In: Root » Travel and leisure » Trip planning
Many people love escorted tours. The tour company takes care of all the details and tells you what to expect at each leg of your journey. You know your costs up front, and you don’t get many surprises. Escorted tours can take you to see the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle. If you decide to go with an escorted tour, I strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance, especially if the tour operator asks to you pay up front. But don’t buy insurance from the tour operator! If the tour operator doesn’t fulfill its obligation to provide you with the vacation you paid for, there’s no reason to think that it will fulfill its insurance obligations, either. Get travel insurance through an independent agency. When choosing an escorted tour, along with finding out whether you have to put down a deposit and when final payment is due, ask a few simple questions before you buy: - What is the cancellation policy? Can the tour operator cancel the trip if it doesn’t get enough people? How late can you cancel if you’re unable to go? Do you get a refund if you cancel? What if the tour operator cancels? - How jam-packed is the schedule? Does the tour schedule try to fit 25 hours into a 24-hour day, or does it give you ample time to relax by the pool or shop? If getting up at 7 a.m. every day and not returning to your hotel until 6 or 7 p.m. sounds like a grind, certain escorted tours may not be for you. - Can you opt out of certain activities? Does the tour allow picking and choosing activities; or does the bus leave once a day, and you’re out of luck if you’re not onboard? - How large is the group? The smaller the group, the less time you spend waiting for people to get on and off the bus. Tour operators may be evasive about this, because they may not know the exact size of the group until everybody has made reservations, but they should be able to give you a rough estimate. - Is there a minimum group size? Some tours have a minimum group size, and may cancel the tour if they don’t book enough people. If a quota exists, find out what it is and how close they are to reaching it. Again, tour operators may be evasive in their answers, but the information may help you select a tour that’s sure to happen. - What exactly is included? Don’t assume anything. You may have to pay to get yourself to and from the airport. A box lunch may be included in an excursion but drinks may be extra. Beer may be included but not wine. Are all your meals planned in advance? Can you choose your entree at dinner, or does everybody get the same chicken cutlet?
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