My friends and I are planning for a trip and are confused with what to opt for, to book a package tour for 15 days, or to plan and organize our trip. Just want to get an idea about what will be the convenient approach to enjoy the tour.
Do you prefer a package tour or making your trip?
To properly compare you would need to provide some details of where you are going. Most of the time I prefer going myself and it is usually easy to organise your own trip in most parts of the world but some destinations can be very complicated to organise yourself that it is easier to opt for a package tour. It also depends if you aren't looking into tours that give you speciality access. I know someone obsessed with certain archaeological sites so she takes tours that take you to active dig sites. This is something you couldn't organise yourself.
I prefer to join package tours. Maybe some hold that traveling on your own is freer and you can travel anywhere you want. However, in my opinion, there are some advantages of joining package tours. First, joining package tours can help us save money. Many people get together to travel and the cost of each must be down. Also, we may share our goods. Second, joining package tours can help us build a friendship. We would meet some individuals from other places and understand the different culture which could increase our knowledge.
Seems like you've answered your own question?
As you like package tours, the preferences of others don't really matter so book what you wish to. Go have fun. Please don't post a link.
Personally, I don't prefer tours. Would only do so if the destination requires one, or if it was particularly difficult/uncomfortable to do without one. There can be a convenience factor but not usually price.
[ Edit: Edited on 23 Apr 2021, 11:24 GMT by goodfish ]
I have a hard time finding package tours that appeal to me because of my age, either I'm too young or too old. - but I'd love to see if there's a business that sells them for all ages and locations.
I took a package tour once in the early 70s to Europe. I was in my early 20s and my first trip traveling overseas. I would never do it again. There was one couple that was late back from lunch EVERY single day (the wife was a hardcore shopper.) As a result of them being back to the coach 1-2 hours, among other things we missed our scheduled stop of Heidelberg Castle and rolled into our hotel after dinner.
I was much younger then (20s) and didn't do anything but mumble under my breath. Today I would be ALL up in her face and if that did not work lodge a formal complaint with the guide and even call the tour company HQ to complain and demand a partial refund in CASH, no vouchers.
>There was one couple that was late back from lunch EVERY single day
The same thing happened to me on a day tour in Egypt (one of the handful of organised tours I've taken). One woman was substantially late (20-30 minutes) at each stop so we became more and more rushed at each subsequent stop. I'd never have done it in my 20s but eventually I got so cross I told her *exactly* what I thought of her selfishness. She was back on time for the rest of the day. The other passengers thanked me but...more importantly imo...the guide took me aside and also thanked me, because she wasn't allowed to say anything to the passenger and she knew just how frustrating such selfish people are.
We signed up for a package trip once and after doing a little research, I discovered we could do the trip by ourselves for half the cost. My husband called and explained this to the agent and they cheerfully returned our deposit. We did the trip by ourselves and had saved enough money to stay twice as long. No more thought of packages . . .
The one person who benefits most from a package tour is the travel agency!
I book my own flights and book a hotel room for at least the first night or two. I try to avoid flying during high season unless to return home. After the first night or two I book hotels when needed usually with a walk-in. I do research where to stay ahead of time.
The closest I came to something like a package tour was when I was a volunteer with Earthwatch (charity) expeditions. They recommended the airline, selected the hotel and picked the dates. You were with the same people for a couple weeks. (Charitable tax deduction for me because I did these trips when I had a salary before retiring.) No problem with this, met some nice people but days were structured and you more or less hung out with the same people the entire time.
I have met people who used a travel agency for everything because it was their first time out of the country and they wanted someone to hold their hands, so to speak. Some travelers couldn't bother with booking their own hotels and flights and cost was not important. Some could not make decisions so they let a travel company choose or them.
I do use the same airline, or their partners, to accrue frequent flyer miles. My trips are less structured than formal tours. My pre-planning might be to stay in one city for 2 or 3 days and then something comes up or I meet old friends and extend my time or head for a totally different city/area than planned on. You can't make changes like this when on a package tour.
Overseas, what I don't visit on my own I may use a local single day shared tour - booked in person as needed. I don't mind sitting with other people on a tour bus. But this is not every day. (Some hotels have tour desks where you can see prices and where to go.)
Your choice, package tour or do it yourself Or a combination. I am sort of a "cheap charlie" and try to save money whenever I can.
Up to you!
Both;
Making your own trip is harder and involves some planning, but package trips that let you cut loose and do your own thing are easier, however, both rewarding.