This story was created in partnership with: Costsaver
In this day and age, travellers are smart. They’re informed. And with limited vacation days from work, their time off is valuable and precious.
Travellers today have constant access to the internet and are more confident booking travel independently which means they won’t pay for mediocre experiences on tour. Costsaver knows that. It’s why we partnered with them for this story. They get that a lacklustre tour filled with stereotypes are simply not the kind of vacations people actually pay money for.
Just like many things in this day and age, modern-day touring has adapted, and ultimately changed the way people travel. Now let’s bust some myths!
1. “I will never see anything but the beaten old tourist track.”
Yes, you will see most major sites on your tour. But who wouldn’t want to fly all the way from the other side of the world to Italy and not want to see Venice’s canals? Or visit Cambodia and not see the likes Angkor Wat, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris? There’s a reason these sites are included in most itineraries: they’re stunning and shouldn’t be casually discounted as tourist traps.
Tour providers from big to small, know that travellers are always searching for the ultimate local experiences. Costsaver in particular gets that nothing can replace a local’s insight. It’s why they pair their Travel Directors with Local Specialists to ensure that travellers are able to experience including smaller, intimate encounters with stories told by the people who grew up hearing them.
You’re pretty much guaranteed to be shocked at the amount of wisdom they can share about each city or monument that you visit, right down to what significant event occurred along that little side street centuries ago.
Think the kind of stuff that you wouldn’t experience on your own. Fact is, there are many inclusions as part of a tour that you would not find while travelling alone, and these are far from the regular tourist program.
2. “I’ll always be on a big coach bus.”
The good news is that if you do take a high capacity coach tour you’ll be rewarded with AC enabled buses, free Wi-Fi and multiple stops along the way to stretch your legs and enjoy the often-breathtaking views. The even better news? Touring boasts a million different travel styles. From sailing tours to river cruises, safari tours, European kayak or cycling tours – the list goes on and there are a thousand different ways to get from point a to point b while on a tour.
3. “I’ll have no time to myself.”
Another common misconception is that you’ll not have any time for yourself to stray from the group but what many people forget is that most things on a tour itinerary are not mandatory. Sure, you’ve booked and paid for this specific tour because the itinerary had all your essential must-dos and must-sees, but if you suddenly feel like breaking off from the group, simply let the Travel Director know you’ll be doing your own thing that day and off you go, exploring whatever your heart desires.
4. “I’ll be rushed and shuttled around like cattle!”
There are many places we’ve visited around the world that leave us thinking, ‘’I wish I could have spent more time there,’’ and whether touring or travelling on your own, you will hear yourself say that again. Guaranteed. The world is simply too awesome to feel like you’ve had your fill after just one visit. Unfortunately, there is no way you can know which places will win your heart until you’re there.
Tip: Keep in mind is that tour operators know each destination inside out and will show you how to get the most out of your time while there.
Some people like to see as much as possible while abroad, while others value a relaxed pace over ticking boxes. You need to consider which is more important to you. Tour itineraries by operators like Costsaver cater to both kinds of travellers and it’s more a case of filtering the search results for the itinerary that’s right for you. Tours with two-night stays in most places will generally offer a more relaxed pace than those which move from one destination to the next, day after day. How you travel, is up to you.
5. “I could do it cheaper myself.”
At first glance, yes, it might hurt your wallet to book the tour upfront and without doing your research, it is likely to feel more expensive than travelling solo. What you might be surprised to find is that depending on the departure date, tours can be paid off in budget-friendly instalments to when you book with TourRadar. The best part is that before you travel, you’ll have accommodation, food, transport and experiences all paid off well in advance.
And perhaps, even better is that you’ll be exempt from wasting any time with maps, wondering if you’re where you’re supposed to be or if you’ve wound up at the doors of the right hotel for which you may or may not have paid a fair price for. Instead on tour, you wake up and roll out of bed, grab some breakfast and head off to enjoy the first exciting experience of the day with a confidence that you’re paying prices that make sense.
And most importantly, the included activities and rates for optional extras are mostly cheaper when booked through a tour as the operator will negotiate cheaper rates for their travellers in advance, which is something you won’t be able to benefit from while travelling solo.
You could also opt for choosing an operator with affordable upfront costs like Costsaver. The essentials will be entirely taken care of and you’ll have the option of tailoring the tour to include your unique must-haves. This way you are only paying for exactly which experiences matters to you.
Another great example where price is concerned: you might be thinking of hiring a car for your solo travels but forget or simply underestimate the rental, fuel, parking, road tolls and permit costs. When you’re travelling on tour you have the advantage of foresight. In many cases, even experienced travellers fail to account for every cost when planning a trip. And while you might be able to travel to the same destination for the same duration of time for a cheaper price, you’ll miss the invaluable benefit of travelling alongside a Travel Director each day. They know the ins and outs of the places you visit and they’re entirely dedicated to ensuring you get your fix, your way.
In other words, the old adeage is true: you get what you pay for.
6. “There will be long travel times.”
We live in a fast-paced age and sometimes forget that a journey which takes us 24 hours today, for example, from Melbourne to London, once took 6 weeks to complete. The same goes for travel around Europe, the USA, India and beyond.
Remember that there is an upside to long-distance travel, that is, an opportunity to rest up so you can hit your next destination with gusto, catch up on your daily journal, or look through your photos from the day before. It’s also the perfect opportunity for your Travel Director to prepare you with important information about conquering your next destination like a local.
Yes, sometimes it’s all about the destination, but here is a cliched reminder that sometimes, it really is about the journey. Anyone who has driven through Swiss Alps or travelled on the trains through Norway’s fjords will tell you exactly that. Not to mention that the panoramic windows of a coach are the perfect way to sit back and take in the view.
Having said this, regional tours, which cover a small part of a country are becoming increasingly popular as the demand for in-depth experiences while on tour increases. Like we said, it’s about finding what works for you.
There are endless opportunities to join multi-day group tours which cover shorter distances and allow you to spend more time on the ground exploring at your own pace, seeing what you want to see. But there’s also multi-country tours with aggressive itineraries if you want to see the most of a place like Europe. These styles are helpful if you’re travelling from far away and only have limited time to spend away from work or school. Whichever style of trip is next on your bucket list, there’s absolutely a tour to fit your unique preferences.
7. “Group tours offer lacklustre food options.”
If you’ve ever known someone who works in a kitchen, you’ll likely agree that catering for large groups of people is no easy feat, even for chefs with experience. But, you’ll be surprised though, how incredible each of the included meals is managed. Plus, some operators have been feeding hungry travellers for decades and have mastered this down to a tee.
While tour operators have been catering for special dietary requirements for health, religious or allergy reasons for decades, travellers can expect sometimes two or three different choices of dishes for each course. The ‘foodie culture’ is storming the globe, so sub-standard meals are simply not an option for successful tour companies anymore.
Most tour operators feature local cuisine in their included meals, allowing you to sample delicacies from your touring destination. Keep in mind that while on average, a tour itinerary will cover half of your evening meals, other tours don’t provide any, giving you the time to follow your Travel Director’s recommendations to that secret gem around the corner where you can really get amongst the locals. Like we said, it’s your experience.
Take the tour that inspired this story and make your own perfect tour through Europe a reality.
Do you agree, or disagree? Was there a doubt we didn’t cover? Tell us in the comments below!
