#1 – Save time – Say bye-bye to planning and research
Tour operators are not only destination experts, but are equally skilled in planning & logistics as well. With their connections with local suppliers & providers in the hospitality industry, they can make your trip worth-while. From trip planning to hotels and accommodation, they can provide a detailed day-by-day itinerary of where you will stay, what you will see and where you will eat. Most tour operators have detailed itineraries posted on their website, and can give you valuable suggestions on best times to travel, what to expect and can help you plan your vacation within your budget.
#2 – Make friends – Travel in a group
Single, or simply looking for companions to travel with you? Take advantage of the group travel option – there are several tour operators that operators tours catering to your choice and preference – women only tours, solo travelers, LGBT, elderly couples are some great options to get out there as a group, meet new people, make friends and also discover new places.
#3 – Bucket list – Do it now
You always wanted to do an African Wild-life Safari, climb Mount Everest, and go on an expedition tour to Antarctica. Now, you can do it, it’s easy. With plenty of thematic tour options to choose from – adventure, wild-life safaris, hiking & trekking, etc. you not only get the research, planning & booking taken care for you, you can also rest assured on what to expect on your adventure including suggestions/tips on what to wear, best time to travel, and above all guides & local help to assist you throughout your journey.
#4 – Stranger in a foreign land – Don’t be
Traveling can be a life enriching experience. At the same time, it can also be somewhat of a daunting experience – experience foreign land, new people, exotic cuisine, climate, culture shock and much more. In order to acclimate you to the local custom and give you a smooth sailing, when you travel with a tour operator, you will be escorted or shall we say accompanied by a tour leader or a tour guide, who is familiar with local customs. Having your own tour leader/guide travel with you helps you with getting trusted recommendations on restaurants, shopping, and above all gives you the extra cushion when you are in a foreign land and cannot speak the native language. If nothing else, you have someone traveling with you to take a picture for your selfie.
#5 – Feed your soul – enjoy niche tours
There are a range of tour options which are extremely niche, and can make you immerse in local culture, discover experiences that you would otherwise not find on any booking sites. A good example of that is a food & wine vacations tour – where guests can stay in estates or local well-to-do homes, can partake in culinary lessons while taking in scenery of a country side and enjoying a scrumptious 3/5 course meal 3 times a day, with wine of course.
A typical European culinary tour (Italy or France) offers travelers insight into local tradition through visits to picturesque medieval villages, cooking classes, winery visits, wine tasting, local restaurants. Gourmet tours could include food artisan’s visits, cheese farms, olive oil producers and markets.
#6 – Opportunity Cost – money matters
Now this one is quite subjective, and you may not agree with it. On the surface, it may appear that you are overpaying for a ready-made package, and you may even think that you can do better by taking a DIY approach. Here is where your mileage may vary. Some tours are harder – takes more time and money to plan on your own – ex: like the genealogy tour discussed above or enjoying a 7 day/8 night customized food, culinary & cooking tour to Bordeaux, France with stay in one of the spectacular wine houses, and visits to nearby cellars and enjoying their native cheeses and wine. Even a simple sight-seeing tour to London when combined with cultural & discovery element through the eyes of a native tour operator can mean a lot. You will find a lot of gems that you wouldn’t think otherwise.
#7 – Travel tips, visa arrangements and more …
Tour operators specialize in select destinations, and offer valuable tips in terms of best time to travel, where to stay and how to make the best of your best. Additionally, if you are carrying a non-US passport, tour operators can assist you with getting visas either on their own, or can direct you to a 3rd party office.
Photo credits:
http://www.portoclub.gr/browse/crete-join-the-cretans-daily-life.html
No comments:
Post a Comment