Given that everyone has their own unique interests when traveling, why should you go on a cookie cutter tour? See why taking a personalized tour is for you.
Are you about to go country-hopping around Europe or sightseeing in Brazil? If so, you may be wondering what type of tour (if any) you should book. Since there are tours to suit every lifestyle and budget, how do you know which type is right for you? In this post, we’ll discuss a travel option you may not have considered before–a personalized tour. Read on for six compelling reasons to consider one!
1. Cater to Your Interests
True, most pre-packaged tours have already combed through the local sites and chosen the best ones. Still, this doesn’t mean that they’re the best for you. A pre-planned itinerary in Italy might include several stops at vineyards. This is fantastic for a wine enthusiast–but what if you don’t drink alcohol? A package to beautiful Brazil might include tours through famous caves and caverns. What will you do on those days if you’re claustrophobic? By opting for a personalized tour, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Skip the vineyards in Italy and spend an extra night in your favorite Tuscan town. Skip the spelunking in Brazil and go zip-lining through the rainforest instead. Whatever your personal interests, a personalized tour can make it happen.
2. Take Your Time
If you’ve ever taken a cruise, you know how rushed those shore excursions can be. In fact, the average tour from a cruise ship in any port of call is about four hours. Even if your tour is overland, itineraries are often packed. Every moment from the second you wake up to the second you go to sleep is scheduled with endless activities. Imagine waiting your entire life to see the famous Mount of Olives in Jerusalem…only to be rushed back onto the tour bus ten minutes later. Tours like this are frustrating and–to be honest–a waste of your hard-earned money. A major benefit of a personalized tour is that you can slow down and go at your own pace. Want to spend an entire day exploring just one site or one museum? That’s okay. With a personalized tour, you get to call the shots. You can take your time and make your vacation exactly what you want it to be.
3. Customize Any Way You Want It
There’s nothing wrong with researching some special interest tours for ideas. After all, you want to be sure you know about your destination ahead of time. You want to know which sites you definitely want to visit–and which ones you’re fine with skipping. The beauty of a customized tour is that you’re not stuck with a rigid schedule. Even if you follow the main tourist route, you still get to do it on your terms. Don’t like early mornings? Change that sunrise hike to a sunset hike and see the world differently than the masses. Not interested in a particular site that’s listed on every single itinerary? No problem. Simply tell your tour operator you’d rather spend that day elsewhere.
4. Tailored to Your Budget
Like everything else, Millennials are changing the way the world travels. On average, young travelers are traveling more, spending more, and staying away for longer periods of time than their predecessors. In 2012 alone, young travelers spent $217 billion in their globe-trotting adventures. The great thing about a personalized tour is that you can tailor it to suit your unique budget. Are you a young person who doesn’t mind roughing it? Save money by staying in hostels, taking the sleeper bus, and eating street food. Are you a retired couple who love traveling in comfort? Upgrade your package to five-star hotels and flights between tour cities. Whatever your budget allows, you can customize a tour to match it.
5. Greater Insight and Access
Big tour companies may be able to get you around, but how personalized is their service going to be? If your tour guide is talking to a bus full of 60 people–perhaps in several different languages–how much useful information will you absorb? Companies that offer personalized tours have a unique advantage. Not only do you get to create your own itinerary, but you have the added bonus of local tour guides with intimate knowledge of the area. Rather than addressing a full tour bus, your guide will be available exclusively to you. He or she can answer your questions and explain interesting facts about the local culture. Another benefit? Those traveling with a private guide often gain quicker access to major attractions. Why queue up in line for hours at the Vatican Museum when a customized tour (and tour guide) can get you right in?
6. Increased Safety and Security
The truth is that some parts of the world are safer to travel in than others. Even if you’re traveling through a relatively stable and safe area, language and cultural barriers can still pose significant problems. A customized tour with a private guide and driver–or both–eliminate these concerns. In some areas, local bureaucracy and red tape make it difficult for you, a foreigner, to get around. The value of a local expert to show you around and negotiate with locals can’t be overestimated. Why try to go it alone? Why subject yourself to a tour bus full of passengers? By booking a private, customized tour, you won’t have to worry about your security. You won’t have to worry if you don’t speak the language or your haggling skills aren’t up to par. A customized tour takes all the potential worry out of your travels!
Book Your Personalized Tour
We live in an era of information. Having so much access right at our fingertips has empowered us in every aspect of modern life–including the way we travel. Why settle for a cookie-cutter tour package when you can create your own personalized tour itinerary? Life doesn’t come pre-packaged. Your next vacation or business trip shouldn’t be pre-packaged either. Interested in booking your own personalized tour? We invite you to contact us for more information.
