Archive for: April 2010

Many people start looking at options for their next vacation and come up against a dilemma: is an organized travel tour better for them, or would they be better off organizing their own independent travel? Just in case you’re in that situation, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of organized travel tours.

Pros:

1. When you book an organized travel tour, you don’t have to worry about any language issues. This is particularly helpful if you’re traveling in a foreign country where they don’t commonly speak your native language.
2. An organized travel tour means you don’t have to worry about making decisions like where to eat or what activity to do next. Most of your day is planned for you and while there is down time and/or free time, for many it may be easier and less stressful to have most decisions made for you.
3. You have your guide to help you with any questions or problems. Things happen when you’re on vacation and an organized tour guide will be there to help you through anything that comes up. This added security, particularly when you’re in a foreign country, can be quite comforting.
4. You don’t have to worry about your baggage and transportation. Imagine never having to worry about how you’re going to get where you need to be! And you don’t have to worry about making sure your stuff makes the trip. Pretty great, right?
5. An organized tour makes it easy to see a lot of great sights and locations in a short period of time.

Cons:

1. If you don’t like the people you’re traveling with, you are in for a rough trip. Organized tours mean you’re with a group and if that group is irritating or annoying, you’re kind of stuck with them.
2. You don’t have the flexibility to make side trips and you’re stuck working on someone else’s time table. That not only includes where you go and when, but also what time you dine and get up in the morning.
3. You’re generally limited to visiting the most popular sights on a trip and eating at tourist-friendly restaurants. If you like to see what the locals see and eat where the locals eat, then an organized travel tour may not be for you.
4. You don’t have the freedom to choose where you stay. Yes, you choose the package and along with that travel package comes a hotel you presumably approve of; however, you’re limited to that hotel. Independent travel offers much more freedom.

Organized tours can be a great way to see a new and unfamiliar area. You can see the high points of a city or locale. However, you’re often limited to those high points and don’t have the freedom to get out and explore on your own. Before you decide if you’re an organized travel tour person or an independent travel person, consider what you enjoy about going on vacation and weigh the pros and cons.

Some people prefer traveling alone or just with their partner or family, but if you’re going abroad – or if you just like company – a group tour could well be the best solution. A group tour package makes sense for a number of reasons, above all because you have the services of a tour guide to help you with any problems or doubts about accommodation, meals, scheduling and, above all, communicating with the natives. But you need to make sure you choose a good tour operator – a bad choice could have very negative effects on your enjoyment of your vacation.

Tips on choosing a good package tour operator

1. Find a local guide or organization that specializes in the area you want to travel to. This is important because this person will know all the ins and outs of the area you’re going to see. They may be able to give you some insider secrets, restaurants and attractions so that you do not stick only to the tourist route.
2. Credentials – Once you have decided on an area to travel to, and found a list of several local tour operators, check their credentials. Ideally, you are looking for someone who is both safe and reliable above all. Find out what their license is and how long they have been in business. Ask for references and do a search on the Internet for more comments on the tour operator.
3. Personality – If you are an adventurous person, then make sure the itinerary and other group members will be of like mind. And vice versa. If you love to see historical sites and museums, a zip line tour through the rainforest canopy of Costa Rica may not be your cup of tea. Who are their customers? Do their demographics and description fit you? Make sure the packages and company personality closely match yours.
4. Guides – A travel package usually comes with guides. If the package tour operator is not a local one, then make sure the guides are local or at least intimately familiar with your destination. And who do they use to transport you? Where is your lodging? What will you eat at restaurants? This is important because for a more local experience, you want the travel package to help local businesses to provide services.
5. Route – Does the route match your needs? Generally, you pay a lot of money for a tour operator to fill your day with the best sites. If your route is not full, what are you spending your money on? That said, you also need time off so you can take a break.
6. Is the company concerned about the environment? Now more than ever, companies in the industry are aware of travel for its effect on the environment. Find out what measures your potential tour operator is taking to mitigate its impact.
7. Cost – The cost of a tour is obviously an important factor. However, it should not be your main one initially. Once you know the company is trustworthy, reliable and offers an itinerary that meets your needs, you can compare costs and find the company that best fits your budget.

Package tours are a great way to learn about a new country and they are also an ideal holiday for those who like to take the process of decision making and much of the stress of travel out of their vacation process. Finding a good package tour operator is not difficult – trust your instincts, check thoroughly and make sure that the package you decide on meets your needs.

Everyone grows and, before they know where they are, they’ve become adult. That means living an adult life: forming a family, getting and keeping a good job, making sure their kids get the best education possible, and all the other things a responsible adult is supposed to do. But sometimes a family decides enough is enough, and that it’s time for a change – for a family sabbatical.

A family sabbatical is a long journey away. It’s a way to take a break from “normal” life and travel the world with your family. Is it just an extended vacation? Not for everyone. A family sabbatical can embrace travel, but may also include education for your children and working and earning money when you are away. In fact, some families have made a profit from their sabbatical by blogging or writing books about the experience.

That said, not everyone tries to make money during the holidays. Some rent their homes, they cash in their savings and they take off for a year or longer of experiences and memories with their families.

Here are some considerations for planning and budgeting for your sabbatical, educating your children and even making money when you are away.

1. What kind of sabbatical leave will you take? There are options beyond simply travel abroad, you can take a sabbatical to volunteer by helping others, a language immersion sabbatical, or you can see the highlights from one era or region for an educational trip. Before going out the door with your suitcases packed, decide the purpose of your trip.
2. Where will you go? Along with the purpose of your trip, where will you travel? If, for example, you decide to take to the road in a camper, your sabbatical will be limited to the continent you’re on. If you’re in the U.S., then you can travel to Canada, Mexico and Central America. If you’re ready to fly, then anywhere on the planet is open to discussion and adventure.
3. How do you take care of your home and your property during your absence? Some people rent their home, which provides an income or means to pay your mortgage while you’re gone. It also ensures that your lawn gets mowed and related tasks at home are usually done. You can also ask friends and family to check your house from time to time and tend to these tasks, like mowing the lawn. Hiring a service is also an option, but if you’re trying to cut spending, then it’s not an option.
4. Encourage your children to participate in the planning process. Where do they want to go? What do they want to see? What are they looking forward to about the trip and what aspects of the trip are they not looking forward to? Children of all ages can have some fears about the trip, sucha s missing their friends or not being able to see the pets. It is now time to address these concerns. Email, Skype and other technologies can not only help kids stay in touch with their friends and family, you can also use them to help your kids stay on top of their duties so they are not behind on your return.
5. Money. Sabbaticals can be remarkably cheap. Depending on where you go, how long you stay in each place and what you do when you’re there, you can live with less than at home. In fact, an option like renting or buying an RV means you can cook meals for your family rather than having to go out for meals.

If you are looking for a break or simply an experience you can share with your children for years to come, a family sabbatical may be the answer.