Doc Holiday: 7 tour questions travellers always ask

Group tours can be a wonderful experience, and there is one for every conceivable interest already in existence, but are they right for everybody? 

Unless you’re the kind of person who “doesn’t play well with others”, there’s the perfect tour for you out there.

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is whether group touring is for everyone. Now, unless you’re the kind of person who “doesn’t play well with others” (I’m being diplomatic), there’s the perfect tour for you out there. Are you into churches and religious iconography? There’s a tour for that. Would you prefer an adventure that tests your physical and emotional strength? Are you travelling with young children or someone a little unsteady on their feet? Those tours, too, are readily available.

To help make sense of what’s out there, here are my answers to the most commonly asked group touring questions in my Doc Holiday inbox.

Although travelling with a group of people may feel intimidating for shy or introverted people, guides are trained to make sure everyone quickly feels at ease.

Would you ever recommend group touring for shy, retiring types? I’m not sure I can handle spending 24/7 with strangers.

Toni Ambler, managing director of Contiki, Trafalgar, Costsaver, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold is keen to reassure you that although travelling with a group of people may feel intimidating for shy or introverted people, guides are trained to make sure everyone quickly feels at ease.

“We ensure that the first couple of days on tour are structured so everyone feels like they get the chance to meet, and interact with, like-minded people,” she says.

Keen to come out of your shell? Ambler recommends getting involved in the icebreakers on the first day, and sitting next to someone new on every bus trip so no one feels like a stranger. That said, you might find a small group tour more palatable. Intrepid Travel and G Adventures trips, for example, have an average group size of about 10 guests.

The best way to protect yourself against scams is to check the company’s credentials and do your research.

I found a great tour by an operator I’ve never heard of. How can you tell if a company is reputable?

There’s no shortage of dodgy types keen to help you part with your hard-earned cash. The best way to protect yourself is to first check the company’s credentials, says Chris Fundell, head of marketing Australasia with Globus. “There are a number of accreditations to look out for, such as ATAS, the national accreditation scheme for Australian travel businesses, and, for touring specifically, CATO, which is the Council of Australian Tour Operators.”

If you can’t establish how long a company has been in the game (Globus family of brands has just celebrated its 95th birthday), take time to check customer reviews online, paying attention to the number of reviews as well as the star rating, adds Ambler. “You want to ensure you’re picking a company that is well-versed in taking many passengers around the world. More experience, more customers means better quality assurance.”

Trawling social media platforms can also help, but you want images and reviews from real customers (use the hashtag function) rather than “official” posts from the companies themselves.

It’s essential to consider your interests and travel style before selecting a tour, and read the itinerary thoroughly to gain an understanding of the inclusions.

Is there any real way to know if a particular tour is right for me?

Once you’ve picked your desired destination and worked out your budget, it’s essential to consider your interests and travel style before selecting a tour, says Brett Mitchell, Australia and New Zealand of Intrepid Travel’s managing director. “If you’re a foodie, you might want to select a food tour such as Intrepid’s Italy Real Food Adventure, but if you prefer adventure, you might opt for an active tour such as Intrepid’s Vietnam: Hike, Bike and Kayak trip,” he says. “It’s also important to know what’s included in the tour, such as transportation, meals and activities.”

Read the itinerary thoroughly to gain an understanding of these inclusions, the style of accommodation and transport covered and whether the tour itself is tightly structured or more relaxed. Be sure, also, to ask how much free time is offered and whether there are any additional charges or optional extras you can book.

Trafalgar has women-only tours across much of Europe, including Greece.

I’m a little anxious about travelling on my own. Can you recommend a tour company which offers group tours for women specifically?

You have so many options that the most difficult part of your trip will be narrowing down which tour to book. Intrepid Travel’s women’s expedition range takes all-female groups to destinations such as Peru, Jordan, Pakistan and Morocco, while Trafalgar has women-only tours across much of Europe, from the Scandinavian fjords and Italy to Turkey and Greece.

AdventureWomen, a female-owned-and-run company, has offered trips to more than 65 countries worldwide since 1982 and is well worth a look, as is Adventures in Good Company and Wild Women Expeditions, which treats the more adventurous among us to horseriding adventures in Mongolia, trekking and safari in Tanzania and trips to Antarctica.

If solo female travel is your thing, I highly recommend checking out Solo Female Travelers, a 245,000+ strong community of women with a passion for travelling solo. Their site has tips on travelling solo, a solid rundown of women-only tours globally, online courses, and forums to help women connect with one another and share advice and information.

Active tours, including trekking and cycling, are extremely popular for group travel, as people often want additional support and equipment.

I’m not sure about group touring, but they seem like they could be a better option for more dangerous places where there’s safety in numbers. Which destinations are best placed for holidays of this nature?

While all destinations lend themselves to group travel, people who are a little more anxious about travelling around Africa, parts of the Middle East and, of course, adventure travel around the Himalayas (for example) might find comfort in travelling in a pack.

What the “ultimate group-touring destination” looks like varies between travellers, but Mitchell says it’s often best to lock one in when you feel you need additional support, whether that be due to language differences, remote location, unfamiliar terrain or wanting an additional layer of expertise to enhance your experience.

“Group tours led by a local leader always allow you to better immerse yourself in the local culture and customs,” he says.

“Active tours, including trekking and cycling, are extremely popular for group travel, as people often want additional support and equipment to help them on their active trip.”

Whether you have an illness, a disability or you’re of a vintage that prevents you from moving as quickly as younger people, you can find a group tour that will work for you.

I have limited mobility and worry I’ll struggle to keep up with a group. What are your thoughts?

No need to worry. Whether you have an illness, a disability or you’re of a vintage that prevents you from moving as quickly as younger people, you can find a group tour that will work for you. What’s important is early communication and complete disclosure with tour providers, Mitchell says.

“It’s important to be transparent with your travel requirements when booking a group tour so all your needs can be accounted for. This allows tour operators to ensure you have accommodation, transport and experiences to suit your needs,” he says.

Fundell from Globus agrees, adding that tour operators will work to accommodate every guest. “Our team is always on hand to choose the destinations and itineraries that would best suit if there are mobility or health issues to overcome. There are a variety of different-paced tours and itineraries that may be worth considering, with travellers able to choose a trip to suit their level of individual mobility and comfort.”

Specialist tour operators are also an option. Wheel the World offers a healthy selection of multi-day tours around the globe for those dependent on wheelchairs, while others such as Iceland Unlimited are destination-specific.

Another option is to have an itinerary personalised for you. Intrepid’s Tailor-Made Experiences team, for example, is well-versed in developing customised itineraries for travellers with disabilities and health issues.

You may also wish to look at Trafalgar’s travel tips for sightseers with disabilities at trafalgar.com/real-word/accessible-travel-tips.

Unless you’re travelling as a group to get from destination to destination, you’re under no obligation to join the activities listed on your itinerary.

How much flexibility can you enjoy if you book a group tour? I like the idea of them but I’d still like to be able to opt out of certain activities or days.

The great news here is that unless you’re travelling as a group to get from destination to destination, you’re under no obligation to join the activities listed on your itinerary.

If you’d like to opt out for a day and do your own thing, or perhaps miss that one particular activity that makes your heart leap into your throat, all you have to do is let your guide know.

Of course, some tours offer greater flexibility than others so if you’re after an itinerary that allows you plenty of free time, it could be worth looking for a product that aligns with your vision, says Ambler.

“Touring brands like Costsaver take the concept of flexibility even further – to the point where the operator arranges the essentials, like transit and accommodation, and allows the individual traveller to tailor the rest of their experience to their liking,” she says.

A tour that offers several options for excursions at each stop might also be of interest to you. The average Choice Touring itinerary by Globus, for example, includes a variety of YourChoice excursions for guests to tailor the tour to their own pace and passions.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: 7 tour questions travellers always ask