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package tour

Definition of package tour

Examples of package tour in a sentence.

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Dictionary Entries Near package tour

package store

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“Package tour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/package%20tour. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

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Understanding Package Tours in the Travel Industry

In the vibrant world of travel and tourism, a package tour is a pre-arranged holiday that combines a variety of travel services into one comprehensive package. These services typically include transportation, accommodation, meals, guided tours, and other amenities. Package tours are popular among travelers seeking convenience, affordability, and a stress-free vacation experience. Let's delve deeper into the concept of package tours and explore the key components that make them a preferred choice for many globetrotters.

Components of a Package Tour

A typical package tour includes several key components that are carefully curated to provide travelers with a seamless and enjoyable vacation experience. These components may vary depending on the destination, duration, and theme of the tour, but the following are some common elements found in most package tours:

• Transportation: Package tours often include round-trip transportation from the traveler's home to the destination. This may involve flights, train tickets, bus transfers, or other modes of transportation.
• Accommodation: Accommodation is a crucial part of any package tour. Travelers are typically provided with pre-booked hotel rooms, resorts, or other types of lodging that meet the tour's standards and budget.
• Meals: Many package tours include meal plans that cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These meals may be served at the hotel, local restaurants, or as part of guided tours.
• Guided Tours: To enhance the travel experience, package tours often include guided tours of popular attractions, historical sites, cultural landmarks, and other points of interest. Knowledgeable guides provide valuable insights and ensure that travelers make the most of their visit.
• Activities and Excursions: Depending on the tour package, travelers may have the opportunity to participate in various activities and excursions such as adventure sports, sightseeing tours, shopping trips, and cultural experiences.
• Transportation Within Destination: Package tours may also include transportation within the destination, such as airport transfers, shuttle services, or private vehicles for sightseeing.
• Travel Insurance: Some package tours offer optional or mandatory travel insurance to protect travelers against unforeseen circumstances such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.

Types of Package Tours

Package tours come in a variety of forms to cater to different preferences, budgets, and travel styles. Here are some common types of package tours that travelers can choose from:

• All-Inclusive Tours: These tours cover all major expenses, including transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, and sometimes even gratuities. Travelers can enjoy a hassle-free vacation without worrying about additional costs.
• Adventure Tours: Adventure tours are designed for thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy activities such as hiking, trekking, rafting, and wildlife safaris. These tours often include adrenaline-pumping experiences in exotic locations.
• Cultural Tours: Cultural tours focus on exploring the history, art, cuisine, and traditions of a destination. Travelers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture through visits to museums, historical sites, festivals, and interactions with residents.
• Luxury Tours: Luxury tours offer a premium travel experience with upscale accommodation, fine dining, exclusive amenities, and personalized services. These tours cater to travelers seeking a high level of comfort and sophistication.
• Group Tours: Group tours bring together a group of like-minded travelers who share a common interest in exploring a particular destination. These tours offer camaraderie, shared experiences, and the opportunity to make new friends along the way.
• Customized Tours: Some travel companies offer customized package tours that allow travelers to tailor the itinerary, activities, and accommodations to suit their preferences. This option is ideal for travelers looking for a personalized and flexible travel experience.

Benefits of Package Tours

Package tours offer several benefits that make them an attractive choice for travelers looking for a hassle-free and enjoyable vacation experience. Some of the key benefits of opting for a package tour include:

• Convenience: Package tours take the stress out of travel planning by bundling all essential services into one comprehensive package. Travelers can relax and enjoy their vacation without worrying about making individual arrangements for transportation, accommodation, and activities.
• Affordability: Package tours often provide cost savings compared to booking each component separately. Travel companies can negotiate discounted rates with airlines, hotels, and attractions, enabling travelers to enjoy a budget-friendly vacation without compromising on quality.
• Expertise: Package tours are curated by travel experts who have in-depth knowledge of the destination, local attractions, and cultural nuances. Travelers benefit from the expertise of guides and tour operators who ensure a well-rounded and enriching travel experience.
• Safety and Security: Traveling with a reputable tour company offers an added layer of safety and security. Tour operators have emergency protocols in place, experienced guides to assist travelers, and 24/7 support to address any unforeseen issues that may arise during the trip.
• Time-Saving: Package tours are designed to maximize the traveler's time by providing a well-structured itinerary with carefully planned activities and sightseeing opportunities. Travelers can make the most of their vacation without wasting time on logistics or decision-making.
• Local Insights: Guided tours included in package tours offer valuable insights into the destination's history, culture, and traditions. Travelers have the opportunity to learn from local experts and gain a deeper understanding of the places they visit.

Package tours are a popular choice for travelers seeking a convenient, affordable, and enriching vacation experience. By bundling transportation, accommodation, meals, guided tours, and other services into one comprehensive package, travelers can enjoy a stress-free journey with expert guidance and local insights. Whether you prefer adventure tours, cultural experiences, luxury getaways, or customized itineraries, there is a package tour to suit every taste and budget. So, the next time you plan your dream vacation, consider the benefits of a package tour and embark on a memorable journey filled with unforgettable experiences.

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Definition of package tour noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• package tour
• self-catering

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Tour Package

Package holidays, popularly known as a tour package or simply the word ‘tour’ in the travel and tourism industry refers either to a package tour escorted or not escorted by the tourist guide.

When we say tour package, it means a pre-arrangement, prepaid trip that combines two or more travel components like airfare, airport transfer, accommodation, and other services . Practically, to define the tour package concept is complex one rather understand.

Holloway defines a tour package as “a total tourism product consisting of transportation from the market area to the destination, accommodation at the destination and recreational activities promoted by the tourists.”

According to Gregorg “a tour package is advertised journey including specific features, arranged and promoted with tour literature by a tour operator and paid for in full by the tourists  before starting the tour.”

Technically, a package tour/tour package is a total tourism product as it generally includes transport from the origin place to the destination, accommodation at an en route place or at the destination and other recreational or travel services. These components are purchased by an individual, firm or company called the ‘ tour operator ‘. He combines all the travel components in a package and sells them at all-inclusive prices to the clients.

History of Tour Package

The term ‘tour’ was in vogue as early as 1670. The Britishers traveled to widen their knowledge of the continent, especially to study the culture and social life. This practice was gradually adopted by other lovers of cultural centers.

The result of the process was that many European historic and cultural centers were opened to the British tourist. By the early 1730’s the small fishing resorts around the British coast begin to attract tourists seeking to their diseases by drinking the sea-water or by immersing themselves in it.

The introduction of a rail link between the major centers in 1830, had a profound impact on the pleasure travelers for the first time. Many entrepreneurs began to inspire rail travel by organizing excursions for the public at discounted offers.

However, to ‘the origin of package tour’ the credit goes to Mr. Thomas Cook in 1855 , Cook, extended his business operation to different countries by introducing the first ‘ inclusive tour ‘ to Paris.

Mr. Cook put together all the components of tourism products and sold them as ‘inclusive tour’ to the tourists. His pre-packaged tour inspired other tour organizations in the travel industry to organize similar tours to all parts of the globe.

Most of Cook’s tours were a linear tour i.e., the person went from place to place on a single destination. Basically, Mr. Cook developed the concept of ‘grand tour and escorted tour’, the concept which is still used.

Incidentally, World War II has tremendously developed the package tour concept because of the following reasons:

• Social and Economic Conditions
• Increase in Aircrafts
• Marketing Conditions
• Legal Requirements
• Integration took place.

Today, package tours are a vital segment of the world’s travel and tourism industry. According to WTTC, the package tour sales generate $25 billion annually in the United States, $18 billion in Europe, $19 billion in Britain, and $21 billion in Asia. Today tour sales represented 50 percent of all leisure travel sales and 35 percent of all travel agency revenues.

Types of Tour Packages

A travel agency/tour operator deals with variety of ‘tour packages,’ catering to the diverse needs of tourists such as adventure, beach, architecture, cultural, business, conference, incentive tours, ayurvedic packages, Buddhist, religious, incentive tour, special interest tours, cruise tour group tour, educational tour, heritage, monuments, wildlife lovers, etc. These are broadly classified into five categories :

• Independent Tours
• Escorted Tours

Hosted Tours

• Incentives Travel/Tours

Freedom Tours

Independent tour.

Independent tours are prepared/formulated for those tourists who want to travel independently. The components of such tours are air travel, air transfer, accommodation, travel documents, sightseeing, boat riding, entertainment, and other travel services.

However, in some cases, the tourists are free to purchase every single component separately. Thus, this type of tour provides the tourists considerable freedom to plan the activities according to their own choice.

An independent tour may or may not be an all-inclusive tour. Therefore, tour price varies depending on the type of air travel, air transfer, accommodation and is inclusive of other tour components. The foreign independent travel (FITs) and domestic independent travel (DITs) are examples of an independent tour.

Escorted Tour

When a travel agency includes the services of a well educated and trained tour manager in its package, the tour is called an escorted tour. Basically, escorted tours are meant for those travelers who are planning to visit a foreign country first time.

The escort’s responsibilities and duties are to provide comprehensive information and assistance to the group or individual traveler, at the origin, en route and the destination place. The excursion tours are the example of escorted tours.

A hosted tour means when an agency utilizes the services of another agency at a particular destination. Suppose a group of French tourists is coming to India. When the group arrives in India, they are greeted at the airports by TCI, which assists them in clearing their baggage and transfer them to the hotel.

Their tour-host (TCI) is available to offer device and information about the local attractions and entertainment. Further, when the group arrives at another designation in India, a different travel agency greets them at each tourist spot. Thus, a hosted tour provides the tourists maximum level of pre-arranged and personalized services.

Incentives Travel/Tour

It is a motivational programme or a fully paid holiday which is given to the employees by the enterprises as a reward. Mostly in medium and large-scale companies and usually too distant destinations to spur them in maintaining their track record, to increase output, improve the image and moreover to earn the long period loyalty of the employees.

There are a number of the other packages offered by a tour company such as a custom tour an excursion tour, an adventure, and special interest package tours.

Freedom tours are becoming very popular these days among the working class. These tours are designed as per the choice of tourists. The tourist is free to choose and plan how they want to travel and enjoy their holidays. These types of tours are meant for that kind of people who like to decide how, when, and where to travel.

This tourist may an individual, family, group holidays for families and group travel for business. These tours are promoted and developed by the ORBIT.

Components Of Tour Package

What is to be included in a package tour largely depends and varies from one tour organization to another, or from the one country to another, or from one destination to another and from one market to another market. But there are certain well-defined travel services which always turn a part of a package tour irrespective of the tour operator/travel agency, destination and even the market condition.

If we study and see the package tours offered by Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd., Cox and King Ltd., and other international travel companies, we find that a package tour has two major components. Therefore, a standard package tour has two basic components namely:

• Ground Arrangements

Travel industry experience has shown that the first component, i.e. ‘Travel’ is directly bought by the agency from the principal providers like airlines and transport operators and for ground arrangement, the travel agency management asks the ground operators.

The reason behind buying ground arrangement from a handling agency is that it represents as a ground operator at a particular destination for the numerous tour organizations. Secondly, the price offered by it are much lower than an individual agency obtain. Thirdly, it is very difficult to get credit from the supplier and finally, it ensures professional travel services.

Factor Affecting the Tour Package Formulation

Generally, the business of package tours involves great risk, high breakeven, high-quality product, and competitive prices. Therefore, the tour management requires in-depth tour planning and market survey. However, before a tour is designed the tour manager should take into consideration certain factors which are crucial in the formulation process.

These factors have a profound impact on the tourist’s satisfaction. The main factors are:

• Purpose of Tour
• Choice of Destinations
• Tourist Budget
• Legal Requirement
• Types of Tourist Accommodation
• Tour Period
• Departure and stay information
• Tour price; inflationary condition
• Tour Reference Tools
• Tour Features – political stability
• The relationship between the host and tourist generating nation

Tour Package Design and Selection Process

The quality of a package tour is entirely based on the above factors. Essentially, to design/formulate a travel product, the tour manager has to take the biggest responsibility, intuitiveness, imagination, and innovation coupled with a lot of business activities which range from finding new exotic destinations and planning, organizing or promoting such tour.

The following are the main stages in the tour design and selection process:

1. Initial Research

(i) the destination research.

The decision to develop and formulate a new package is a multi-stage process that involves various positive and negative points/steps. Normally, the idea for a new product comes either from the tour executive within the company due to a review of the questionnaire completed by the previous tour members because of the political, economic and social development in a particular area.

When a tour manager see that a large number of old clients are interested in taking a trip to particular destinations, naturally, those destinations become the nucleus of a new ‘tour concept’.

(ii) Market Research

Since tour package is a complete tourism product, obviously, before formulating/designing this product, market research needs to be analyzed and assessed in a systematic manner. Market  research provides us the answer to the following questions:

• What is the size of the tourism market?
• Who are the existing clients?
• Where do they live?
• Who will be their potential buyers?
• Who are their competitors – their strategy and area of business leisure?
• How many tourist ones want to cater?
• What price will the clients accept?
• What facilities are available and required?
• What are the constraints viz., license, permission, finance, restrictions, taxes, and others?

Once we know the basic components of the package tour, distribution channels, market conditions, constraints in the tourism market, we can develop the marketing strategy. It enables the smooth functioning of the agency and also offers a clear picture of the tour programme. Practically, market research is conducted by the private tour companies/ private tourism enterprises in order to penetrate the market.

2. Itinerary Preparation

By itinerary one means the designing of a programme which one wants to sell and it includes destinations, stopping points, number of days and the travel services that are to be included in the programme. Whether it is a lean season or an offseason, escorted or not escorted, consumer-oriented or readymade tour programme, the itinerary is prepared to identify the origin, destinations, stopping points, accommodations, sightseeing and other travel services on travelers’ trip.

3. Handling Agency or Destination Company

The appointment of handling agency not only ensure excellent travel services to the tourist but also make the operation smooth and profitable. It is a matter of great significance as the success of travel business largely depends upon the clients are actually taken care of during the tour.

It is a positive match between the promised services and tourist’s actual experiences or feelings. Thus, the tour operator should consider the experience of the handling travel agency in the business, the area of operation, reputation, credibility, professional staff, credit facilities and the competitive price in appointing a handling agency.

4. Negotiation

It is another important management decision area in tour designing and planning. Once the decision has been made regarding the destination’s concerning their date, duration and number of clients to be carried during the trip, the tour management starts negotiations with the principals’ suppliers for a normal contract.

Negotiation means talk between the travel companies and the principal suppliers for the terms, conditions, and prices of the components of a tour package. When both parties are satisfied, it leads to a formal or informal contract between them. The tour company negotiates with the following tour vendors/suppliers:

• Accommodation
• Transport Operations- Rail and Road
• Ground Operators
• Cruise Companies
• Car Rental Companies
• The overseas representatives
• Ancillary Service Organizations

5. Coasting and Pricing a Package Tour

The cost of a package tour encompasses the air ticket, the hotel room, car rental, entertainment charges, administrative costs, promotional costs, and other travel services. The confidential tariff helps the travel company in preparing the cost sheet which will enable the concern to determine its price strategy.

Tour pricing is a big factor in the success of the company’s tour programme. The price of a package tour is, whether it is an escorted, independent or hosted the tour, often lower than the combined costs of the same components purchased separately from the principals. However, the purchase price of a travel product is based on three factors: Cost, competition, and demand.

Every tour package sold by a vendor has a quantifiable cost. To produce profit the price paid by the tourists must be greater than the agency’s cost.

6. Tour Brochure

The tour package is an intangible product which has to be purchased by the tourists/clients without inspection and sometimes even without adequate knowledge. In these circumstances, the brochure becomes the principal instrument to perform the major tasks to inform the clients about the products and to pursue them to purchase it.

Designing, printing, and distributions of tour brochures require necessary skills and knowledge about the components of the tour package. Basically, in the era of specialization and intense competition, tour brochure creates awareness and provides the description of the holiday programme.

Thus, tour management should consider various pros and cons while preparing a tour brochure. A brochure should contain the following information:

• Name of the Travel Company
• Means of transport
• Details about destinations
• Accommodation, types, location, meals
• Name of the overseas representative
• Duration of each tour
• Booking, reservation and cancellation conditions
• Details of other services – insurance, currency, entertainmentTravel documents required
• Details of price

7. Development of Reservation System

The next step in tour formulation process is reservation system. The agency management in order to put a package into operation must develop and implement a scientific reservation system. The system depends on whether the reservation is to be handled manually or with a computer working on the distribution method.

Whatever method the agency may adopt, the agency management should always keep in mind the sole objective of the reservation system.

8. Marketing of Tour Package

Once a tour package is ready, travel agency management has to make a careful decision regarding promotion and marketing of the particular package tour. The basic objective of management is to make a tour package widely known to make it more and more attractive.

To achieve these objectives, the management must consider the budget available, promotion mix, potential market, easiest and most effective media, campaigning through the international, regional or the public/private sector etc.

The promotion of a package tour means increasing its sales potential and creating an awareness of the existing and potential markets. The following methods are commonly used to promote package tours:

• Middlemen – Retail Travel Agents, GSA, consolidators
• Familiarization tours
• Building Brand Loyalty
• Encouraging Potential Buyers
• Competitive Market

9. Tour Handling/Actual Tour Operation

After the successful marketing and achieving target sales, the next and final step in the process of tour designing is tour handling. It means an actual operation of tours, which generally includes administrative work and passenger handling like maintaining reservations, handling deposits, sending advice to ground operators, arranging travel representation, analyzing the feedback received from clients/escorts/ground operator and so on.

All this is not an easy task. At every stage, one has to face different types of queries and problems due to lack of coordination and communication.

Significances of Tour Package

Tour package is beneficial to travel companies, travelers, destinations and other organizations which are directly or indirectly involved in the tourism business. The main benefits are:

• Increase the seasonality of a destination cost/price
• Earn foreign currency
• Better quality of products professional services
• Wide-variety of the tour package
• Provide bulk business to organizers

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Meaning of package tour in English

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• activity holiday
• air corridor
• amenity kit
• caravanning
• high season
• phrase book
• post-holiday
• put something up
• ranger station
• tourist trap
• trailer park

package tour | Business English

Examples of package tour, translations of package tour.

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What Does a Tour Package Include? Essential Components Explained

When planning a trip, it can be challenging to organize all the necessary details, including accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities. This is where a tour package comes in handy, as it includes all these elements in one convenient package. This blog post will explain what a tour package entails, the available types, and how to choose the right one.

Table of Contents

What does a tour package include?

• Accommodation: A tour package typically includes accommodation in a hotel, resort, or other lodging facilities. The type of accommodation provided will depend on the tour package you select.
• Transportation: Transportation is another essential component of a tour package. It can include flights, trains, buses, and even private cars or vans. The mode of transportation provided will depend on the tour package you select.
• Meals: Most tour packages include breakfast only to all-inclusive dining. The number and type of meals provided will depend on the tour package you select.
• Activities: A tour package may include various activities such as sightseeing, cultural experiences, adventure sports, or shopping. The type and number of activities included will depend on your selected tour package.
• Itinerary: A tour package will provide you with a detailed itinerary of your trip, including the date, time, and location of each activity, as well as any free time you may have.

Types of tour packages

• Inclusive tour package: This type of tour package includes accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities, all for a fixed price.
• All-inclusive travel package: This tour package is similar to the inclusive package, but it also includes drinks, tips, and other extras.
• Budget tour package: This package is designed for those who want to travel on a tight budget. It usually includes basic accommodation and transportation but limited activities and meals.
• Customized tour package: This package allows you to choose the specific activities and accommodations you want, giving you more control over your travel experience.
• Luxury tour package: This tour package provides premium accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities for a higher price.

How to choose the right tour package?

Choosing the right tour package can be a daunting task, but here are some tips to help you make the best decision:

• Budget: Determine your budget and look for tour packages that fit within it. Remember that a higher price may mean better quality, but finding a balance between affordability and quality is essential.
• Destination: Consider the destination you want to visit and choose a tour package that offers the best experience in that location. Look for packages that include the attractions you want to see and the activities you want to do.
• Travel Style: Think about your travel style and the type of experience you want. Do you prefer a leisurely vacation or an adventure-packed trip? Make sure to choose a tour package that aligns with your travel style.
• Reviews and recommendations: Read reviews and ask for recommendations from friends or family who have traveled with a tour package before. This can give you insight into the tour package’s quality and other travelers’ experiences.

In conclusion, choosing a tour package can make travel planning more manageable and less stressful. With various tour packages available, selecting the one that aligns with your budget, destination, travel style, and preferences is crucial. When selecting a tour package, read reviews and consider recommendations from other travelers. By following these tips, you can have a stress-free and enjoyable travel experience.

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10 Advantages And Disadvantages of Package Tours and Holidays 

Published by roslin dwivedi on april 29, 2023 april 29, 2023.

Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by Roslin Dwivedi

Package tours and holidays are a popular way to travel for decades. With a package tour, you can visit multiple destinations, often at a discounted rate, with all the logistics taken care of for you.

The advantages of package tours and holidays offer convenience, stress-free and cost-saving trips. 

They usually include transportation, accommodation, and other services at one price, which can be significantly cheaper than booking each part separately. 

Another advantage of package tours is that they also provide access to some popular attractions which are not easy to book for a single person. The disadvantages of package tours are that you may not have as much flexibility or freedom as you would if you made your arrangements. 

Once upon a time, we went on a tour of Jungfraujoch . We had booked online for our family of 2 adults and a baby. Upon reaching the destination. Not the train journeys, the main destination where you get to go to the museum and also to the top of Europe, the mountain of Jungfraujoch . What annoyed us was the Indian tour guides treating the Indian tourists like goats. The moment the elevator opened to go up, the guide did not let the people come out of it and yelled at his tourists, “Go go go, run inside, fast-fast.” This scene made us feel bad for those who were unknowingly portraying to the world over there that Indians don’t have etiquette.

Anyways, that was a small example of a package tour. As a large tour group, you may not experience the destination as much as if you went alone. Also, some package tours can be inflexible and may not let you make changes or cancellations if your plans change or in case of an emergency. 

In this article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of package tours and holidays so you can make a firm decision before your next trip.

10 Advantages and disadvantages of Package tours and holidays

Advantages of package tours and holidays,  1. cost –.

Package tours are money-saving. One of the advantages of package tours and holidays is the cost savings. By booking all your travel arrangements, such as transportation and accommodation, as a package deal, you may get a better rate than booking each component separately. Tour companies often have negotiated rates with hotels, airlines, and other providers, which they pass on to their customers. This means you can enjoy an affordable vacation that you would be able to arrange on your own. A cheap tour package offers hotel stays in a 4-star hotel, which can be expensive if you book it separately. They provide airport transfers and drops and also cover all the famous tourist destinations. But if you arrange your accommodation and travel separately, your trip may become expensive. 

2. Convenience –

You don’t have to worry about booking yourself flights, good accommodations or activities on a package tour. Everything is pre-arranged and incredibly convenient for you. 

So you don’t have to worry about travel arrangements and unexpected changes on your itinerary. You can sit relaxed, knowing that everything has been taken care of.

But if you book it separately, you will have to do plenty of Google searches, look for cheap flight deals, inexpensive hotels, probably not a 4-star, book a rental car for the trip, get an international driving license etc. 

3. Variety –

On package tours and holidays, you will have the chance to visit multiple locations in one trip. 

This is great for the people who like to explore more in a short amount of time. 

You can enjoy the convenience of having everything planned out for you, while experiencing a variety of different places

Since package tours cover multiple destinations in one day. They often start early in the morning and finish close to the evening. Which may be very tiring for families with elderly and small kids. They can’t just keep exploring continuously. Whereas when you plan alone for your family, you rent a car and you decide on your trip according to your parents and kid’s convenience. This is a happy experience for everyone in the family other than the fact that you covered many areas of the town in one day. 

4. Stress-free –

All the hard work of research, planning and booking is done for you on a package holiday, so you can relax and enjoy the journey. Planning a trip can be stressful, especially if you are unfamiliar with the destination. With a package tour, all the hard work is done for you. You don’t have to spend hours researching accommodation options or trying to find the best deals on flights. Everything is pre-arranged, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy your vacation.

When you are making the vacation plan yourself, you will have to do all the research yourself. Read multiple Google and Trip Advisor reviews for the best place to stay on your budget and tours and hidden gems if any. 

5. Connections –

Package tours often offer exclusive access to certain attractions, activities and events that you wouldn’t be able to get to on your own. Many package tours offer exclusive access to certain attractions, activities, and events that you wouldn’t be able to get to on your own. For example, you may be able to skip the lines at popular attractions or gain access to exclusive tours that aren’t available to the general public. This can add an extra level of excitement and exclusivity to your trip.

Disadvantages of Package Tours and Holidays

 1. limited freedom – .

You may not have much control over the itinerary, and you may be restricted to the set times for activities. One of the biggest disadvantages of package tours is the limited freedom. You may not have as much control over the itinerary as you would if you planned the trip yourself. The tour company sets schedules and activities that you need to follow, which can limit your ability to explore the destination on your terms. You may also have limited free time to do your activities, which can be frustrating for some travellers.

The package tour itinerary is not as comforting. They have set days for set activities, in case you are not well on a certain day, they won’t refund you the money nor they change the activity date because they have everything lined up as prior decided.

2. Quality of accommodation – 

Another disadvantage of package tours is the quality of accommodation. While some package tours offer high-quality accommodation options, others may provide lower-quality accommodations to keep costs down. This is disappointing if you were expecting a certain level of comfort or amenities. It is based on the package you chose. Do check all the stays, transfers and activities in detail properly before you confirm.

3. Limited flexibility – 

You may not have the chance to stay longer in one place or take detours if you want to. Package tours are often inflexible. This can be frustrating if you want to explore a particular area in detail or if you want to change your plans on the fly. Additionally, some package tours may have strict cancellation policies, which makes it difficult to change your itinerary.

From our past travels, I have noticed that group tours are bound to a specific time limit for a place. For instance, if you want to spend more time at a palace or a palace garden, you can’t do that freely. Because you have to join the group in one hour or less. Me and my husband were left behind because we couldn’t make it to the bus on time and they left us. After we called them they told us to get into another tourist bus and they caught us later at another attraction in Dubai. 

4. Limited options – 

With some package tours, you may not get the chance to choose activities or meals. Once, I was checking for a holiday package for Mauritius, but the provider did not include any activities in the package. The holiday package only had hotels, transfers and basic city tours. If I wanted to add something, I had to pay extra charges. So I dropped the idea of booking with a packaged holiday maker and planned our itinerary. 

 5. Unpredictable weather – 

Your holiday may be affected by unpredictable weather. And you may not change your plans if needed. 

Final words

Whether you go with package tours and holidays or make your travel plans, there will always be advantages and disadvantages of package tours and holidays that will make you think twice. In this article, I have tried to simplify your queries. I hope these comparisons will help you plan your vacation with ease.

Roslin Dwivedi

Hi! I am Roslin, a travel blogger. I am a gastronomist, an excursionist and love to learn about a different culture. Apart from travel updates, you will find some aha moments and life learnings in my blog. My writing recipe includes a little bit of humour only to see you smiling. You can find me on my website, Facebook and Instagram as Travelnlifewithroaz.

Vibrant Experiences · January 31, 2024 at 9:51 am

Hey Travel Enthusiasts! At Vibrant Experiences, we believe every journey is a story waiting to be told. We get that package tours have pros and cons, but the magic lies in finding the perfect balance. Our curated packages ensure hassle-free adventures, leaving you free to soak in every moment. Explore the world with us – where memories meet vibrant experiences!

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The Pros And Cons Of Package Tours: What Solo Travelers Should Know

As an independent traveler I have tended to  steer clear of organized tours  – think early departures, delayed by Susie’s last-minute packing (not to mention the tiny bottles she swiped from the plane and has been sipping since Sunday)…

No thanks. I’d rather go it alone or with a chosen travel partner or two. But surely there are both pros and cons of package tours?

I was recently invited on an organized tour. I said No because of a scheduling conflict but in truth, I was relieved. The thought of cramming myself into a bus with a bunch of people I didn’t know was scary.

But  it got me thinking : Why the reticence? Have I been shortchanging guided travel tours? After all, how can I judge something I don’t know? 

So I decided to investigate. I read what I could, and I talked to women who love tours and women who dislike them intensely.

Here’s what I found out about the pros and cons of package tours. And it surprised me.

DISCOVERY #1 : THERE ARE DEFINITELY ADVANTAGES OF TOUR PACKAGES.

Many traveling women seem to enjoy organized tours so I asked a few of them why – and they had good reasons.

• You don’t have to lift a finger. Someone else will do your homework for you – booking the hotels, restaurants, transport from the airport and between cities, everything but the tips.  You’ve just got to show up .
• Everything is planned  (even predictable). You’ll have a schedule and an itinerary, which means you’ll be able to plan around it, in case you want to try a famous restaurant, or see some friends, for example.
• Your questions will be answered. Most package holidays have  local guides  so you’ll be able to ask about this unusual headdress or that traditional building. Often, guides are experts in a particular aspect of your destination, and may know out-of-the-way gems you would never have found on your own.
• You’ll have  instant travel companions , in case you’re not in the mood or ready to be on your own (although reading through  this section  on solo travel might help)
• Someone else will take care of the ‘ language issue ‘ for you, if you’re not a linguist.
• Things can often be cheaper : travel agencies and outfitters buy in bulk and can pass on those savings to their customers.
• You’ll see more, and that’s a fact, especially  if your time is limited . With things organized for you, you won’t waste valuable travel time searching for a room, getting lost, or figuring out public transport.
• There’s  safety in numbers , and even if you do run into a little trouble, your guide will make sure you’re well taken care of. In some parts of the world, being a female traveler means you’ll hardly get to see anything because the culture won’t allow it; a tour will help you get around some of these constraints.
• No decisions . If you have a high-powered or stressful job, you might welcome having everything taken care of for you for a few days or weeks.
• In some countries, tour packages might be  the only way  to get to certain places, short of chartering a boat or other unlikely event.
• And if you’re a novice traveler, a group may make you  feel less anxious  about stepping out into a new country.

DISCOVERY #2 : THE DISADVANTAGES OF PACKAGED TOURS ARE EQUALLY OBVIOUS.

It’s not all rosy and plenty can go wrong when you’re in a group, rubbing elbows with people you’ve never seen before.

• You may have to  spend time with people  you don’t like. Or who don’t like you. What if you have nothing in common – they drink late into the night and you’re out jogging by 6am even on holiday? 
• Your punctualities may not match. What if they delay the bus with their shopping while you’re  excruciatingly on time , seated five minutes ahead of schedule?
• You can  feel a bit rushed  as you’re whisked from A to B to C with no time to sit and soak in a locale. This type of travel can become superficial.
• If the tour is too large  your visiting time will be reduced  by things like gathering everyone on time, getting on the bus, getting off the bus…
• Your  tour guide  might not be as good as she should be – you might have been better off just reading your guidebook.
• You’re  stuck with your itinerary . You might want to go to a museum at the time a major walk is scheduled but there may be little flexibility built into the schedule.
• You’re also stuck (and this is a big one for me) with the food. Although some groups will cater to your  food choices , alternatives might not be satisfactory. And after the fifth ‘typical’ dish you might be desperately wishing for a pizza!
• You might feel cheated if there are  activities you don’t enjoy , a bit like I feel when I eat a meal with friends who drink (I don’t) and the bill is split equally.
• You may be visiting  too many shops  and not enough real sights.
• Tours can be tiring ; sometimes agencies cram them with every possible destination to make sure you get your money’s worth.
• Your chances of meeting local people are small, as you’ll be gazing at them through a window or  rushing past  them to keep up with the guide.

DISCOVERY #3 : THE PROS AND CONS OF PACKAGE TOURS BOIL DOWN TO ONE THING.

It’s this: how well you choose your tour operator.

It’s the most boring piece of advice but… do your homework! If you have a recommendation from friends, that’s great, you’ll be choosing with your eyes open. But if you have no references, your research will be that much more important. Pick a tour and Search online for any reviews or comments about that tour.

Consider these factors before you book:

• Size : the smaller the group the more intimate and personal the experience – but the larger the group the bigger the party.
• Length of tour : how long can you handle being with a group? (For me, that’s about six hours but I have friends who go on tours for weeks)
• Accommodation : quality, and variety – are you in a boring chain hotel every night, or do you alternate between B&B, unusual treehouse hotels and camps, for example?
• Food  flexibility, especially important if you have allergies or food constraints.
• Cost : of course, you want the most for your investment. But are there any hidden costs? Airport taxes? Extra meals? How much are tips? Drinks? Optional excursions? And the  dreaded single supplement ? This is where you need to read the fine print.
• Type of tour : is it a more adventurous tour, or sedentary, or a mixture?
• Refund policy : do you get anything back if you cancel? Under what conditions?
• Travel time : if you spend all day driving and two hours at a destination, that’s not travel – it’s transport.
• Transportation : how do you get from A to B? If you suffer from motion sickness (as I do) you won’t want to spend hour upon hour on a bus.
• Guides : their training, and whether additional local guides – who may know the destination even more intimately – are included. 
• Activities : are you just seeing or using more of your senses? Going to a performance? Taking a cooking class? Visiting a perfume factory? 
• Physical activities : check this, because if you’re a slow walker you won’t appreciate a highly physical tour, and vice-versa.
• Compatibility : what is the average age? If it’s a 20-year-old party crowd and you’re 60, a week or two might be way too long. What are typical clients like? If they match your demographic, you’ll have a better chance at compatibility.
• Shopping : make sure your tour isn’t a disguised shopping expedition. You don’t need to stop at shops with a tour: that’s what ‘free time’ is for.
• Speaking of which, make sure there is  plenty of free time  built into your tour or you’ll be exhausted by the end of the day, not to mention irritable and in a mood to break the bus.
• What is included : there’s no point in saving money by going for the cheapest tour only to find out no meals are included. Compare like with like.
• The WOW factor , that little extra you can’t define but you’ll feel it when you find the right agency with the right tour.

DISCOVERY #4: THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF TOUR PACKAGES AND THEY DON’T ALL INVOLVE A BUS.

Five tour types are, in my opinion, the exception. I could easily take them and not experience most of the disadvantages of package tours.

These include food walking tours, private organised tours, day tours, solo or single tours and all-women tours.

1. My all-time favorite is the culinary walking tour, which should come as no surprise.

In a food tour a small group of people, usually under a dozen, walk from place to place meeting local chefs, discovering new foods and learning local history. The group dynamic can be fun as tastes and scents are shared and the guide, often a local expert, shares his or her love for the neighborhood and its culinary delights.

On a visit to New York I tried the Tenement Museum’s  Lower East Side Food Tour  and traveled from Italy to China to Russia and beyond in a few delicious bites. In Istanbul, I experienced the  Two Markets Two Continents  tour with Istanbul Culinary Walks and ate my way from Europe to Asia and back.

Both tours were fun and I never felt that ‘herding’ feeling so common when a group of people who don’t know one another travel together with a guide.

On the contrary, we were all brought together by our love of food and no one complained about the walking, about the weather, about the guide or about anything else. We knew why we were there and that is often part of the secret: if you have a passion, it’s fun to share it with others. But if you’re just there for the ride, your and others’ boredom will likely show through.

Other great examples of these are the  Copenhagen Food Tour , the  Porto Food Tour  and the  Florence Walking Food Tour .

2. I also like the private organised tour – pricier than a package tour but far more flexible.

My first experience was a ten-day road trip through Albania, organized by  Albaniantrip  and its hugely resourceful manager Elton Caushi. For ten days a young public health professional, Genci Dervishi, drove me around his country. He was well-versed in recent history, with a strong understanding of its developmental challenges, exactly what I was looking for (and of course I made it to all the traditional tourist sites as well). Albanian isn’t an easy language to understand and having Genci along to translate made all the difference in being able to meet local people.

The second private guided tour I tried was a one-week 2000km loop around South Morocco, carefully built by  Desert Majesty Tours  and its charming manager, Felicity Greenlaw-Weber. In this case, I had not one but two escorts, a driver and a guide, Mohammed and Mohammed, whom I eventually dubbed 1 and 2 after a couple of days of jovial confusion. We divided our time between a 4WD and regular camel rides and explored mountains and deserts.

The vehicle and flexibility made it possible for us to travel on rough tracks across desert areas and into the interior, where we met modern-day nomads who live in caves rather than tents. The language issue was taken care of by our guide and I felt perfectly safe spending the night in several desert camps. 

The third was  a week in Sri Lanka , when I toured the country prior to spending  three weeks at an ayurvedic clinic . I found the driver almost accidentally but this was one of those cases in which the agency got it all wrong – but the driver salvaged the situation. The agency was a fly-by-night outfit located in the Colombo train station with a very official-looking “I” – like the ones used by Information or Tourism Offices worldwide. The tour was utterly cookie-cutter but my driver so flexible he understood immediately what I was looking for and made all the necessary arrangements.

The fourth was in Kyrgyzstan, with  CBT , or Community Based Tourism. CBT is a collection of local service providers – who provide overnight stays, meals, courses or glimpses into the culture. A good portion of the money you pay goes to them directly, in other words, straight into the local economy. I have nothing but praise for them, especially given the difficult terrain and language difficulties. They offered me a menu of activities based on my preferences – culture, food, big huge vistas… and I chose various I was keen to try (like building a yurt, for example).

This type of private or customized travel isn’t reserved for the wealthy, by the way, particularly in countries a little further off the tourist path. It does offer a level of freedom and flexibility I wouldn’t have found in a traditional group tour. In most countries, I was able to hire my private tour for around US$100-150 per day.

3. The day tour is a great alternative to mammoth group tours.

I’m often in a city for  a day or two at most , with little time to orient myself. If I know long enough ahead of time, I can do plenty of research and get myself organized to see as much as possible. But sometimes, that’s simply not possible and that’s when I decide a tour for a day or even half a day would at least show me the highlights. Here are the tour operators I use, depending on which tour is the best for my needs:

• My first stop is Viator , which probably has the broadest selection of half-day and full-day tours
• I also use  Get Your Guide , which is great for city day passes and hop-on hop-off bus tickets
• If I’m with someone (it sometimes happens!) I’ll use Tours by Locals , because I like having a knowledgeable guide all to myself! 

You may have even less time, but you can still get to see the sights. If you happen to be connecting to another flight with a long layover,  these airports offer city tours  which are organized to get you back to the airport on time for your flight.

4. The solo tour or singles tour is also an alternative.

Now I’m moving out of my comfort zone because I’ve never tried one of these, but I’m told that while they are organized, they tend to be different from the larger package tours. 

Solo or singles tours tend to be smaller, often limited to a dozen or so people, which makes them far more flexible than massive groups. Also, since they’re made up of individual travelers, chances are you’ll find greater compatibility since everyone is in the same situation. I will definitely have to try one of these so I can talk about it in greater depth.

5. Finally, the all-women tours.

Again, this isn’t something I’ve ever tried but like the solo tour, these groups tend to be smaller and compatibility far greater, which eliminates some of the bigger problems you face on organized tours.

DISCOVERY #5: NEVER JUDGE A BOOK TOUR BY ITS COVER.

For years I railed against organized tours without knowing enough about them and just agreeing with what I heard. I’ve changed my mind – at least on certain types of tours, like walking or private or small group tours. I still  slow travel  or  solo travel , but I’m no longer dead-set against group travel – if it’s small.

In fact next time someone asks, I won’t ‘automatically’ be busy and if I’m free I’ll give it a try. 

— Originally published on 29 March 2014

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