Exploring your bucket-list destinations on a guided group tour is one of the best ways to experience the world. Without any stress or worries about the planning, you’ll travel like a VIP as you enjoy the expertise of local guides who will provide you with a truly memorable vacation.
There are some things you’ll want to keep in mind as you plan your group tour, so that you’ll have the best trip possible.
- Book a tour that will provide you with meaningful experiences. One of the joys of planning a group tour is that there are SO many different kinds of options: culturally focused tours, historical tours, food discovery, nature exploration – you name it and there is probably a tour for it. So think about what you love and the kind of things you enjoy – or would like to discover – when traveling. Determine what you want and then ask your travel advisor to help you find a tour that offers exactly that.
- Make sure your tour is a good match for your physical comfort level and accept (honestly) any limitations you may have when it comes to activity level. Most tours will indicate activity level and it’s important to make note of those: if there are indications that a good deal of walking is required – or any other physical guidelines – make sure that you are comfortable with that. If the tour description indicates a fairly high exertion/stamina level, they mean it.
- Know what is and isn’t included: Will your tour include all, some, or no meals? What about gratuities? Are there additional excursions that can be added – and if so, what is that cost? How much free time will there be, and what is the policy for venturing on your own? You don’t want any surprises once you’re there.
- Check out the tour organizer before you go. If a trip (cost) seems too good to be true, find out more (see #3 above). You should receive a written contract of your itinerary before you make a deposit – make sure your actual hotel and other specifics are identified. If not, run do not walk, away.
- Pay attention to the schedule that is provided and be respectful of it (and your fellow travelers) every morning. You’re paying to see and do a number of things on your tour and being mindful of that schedule will allow you (and everyone else) achieve it all. Don’t be that couple that everyone is waiting for every morning.
- Pack light – or as light as possible – especially if you’ll be visiting a variety of cities/areas. (Save space by rolling your clothes, it really works.) Be sure to note any luggage guidelines that your tour gives you: typically they will transport a limited number of bag(s) per person and anything beyond that, you have to haul.
- Get to know those who are journeying with you. While you may think you won’t have much in common with your fellow travelers, in fact everyone starts with one major thing in common – you all picked the tour and destination(s) because of things that interested you, and so did everyone else! So you automatically have at least this in common with everyone else on the tour – and in all likelihood, you’ll have even more with a number of folks. Don’t be surprised if you even make some lifelong friends along the way! It happens more than you might think and truthfully, the more open you are to getting to know the people on your tour, the more you will enjoy the journey!
- Purchase travel insurance. If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the past two years, it’s that a million things can happen that can disrupt your plans. Protect your travel investment by getting travel insurance.
- Enjoy the little moments as well as the big moments. Whether it’s listening to the wind “breathe” in the Grand Canyon, listening to someone make history come alive, enjoying a new food, or laughing with newfound friends, these are all the moments that will make the memories of this trip last a lifetime. Treasure every one of them!
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