Travel
How to make the most of your tour group travel experience
If “tour group travel” makes you picture cringey name tags and hours on the bus, you’re not alone. But done well it’s actually a smart, lower-stress, lower-cost way to travel.
By Stephanie Hunt
How good is tour group travel for overseas holidays?
Someone else has planned it, organised it and included all those bucket-list experiences you’ve been dreaming about – all you have to do is pick a date, pay, pack and turn up at the airport.
But to maximise the value of your hard-earned holiday dollars, minimise the stress of overseas travel and make the most of someone else’s expertise and local knowledge, here are my top 5 tips for tour group travel.
(Oh by the way, it goes without saying that all travellers should check passport and visa requirements, take out travel insurance and research what to pack… or not pack.)
This might help too: Travel insurance secrets that might save your next holiday
1. Do your research
Did you know that luggage allowances for international and domestic flights can differ? Yep, I learned that one the hard way in India when I (and several others) had to cull my luggage by a few kilos for flights between New Delhi and Varanasi.
We were lucky our hotel was (kind of) happy to store our excess belongings until we returned. Also lucky they didn’t realise those bags were full of dirty laundry!
Check cultural requirements for attire and come prepared. In India I chose to cover my legs after reading other’s experiences and wanting to be respectful to the host country. Some sites, like Delhi’s Jama Masjid mosque, provided robes and sarongs to ensure rules were observed.
Yeah, I did choose not to think about how many other people had worn my pretty green robe that day. Strict rules and harsh penalties regarding clothing, language and behaviour apply in some countries, so it pays to find out.
Read this too: What it's really like to travel to India for the first time
Use Google Maps to find out where your hotels and nearby ATMs, convenience stores and restaurants are located. My good friend Ross taught me this one: they’ve visited multiple countries on group tours and know to come prepared with printed maps of each hotel’s area to save time and stress.
Hard copies because, you guessed it, you might not be able to access the internet everywhere. Also remember to check with hotel staff or guides about local safety – they may advise you to abandon your late night off-tour plan and stay in instead.
Quick tips to book well
- Check the details: ask questions about things like the average age range, expected fitness, how problems are handled on the road and whether there is flexibility in the itinerary if everyone agrees.
- Ask who this tour is not for: A good operator will answer honestly and you’ll quickly get more of an idea of what’s in store.
- Follow their socials: You’ll soon get a gist of the real vibe, age mix and pace of the tour you’ve got your eye on.
- Check how they cap group size: “Small group” can mean very different things to different operators.
- Look for non-travel days in the itinerary: Sitting on a bus day after day isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.
2. Set aside money for optional tours and tipping
Schauna, another experienced overseas traveller, explained this gem of a tip: “Pop the money for each optional tour in an envelope marked with your name and tour date, then simply hand it to the guide when required. Do the same for daily tipping. The guides will love you for it!” Bonus that it’s already accounted for in your holiday budget and saves you racing to an ATM for extra cash. Can’t find an ATM? See the map tip above.
The costs for daily tours and gratuities (tipping) are usually included in travel documents received in advance. My China tour guides accepted both AUD and CNY. If you don’t go on the optional tour, no worries, that spare envelope means you’ve got extra spending money.
Not planning to go on the optional tours? Read my next tip.
3.Treat “optional” experiences as inclusions
The ‘extra’ tours offered can provide unforgettable experiences you might never get a chance to see or do again. And they’re usually planned as carefully as included activities. For example, the optional three gorges tour offered on my China trip was a beautiful experience of traditional dance, culture and stunning scenery. Yep, I even bought the t-shirt that couldn’t be found anywhere else (some jealous travel buddies that day!).
Want to visit too? Surprising China: a stand-out travel destination at every age
Ask your guide about other options not included on the itinerary. Tour buddy Linda did just that, then our experienced India guide led us through narrow alleys to experience the colours, chaos, smells and amazing sights of the Varanasi spice markets. An unexpected but fantastic experience; we recommended its inclusion on future itineraries.
4. Connect with your tour buddies
Group tours throw you together with the same people for several days (sometimes even weeks) straight, so why not reach out and spark up a conversation. I found out over a beer in the middle of China that my new friend Liz was in the same part of the Northern Territory that I was back in the ‘80s!
She set up a WhatsApp group to connect our group and share vital daily information, funny incidents, the best souvenirs and photos.
Quick tips for smooth socials
- Find your people: Notice who wants to chat, who wants quiet and adjust before awkwardness sets in.
- Set your boundaries: Early nights, solo mornings, lively dinners; decide what works for you and protect your energy.
- Sit in different spots on the bus: Without interfering with others’ preferences, try to move around a bit to change who you spend time with.
- Treat free time like gold: Plan one small personal mission per stop, even if it’s jumping on a different bus to explore a local neighbourhood that’s off the tourist trail.
- Leave on a high note: Swap details with those you want to stay in touch with before the last day.
And this one too: Socialising is vital for health as you age. But what if you're an introvert?
5. Take less photos to make more memories
My first few days in India found me constantly photographing (yep, there was a photo opp around every corner). Many photos were destined to be deleted or never viewed again. So I decided to put the camera away and simply experience things instead. I saw, I smelled (a little too much, if I’m honest), I learned, I appreciated. And now I remember.
Do still take photos (pro tip: turn your phone’s location on, it records location data on each photo), but be a little more thoughtful in the taking. By the way, many of my favourite photos were captured during those wonderful optional experiences.
Photo books featuring the best pics can trigger memories and stories in later years and they’re relatively easy and cheap to print.
Tour companies strive to create and deliver amazing and affordable group travel experiences. With a bit of research on your part and a desire to make your trip fun and stress-free, you should come home with new friends and wonderful memories.
Feature image: iStock/SolStock
Tell us in the comments: Have you been on a package tour? Got any fresh tips to share?
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