Doc Holiday: 8 questions travellers always ask about group tours

From tipping and solo supplements to choosing a reputable operator, these are the top questions first time travellers ask before booking a group tour.

The first time I booked a group tour, I had little idea what to expect.

Would I enjoy travelling with strangers? Would I have enough time to do the things I wanted to do? Are some tours – like cruises – better suited to my tastes than others?

Now that I’ve got plenty of group tours under my belt, I know the answers are yes, sometimes and definitely, but I also know that one of the oft-overlooked benefits of touring is that you make some wonderful new friends from around the globe.

If you’re new to group touring, you’ve probably got your fair share of questions too. Here, I answer those most commonly sent to my Doc Holiday inbox.

Operators that are well-known to most Australians are a safe bet, as are those with a decades-long proven track record. 

1. Scammers have me fretting. How do I know if a tour operator is reputable?

I’m going to tell you what I tell my kids every time they walk out the door: trust no one. When it comes to tourism, I don’t mean never going on a single holiday again, but that it isn’t a bad idea to assume everyone’s dodgy until your extensive research can prove otherwise.

Operators that are well-known to most Australians are a safe bet, as are those with a decades-long proven track record. US tour operator Collette, for example, has been operating since 1918, while Globus has been running for 97 years.

Satisfying the mind is as easy as checking a company’s credentials through ATAS, the national accreditation scheme for Australian travel businesses, as well as CATO (the Council of Australian Tour Operators). I personally wouldn’t book a tour until I’ve swept the internet like an FBI agent, looking for traces of bad reviews from those who’ve experienced the tour already. Check the reviews on a company’s site, but also TripAdvisor, TrustPilot and Reddit.

Think about what would be ideal for you in terms of average ages of your fellow travellers. 

2. I’m overwhelmed by the number of group tour operators out there. What’s the quickest way to find the one that suits me best?

I know it sounds painful, but it’s worth putting aside a couple of hours for firm self-reflection. Once you’ve got your destination and budget sorted, this will eliminate a lot of players whose price points fall beyond what you’re willing to pay. Then it’s a matter of asking yourself how many people you’re happy to travel with. Some tour companies might have an average group size of eight people, while others can be upwards of 40. Then think about what would be ideal for you in terms of average ages of your fellow travellers. This, too, will help with the process of elimination as some operators such as Intrepid Travel and G Adventures tend to skew younger – particularly with their more economical tours – than the likes of APT Tours.

If you have a particular interest, there’s little doubt you’ll be able to find a tour to satisfy that – just take a look at this story on niche tours – but it’s also a good idea to think about how much flexibility you’d like for doing your own thing, whether you want it to be all-inclusive or you’re happy to pay for meals and activities, and how much you’re willing to travel between destinations. Once you’ve answered these questions and narrowed down your options, all that’s left to do is to go over each one with a fine-tooth comb, ensuring you’re happy with the destinations and experiences covered, but also the inclusions, style of accommodation and transport. If you struggle with motion sickness, I would also recommend checking out distances between stops on Google Maps.

If you’re not travelling with a specialist operator, things can get tricky depending on the destination and your dietary requirement.

3. How flexible are group tours when it comes to dietary requirements?

When I was conducting my research for this week’s Escape, I was astounded by the number of specialist food tours around the globe. I don’t mean “eating your way around Sri Lanka” or “the Turkish delights of Turkey” (although they certainly do exist), but operators like Gluten Free Tours Japan, which does exactly what it says on the tin, and World Vegan Travel, which has a range of vegan adventures across destinations as broad as Japan, Botswana and Croatia. Only eat halal? Halal Travel Guide has got you sorted.

If you’re not travelling with a specialist operator, however, things can get tricky depending on the destination and your dietary requirement. On paper, tour operators insist restrictions can be accommodated, provided you’ve communicated them clearly, but the truth is, some local tour leaders don’t exactly toe the party line. Research the cuisine of your destination before you book (vegetarians, for example, will struggle in Svalbard, where the diet is based on reindeer, seal and whale meat) and be prepared to adapt your expectations and meal choices.

I always recommend packing your suitcase like you’re aiming for a one-man special episode of Border Security. When I travelled throughout Mongolia last year, I couldn’t tell you how happy I was to have a seemingly endless supply of instant noodles and canned vegetables – bought from a local supermarket – in my suitcase.

Some tour operators either bundle gratuities into the fare, or give you an option to pre-pay when you’re booking the tour.

4. Should you tip your tour guide? If so, how do I budget for this?

Like when visiting the United States, tipping must surely be the most frustrating thing about group touring. There are no hard and fast rules here, but depending on the country you’re touring, you should bank on tipping your tour director anywhere between $5 and $10 per day, and your driver between $3 and $5 per day. These amounts are usually collected by one member of the group at the end of the tour and presented on the final day. If you remain unsure, your tour operator will often have a tipping guide attached to each itinerary to help you manage your funds throughout the trip.

The tipping doesn’t end with the tour director and driver, however; you’ll also need cash to tip all the other service providers you meet along the way, from waiters in restaurants to local tour guides. Many tour directors will organise a tip kitty – a set amount everyone puts in at the beginning of a trip – that he or she will distribute throughout the tour so you don’t have to worry about it.

Of course, some tour operators, Insight Vacations, Bunnik Tours and Collette among them, either bundle gratuities into the fare, or give you an option to pre-pay when you’re booking the tour.

Some operators offer a range of relaxed-pace itineraries with free time built in for exploration.

5. How much free time will I have to explore destinations on my own?

This ultimately depends on which tour operator – and specific tour – you end up booking. Generally speaking, group tours are about offering travellers value by packing many activities into each day so that a typical day begins early in the morning and ends when you’re nodding off at dinner.

Some operators offer a range of relaxed-pace itineraries with free time built in for exploration, such as Insight Vacations’ Easy Pace Guided Tours, Globus Independent and On the Go Tours. Intrepid Travel’s Basix range, too, maximises free time by keeping inclusions to a minimum.

Scan each itinerary for just how much free time is included and remember that there’s nothing to say you can’t take off and do your own thing as the mood takes you, provided you’re back in time before the group moves on to the next destination. I always make it a habit to arrive at the departure city a couple of days before a tour starts so I can make the most of my time (not to mention enjoy the solitude) before the action begins.

Happily, solo travellers have an ever-increasing number of options when it comes to group touring.

6. How can I solo travel without single supplement?

Sometimes referred to as a solo supplement, this is an amount paid when a travel company needs to make up for lost revenue from a phantom second person if a single person occupies a room designed for two.

Happily, you have an ever-increasing number of options when it comes to group touring. You can book with a tour operator such as Intrepid Travel or Explore, who will pair you with another traveller of the same gender to avoid the dreaded supplement. You could also book with a company that specialises in solo touring, like Two’s a Crowd, Encounter Travel or Solo Connections, but just note that the single supplements tend to be rolled into the fares.

I like the look of G Adventures’ new range of solo-ish tours, which not only offer discounted prices for your own room, but have added extras for those craving an additional layer of security such as female tour directors (known as chief experience officers) and complimentary arrival transfers to your first hotel.

A lot of time and effort goes into research and organising every single element of a tour.

7. Is it better to travel alone or with a tour group in terms of price?

I’m not going to lie, group tours are usually a little pricier than travelling on your own, unless you subscribe to the “time is money” philosophy. 

Simply put, a lot of time and effort goes into research and organising every single element of a tour, from the cafés you visit and the hotels you stay in to the local guides who’ll be assisting along the way. 

You could spend countless hours researching and booking all the transport, restaurants and attractions yourself, but on the off-chance you’d rather spend your time doing something else, it’s worth considering when comparing prices between a group tour and independent travel.

Don’t miss packing these handy items.

8. What should I pack for a group tour? 

Don’t miss packing these handy items:

1. Portable games or a deck of cards for the bus.
2. An e-book reader, pre-loaded with reading material.
3. Snacks.
4. An insulated water bottle.
5. A roll of toilet paper or tissues, plus hand sanitiser. Trust me.
6. Something uniquely Australian to share with your new travel buddies (insert Vegemite-related shrieks here).
7. Ear plugs and an eye mask, if you’re sharing a room with a stranger.
8. Small notes in the local currency for souvenirs, roadside snacks and tips.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: 8 questions travellers always ask about group tours