There are a lot of ways to experience a new country. It isn’t uncommon that your goal is to see as much as possible with the time and budget that you have. If you are experiencing a country for the first time, and want to maximize iconic sites and experiences, a tour group is not a bad idea.
Pros:
- You get to see a lot of great, iconic sites in a limited amount of time.
- Planning is trouble free.
- You get to make good friends.
- Most tour groups will plan for special cultural experiences.
- An experienced, enthusiastic guide provides color and detail.
- You have a good idea how to budget the trip.
- You have a higher degree of protection and safety.
- You experience sites and places you most likely would not find on your own.
- Tour guides can arrange for skip-the-line access to various museums and attractions, as well as entrance into locations before they are available to the general public.
Cons
- There may be things you want to see that are not on the itinerary.
- You have to stick to a schedule.
- There will be places where you want to spend more time than allotted.
- There can be some long stretches and the bus bathroom is less than desirable.
- It’s likely you can save money if you create your own itinerary.
We have been on two bus tours, one with Globus in England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The other with Trafalgar in Italy. I really can’t recommend one over the other. Both had fun itineraries, we traveled with fun people and really enjoyed our guides.
Tips
- Read the itinerary carefully, it is usually pretty clear about the time you have and the nature of the different stops and which meals are provided. If it isn’t clear, contact the travel company to be sure.
- You are allowed to do things on your own without the group as long as you can meet up with the group before they move on.
- Pay attention to meeting times and places, give yourself time to get back to the meeting place.
- Ask the tour guide for suggestions of things to do during free time.
