Essential advice on vetting operators to ensure your holiday matches your needs
An escorted trip can be disappointing, but it’s not always the tour company that’s at fault. The tour may not suit your personality and style, your budget expectations, or your stamina level.
You can avoid this problem by doing your due diligence before signing up. You cannot expect tour companies to have information about you, but you can determine many things about tour companies by doing reasonable research.
It takes work because there are so many companies and their itineraries have become more diverse, adventurous and far-reaching. However, your initial effort can make or break your vacation.
Have a clear vision of what you want and enjoy itand match a tour company accordingly. Some specialize in cultural visits, others in wilderness excursions. Some pamper their clients, while others demand physical exertion.
Get a first impression by browsing company websites. Do the pictures show 20 or 60 year olds? Are they thinking of real landscapes or painted landscapes? Relaxing in a spa or diving on the reef?
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Also read the explanatory text; The tone and content will emphasize the company’s focus, whether it be relaxation, energy, art or adventure.
Using your shortlist of tour companies, compare similar travel plans to get a more detailed idea of the pace, focus, level of free time and flexibility.
Get your friends on the canvasYou should get to know you and ask if they have any experience with the companies you are considering. Also check with travel agencies. Good ones should ask the right questions and direct you to suitable holiday matches.
Keep an open mind. Many customers are loyal to certain brands, but just because a tour company is great in Seoul doesn’t mean its atmosphere and expertise are right for the Sahara.
Next, Decide if you’re a plonk or a Penfolds person. There’s no point in traveling to the Himalayas or the Cambodian countryside if you’re expecting luxury.
Later deciding on a budget. No two itineraries are exactly the same and coverages vary, but you can get an approximately comparable cost by dividing the cost by the number of days. Just keep in mind that more budget-end tours won’t include flights, optional excursions, or lots of meals.
Here’s your next decision within your budget window: a large or small group. You’ll probably get better value in larger groups, but a middle-of-the-road experience in predictable places. If you’ve never been to South America or Europe before and just want to see the highlights, there’s nothing wrong with that.
A small group provides a more intimate and interactive experience, usually moves faster and can take you off the beaten tourist route.
If you have niche interests, small group companies will be your first choice. You can take jazz tours in South America, textile tours in Cambodia, and focus on everything from wine to wildlife conservation.
one last thing You may want to consider whether it is environmentally friendly – relatively speaking, because all travel leaves a significant footprint. Some companies are involved in conservation, sustainable tourism and local community projects, while others are certified by reputable organizations such as Ecotourism Australia, Rainforest Alliance or Green Tourism.
Brian Johnston seemed destined to be a travel writer: an Irish man born in Nigeria, raised in Switzerland, lived in Britain and China, and now calls Australia home.
