It's that big debate when planning a holiday - do you go for adventure and action-packed, or do you find an all-inclusive beach resort? And if you are going for action-packed, do you find a travel provider where all the tours are included, or do you go at it alone? I weigh up the various options on whether a tour or self-guided holiday is the perfect package for you...
Touring with a group of people and travelling independently, are both great, however both have their advantages and disadvantages. One of the many benefits about taking a tour-based holiday is that you are guaranteed great company - heading out on the road with like-minded people and travel bugs. This option is great for solo-travelers who want to meet others and want everything taken care of - these tours typically include accommodation, meals, transportation and a minute by minute itinerary of many sites and destinations. Personally I find this method of travel quite restrictive, as I like to dine out at different restaurants and some days I want to go at things at my own pace. But I can see how this works for some.
I prefer the joy of freedom you get when you take a self-led tour. One of the key attractions of arranging your own holiday is that every stop, meal, site and activity is purely up to you; and if you do all of your research and make good choices, this can lead to an amazing, personalized holiday. Researching all the options is exciting, but can also be a little exhausting - I try and Google various tours led by other companies and hand select their good bits. I also heavily rely on Trip Advisor reviews and ask my trusted friend Google: "Where's the best location for a cheese and wine cellar?", "Where are hidden photo spots and look outs away from hundreds of tourists" etc. I also...dive into the realms of Facebook and Instagram and get tips from the horse's mouths; finding any friends who have visited the area within the last year. Just be conscious however, that everybody has different tastes and versions of what makes a 'memorable experience'. If you are used to staying at 5 star resorts, then getting advice from someone who regularly sleeps in a tent, might not be best recommendation...
Something to note however, is that tailor making your own holiday can sometimes be more expensive than going through a tour company - especially when you have to look for a hire car or transport as well as the hotel and any additional meals. Sometimes by going at things alone; you can miss out on the benefit of having a passionate and educational tour guide. I have mixed reviews about tour guides; I have had some which are brilliantly engaging and keen on teaching more about the area, others are as dull as dishwater and are basically non-engaging drivers who simply want their commission (as cynical as that sounds...)
One of the great things about having your own tour guide however, is that they usually get added on discounts, as they can do bulk bookings for other tours, or have bonuses which involves free photos, skipping the queue or having a free lunch somewhere.
Working out your budget for a self-guided journey abroad can be expensive, but it can be done. I have managed it on many occasions - and even mixed things up where I have booked my own accommodation and then just jumped on board various day tours with local operators. Local operators are always great when travelling abroad, as they tend to give sound and honest advice. Budgeting when going solo is extremely important, as you have to prepare for every meal, public transport and site visits - even if you think you have budgeted down to a tee, you are still hit with some unexpected costs, or get talking to someone at dinner and want to take a spontaneous trip to an insta-worthy location which wasn't on your original list (that was me in Nevada with seven magic mountains...). With a coach tour however, you have the security of knowing how much things will cost you upfront and everything is taken care for. Sometimes tour groups can be more the less convenient, but more secure option.
I would recommend self-guided tours are great for either experienced travelers, families with children and groups of friends. There are however tour operators out there which will allow you to custom make/tailor your tour. You can look to doing a self-drive tour or independent tour. Or, like me; you can look at doing a private tour. I do this option a lot, as you get a dedicated driver and typically a local who knows the area inside and out. As they are still a tour operator, you get all the added perks with lunch or dinner, and you can still pick and choose with what you personally want to do. I do this option a lot - you can find great private tour companies on places like Trip Advisor and you can likely book things at short notice. I did my own private tour each day when I was travelling around Australia and New Zealand, as it was a bit more 'luxurious' and still worked out cheaper than the cruise ship's shore excursions.
Being a solo traveler, I will always go for self-led holidays. Personally, there is nothing appealing to me about sitting on a coach and sleeping in a hostel (which is what many large operators do abroad). I like the freedom of taking a walking tour, cycling tour, or even hire a boat and car for the day. Whilst this option is more expensive, you can do things at your own pace, pick your travel buddies, not have to rely on pre-booked transportation and be a little bit selfish - after all, it's your holiday, you've paid money for it; being selfish is a good thing.
Research is key however, and there are some places, countries and cultures where taking a guided tour is highly advisable. I never would have just hailed down a taxi in Jamaica and asked a stranger to take me to Dunn's River Falls. Take note that if you are with a family, a single female traveler or on a stag/hen party; there are some drivers and tour groups which may end of taking advantage of you - so do your research before you jet off. And if you're really not sure, why not take a regular holiday and just try booking various day tours. You can do a cultural tour, or simply jump on a hop on/hop off bus - where you can get the best of both worlds.
According to Sky Scanner, you can enjoy 'best of both worlds' in the following destinations, as these places are known for catering for the solo-traveler, and family's first holiday who want to dip their toes in the water by trying an organised tour:
Ireland - great for family holidays and solo travelers.
Iceland - great for day tours in small groups.
Italy - great for self-drive tour in small groups. It is also great to book a coach tour and do a road trip around the country, as there are so many beautiful things to see and do.
Scotland - great for family holidays and solo travelers.
Portugal - great for everyone.
Spain - great for everyone.
Greece - great for families or couples, who are interested in private day tours around the islands.
Switzerland - great for families and solo travelers...especially during ski season.
Japan - great for families who want to self-lead. My closest friends did this a year ago with their 3 and 5 year old at the time before they took a cruise, and couldn't recommend it enough.
New Zealand - great for day tours. I did this in January and managed to hop on many last minute bus tours for the day, which only lasted 6 hours and let me see everything I wanted to see.
Israel - great for organised culture tours with a group of like-minded people.
Costa Rica - great for young travelers, operated tours and hostel-lovers. Costa Rica is like the Maldives on a budget, and has so much life and culture.There are many tours you can take to travel around and in recent years, it has become a very young person place.
If you are hovering over the idea of whether a self-guided holiday is the best option for you, then why not get in touch - I love hearing from you. Or jump over to instagram and take the quiz in my story highlights. Whatever you choose to do, have a happy holiday, and one that is perfect for you...
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