Most of my travel has been with tour groups. There are advantages and disadvantages to travelling with a tour company.

I’ve found that most people in the groups I have travelled with are nice, friendly people. Of course sometimes there is one who is a complainer. You know the one, right? Nothing makes them happy. An example of one I met recently was a lady who was on an 11 day bus tour. Her biggest complaint was she didn’t realize there would be days were we would be on the bus for a few hours at a time. Also, she didn’t realize the bus would make multiple stops throughout the day which meant getting on and off the bus. You know, to see the sites, visit attractions, and to eat. Even if someone has done all the work for you, do your homework before committing to a group tour. These trips are not cheap and not doing your homework can turn into a very expensive mistake. The lesson this lady learned was she is not a traveller who likes touring around. I’m sure she would love a resort vacation where you unpack once and then enjoy the amenities on offer.

Now, I am not a traveller who enjoys spending a week in a resort. It’s the perfect holiday for some but I’ve tried it several times and got bored after two days. Maybe part of my problem is I don’t particularly like beaches. Nor do I like swimming in the ocean.

As I said before, I travel a lot with tour companies. There are many pros to travelling with a group. The big advantage is that the planning is all done for you. Sometimes everything is included in the price; hotels, air, shuttles to and from the airport, baggage handling at the hotels, meals, admission to attractions, and a knowledgeable tour guide. All you need to bring is spending money. The tour company will also let you know what you need to pack, such as chargers for your devices. Information about visas and vaccinations is also provided by the tour company. You will receive lots of communications prior to your trip which always builds up the excitement and anticipation.

Some tours are packed with activities but there are others that offer free time that allows you to plan your own adventures away from the group. Of course you can use that time to relax and enjoy the down time. You just have to find the right balance for you.

One of the disadvantages of travelling with a tour company is you will be stuck with a bunch of strangers that you may not like. I personally have never experienced that but I have heard some horror stories about the complainers, the people who are always late, and the entitled passengers. Another disadvantage is your itinerary is set. Unless there is a lot of free time your day is dictated by the tour company. You could also be living out of your suitcase for the duration of the trip. Most tours involve multiple hotels. In another post I talk about packing cubes and how they will add so much value to any trip you take. Check it out Packing Cubes – Never have a messy suitcase again.

So, the takeaway from this is do your homework. Find out what kind of traveller you are and follow that path. Travelling is expensive so you want to make sure you make the right decisions when booking a trip.