Shelley Frost for USA Today on the advantages of guided tours. Join us on one of our tours to the Kilauea Volcano in comfort and luxury in a Mercedes luxury van.
Vacations to far-off places immerse you in the culture as you enjoy everything from the food and customs to the entertainment and landmarks. Exploring the destination on your own is always an option, but travelers often choose guided tours as a way to get their bearings. Organized tours offer several advantages, whether you are traveling alone or with a group.
Organization
A guided tour company handles all the organization and prep work for visiting landmarks in the area. You save time and energy that you would normally put into planning out your own tours of your destination. The tour guide puts together a schedule for visiting locations based on their proximity to make efficient use of the tour time. The tours take into account the visiting hours of the stops on the itinerary so you don’t have to spend hours researching the information for each place you want to visit. Transportation is handled for you. You simply sign up for the preferred tour and show up at the designated time.
Comfort and Safety
The first time in a new location leaves many travelers feeling nervous or unsure of where to go and how to act. This is particularly true for vacations abroad if you aren’t fluent in the local language. A guided tour gives you a sense of comfort since the tour guide understands the culture. In some destinations, safety is an issue. The tour guide helps you avoid potentially dangerous areas of the city and brings a sense of safety to the trip.
Insider Knowledge
Tour companies operate frequent tours in the area and often hire locals to guide the tours. This provides an inside knowledge of the destination that you might not have. Insider knowledge of the area means you’ll hit all the highlights. The tour may also allow you to uncover some hidden gems within the city that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. Guides often share stories and bits of history about landmarks to give more depth to your experience. The company uses its knowledge of the city to schedule activities and visits during times when they aren’t as busy.
Socialization
Joining a group of fellow travelers adds a social aspect to a guided tour, especially if you aren’t traveling with people you already know. Experiencing a new city with others allows you to share your reactions and connect with fellow group members. In some cases, the relationships built last even after the tour ends.
