A successful organized tour starts long before you leave home. It’s all in the planning. And it often starts with finding the most reliable tour operator. Here are 10 tips from Austin-Lehman Adventures (named World’s Best Tour Operator by Travel + Leisure magazine).
- Build files: Collect brochures, maps and material from website links.
- Google: 96 percent of all travel research is now done online. Ask specific questions.
- Collect info off-line: Tear out info from travel magazines, make notes from converations with friends, visit a local travel agent.
- Create a bucket list: List dream destinations and activities. Have a long list and a short list.
- Decide who gets your business: Look for operators who specialize in your interests. Get recommendations from friends. Collect the best in specific geograqphic areas, such as best in Italy, best in Mexico. Check online.
- Work your short list: Hone in on the few places in which you are most interested. Begin emailing the tour operators you have been collecting. If a company doesn’t get back to you immediately or avoids answering specific questions, take them off your list of potentials.
- Ask questions: How long have they been in business? Does the company run it’s own tours or does it outsource? What are their deposit/cancellation/trip insurance/ satisfaction guarantee policies? What happens to a small group trip if nobody else signs up? What is the guide-to-guest ratio?
- Ask about specific tours and itineries: What is included and what is not included? Where does it begin and end and how do you get there? What’s the best time of year for your specific trip? What’s a typical day? How many miles per day of biking, hiking paddling? Describe the amenities and food.
- Digest and summarize: Digest, quantify asnd narrow down to a couple of options. Review all your data, make some final calls, remove all doubt.
- Book it! Make sure that everyone agrees before you make your commitment.
