6 keys to keep in mind before booking a group trip

Las tourism companies Those offering multi-day trips organize most aspects of the trip: accommodation, walks and excursions, meals and transfers.

But he group sizehe style traveling and budget They are main aspects for travelers to consider and that they should evaluate before choosing a tour.

Start your search by thinking How many people are you willing to travel with? and how much their tolerance is to withstand social or group demands, which depend on the size of the group.

Smaller groups can move more quickly and possibly that will allow you to see more. But, at the same time, can be more socially intense since you will spend more time with those same people, whether on walks or eating.

Larger groups require more time to visit destinations, but can also offer more social variety – for example, you can change your lunch partner more easily.

“Large groups offer some anonymity, allowing travelers to choose their level of interaction,” said Deborah Miller, a travel advisor and owner of Edge of Wonder Travels Unlimited in San Francisco.

“Instead, smaller groups encourage a more intimate atmosphere between travelers, guides and with the destination itself.”

Operators often Segment your trips by age assuming that the age similarity of people means that they have more in common or that they prefer the same pace. Road Scholar, for example, caters to a crowd of curious intellectuals aged 50+.

At the other extreme, G Adventures offers a category of trips for people from 18 to “thirties” and Intrepid Travel offers trips for people ages 18 to 35.

Las Families can be difficult to fit into large travel groupswhich would demonstrate why companies tend to divide offers for families by age according to age groups.

Backroads travel company owns three segments age for families, including trips for those families with children ages 4 to 19, families with older teens and young adults within 20 years, and those with children 20 years old or older.

“By definition, that creates something of an age segmentation among parents as well,” said Tom Hale, founder, president and chief executive of Backroads.

A popular option for beginners in this field is an overview tour that may show the highlights of a destination, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum in Paris, or more important sites in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan.

Beyond the general approachalternatives abound based on themes, travel styles or hobbies.

Los themed trips They include a culinary tour of Sicily, an in-depth look at literary England, the battlefields of World War II and how women live in India.

Adding to those themes, travel often revolves around the meaning of the journey, such as traveling by train, on foot, or by boat (a category that can be deeply segmented by size, from cruises to a kayak to a barge). .

Tours can also allow you to pursue an interest such as swimming or knitting in a unique destination.

Once you determine where and how you want to travel, prices are going to range from budget-friendly to luxury.

“For travelers with normal budgetlarge tour groups tend to be the best fit as it is a great way to see the top attractions with a lower price,” said Cheyenne Schriefer, travel advisor and owner of All Travel Matters in Golden Valley, North Dakota.

But not all tours are created equal. To compare them to each other, consider what they include.

For example, G Adventures has a hiking trip ten days in Switzerland from US$1,799 per person and a 10-day hiking trip in Portugal for US$4,499. The latter is prepared as a luxury tripso the accommodations are more expensive, but they also include most meals, transfers and activities. The Switzerland Tour offers more basic accommodations, transfers, optional activities for a fee, and some meals.

“Sometimes fewer things included is better than a lot of things included,” said Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer Media, which advertises Frommer’s book guides.

Pauline pointed out that restaurants that can accommodate busloads of passengers are unlikely to attract local traffic and those independent tours allow you to “go around the local neighborhoods to get a feel for local life.”

The experience with the guide or local leader can also alter the price and experience. You may have to pay more for a tour provided by a specialist, such as the specialized guides in Egypt who take groups along the Nile.

Do you prefer to follow a strict and already scheduled agenda, that allows you to relax from searching for, selecting, a restaurant for dinner? Or would you prefer some structure – like knowing if your hotel reservations are already made – but still have free time to explore destiny independently?

The companies that carry out tours operate the entire range. Before booking, read the itineraries carefully to find out if the schedule is tight or loose. If this is not clear, call the company for advice.

For truly independent travelers, personally guided tours offered by companies such as Inntravel, Exodus Adventure Travels and Macs Adventure make all reservations and provide an itinerary to follow. Popular in Europe, these itineraries tend to be hiking or cycling that include luggage transfers.

“Self-guided travelers are independent but They love the support of having the trip organizedand they don’t want to carry a backpack anymore,” said Jasper Verlaam, US sales director at Macs Adventure.

If you’re still unsure about making a reservation once you’ve done your research, ask the travel company if you can talk to any clients who’ve already had the experience.

“Ask for referrals,” said Lynn Cutler, senior vice president of travel for Smithsonian Enterprises, which follows the travel company Smithsonian Journeys. “We will find you a traveler who has made the trip in the past and we will put you in contact”

The New York Times / Special for Clarín