Considering an escorted tour, but still have a few concerns? Jill Ginsberg at Travelzoo just returned from Gate 1’s 13 Day Classic Thailand trip, and she’s breaking down the biggest misconceptions about escorted tours, calling tours her “new-found favorite way to travel the world.”
1. Escorted Tours are Expensive
Tour companies are often able to negotiate special rates and contracts with suppliers, and their industry experience means that escorted tours are crafted to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness. “The price of an escorted tour may look higher than other trips, but in reality it is a perfectly pre-packaged vacation designed to take the planning piece out so all you have to do is show up,” Travelzoo says.
2. You’ll have no time to explore on your own
Leisure time is built into each city stay on most tours. “Sure, escorted tours have long itineraries filled with action-packed days, but the reality is that you can do as much or as little as you’d like,” Jill points out. She recommends taking advantage of your tour guide’s expert local knowledge to make the most of your free time.
3. You’re stuck on a cramped bus all day
Gate 1’s tours use a variety of transportation in-destination, including luxury motor coaches, trains, ferries and flights; Ginsberg can attest that on her trip to Thailand, “Time spent on the bus is very minimal in comparison with the rest of the trip.”
4. Tours are only for retirees
Gate 1’s travelers range in age, from children on our family-friendly tours, to adults from 18 to 80, and everywhere in between. Like many of our travelers, Jill cited her tour group as a highlight of the trip: “Chances are you will have a melting pot of people all different ages and from all walks of life. One of my favorite parts of my escorted tour was having the chance to get to know so many different people who shared the same curiosity about the world that I did.”
Check out the tour Jill chose, or head over to Gate 1’s new Find a Vacation feature to discover your next adventure!
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