An escorted journey can prove disappointing, but it isn’t always the tour company at fault. It might be that the tour simply hasn’t matched your personality and style, not to mention your budget expectations or stamina levels.
You can avoid that problem with due diligence before you sign up. You can’t expect tour companies to know anything about you but, with sensible research, you can determine many things about tour companies.
It takes work because there are lots of companies, and their itineraries have become more varied, adventurous and far-flung. The initial effort can, however, make or break your holiday.
Have a clear vision of what you want and enjoy, and match a tour company accordingly. Some specialise in cultural visits, others wilderness destinations. Some mollycoddle their customers, while others demand physical effort.
Get a first impression by surfing company websites. Do the images show 20- or 60-year-olds? Are they contemplating real landscapes or painted ones? Relaxing in a spa or diving on reefs?
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Read the descriptive text too; its tone and content will highlight the company’s focus, whether it’s relaxation or energy, art or adventure.
Using your shortlist of tour companies, compare similar itineraries to get a more detailed sense of the pace, focus of interest, level of free time and flexibility.
Canvass your friends, who should know you, and ask if they have any experience of the companies you’re considering. Consult travel agents, too. Good ones should ask the right questions and steer you towards suitable holiday matches.
Be open-minded. Many customers are loyal to certain brands, but just because a tour company has been great in Seoul doesn’t mean its vibe and expertise suits the Sahara.
Next, decide whether you’re a plonk or Penfolds person. There’s no point in touring the Himalayas or rural Cambodia if you expect luxury.
Then decide on a budget. No two itineraries are entirely the same and inclusions vary, but you can get a rough comparable cost by dividing the fare by the number of days. Just be aware that more budget-end tours won’t include flights, optional excursions or many meals.
Within your budget window, here’s your next decision: a large or small group. In large groups you likely get better value, but a middle-of-the-road experience in predictable places. Nothing wrong with that if you’ve never been to South America or Europe before, and just want the highlights.
A small group provides a more intimate and interactive experience, is generally faster paced, and might get you further off the beaten tourist trail.
If you have niche interests, small-group companies are your go-to choice. You can do jazz tours in the American South, textile tours in Cambodia and, in between, focus on anything from wine to wildlife conservation.
A final thing you might want to consider is eco-friendliness – relatively speaking, since all travel leaves a considerable footprint. Some companies are involved in conservation, sustainable tourism and local community projects, and others are certified by reputable bodies such as Ecotourism Australia, Rainforest Alliance or Green Tourism.
Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.
