Guided Tours – Ten Best Reasons to Enjoy the Experience.

We all like to be independent, but there are so many reasons to take guided tours – whether for your entire holiday or booking local tours along the way.

Times have long gone where crowds of people were squashed into overcrowded buses – tours are much more comfortable in these days of travel.

Just imagine how much of New York, Dubrovnik, Greece, Rome or Paris you’d miss if you were just wandering around with a brochure in your hand.

Reason 1 – All the Nitty Gritty arrangements are Made for You.

For one thing, all details from the time you start your holiday until you return are taken care of by the tour company (or through your travel agent) with guided tours.

Common problems on your own are – getting lost trying to find your hotel, arriving at a place that is closed, or worse…arriving somewhere where the queues are 5km long to get into an attraction.

Tour companies always build downtime into their programs so you do have time to regather before heading on to the next highlight.

All you have to do is pack and turn up at the Airport or Coach terminal on time. (With all your travel documents!)

Reason 2 – Save time and see more

Time is as valuable as money when you’re on holiday, and with popular attractions it’s common to have huge queues waiting to enter.

I remember well the L O N G queues waiting to go into the Vatican, but our guided tour included “skip-the-line admission” that gave us much more time to spend inside.

Reason 3 – Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy the Ride

Eeek..you find yourself in a country where cars drive on the other side of the road! It’s difficult enough to look the right way when crossing the road let alone driving and dodging traffic on roundabouts.

Another worry is that a foreign GPS might not operate the same as yours at home – who knows where you could end up.

It’s so much easier to have a guided tour and sit back in comfort letting a local do the driving.

Reason 4 – Discover the Good Bits

You’ve probably been caught with a local tour guide who gives facts, figures and statistics out of a book and then heads straight to the family souvenir shop or winery?

The good news is these are in the minority and if you travel with a reputable tour operator.  A guided tour has an expert guide who can give you oodles of information on the history, culture and hidden treasures in their home city or region – so much more than you find in a brochure.

Plus, they can point you to the best cafes, restaurants and watering holes.

Reason 5 – Meet like-minded people

A huge bonus is that you meet like-minded people on organised tours because you’re all there for the same reason.  Maybe it’s a Cooking, Environmental, Museum or an Art Tour that you’ve chosen which means you’ll have lots in common with the others.

Guided tours are a fantastic way to meet people from around the world and learn about their cultures. (Remember to always be open-minded).

Reason 6 – Become friends with the locals on a Guided Tour

Your local tour guides are usually really friendly and sometimes introduce you to their friends and family.

I remember volunteering in Nepal and ending up in a roomful of our guide’s close friends who made their own version of whisky!  A drop on the end of my tongue sent me into a spin, but we did share a lot of laughs and stories about village life in the Kathmandu Valley.

This would never happen if you were travelling individually.  (Well not in a safe manner anyway).

Reason 7 – Support the Local Economy

What better way to support the economy of a country you visit than to join a guided tour that uses local vehicles and guides.

When in Peru, our tour included homestays where we learnt to cook local food – so delicious. We made pottery and even got dressed up in local costumes and learnt to dance!

Local hand-made crafts from the host families were available to buy, meaning we had lasting memories of our good time there.

Reason 8 – You’re Always Safe

Your safety is your guide’s number one priority. It doesn’t matter where you travel to, wherever there are crowds of tourists, there’ll be pickpockets.

There’s lots of other safety issues when visiting remote areas, and your tour guide will make sure you are aware of what can happen, and what to do if it does.

Reason 9 – Guided Tours Can be Cheaper.

A lot of people still think guided tours are more less expensive than independent tours. But not necessarily so.

Tour companies have long-term relationships with the local suppliers, hotels, and restaurants that independent travellers don’t.  Their guides have been there, done the groundwork and experienced the destinations you’re visiting.

Reason 10 – It’s Your Holiday!

Relax – you’re on holiday.  Whether you’re still working or retired, it’s important to make the most of your time away and guided tours definitely has the thumbs up from me.

So…whether you want to trek in Nepal, swim with turtles in the Galapagos, cycle in Rome or cook scones at an Irish Farm – go with guided tours, let the experts do the work.  AND ENJOY!

Handy Hints:

There are a gazillion fantastic tour companies out there. Personally I’ve always had great satisfaction with the following:

• World Expeditions
• Back-Roads Touring – (Small group tours).
• Intrepid 
• UTracks
• Globus
• And maybe…you might like to read my Gypsy Tips and Tricks
  

  Guided Tours…way to go!