Hi all. I am generally not an organized tour type of person, b/c I prefer to go at my own pace (faster than most) and decide for myself where to go and what to see.

I did 2 organized tours to Europe with friends. It was a great way to see a lot with little fuss, but there were aggravating parts, too.

I am still trying to decide whether to go on one by myself this Sept., or wait a year when I *think* a friend can join me.

I had pretty much decided to go by myself this year until I was on a day tour to Chichen Itza in Mexico by myself last Feb. It was me and 8 others - all couples. I didn't really click with anyone (except one woman) and the one couple was really, really annoying. The husband kept telling really stupid jokes and the wife kept laughing like he was a stand-up comedian that was actually funny. They kept on going off by themselves to take pictures and held up the whole group several times.

All I could think of was: what if I do go Vienna and get stuck on a tour with all people like this?!

(BTW, Chichen Itza was awesome - so even though the company wasn't the greatest I was thrilled I went).

So - tell me your stories - good and bad about your experiences with organized tours. Ever been on a trip with an tour filled with people that drove you nuts?

We have had both the good and bad experiences with touring groups..point to remember is that it is a group and filled with random people. Best tour for us was 3 weeks in China...couldn't have seen and done what we did any other way, and interestingly, people 'sorted' themselves out after a short time, and the annoying ones knew who they were, and were sort of shunned..til they got the message that they didn't run things. Like one guy kept wandering away and keeping us waiting. After the second time he did this, no one spoke to him for 3 days. Also had a wonderful tour of Great Britain, and because DH had been previously seriously ill, it was the best option for us, and the tour leader was so very knowledgeable and accomodating that we learned lots more than we ever could have any other way. A tour group requires discipline and regimen and some really don't like that but remember that many of the annoying details are covered for you, like meals, hotel rooms, luggage, etc., and for elderly people, that is such a good thing. But when we can do it on our own, we generally prefer to do so. Thus my answer would be, it all depends on your expectations and the reality of the expectations vs. the limitations of a tour group. We toured Ireland in a very small group and had an incredible time (of course, not without a little stress). If you do go to Mexico, might I suggest the Caravan group, as we did a tour recently with them and it was excellent in every way, and very economical. Good luck.

After 9 organized tours I can say: yes, there will certainly be at least one nut on the tour. Can you imagine, maybe some people thought you and I were nuts

But the positive will outweigh the negative. For me, it's not doing it alone. And the convenience of not worrying if the next hotel is oversold And the tour guide as a translator, if needed.

Why don't you go on your own? Without a tour I mean. Since you say you aren't an organized tour type of person. And I definitely wouldn't wait an entire year in the hopes a friend might be available.

How about the honeymoon couple that was later for every single start (once 45 minutes)?

How about the idiot that managed to drop his wallet/passport thingy over the side of a canal boat in Amsterdam?

How about the tour that changed ALL 3 hotels to ones in worse locations - and told us only as we arrived in each country?

How about the 7am calls? (We like going out in the evening - not big partiers - but to musical events, and ocassinally a club or casino - and to me 9am is wake up time - and that with breakfast in bed.)

Hi all. I'm considering an organized tour to Europe for the reasons Faina mentioned - but mostly the language barrier. I always plan detailed itineraries, personalized to us, for our western US adventures, but by myself and not speaking the language is a different ball game. And not waiting in long lines to get into major attractions is a plus, too.

(And, Faina, how would anyone find me or you annoying?)

A Sept. trip works this year for my husband (who knows what his job situation will be like next year and thereafter), but it is a busier time for my kids this Sept., as both are transitioning to new schools. I always worry about putting things off...the old, if you don't do it now, you'll never do it. I see that happen to TOO many people.

The last trip I took our Rome hotel was changed. The new one was so far out of the way. There was no access to public transit - even a Rome cabdriver had no idea where we were and had to radio in to get directions. I also hated that I could not assign my seat on the plane, so I looked for a tour group that appears to have more centrally located hotels and where I can choose my airline seat. It also has a great itinerary for what I want to see. (It's Globus and it's the Vienna-Salzburg-Munich tour).

I would go solo - no tour. Pick one or two places and spend the whole time there, possibly making a day trip or two. Florence is a great place to explore solo.

My wife and I did a bus tour of Ireland and Scotland with Insight Vacations 5 years ago. This was our first organized tour and we did have some concern about such a venture. However, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and concluded that there was no way we could have done the same trip, with the same accommodation, for the same price. I sure it would have cost twice as much. One real benefit was when we arrived for tours of castles, crystal factories, distilleries, etc. Our admission price was included in the tour package and we never waited to enter a facility (companies know that tours must keep to a fairly tight time schedule). Yes, there were some people on the bus that were a little irritating but any real difficulties with individuals were competently addressed by our tour director. While we generally like to vacation more independently we would not hesitate to do a group tour again.

I took one to Disney with one of my girlfriends and had an absolute blast.

It was like being a kid again because they told you when to get up, when to catch the bus, you didn't have to drive, they told you where to eat, etc.

We do better on our own, but to see many places in a sort time, you can't beat a tour. You just need to be a completely non-picky and laid back person who doesn't get bothered by the idiots. They are always there. Especially the laggers who refuse to show up on time for departures.

And that last really bugs me, so I do better on my own. But I can honestly say that I could never, ever have seen as many countries, and gone behind the iron curtain in 1983 and visited so many historic sites in one or two trips as I did with the tours.

I probably will never do them again EXCEPT this particular way (a couple on our Park District European Italian Amalfi Coast trip taught me this). That is to go with the one or two hotel location seated tours and then skip the outtrip days as you desire. The only days you can not skip are the days to the next hotel location. But many tours stay in only 1 or 2 places and then bus you endlessly at great distances. This can be avoided by skipping the Monaco trip, Naples trip, etc. as it plays out.

Very expensive small tours can also be fantastic if you know your mates well.

The one tour that I got my parents to go on was 20 lbs of flour in a 5 lbs bag and gave us endless memories, but you needed to be a marathon runner and needed a week after you were home to recouperate. That's fine once or twice to see what you like, but not a good mode of travel for relaxation or true enjoyment of any one place.

<i>20 lbs of flour in a 5 lbs bag </i>

Sorry, maybe I'm tired, but what does that mean?

Anyway, I've been on organized tours, and I don't mind them as long as they give me my objectives - see the place I want with living and transportation arrangements preset, even though I much prefer setting my own itineraries, etc. But when I'm with a tour, I am the good girl who's early for every meeting time, by 5 minutes. I don't like keeping people waiting. Ever. On my own, I march to my own beat, so I'm never late for anything

My best tours have been in Japan, where my understanding of the language is zilch, but the tours were very detailed and we had time to roam on our own in each different city, all in 7 days. I've been twice now, but leaving from Taiwan.

I've not taken a tour with Globus, but I have looked at their itineraries, and would consider their tours.

Sounds exciting. I say go if it makes you more comfortable navigating a new country with a language you don't understand.

But I do have to say one thing that's a plus in my book for going on your own: you'll be surprised at how easy it is to travel on your own in most of Europe, even if you don't know the language. I always say &quot;have map, will travel.&quot; I guarantee you'll learn at least 10 words and a few basic sentences by the time you go home!

It means that there is too many particulars to fit into the space timeframe given for/to them. Kind of like a Mom with only two hands and 5 kids under 8 years old, but maybe you wouldn't understand that kind of time/motion ratio either.

What I really appreciate on tour is light-hearted people who &quot;assume good intent&quot; and aren't picky. Those who can overlook a couple of deficits. We had one on a tour who was priceless and always found something positive, so if you always go alone- you do miss the occasional unmet &quot;gem&quot; traveling companion, as well.

In the 5 countries in 9 days types of tours, you will not be happy if you are want exact listings to occur 100%. Things happen, people have failings and they don't always play out to what the brochure lists.

Our neighborhood travel group had categories that helped with this decision. In other words they had &quot;non-shopper&quot; tours and &quot;shopper&quot; tours. I loved the shorter specialty tours they managed for that reason alone. General tours, even the small ones, have way, way too much time in tourist shopping souvenir markets for me. Besides being targeted for access to only a certain small number of eating choices by distance or a group that size or known contact with the group company- that is the main reason I would rather go it alone, language barrier or not. I would much rather find the places that are off the beaten track and seem more patronized by the locales.

I understand that organized tours come with some very aggravating things. I think one of my biggest complaints is the forced souvenior shopping.

I can be pretty laid back - my last (and only) two organized trips did not have great accommodations and they were fast paced, but I thought, hey, I was in Italy and Paris. It is very hard NOT to have a great time in these places!

It is funny sometimes to watch the people who cannot go with the flow. We had lunch on our own, and dinners with the group. The food was edible, not terrible, but certainly not great. One woman, who was a vegeterian, kept making a big deal, looking like she was going to cry whenever she saw what was being presented. In that case, I did wonder what the big deal was - eat a larger lunch, go to dinner on your own, etc. (We had 2 or 3 great meals when we went off on our own with a small group to nicer restaurants).

Much of the annoying stuff can be dealt with if you keep an open mind - and do some advance research. I do plan to go off by myself a lot.

I have an aunt who should probably have been certified and confined long ago (poor loony thing is now a recluse with her ailments of aging, so it's sort of moot). She loved traveling but had some truly bizarre habits and requirements, a temper, a drinking habit, a loud voice, and a conviction that everyone would find her fascinating, especially men. She was a hoarder and a pack rat at home but would travel with one set of underwear that she'd wash out each night -- when the elastic went, she would sew and pin things together.

Above all, she was tight as a drum with money. At least three times she went on a group tour and always signed up for one-half a double, professing willingness to share with another single woman. And all three times, the roommate would last one or two nights with her and then BEG to be reassigned or -- in one case -- the woman just left the tour.

My aunt always bragged about ending up with a single; but the rest of us have tried not to think what the tour was like for everyone else.

I have traveled to England, France, Russia, the Baltics, Germany, Finland and Denmark with go ahead tours, and each trip has been better than the last. I met some wonderful people, and one of them became one of my dearest friends and we now travel together. This tour group is very relaxed and you can choose to go with them on scheduled trips and optionals or go completely on your own once you reach the destination. I've mixed and matched. Once I feel comfortable with my surroundings, I usually take a day or two on my own to pursue my own interests. I'd never be able to travel solo for the great values that they offer, including flights, hotels, transfers and great meals. And every single tour guide I've had has been worth their weight in gold. ok...enough. Now I'm sounding like an advertisement, which I should be because I've recruited a whole bunch of friends to come along with me on my next trip...to Paris!

When I first started planning my own trips I would get brochures from tour companies and use their general guideline as mine. I would look at the places they would visit, where they stayed, how they got from one place to the next. I would get ideas from different companies and choose what would suit me and my companions.

It was a good way to start out building independence.

My first trip to Europe was with a Globus tour. I really enjoyed it. My last three trips have been on my own..not because I hated the tour, but because I didn't need a tour. I would take a tour again depending on the destination.

My brother and I didn't get real chummy with anyone in particular and did some wandering around on our own. My other brother and SIL made several friends in the group and still keep in contact. We had two annoying couples...one of them was trying to save their marriage, my brother and I ate dinner with them in Venice. I can say with certainty that the marriage was NOT saved. LOL The other couple wouldn't have been happy if you hung 'em with a new rope. We, and the rest of the group found both couples to be a source of entertainment and amusement.

Our group was diverse and a full range of ages. The way the tour was set up you could really have every afternoon free and on your own if you chose and we had a &quot;free&quot; day in three of the cities. I liked not having to stand in line to get up the Eiffle Tower or to get into the Vatican. The food was fine, not great, but I'm not a foodie so it worked and actually the liver in Venice was just delicious. Our hotels ran from mediocre to fabulous. I have no complaints and really enjoyed the entire experience.

I've only done one organized multiday tour in my travels and it was a safari in Kenya.

For safety reasons, it is not a place the lends itself to the independent minded.

Most of the people were very nice and came from a variety of backgrounds. I wound up rooming with our tour guide who was a biologist at the Bronx Zoo in NY. We hit it off really well and that aspect made the trip far more enjoyable.

The only downside was the need to cater to the complainers. The driver worked on tips. So, it's was in his best interests to try and make everyone happy (within reason of course.)

In our bus (there were 4 buses in our group) we had one guy who had to have everything just so. At one point we spent about 10 minutes extra at a spot becaue he HAD to see the snake under the tree. At least a half-dozen times he had the &quot;I still can't see it.&quot;

So, while we were helping him see the snake the rest of our tour moved down the hill and saw a male lion hurtle off the bank of a ravine onto the back of the buffalo.

A once in a lifetime event. Not once in my lifetime because we were helping the prickly guy see the snake.

Hmm, I may have wanted to see the snake under the tree too. Win some and lose some.

Yes, SeaUrchin. But, when 6 of 7 people have seen the snake and repeatedly point out &quot;Look at the base of the tree, by the tall grass, it's large and brown&quot; over and over and you STILL can't see the snake, well than maybe it's time to move on.

As an aside, within the first day my roomie and I nicknamed this guy Cliff Claven. Same look, same geographic home, same annoying demeanor. We were proven correct.