Tour vs. going it alone
Jun 9th, 2005, 09:17 AM
#2
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Tekla, it's impossible to answer the question as you've posed it. What tour are you considering? There are luxury tours, cheapo tours, etc. There are also luxury hotels, car rentals, etc. and cheapo hotels and car rentals. Details, please! 
Jun 9th, 2005, 09:19 AM
#3
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The word "alone" might be a pitfall - - the term "independent" may be what you mean.
In general, a tour will cost more money, but there are a lot of "it depends". An individual traveling alone will inherently pay quite a premium to have a rented car (and no one else to share that cost). You may have very little need for a rented car, of course.
And so much depends on your planning, and how much you value getting what YOU want from a trip. It's not so much that traveling independently saves you so much money - - it's that you get the trip YOU want, at the hotels in the locations YOU prefer, with the meals YOU enjoy (or at least choose!) - - for the same price, if not lower.
Best wishes,
Rex
In general, a tour will cost more money, but there are a lot of "it depends". An individual traveling alone will inherently pay quite a premium to have a rented car (and no one else to share that cost). You may have very little need for a rented car, of course.
And so much depends on your planning, and how much you value getting what YOU want from a trip. It's not so much that traveling independently saves you so much money - - it's that you get the trip YOU want, at the hotels in the locations YOU prefer, with the meals YOU enjoy (or at least choose!) - - for the same price, if not lower.
Best wishes,
Rex
Jun 9th, 2005, 09:22 AM
#4
I think evaluating in terms of cost only, it could go either way. As mentioned above, depending on the type of package tour you buy or the kind of trip you self-plan. There's not a simple yes/no answer possible to your question.
Jun 9th, 2005, 09:27 AM
#5
Is this 2 people traveling together?
Though you said 'alone' I also see 'we'. I ask for clarification because for a SOLO traveler a tour is the more expensive option (single supplement always makes it more money than what I can plan on my own). Also car rental is not cost-wise for a single person.
Though you said 'alone' I also see 'we'. I ask for clarification because for a SOLO traveler a tour is the more expensive option (single supplement always makes it more money than what I can plan on my own). Also car rental is not cost-wise for a single person.
Jun 9th, 2005, 09:55 AM
#6
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suze-
I don't think I agree with you regarding solo travel. Yes, group tours require single supplement. But on all the trips I went solo independently, I still paid more for hotel rooms (double rooms always cost less than 2x single rooms), and if applicable, railpasses (most railpass offers 50% off 2nd person).
I don't think I agree with you regarding solo travel. Yes, group tours require single supplement. But on all the trips I went solo independently, I still paid more for hotel rooms (double rooms always cost less than 2x single rooms), and if applicable, railpasses (most railpass offers 50% off 2nd person).
Jun 9th, 2005, 10:07 AM
#7
I was comparing solo self-planned to solo on a tour package (not two people together under either situation).
Is that what you mean too?
With independent travel I feel I can get a better hotel for the money, picking out a local 3-star, instead of the large often ill-located hotels sometimes used on package deals.
Is that what you mean too?
With independent travel I feel I can get a better hotel for the money, picking out a local 3-star, instead of the large often ill-located hotels sometimes used on package deals.
Jun 9th, 2005, 10:08 AM
#8
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I have to agree with Rex - there are so many variables and it comes down to the trip you want. For me?
Tour: less time planning, no worry about booking transportation or hotels or highlights (in many cases), minimal luggage handling, etc. However, most tours I've seen have you on the move and rarely do you get a chance to really get a feel for where you are. (Of course, not all tours are the same!)
Independent: more research/planning, mapping out itineraries, having to schedule reservations, working out transportation, and maximum luggage handling. Plus side? You get the trip that is tailor made for you.
Monetary cost? Actually, I've figured out for the amount of time I will be spending in Spain (almost 3 weeks) how much a nice tour would be vs. what I'm budgeting to spend. The cost is coming to about equal. I just think I'm going to have a better trip doing it independently. As with most things in life....it's a trade off.
Tour: less time planning, no worry about booking transportation or hotels or highlights (in many cases), minimal luggage handling, etc. However, most tours I've seen have you on the move and rarely do you get a chance to really get a feel for where you are. (Of course, not all tours are the same!)
Independent: more research/planning, mapping out itineraries, having to schedule reservations, working out transportation, and maximum luggage handling. Plus side? You get the trip that is tailor made for you.
Monetary cost? Actually, I've figured out for the amount of time I will be spending in Spain (almost 3 weeks) how much a nice tour would be vs. what I'm budgeting to spend. The cost is coming to about equal. I just think I'm going to have a better trip doing it independently. As with most things in life....it's a trade off.
Jun 9th, 2005, 10:18 AM
#9
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although they are often compared against each other, group tours and independent travel are for two ENTIRELY different types of consumers, who might not enjoy at all being offered the other product.
group tours allow travellers to relax and not have to think about how to get from A to B or where to eat or when C will be open.if any trouble arises your guide will take care of it. however if the group turns out to have the odd 'tourist from hell' who is always complaining and late for the coach, your stuck with them.you also must content with the group tour itinary, which to fill the brochure can sometimes have a rediculous ratio of travelling time.
i prefer solo travel, as i find the research preparation interesting and have resources like this forum to get advice.it usually ends of costing a bit more.
group tours allow travellers to relax and not have to think about how to get from A to B or where to eat or when C will be open.if any trouble arises your guide will take care of it. however if the group turns out to have the odd 'tourist from hell' who is always complaining and late for the coach, your stuck with them.you also must content with the group tour itinary, which to fill the brochure can sometimes have a rediculous ratio of travelling time.
i prefer solo travel, as i find the research preparation interesting and have resources like this forum to get advice.it usually ends of costing a bit more.
Jun 9th, 2005, 12:21 PM
#10
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And there are different degrees of group "tours." Some take care of every minute of your day, every meal, every sight, etc. for the entire trip. Others provide flights, hotels, and transportation between cities and let you wander about on your own in each city. And every degree in between.
Jun 9th, 2005, 12:31 PM
#11
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Some people like the protective cocoon of a canned tour. I took one on a big bus tour and hated it. I don't even remember some of the hotels or where we went. I felt trapped in the bus and could not interact with the people or see what I wanted to see.
On the other hand, I have found short tours in very small groups to be fruitful. We took one with Backroads Touring last year, and the 6 of us had fun doing it. It was a a fun event.
Day tours can also be profitable if they provide transportation, convenience, and access that you could not otherwise obtain if acting independently.
For example, we took a tour from Paris to Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau -- both in one day. Part of the bonus was the services of a top notch guide.
We later tried the same visit independently and found that the bus tour was the better option because Vaux, although a great objective, is not reachable by public transportation.
Usually, however, I find the tour environment to be too insulating from the Europe I came to see to want more of them.
I would consider one for Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria where I don't speak the languages at all, and I don't know the environment.
On the other hand, I have found short tours in very small groups to be fruitful. We took one with Backroads Touring last year, and the 6 of us had fun doing it. It was a a fun event.
Day tours can also be profitable if they provide transportation, convenience, and access that you could not otherwise obtain if acting independently.
For example, we took a tour from Paris to Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau -- both in one day. Part of the bonus was the services of a top notch guide.
We later tried the same visit independently and found that the bus tour was the better option because Vaux, although a great objective, is not reachable by public transportation.
Usually, however, I find the tour environment to be too insulating from the Europe I came to see to want more of them.
I would consider one for Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria where I don't speak the languages at all, and I don't know the environment.
