent travel?

The difference between a guided tour vs. independent travel is that with independent travel, you’re flying solo. You’re in charge of all of it—the flights, the accommodation, the planning of the nitty gritty , deciding what you do on a day-to-day basis while abroad.

You have to do all your own research and navigate on your own. You call the shots. For some, this is the only way to travel, but for others, independent travel can be wildly outside of their comfort zones.

3 pros of independent travel

1. you’ll save money..

Independent travel can often be your cheapest travel option . You won’t have to pay a fee to a company to organize travel for you; you can spend what you want on food, accommodation, and excursions; and you can opt for budget options or free activities if you’re working with a small budget.

2. It’s the most flexible travel option.

In the mood to choose your own adventure? Independent travel is the way to go.

With independent travel, you set the pace. You can go wherever you want, whenever you want. It means you can opt for the experiences that are on your bucket list and skip the ones that don’t appeal to you without having to worry about losing money on an all-inclusive tour option. If you’re the type of traveler who loves to go with the flow and wants the flexibility of changing your plans as you please, independent travel could be the best option for you.

3. It’s where the growth happens.

Independent travel is quite possibly the most challenging way to travel, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means you have the opportunity to truly grow , expand, and learn new skills. You have to learn how to plan, to be flexible, to adapt. You have to learn how to navigate, communicate across cultures, and put yourself out there to make friends. Yes, it can be difficult at times, but there’s no doubt you’ll return home a whole new person.

3 cons of independent travel

1. it’s less safe..

Similar to self-guided travel tours, independent travel means you don’t have a guide or anyone to protect you if things go wrong. If you find yourself sick , lost, or in an emergency situation , you’re the only one who has your back. It’s always safest to travel with a guide; however, if you are set on independent travel, you can do your research to be prepared and stay safe, even if the unknown arises.

2. It can get lonely at times.

If you’re traveling solo, independent travel is usually the most difficult way to make friends. You don’t have a group to bond with or people following the same path. It takes more effort to meet friends. Ultimately, it’s up to you—you can allow yourself to stay lonely, or you can put yourself out there, stay at hostels, talk to a stranger over dinner, and find the perfect travel mates.

3. It can feel overwhelming.

As an independent traveler, you’re responsible for all of it. It’s on you to work out the logistics , book your flights , navigate and communicate through a new country, and budget yourself throughout your travels. You have to be completely self-reliant. For some, this is the fun part, but for others, independent travel can feel extremely overwhelming.

3 guided tours to consider

Are guided tours worth it? It depends on the experience you desire. If you want to take some of the pressure off yourself and embark on a travel adventure that is packed full of new experiences and new friends, it could very well be worth it. Here are some of the best guided tour examples to dip your toes in for the adventure of a lifetime :

1. Pure Exploration: 12 Weeks Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

• Why? Join Pure Exploration’s guided travel tours to New Zealand for 12 epic weeks of hiking, climbing, and sightseeing. With Pure Exploration, you’ll join a tour that takes you to Mt. Cook National Park, Mt. Aspiring National Park, the Fjordlands, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in picturesque mountain landscapes, hike to snow-capped peaks, or kayak through crystal blue waters. When you aren’t getting your adrenaline pumping, you’ll also have the chance to relax in Queenstown and soak in some Kiwi culture.
• Where? New Zealand
• Read Pure Exploration reviews

2. IMA: Safaris Africa - Group and Student Travel Opportunities

• Why? Travel to Africa for guided travel tours that will take you on adventure treks or educational tours to some of the continent’s most renowned destinations. IMA specializes in combining safari experience with education, taking travelers to Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls, Masai Mara Game Reserve, and Serengeti National Park where you’ll learn about the local culture and take off on ethical safaris to spot some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet.
• Where? Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia
• Read International Medical Aid reviews

3. Nepal Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd: Everest Base Camp Trek

• Why? Have you ever dreamed of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Nepal Hiking Team can help you check this off your bucket list, taking you from Kathmandu to Lukla, Nepal, and guiding you through a 16-day trek to base camp on the tallest mountain in the world. The tour includes not only the trek, but sightseeing through Kathmandu and a cultural immersion into Sherpa life. It’s the ultimate adventure travel tour for those who want to push themselves to new heights.
• Where? Nepal
• Read Nepal Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd reviews

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Whether guided, self-guided, or independent, what matters most is that you go.

No matter what type of travel feels right to you, you’re on your way to exploring the world.

The truth is, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to planning your travel. Whether you decide to jet off on a guided, self-guided, or independent travel adventure, you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime—connecting with new people, immersing yourself in new cultures and languages, and getting your adrenaline pumping in one way or another. The most important part? Say yes, pack your bags , and hit the tarmac!

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ESCORTED, INDEPENDENT AND HOSTED TOURS AND KNOWING WHAT COMES WITH THESE KINDS OF PACKAGES

When it comes to a world tour, it means to go and explore. There are a number of tours which exist and you will need to understand what each one of them really means. There is the hosted, independent, and escorted tour. The independent tour means that you are travelling on your own. This is where the travel company only takes the initiative to book your hotel and then seating on your own for any train or boat rides. When you land in the country you are going to, you will have to find your way to the hotel and make arrangements of what and where you want to go and see on your own. You will also have to book the type of transport to move from one area to the other of your choice. You can opt for this package if you want to travel and do not have a lot of money to spend on tour companies.

Hosted is another tour package and is different from escorted tours and independent tours as well. This is a kind of tour package where you will just need a little hand to help. There will be a person who will be available to help you, but for only during specific hours. If you happen to be travelling to various cities, then everything will be arranged as far as transport and hotel arrangement are concerned, but you will have plenty of time to plan on your own. Escorted tours are preferred to be the best and this is because they come with a number of advantages. This is where you will have someone by your side who will be able to guide you all through whatever you need. The hotel as well as a means of transport to and from will be arranged by the company which you have hired. Escorted tour come with a lot of packages which are referred to as escorted tour packages.

The escorted tour packages have many advantages and this is where they will make sure you will not, at any point, miss any activity or attraction. This is where all of your days will be full of adventures and excitement, while your evenings will be for relaxing. This also means the type of transport you will use is your preference. So, with escorted tours you will be able to enjoy more than you can with other types of packages.

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Escorted, Hosted and Independent – Understanding the Different Tours

What is the difference between an escorted, hosted and an independent tour? This is a common question in the travel industry, and in this post we’re breaking down what they are, and the advantages of each. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in!

Escorted Tours

An escorted tour is one that is conducted by a tour director. They will take care of everything from beginning to end. For example, your transportation to and from the airport, as well as transportation to and from your hotel for daily activities. You’ll also typically be with a group throughout your tour.

For some escorted tours it’s a one day affair where they will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, take you to see the sites, and then bring you back to your hotel in the evening. Typically there is a strict agenda with meal times, and places to visit set up for you as well.

In the more extreme escorted tours, every day of your itinerary is scheduled and handled for you. You’re picked up from the airport, driven to the hotel, and each day you will be picked up for a new activity, and then dropped off at your hotel each evening. Then, at the end of your vacation your escort will bring you to the airport to go home.

Hosted Tours

Hosted tours are very similar to escorted tours. Like an escorted tour, you will probably be with the same group of people throughout the tour, and you’ll be transported to and from your hotel.

However, the difference here is that you won’t be escorted to every individual activity and function. There will be local guides available to answer questions throughout the duration of your tour, but for the most part you will be on your own.

Hosted tours are great for those that want the freedom to do what they want, but also want a guide available when they have questions or need something. Some meals and sightseeing will be included as well, but what you get varies by the company you tour with.

Independent Tours

These are the tours the free spirits typically prefer. On an independent tour you set your own schedule, you won’t be with a group, and you’ll be responsible for getting reservations for your meals.

With an independent tour vacation, you’ll still enjoy having your hotel, transportation, excursions, and some meals included with your package, but the rest is up to you. Many people prefer independent tour vacations for the freedom, flexibility and privacy they offer. However, what causes some travelers to opt for escorted and hosted tours over independent ones, is the discomfort they experience in being somewhere foreign to them.

What tour is right for you?

Deciding which tour is right for you is a personal choice only you can make. You’ll need to decide how much freedom you want on your vacation, and how comfortable you are with being in new places alone. Still, we hope this post has cleared up some of the confusion between escorted, hosted and independent tours.

If you would like to know more about tours available to your dream destination, call Ingenious Travel at 888.695.0321 . From adventure to luxury getaways, exotic to romantic vacations – We work with the best tour operators that suit a wide variety of travelers needs.

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Self-Guided & Independent Tour Itineraries

Self Guided Cycling Tour in France

Self Guided Bavaria tour

Self Guided France and Beyond

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Top Self-Guided & Independent Travel Packages

Self-guided & independent in 7-10 days, biking self-guided tour in france.

Bike your way through the historic lanes and villages along the path from romantic Paris to cosmopolitan London.

Day 1, Paris : Arrive in Paris and take in the sites before your first day of traveling. 

Day 2, Axe Historique to Cergy : Start your cycling holiday from the heart of Paris and head out to Cergy, the islands and parks that influenced many Impressionist painters. 

Day 3, Gisor : Bike through stunning parks and around historic castles as you make your way to Gisor, the place many believe is the final resting place for the famous treasure of the Knights Templar. 

Day 4, Normandy : Make your way through the legendary northern French region of Normandy and visit a famous spa resort. 

Day 5, Dieppe and England : Start early to make your way to Dieppe before cycling next to France’s beautiful seaside and catching a ferry across the English Channel. 

Day 6, Polegate & East Grinstead : Catch a train to Polegate and start cycling along the Forest Way before you arrive in the quaint village of East Grinstead. 

Day 7, London : Bike your way through forests, hopping on a train, and ending your cycling vacation in the heart of London at Westminster. 

Day 8, Departure : End your vacation with a provided breakfast. 

See all Self Guided Cycling Tours in France  »

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Bavaria

Get out and explore the beautiful hills and villages of Southern Bavaria with this walking holiday itinerary. 

Day 1, Oberammergau : Arrive in Oberammergau by transport from the Munich airport. 

Day 2, Ammer Valley & Pulmervoos Wildlife Sanctuary : Enjoy a day trip of walking through the villages of the Ammer Valley and make your way through the Pulmervoos Wildlife Sanctuary, home to 60 different bird species. 

Day 3, Laber : Enjoy a cable car to Laber and make your way down the green path to the village of Ettal where you can enjoy lunch and do some sightseeing. 

Day 4, Staffelse e : Design your own day around Staffelsee Lake by walking along the shoreline, jump in for a swim, or relax on the beach. 

Day 5, Free Day : Take this opportunity to explore the Bavaria region by visiting the famous Neuschwanstein Castle or visit Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze.  

Day 6, Sonnenberg Ridge : Hop on a chairlift to a height of 1270m before taking one of the many paths across and down the Sonnenberg Ridge. 

Day 7, Linder Valley : Walk your way through the lovely Linder Valley and visit the Schloss Linderhof palace and 18th century villages and cottages. 

Day 8, Oberammergau : After breakfast head back to the Munich airport to return home. 

See all Self Guided tours in Bavaria  »

Suggested Self-Guided Tour of Alsace, France 

Enjoy a completely self-designed tour in the romantic towns and wineries of Alsace. Choose from a wide variety of attractions and trips to make your vacation unforgettable. 

Day 1, Arrival : Arrive in Alsace and explore the local village. 

Day 2, Strasbourg : Take a day trip to the home of Europe’s Parliament with its blending of German and French architecture. 

Day 3, Vosges Mountains : Head out on an adventure and hike the Vosges Mountains and enjoy a traditional lunch in one of the local villages. 

Day 4, Black Forest : Take a drive to the historic Black Forest known for its mysterious atmosphere and stunning scenery. 

Day 5, Vineyards : Enjoy a bike ride through the wineries of Alsace and book a private wine tasting with one of the chateaux.  

Day 6, Basel, Switzerland : Head across the border and visit one of Switzerland’s most artistic and beautiful cities of Basel. 

Day 7, Departure : Say goodbye to your personal apartment in Bavaria and make your way home.

See all Self Guided Tours in France  »

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Self Guided Tour in Thailand

See all Thailand Self Guided Tours

Self Guided Tour in Europe

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Self Guided South America Tour

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Travel Guides

Independent travel: everything you need to know and top travel tips, planning on going travelling here's some stuff to think about before you go..

Independent travel, for many people, is more than just a hobby or a holiday activity – it’s a fundamentally life-changing experience. Whether it’s taking a gap year , heading off on a mid-20s career break or even taking off round the world once you’ve retired, travelling independently gives you a chance to take some time out from “normal” life, see the world differently and enjoy some incredible experiences.

Travelling Essentials: 10 Bits of Essential Travel Kit You Should Never Be Without

Not only that, it can be an incredible learning experience, teaching you not just about different parts of the planet, but also a lot about yourself.And that’s not the only benefit of travelling either – see our article “ why do we travel? ” for a fuller examination.

If you’re thinking of heading off travelling (and for the distinction between “travelling” and “taking a holiday” see below) then this handy guide should tell you a few things that you need to know to start your thought process. Think of it as a beginner travel planner. Something to help you move from dreaming about travelling to actually doing it.

What is Independent Travel?

Taken literally, independent travel means any trip that you organise by yourself – booking your own accommodation, transport and itinerary as opposed to going somewhere as part of a holiday package.

What it usually means is the kind of trip that involves travelling on a shoe-string, staying in hostels and prioritising experiences over luxury. Essentially, being less of a tourist and more of a traveller.

Traveller vs. Tourist – The Key Differences

This might seem like a silly distinction, but the two words do signify a difference in approach.

The word tourist usually implies someone who’s visiting a specific destination only for a short holiday before leaving to return to their everyday existence afterwards. It also carries the unfortunate connotation of someone who’s just there to look at things rather than become emotionally involved in anyway.

People who define themselves as travellers tend to be on the road for longer, with less of a fixed agenda in terms of destinations or timings. The length of their trip means they often don’t have an everyday existence they’re returning to.

“Travelling is about the journey, being a tourist is just about seeing the sights.”

They’re more likely to stay in a place for longer, perhaps working there and even settling eventually. The definition for traveller places more emphasis on the journey rather than the pleasure gained from reaching the destination.

Or to simplify even further…

• Travelling is about the journey (both physical and spiritual).
• Touristing is about visiting particular destinations and attractions.

Where Are the Best Places in the World for Independent Travel?

They say the world is your oyster and in many ways it is. But realistically, your choice of destination is likely to be decided by a few factors. It’s worth weighing the following four questions up carefully so that you really get the most out of independent travel.

What do you want to do?

It might seem an obvious question, but it’s usually the best one to start with. What kind of experience are you looking for from travelling? Do you want to meet like-minded fellow-travellers? Do you want the possibility of staying and working abroad  for a while? In that case (for English speakers especially) somewhere like Australia , could be a great option.

If you’re all about surfing, climbing or other sports you’ll want to make sure you go somewhere where you can do some everyday –  New Zealand  or  Canada  perhaps. If you’re looking to get further off the beaten track, you may want to look into places like Columbia in South America, or Malawi in Africa.

Don’t force a “fit”, that isn’t going to work. That won’t be fun for anyone. If for example, affordable beer is a priority…look it up beforehand.

How much time do you have?

Obviously there’s little point planning a trip to Fiji if you’ve only got a week’s holiday. You’ll spend all your time getting there and have very little time to enjoy it.

Perhaps less obviously, it’s well worth working out the travel times between your intended destinations in advance and ensuring you’ve left plenty of time to actually enjoy them when you get there.

“We’d recommend a ratio of at least two down days for every day spent travelling…”

Google maps can be a useful tool for this but depending on where you are in the world a good guidebook, like those produced by Lonely Planet or Rough Guides, may give you a more realistic indication of journey times.

We’d recommend a ratio of at least two down days for every day spent travelling, or else it will feel like you’ve spent your entire time in busses trains or behind the wheel.

How much money do you have?

Once you’ve worked out the sort of experiences you want to have and planned out a realistic route for your time frame (even if it’s subject to change) it’s time to think money.

This is probably the single biggest constraint on any plans you may have and it’s worth working out a rough budget before you head off. Again, a decent guidebook will help you do this.

“It’s perfectly possible to get a hostel bed in Bangkok for less than £6 a night, but the equivalent in New York will cost more like £35.”

If you’re looking to make your money stretch a long way, heading to less-developed countries that have well-established backpacker routes is usually the way to go.

Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are popular, as are the more well-established destinations in India like Goa.

Travelling in North America or Australasia is comparatively more expensive. While it’s perfectly possible to get a hostel bed in Bangkok for less than £6 a night, the equivalent in New York will cost more like £35.

Perhaps counter-intuitively travelling in Africa tends to be pricier too because transport routes for independent travellers are less well established.

Is your preferred destination safe?

It may sound like the kind of question your mum would ask, but nothing will ruin your dream trip quicker than being robbed, beaten up or worse. Check the Foreign Office travel advice  any destination you’re thinking of visiting for up to date information on the security situation and common risks.

If it’s your first time travelling independently, it’s best to start off in a popular destination where you’ll be able to pick fellow travellers’ brains before heading off by yourself.

And of course travelling alone , while it can be great fun, comes with its own set of risks, particularly for women travelling solo.

You can never completely eliminate risk obviously but doing your research properly and of course equipping yourself with the right kind of travel insurance will help make your trip way more enjoyable.

Should You Travel?

Should you take a gap year? Should you go on that career break? Should you head off after retirement? The simple answer is “yes.”

Travelling opens your mind to new possibilities, it helps you to empathise with the world around you, it will give you memories to last a lifetime, and it can be really, really, really fun. Yes, it might wipe out your savings but nobody really wants to be the richest person in the graveyard. Life is for living, and travelling is the ultimate expression of that idea.

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10 benefits of a guided tour vs. independent travel

Of all the ways to get out and see the world, the best way to travel is on a group tour because you can sit back, relax, and soak in the beauty of your destination—while learning more than just a thing or two about the local culture along the way. No figuring out transportation, researching hotels, or booking flights required.

Here at EF Go Ahead Tours (the EF stands for Education First!), we know a thing or two about creating immersive, local-led tours. If you’re wondering what all the hype is around group tours, check out these benefits of guided travel, which you’ll find on all of our more than 175 trips .

1. You get the ease of an all-in-one tour package

Imagine a world where you don’t need to scour the internet for the perfect hotel, diligently monitor flight prices, or scroll through Google to figure out how to spend time in your destination. Good news: That’s one of the main benefits of traveling in groups. You can have the trip of a lifetime without having to research or book any of these travel essentials. Say hello to these advantages of guided tours, and goodbye to travel planning nightmares.

“You have the fear of going someplace and everything falling apart and I felt like from the get-go you guys gave me piece of mind,” said traveler Lydia. “I’m going out of the country and everything is taken care of. I don’t have to worry about the language. I don’t have to worry how I’m going to get from here to there. You get to go on vacation and be stress-free. Sometimes you can’t do that… but I truly, truly got to enjoy the vacation.”

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Package Holidays vs. Independent Travel: What You Need to Know

Thomas Cook was one of the early pioneers of a business model soon to be named in pop culture as “package holidays”. Ever since his first organised railway trip in 1841, Thomas Cook realised there is a sound business model.

From there onwards for two centuries people only booked their travel using travel agents they trusted and going on packaged tours.

However, in today’s ever connected and globalised world and with the .com bubble, it made the travel industry question whether this model is still viable. Explore with us below some of the pros and cons of each model and see which one fits best your needs.

Where to Book a Package Holiday?

What counts as a package holiday, are package holidays more expensive, how safe are package holidays, how to book independently, how safe is booking your own holiday, advantages and disadvantages of package holidays vs. independent travel.

Before we reach to any conclusions, we propose to look at both package holidays and independent travel and analyse them separately.

Package Holidays

As we mentioned earlier, Thomas Cook, was one of the early pioneers of this business model. This simple idea yet revolutionary of providing people an all inclusive (not to be confused with the type of board) experience which consisted of: travel to and from, accommodation and the tour of the attraction itself.

Sounds pretty simple but remember during those times everyone made their own travel arrangements, sometimes with dubious individuals. The concepts of a travel agency and consumer rights were still foreign.

The model then evolved throughout the 20th century with the appearance of a dedicated industry – the Travel Industry. The tour operator isn’t the only one selling tickets now.

The appearance of a dedicated sales office or how we know it as a travel agency that can be separate from the tour operator, meant tour operators could now focus on providing the experience and the travel agencies on selling the tours.

Whilst some travel agents had good contacts within the industry and were able to provide competitive rates or great holidays overall, it wasn’t till 1970 when the GDS system came online.

A Global Distribution System (GDS), is a computerized network that facilitates transactions between travel service providers and travel agents (both online travel agents like Expedia and human travel agents).

Nowadays, anyone can book a package holiday. The technological advancements which we covered above made it so that anyone can essentially book a trip anywhere on the planet without even leaving their couch.

If you’re wondering where to book a package holiday, all you have to do is a little bit of research on some of the travel agencies serving your area. You can start off by researching online, exploring the high street or even joining social media groups and asking for recommendations.

For us, we typically go with TUI as they have great customer experience and they also tend to be the tour operators. This means they control the experience end to end and can offer you something most agencies can’t.

Moreover, package holidays are for everyone, whether you are single or travelling with your family or as a couple there are plenty of places to choose from. Definitely worth considering this for your next trip.

Places such as Turkey and Bulgaria are great for families whilst places like Mexico are great for couples or singles.

Well, to put it simply, like in the days of Thomas Cook, it should be a combination of travel and accommodation. The package should be inclusive.

Modern holidaymakers have been used to all-inclusive holidays. Though you can have a package holiday without an all inclusive board, though they tend to be very popular these days.

These started being popular ever since the 1950s where Club Med started offering guests unlimited drinks and food with the idea that the guests never need to leave the estate.

Nowadays, all inclusive means much more than just the board type. It can include water sports, activities, shows and many other things.

So when booking, be sure to check the offer as in today’s ever crowded holiday market a big buffet might not be the only thing on offer. This is what we normally do when we go to places like the Dominican Republic or Mexico .

Whilst there are more people involved in booking your holiday such as the travel agent, tour operators, guides, transport etc. increased business efficiency combined with modern IT tools means that savings are passed on to the consumer making package holidays still a commercially viable option.

When we did our U.S. trip ( New York , Washington D.C. , Philadelphia and Boston), which was independently booked, we tallied up the costs and everything and compared to a similar package holiday.

The cost wasn’t that much different but we were able to plan our own trip in the order we wanted and according to the number of days we wanted to spend in each city.

Also, remember, on top of this you get in some countries a money guarantee scheme similar to the ATOL protection in the UK (mentioned below). Unlike self booked holidays this acts like a safeguard should anything happen on your trip or before.

So if you are wondering if it is it better to book a package holiday – then this consideration alone should make you consider if this might be the right option for you or not.

With the arrival of true international travel a way to protect your citizens was called for. Many governments around the world issued laws and regulations to protect travellers so whatever happens they can still return home.

In the U.K., Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) protection has been since 1973. This regulation is a financial protection scheme and it protects most air package holidays sold by travel businesses.

The scheme also applies to some flight bookings, usually those where you book flights (including UK domestic flights) but do not receive your tickets immediately. The scheme is designed to reassure consumers that their money is safe, and will provide assistance in the event of a travel business failure.

Another similar scheme is ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents), is a trade association for tour operators and travel agents in the United Kingdom. This associations aims to improve the quality of service provided by its members but also protect financially customer.

Unlike ATOL, which covers flight based holidays only, if a holidaymaker buys a land- or sea-based holiday such as coach, rail or cruise holiday from an ABTA member their money will be protected by the ABTA scheme of financial protection.

This effectively means that should your travel agent go bust whilst you are on holiday, under this scheme you can still enjoy your holiday and return on the same date home.

In other words, it’s very safe to book a package holiday.

Some governments around the world also operate similar style schemes. In the argument of package holidays vs independent travel this bit is often overlooked.

We had an experience where we truly appreciated the advantages of a package holiday. During our trip to Punta Cana , we had hurricane Irma (category 5 hurricane) come on our side of the island. TUI were very instrumental in arranging the evacuation and a like for like hotel in the capital of Santo Domingo .

Other guests were sent to the nearby school and slept on the floor throughout. Not only were we evacuated from the dangerous area, but we were also offered a 5-star hotel and excellent service. On top of this, we also got money back for the days we spent outside the resort.

This could be also something to consider on your next trip. It totally changed our perception of the benefits of a package holiday. Needless to say, we have been using TUI ever since.

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Independent Travel

Here is a photo of us, planning our next trip from the comfort of our garden 🙂

First of all, you might wonder what does independent travel mean? It means self booking your trip or holiday without needing a travel agent.

Booking independently has really taken off with the wide adoption of the internet and the .com bubble. With the creation of GDS systems which feed aggregators like Agoda , Booking.com , Skyscanner and many others; ordinary consumers all of the sudden became their own travel agents.

This, in turn, allowed for democratization of the travel booking experience. No longer did you need to leave the house or call your travel agent, all you had to do is type in the 16 digits on your card and off you go!

Whilst some individuals tend to be a bit reserved when it comes to booking it themselves, the benefits should outweigh their fears. In our article about How to Plan a Holiday we discuss some of the points that any traveller should have front of mind when booking a trip independently.

Whilst there are some benefits to booking a package holiday, self booking also comes with some perks. What we noticed is that the advantage of independently booking consists in the granularity and the choice for options at your disposal.

Want a flight Thursday at 5pm from your closest airport? Plenty of choices. How about a quirky looking boutique hotel at your destination? You’ve go it. And the list goes on.

An example here is our trip to Vienna , which we decided to combine with a trip to Bratislava . Given the proximity of these capitals and how well connected they are, we were able to plan our own trip, arrange our own travel at the times we wanted and visit two countries in one long weekend. How cool is that?

This plethora of choices gives travellers the flexibility of booking and tailoring their holiday to their liking. It’s a bit like making a pizza. For those that don’t like off the shelf products they are better off making it at home as they wish.

As we live in the UK, we mainly travel by plane. In our article on Top Tips on How to Find Cheap Flights , we even uncover some of the things you should consider when independently booking your flights.

Whilst booking a package holiday can have some benefits such as ATOL/ABTA protection, discussed above, if used wisely, credit cards can also provide a similar style protection.

Depending on your local country laws, credit card providers can offer certain benefits and protections. Some of these can also be engrained in law.

I remember reading in the news when WOW Air went bankrupt and there was this one line that made me reconsider how I book my flights. It was to do with the order of reimbursements in this particular order:

• Credit cards
• Protected package tours (travel agents)
• Insurance (if covered)

And that’s it. If you booked with a debit card, the administrator may refund you after those above have been processed and only if there is any money left. Ouch!

Next day, we got our credit cards and since then have used them for travel. That is because in the UK, credit cards fall under the Consumer Act of 1974 which covers you of any liability when using borrowed money and when buying services or products and the vendor can’t contractually fulfil their obligations.

However, if your country doesn’t have this in law, some credit card providers offer it anyway as part of their customer service. American Express is well known for going above and beyond in these situations.

When we book our trips abroad such, we always book them on a credit card to make sure we are somewhat covered in these eventualities.

Don’t forget to get a travel insurance to cover yourself and your family. This is especially important when organising your holiday independently.

For EU citizens, health insurance is somewhat covered in other member states as long as you have an European Health Insurance card.

A similar scheme applies in the UK for healthcare cover abroad. You can get a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) or a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC). We both have the EHIC cards and thankfully haven’t had to use them.

Now when it comes to the conclusion, you will see it’s not a straight forward line. It mostly depends on your circumstances and specific situation.

It depends on your personal preferences, the type of holiday you are booking, the amount of time you have at hand and how confident you feel organising your own trip.

See below a summary of key things:

So the conclusion is that it really depends on your situation. You might self book when you want that extra fine granularity in your trip, otherwise a standard packaged holiday might do just fine.

As experienced travellers, we prefer to book our own trips and make our own holiday plans that work around our schedule and the time we have. If you are like us, you may find our article on how to plan a trip useful.

Remember, booking on your own also means investing more time and doesn’t always pay dividends if you are fairly novice.

Since our trip to Punta Cana , we appreciate even more the benefits of a package holiday. We tend to book package holidays for our summer all-inclusive holidays, so we can fully relax knowing everything is done for us.

Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:

• Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here .
• Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Agoda to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
• Transport – consider  Rentalcars.com for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
• Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide , Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
• Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
• Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
• Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.

As an Amazon Associate and member of various other affiliate programmes, some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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Guided Tours vs Independent Travel

Planning a trip can be fun, but it can also be stressful. There’s a lot to consider – what to see, how much to spend, and the amount of time to stay in one place. So do you choose to do a guided tour and have a fairly relaxed trip knowing that everything has been pre-arranged, or do you elect to plan your own travel – which can be cheaper but take more time to arrange?

Guided tours certainly have their place in the world of backpacking – if you’re short on time, guided tours mean that you can cram in plenty of adventure and culture in just a few days. Tours are also a great way to meet other solo backpackers and spend your time with them.

Independent travel on the other hand can be significantly cheaper, so if you have plenty of time but not much money this might be the better choice for you. Most long-term backpackers are advocates of independent travel but it’s important to note that many backpacker veterans actually started their trips with guided tours, to develop a good foundation in the world of backpacking.

What’s in this Guide

1. The Advantages of a Guided Tour 2. The Disadvantages of Guided Tours 3. The Advantages of Going Alone 4. The Disadvantages of Going Alone 5. What’s Best For Me? 6. How to Pick a Great Tour

1. The Advantages of a Guided Tour

Get the inside scoop.

In general, tour leaders are a knowledgeable, fun bunch who know your destination back to front and are able to help ease you in with plenty of fun facts, top tips, and amusing tales. Your tour leader will most likely have taken this tour before, so you’ll also have a lot of inside scoop on some of the best spots in town.

There is definitely safety in numbers and when it comes to traveling the world it doesn’t get much safer than arranging a guided tour with an experienced tour leader.

Instant friends

You should have a great group of like-minded backpackers to travel with. Particularly if you are backpacking alone, it can be fun to share your experiences with people who are interested in seeing and doing a lot of the same things as you.

Convenience

Having everything arranged for you means you don’t have to worry about bus schedules or which hostel to stay in.

Budgeting & payments

You typically know how much your trip will cost up-front and will pay this prior to leaving. Obviously, you will need to factor in any out-of-pocket costs like meals, souvenirs, or activities that are not included in the price of your tour.

In-country partnerships

Your tour company will have partnered with local specialists to provide the best possible adventures, which takes the headache out of choosing a rafting company at random. Many tour companies emphasize responsible tourism, choosing businesses to support the local economy.

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities

There are some places around the world that are logistically impossible to reach without the help of a guided tour. Whether you’re interested in trekking to a remote location or somewhere with travel restrictions, some things are difficult – if not virtually impossible – to be explored independently.

2. The Disadvantages of Guided Tours

There’s no denying it, even budget guided tours are going to cost more than independent travel. Some guided tours can be extremely expensive so be sure to shop around.

Group dynamics

If you don’t like the people in your group, there’s not much you can do about it. If a large group of friends signs up together that you haven’t met before, you could feel like an outsider.

Limited flexibility

Guided tours tend to try and “pack it in,” which means you might feel like you are constantly being rushed from one attraction to the next.

Set activities

The cost of your tour will cover set activities and meals. If you’re not keen to go horse-riding up a mountainside then no problem, you don’t have to do it, but sometimes these expenses can make their way into your tour costs.

You might not leave your comfort zone

One of the best ways to get to the heart of a place is to get lost, screw up a restaurant order, and have a laugh with the locals. On a guided tour, you are less likely to have to take the initiative and may miss out on a truly wonderful self-learning experience.

3. The Advantages of Going Alone

Flexibility.

Independent travel is considerably cheaper than going on a guided tour and will enable you to stretch your budget further and travel longer. Most activities provided on a guided tour can be arranged in-country for cheaper so you won’t necessarily miss out on much by organizing everything yourself.

To make your independent travel even more convenient, find a car hire service in your location like Rental24.co.uk . This will give you the freedom to explore at your own pace and discover hidden gems off the beaten path.

Independent travel is the ultimate freedom. You get up when you want, you go where you want, and you do what you want. If you find somewhere or someone, you like and fancy sticking around for a few weeks then you can; you don’t need to worry about sticking to a timeline.

Pick your travel buddies

It can be relatively easy to make friends while traveling solo and you can meet more people as you make your way through your trip. You’re not stuck with the same people for a set period of time.

Independent travel is a challenge but, like any challenge, it comes with its rewards. Backpackers who hit the road by themselves and dive headfirst into the whirlwind of organizing everything on their own will quickly acquire great time management, haggling, and language skills. Independent travel can be the ultimate confidence booster.

Cultural immersion

Independent travelers have a better chance to meet with locals. Whether it’s haggling with a taxi driver, shopping at the local night markets, or discussing Buddhism with orange-robed monks, your chances of getting a feel for the local culture are greatly improved.

4. The Disadvantages of Going Alone

It can be tiring.

Organizing absolutely everything by yourself can prove exhausting. There are only so many times in one day you are going to have the mental energy to haggle for Tuk Tuks or use your bad Vietnamese to try and order a vegetarian option.

You need to be self-reliant

If you get sick while traveling and you are on your own, it can really suck. People you meet in dorms are likely to be friendly to you but nobody is going to take time out of their day to look after someone they have just met.

It’s more dangerous

Independent travel has an added element of risk – if something does go wrong you are going to have to deal with the consequences yourself.

You may get lonely

You may also find yourself being a bit lonely; sometimes a couple of days can pass where you won’t really meet anybody and if you are a little shy it can sometimes be hard to wander up to new groups of people every day.

5. What’s Best For Me?

Choosing between a guided tour and traveling alone is a very personal choice, so it is a good idea to ask yourself these questions:

• Are you limited in time?
• Do you like spending time alone?
• Is personal space important to you?
• Can you share a room with a stranger?
• How about sharing a dorm with seven strangers?
• Do you have a set weekly budget?
• Is there something you want to see which is only possible with a guided tour?
• Are you worried about arranging transport by yourself?
• Is this your first trip?
• How safe are the destinations you are visiting?

A balanced approach

If you’re a first-time backpacker, consider signing up for a short guided tour followed by some independent travel afterward. Being on a guided tour will give you the confidence and know-how you need to properly explore an area by yourself once the tour has ended. You could also meet people on the guided tour who are in the same situation as you and are keen to find a travel buddy for further adventures once the tour is over.

There are a huge range of tour companies out there, so it’s important to find the right one for you. Tours focus on everything from partying to birdwatching. If you’re a social butterfly, interested in having someone else be in the driver’s seat, consider signing up for a tour from a company aimed specifically at first-time backpackers.

There is no “right” approach as both independent travel and guided tours have their merits. While most seasoned backpackers end up gravitating towards solo travel as it’s ultimately cheaper and more flexible, guided tours are an excellent introduction for first-time backpackers and enable even the most well-trodden adventurers to reach destinations such as the Darien Gap or Antarctica, which would otherwise be impossible to visit.

6. How to Pick a Great Tour

To assure you don’t waste your money or time and have an awesome time on your trip, keep in mind the following details when picking an escorted tour.

Look for sustainability

When picking from the seemingly countless number of tour operators, you should pay close attention to the reputation a company has for supporting sustainable travel. What does this mean? It means the company supports the local community, offers eco-friendly options and provides you with a more realistic view of the destination. Why? This will give you the opportunity to have a more authentic, local experience, which will cut out some of the negatives mentioned above. It also means that you will be a more responsible traveler, less likely to have a negative impact on the place you are only passing through, but where people call home.

Find something that meets your personality

You should also find a company that caters to people just like you! There are options for every personality and every taste. Look around to find something that makes you say “that’s me!” There is definitely that option out there if you just take the time to look!

Look for flexibility

The way to get the best of both worlds, to have a planned trip, but also have some freedom to explore on your own, is to pick a company that does not have a strict set schedule 24 hours a day. Many companies offer a sort of flex deal, which allows you free days, or at least long hours, to explore.

Don’t be limited by geography

Group travel gives you the opportunity to safely travel to parts of the world you may be overwhelmed to go to on your own. Take advantage of this and explore all corners of the world. Look for escorted tours in places where you may feel uncomfortable going by yourself or that may be a bit difficult to get to without the help of professionals.

We recommend you check the guided tour packages that Indus Travel provides. As a reputable travel company, they offer safe and well-organized Israel tours , as well as great tours to India, Morocco, Egypt, and many more destinations that many people feel are not safe to visit on their own.

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Tour Package

Package holidays, popularly known as a tour package or simply the word ‘tour’ in the travel and tourism industry refers either to a package tour escorted or not escorted by the tourist guide.

When we say tour package, it means a pre-arrangement, prepaid trip that combines two or more travel components like airfare, airport transfer, accommodation, and other services . Practically, to define the tour package concept is complex one rather understand.

Holloway defines a tour package as “a total tourism product consisting of transportation from the market area to the destination, accommodation at the destination and recreational activities promoted by the tourists.”

According to Gregorg “a tour package is advertised journey including specific features, arranged and promoted with tour literature by a tour operator and paid for in full by the tourists  before starting the tour.”

Technically, a package tour/tour package is a total tourism product as it generally includes transport from the origin place to the destination, accommodation at an en route place or at the destination and other recreational or travel services. These components are purchased by an individual, firm or company called the ‘ tour operator ‘. He combines all the travel components in a package and sells them at all-inclusive prices to the clients.

History of Tour Package

The term ‘tour’ was in vogue as early as 1670. The Britishers traveled to widen their knowledge of the continent, especially to study the culture and social life. This practice was gradually adopted by other lovers of cultural centers.

The result of the process was that many European historic and cultural centers were opened to the British tourist. By the early 1730’s the small fishing resorts around the British coast begin to attract tourists seeking to their diseases by drinking the sea-water or by immersing themselves in it.

The introduction of a rail link between the major centers in 1830, had a profound impact on the pleasure travelers for the first time. Many entrepreneurs began to inspire rail travel by organizing excursions for the public at discounted offers.

However, to ‘the origin of package tour’ the credit goes to Mr. Thomas Cook in 1855 , Cook, extended his business operation to different countries by introducing the first ‘ inclusive tour ‘ to Paris.

Mr. Cook put together all the components of tourism products and sold them as ‘inclusive tour’ to the tourists. His pre-packaged tour inspired other tour organizations in the travel industry to organize similar tours to all parts of the globe.

Most of Cook’s tours were a linear tour i.e., the person went from place to place on a single destination. Basically, Mr. Cook developed the concept of ‘grand tour and escorted tour’, the concept which is still used.

Incidentally, World War II has tremendously developed the package tour concept because of the following reasons:

• Social and Economic Conditions
• Increase in Aircrafts
• Marketing Conditions
• Legal Requirements
• Integration took place.

Today, package tours are a vital segment of the world’s travel and tourism industry. According to WTTC, the package tour sales generate $25 billion annually in the United States, $18 billion in Europe, $19 billion in Britain, and $21 billion in Asia. Today tour sales represented 50 percent of all leisure travel sales and 35 percent of all travel agency revenues.

Types of Tour Packages

A travel agency/tour operator deals with variety of ‘tour packages,’ catering to the diverse needs of tourists such as adventure, beach, architecture, cultural, business, conference, incentive tours, ayurvedic packages, Buddhist, religious, incentive tour, special interest tours, cruise tour group tour, educational tour, heritage, monuments, wildlife lovers, etc. These are broadly classified into five categories :

• Independent Tours
• Escorted Tours

Hosted Tours

• Incentives Travel/Tours

Freedom Tours

Independent tour.

Independent tours are prepared/formulated for those tourists who want to travel independently. The components of such tours are air travel, air transfer, accommodation, travel documents, sightseeing, boat riding, entertainment, and other travel services.

However, in some cases, the tourists are free to purchase every single component separately. Thus, this type of tour provides the tourists considerable freedom to plan the activities according to their own choice.

An independent tour may or may not be an all-inclusive tour. Therefore, tour price varies depending on the type of air travel, air transfer, accommodation and is inclusive of other tour components. The foreign independent travel (FITs) and domestic independent travel (DITs) are examples of an independent tour.

Escorted Tour

When a travel agency includes the services of a well educated and trained tour manager in its package, the tour is called an escorted tour. Basically, escorted tours are meant for those travelers who are planning to visit a foreign country first time.

The escort’s responsibilities and duties are to provide comprehensive information and assistance to the group or individual traveler, at the origin, en route and the destination place. The excursion tours are the example of escorted tours.

A hosted tour means when an agency utilizes the services of another agency at a particular destination. Suppose a group of French tourists is coming to India. When the group arrives in India, they are greeted at the airports by TCI, which assists them in clearing their baggage and transfer them to the hotel.

Their tour-host (TCI) is available to offer device and information about the local attractions and entertainment. Further, when the group arrives at another designation in India, a different travel agency greets them at each tourist spot. Thus, a hosted tour provides the tourists maximum level of pre-arranged and personalized services.

Incentives Travel/Tour

It is a motivational programme or a fully paid holiday which is given to the employees by the enterprises as a reward. Mostly in medium and large-scale companies and usually too distant destinations to spur them in maintaining their track record, to increase output, improve the image and moreover to earn the long period loyalty of the employees.

There are a number of the other packages offered by a tour company such as a custom tour an excursion tour, an adventure, and special interest package tours.

Freedom tours are becoming very popular these days among the working class. These tours are designed as per the choice of tourists. The tourist is free to choose and plan how they want to travel and enjoy their holidays. These types of tours are meant for that kind of people who like to decide how, when, and where to travel.

This tourist may an individual, family, group holidays for families and group travel for business. These tours are promoted and developed by the ORBIT.

Components Of Tour Package

What is to be included in a package tour largely depends and varies from one tour organization to another, or from the one country to another, or from one destination to another and from one market to another market. But there are certain well-defined travel services which always turn a part of a package tour irrespective of the tour operator/travel agency, destination and even the market condition.

If we study and see the package tours offered by Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd., Cox and King Ltd., and other international travel companies, we find that a package tour has two major components. Therefore, a standard package tour has two basic components namely:

• Ground Arrangements

Travel industry experience has shown that the first component, i.e. ‘Travel’ is directly bought by the agency from the principal providers like airlines and transport operators and for ground arrangement, the travel agency management asks the ground operators.

The reason behind buying ground arrangement from a handling agency is that it represents as a ground operator at a particular destination for the numerous tour organizations. Secondly, the price offered by it are much lower than an individual agency obtain. Thirdly, it is very difficult to get credit from the supplier and finally, it ensures professional travel services.

Factor Affecting the Tour Package Formulation

Generally, the business of package tours involves great risk, high breakeven, high-quality product, and competitive prices. Therefore, the tour management requires in-depth tour planning and market survey. However, before a tour is designed the tour manager should take into consideration certain factors which are crucial in the formulation process.

These factors have a profound impact on the tourist’s satisfaction. The main factors are:

• Purpose of Tour
• Choice of Destinations
• Tourist Budget
• Legal Requirement
• Types of Tourist Accommodation
• Tour Period
• Departure and stay information
• Tour price; inflationary condition
• Tour Reference Tools
• Tour Features – political stability
• The relationship between the host and tourist generating nation

Tour Package Design and Selection Process

The quality of a package tour is entirely based on the above factors. Essentially, to design/formulate a travel product, the tour manager has to take the biggest responsibility, intuitiveness, imagination, and innovation coupled with a lot of business activities which range from finding new exotic destinations and planning, organizing or promoting such tour.

The following are the main stages in the tour design and selection process:

1. Initial Research

(i) the destination research.

The decision to develop and formulate a new package is a multi-stage process that involves various positive and negative points/steps. Normally, the idea for a new product comes either from the tour executive within the company due to a review of the questionnaire completed by the previous tour members because of the political, economic and social development in a particular area.

When a tour manager see that a large number of old clients are interested in taking a trip to particular destinations, naturally, those destinations become the nucleus of a new ‘tour concept’.

(ii) Market Research

Since tour package is a complete tourism product, obviously, before formulating/designing this product, market research needs to be analyzed and assessed in a systematic manner. Market  research provides us the answer to the following questions:

• What is the size of the tourism market?
• Who are the existing clients?
• Where do they live?
• Who will be their potential buyers?
• Who are their competitors – their strategy and area of business leisure?
• How many tourist ones want to cater?
• What price will the clients accept?
• What facilities are available and required?
• What are the constraints viz., license, permission, finance, restrictions, taxes, and others?

Once we know the basic components of the package tour, distribution channels, market conditions, constraints in the tourism market, we can develop the marketing strategy. It enables the smooth functioning of the agency and also offers a clear picture of the tour programme. Practically, market research is conducted by the private tour companies/ private tourism enterprises in order to penetrate the market.

2. Itinerary Preparation

By itinerary one means the designing of a programme which one wants to sell and it includes destinations, stopping points, number of days and the travel services that are to be included in the programme. Whether it is a lean season or an offseason, escorted or not escorted, consumer-oriented or readymade tour programme, the itinerary is prepared to identify the origin, destinations, stopping points, accommodations, sightseeing and other travel services on travelers’ trip.

3. Handling Agency or Destination Company

The appointment of handling agency not only ensure excellent travel services to the tourist but also make the operation smooth and profitable. It is a matter of great significance as the success of travel business largely depends upon the clients are actually taken care of during the tour.

It is a positive match between the promised services and tourist’s actual experiences or feelings. Thus, the tour operator should consider the experience of the handling travel agency in the business, the area of operation, reputation, credibility, professional staff, credit facilities and the competitive price in appointing a handling agency.

4. Negotiation

It is another important management decision area in tour designing and planning. Once the decision has been made regarding the destination’s concerning their date, duration and number of clients to be carried during the trip, the tour management starts negotiations with the principals’ suppliers for a normal contract.

Negotiation means talk between the travel companies and the principal suppliers for the terms, conditions, and prices of the components of a tour package. When both parties are satisfied, it leads to a formal or informal contract between them. The tour company negotiates with the following tour vendors/suppliers:

• Accommodation
• Transport Operations- Rail and Road
• Ground Operators
• Cruise Companies
• Car Rental Companies
• The overseas representatives
• Ancillary Service Organizations

5. Coasting and Pricing a Package Tour

The cost of a package tour encompasses the air ticket, the hotel room, car rental, entertainment charges, administrative costs, promotional costs, and other travel services. The confidential tariff helps the travel company in preparing the cost sheet which will enable the concern to determine its price strategy.

Tour pricing is a big factor in the success of the company’s tour programme. The price of a package tour is, whether it is an escorted, independent or hosted the tour, often lower than the combined costs of the same components purchased separately from the principals. However, the purchase price of a travel product is based on three factors: Cost, competition, and demand.

Every tour package sold by a vendor has a quantifiable cost. To produce profit the price paid by the tourists must be greater than the agency’s cost.

6. Tour Brochure

The tour package is an intangible product which has to be purchased by the tourists/clients without inspection and sometimes even without adequate knowledge. In these circumstances, the brochure becomes the principal instrument to perform the major tasks to inform the clients about the products and to pursue them to purchase it.

Designing, printing, and distributions of tour brochures require necessary skills and knowledge about the components of the tour package. Basically, in the era of specialization and intense competition, tour brochure creates awareness and provides the description of the holiday programme.

Thus, tour management should consider various pros and cons while preparing a tour brochure. A brochure should contain the following information:

• Name of the Travel Company
• Means of transport
• Details about destinations
• Accommodation, types, location, meals
• Name of the overseas representative
• Duration of each tour
• Booking, reservation and cancellation conditions
• Details of other services – insurance, currency, entertainmentTravel documents required
• Details of price

7. Development of Reservation System

The next step in tour formulation process is reservation system. The agency management in order to put a package into operation must develop and implement a scientific reservation system. The system depends on whether the reservation is to be handled manually or with a computer working on the distribution method.

Whatever method the agency may adopt, the agency management should always keep in mind the sole objective of the reservation system.

8. Marketing of Tour Package

Once a tour package is ready, travel agency management has to make a careful decision regarding promotion and marketing of the particular package tour. The basic objective of management is to make a tour package widely known to make it more and more attractive.

To achieve these objectives, the management must consider the budget available, promotion mix, potential market, easiest and most effective media, campaigning through the international, regional or the public/private sector etc.

The promotion of a package tour means increasing its sales potential and creating an awareness of the existing and potential markets. The following methods are commonly used to promote package tours:

• Middlemen – Retail Travel Agents, GSA, consolidators
• Familiarization tours
• Building Brand Loyalty
• Encouraging Potential Buyers
• Competitive Market

9. Tour Handling/Actual Tour Operation

After the successful marketing and achieving target sales, the next and final step in the process of tour designing is tour handling. It means an actual operation of tours, which generally includes administrative work and passenger handling like maintaining reservations, handling deposits, sending advice to ground operators, arranging travel representation, analyzing the feedback received from clients/escorts/ground operator and so on.

All this is not an easy task. At every stage, one has to face different types of queries and problems due to lack of coordination and communication.

Significances of Tour Package

Tour package is beneficial to travel companies, travelers, destinations and other organizations which are directly or indirectly involved in the tourism business. The main benefits are:

• Increase the seasonality of a destination cost/price
• Earn foreign currency
• Better quality of products professional services
• Wide-variety of the tour package
• Provide bulk business to organizers

How to Create and Promote Amazing Tour Packages

Table of Contents

As a tour operator, finding new ways to improve your customers’ experience while also increasing profitability for your business should always be top of mind. A great way to attract more customers and increase your tour bookings is to offer tour packages. By creating and selling travel packages, you’re addressing the needs of a specific type of traveler, one who is looking for a fuller travel experience with the added benefits of convenience and savings.

Today we’ll be discussing the benefits of tour packages, how to effectively create and sell your own travel package, and how Rezgo’s tour packaging system can help.

What Are Tour Packages?

Tour packages are a combination of separate (but typically related) tourism products and services that are presented and sold as one. Customers pay for all the components of a tour package and receive details of their itinerary prior to travel. A typical tour package example is one that includes travel to and from the destination, accommodation, meal arrangements, and activities or excursions. 

Tour Package Example

As with this example, when people think of tour packages, they often think of packages that include services from multiple vendors. Tour packages can, however, consist of offerings from a single tour provider. Rezgo’s tour packaging system is designed to help you create and promote travel packages of your own tour products, but also offer resellers the option to package services from multiple tour businesses as well.

What Are The Benefits Of Tour Packages?

Opinions regarding the benefits of tour packages versus purchasing various travel components on your own vary with each traveller. To create and market the best tour package possible, it’s important to understand what customers are looking for in a travel package.

Benefits of Tour Packages

• Convenience – Purchasing a tour package that includes multiple services or experiences in one saves customers the time and energy needed to locate and research them individually. Travelers who prefer tour packages tend to like to avoid the work involved with booking each travel component separately.
• Cost Savings – It’s expected that customers enjoy cost savings when booking a tour package. Tour operators will often provide discounts or special rates for purchasing multiple tour products or services. 
• Security / Reassurance – Booking a tour package put together by a tour operator and that has been vetted by other travelers provides customers with a sense of security and reassurance.

Equally important is to be aware of why some customers would prefer to plan their vacation on their own. Understanding the concerns and wants of these travelers can potentially help create a tour package that addresses their concerns and converts them into bookings.

Benefits of Planning Your Own Trip

• Flexibility – Planning a tour experience on your own provides some additional flexibility. Customers are not bound to any constraints that may be present when booking a tour package. 
• Options – Sometimes not all travel or tour options are presented when browsing tour packages. Customers may feel like their options are being artificially limited by the tour operator’s preferences or reach.
• Individualized Experience – Customers who want to customize their trip and have an authentic experience tend to avoid booking tour packages over concerns of receiving a limited, tourist-centric experience.

What Kind Of Customers Enjoy Tour Packages?

Now that we’ve gone through the benefits of tour packages versus the benefits of planning a trip on your own, we can begin to understand the kinds of customers who enjoy tour packages. Above all, travellers drawn to trip packages are looking for the convenience and cost savings associated with them. They aren’t concerned about customizing every detail of their trip and are happy to entrust their experience to the tour operator or company. Tour package customers are attracted to the ease and hassle-free booking process and want the best deal possible.

Creating A Great Tour Package

Taking what we know about our audience and what they look for when purchasing a tour package, we can implement strategies that will help us create fantastic trip packages of our own. With Rezgo’s tour packaging system, you’re able to group or combine various tour products together and offer them at a discount that is both attractive to the customer and profitable for your business. What you choose to group and how you decide to package them is up to you. You have the freedom to package travel arrangements to and from your destination, pair up your activities with equipment rentals, or even group multiple experiences together for a multi-day excursion. Need some inspiration for your tour packages? Check out these 15 innovative tourism business ideas !

Remember, customers browsing travel packages for their trip are looking for convenience and freedom from having to handle all the little details. Whatever you choose to include in your tour package, make sure that you’re making it as streamlined and stress-free an experience as possible. Include as many relevant details in your tour package descriptions and preemptively answer questions that your customers might have regarding what is or isn’t included. Highlight the benefits of your tour package when compared to an individual tour and include details about discounts or deals. Customers should feel like once they book your trip package, all that’s left for them to do is enjoy their amazing vacation.

How to Market and Promote Your Tour Package

While there are definitely a few different factors to consider when marketing and promoting tour packages versus an individual tour, the fundamentals remain the same. To successfully market your tour package you need to first understand your target market or audience. That is, who are you selling your tour package to? You can then begin to build a marketing strategy aligned with the needs and wants of your target audience. As mentioned earlier, travellers expect discounts when booking travel packages so be sure to carefully consider your tour package costing so as to provide a great deal for your customer while keeping your business profitable and sustainable.

For an in-depth look at effectively selling your tour package, we suggest checking out our post on how to promote tour packages online and familiarising yourself with the 7 Ps of travel and tourism marketing .

Closing Thoughts

Tour packages are a great way to combine and sell your tour products and services in a way that is attractive to your customers and profitable to your business. By understanding the benefits of a tour package over individually booking tours and addressing the needs of your target audience, you’re able to effectively create, market, and promote your own travel packages. 

We’re excited for you to try out our new tour packaging system and look forward to seeing all the amazing tour packages you build for your business!

What should be included in tour packages?

Include transportation , accommodations, meals, guided tours, and activities. Detail what’s covered and any extra costs.

What is the difference between a Tour package and an itinerary?

A tour package bundles services for one price. An itinerary outlines trip details but doesn’t include bookings.

Should my tour package have add-ons?

Yes, offer add-ons for customization. It enhances the experience and meets diverse traveller preferences.

Written By | Edward Nieh

Edward Nieh is a freelance writer and copy editor working across multiple mediums for clients from various industries. He has a degree in creative writing with a focus on screenwriting for feature films.

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