Hello to all!
Today we will talk about how is it better and more profitable to travel? What to choose: independent travel e or package tour? Consider the pros and cons of independent travel and rest "package«.
I want to say right away: what type of travel around the world to choose for each specific person is, first of all, a matter of personal taste and preferences. And I do not want to impose my point of view on anyone. However, as practice shows, many people are simply created for independent travel... Simply because of their own laziness or simple fear, they are afraid to go abroad for the first time without the imaginary support of a tour operator. Indeed, after all, then you will have to plan your trip in advance: buy plane tickets yourself, book a hotel or look for where to stay on the spot, and arrange insurance yourself. What if something happens on vacation? Who will help? My opinion: you should always rely on yourself. It is better to set aside time in advance and choose the insurance company from which you buy insurance for the entire trip, think over your travel route in advance. So the risks will be minimized. by the way, here are two of my articles to help you:
Even hotels, clubs and bars are not only perfect place for single travelers in the context of special entertainment programs such as live concerts or private parties. Solo travelers can take advantage of the hospitality of the people in the respective resort region in the form of sleeping places or joint ventures and thus make their one trip unique. Solo travel is definitely a valuable experience for many people, allowing them to meet their interests regardless of the needs and feelings of other travelers.
And the support of the tour operator gives only the illusion of safety! Hear - an illusion!
To be honest, I myself used to prefer to travel only with the help of tour companies. All due to the above circumstances. But, as soon as I went abroad for the first time on my own, I immediately realized what I was losing when I was a "packet worker".
Well, okay, I was the one who pounced on the tour of the cameramen right away. I promised to consider pros and cons both types travel! Okay, let's go in order ...
It should be noted, however, that there are certain restrictions on traveling alone. For example, when traveling alone, there are only limited communication options. There are also types of travel and destinations that are not recommended for individual travel.
While for some it's a sense of security when you order early, for others it's the flexibility you get at the last minute. Both types of booking are valid because they only have a few advantages, but also a few disadvantages. Just book a flight or ride and land the plane tomorrow, that's great, but certainly not suitable for everyone. Likewise, others are reluctant to choose many months ahead when they have a vacation.
1. Purchase of air tickets, insurance, hotel booking.
When traveling in a "package", they will do all this for you. As the saying goes: just pay money! Conveniently? Yes! But how good and convenient will it all be in the end?
Charter flights that you take when purchasing a tour often postpone departure dates. The level of service is poor. Actually, buy air ticket online now it is very simple and does not take much time. It is convenient to do this through ticket search engines, of which there are many now. Personally, I always use the search for flights through Aviasales Is a very convenient search engine. To help novice independent travelers, I wrote a separate detailed post about this: The same when taking out insurance and hotel booking- everything is done very quickly via the Internet. I take out insurance online on the site - a very convenient site, everything is done in just a few minutes!
We show for whom the last minute or early bird is suitable, as well as in which booking types differ. Last minute advantages and disadvantages. Of course, one of the biggest benefits of the last minute is low price... Tour operators, airlines or even hotels that have not sold their holiday packages, flights or hotels yet are of course very keen to be fully booked. And winning less is better than not making a profit at all.
Pros of self-guided tours
But this also leads to the biggest disadvantage, because at the last minute you have to compromise on the rule. Whether it's a holiday destination, a hotel, or even the duration of a trip. At the last minute, you must take what you get. Who is flexible in the destination and the length of the trip, but will certainly find something good.
Soon a very useful and interesting article will be published on my blog for independent travelers: So subscribe soon and be the first to receive this article directly to your mail!
Thus, when buying a tour, the main advantage will be - a little time savings and no worries. Minus - you are deprived of the choice.
2. Your finances.
Another advantage of short-term bookings is that travel cancellation insurance usually does not have to be completed. Since booking and check-out are relatively close together, sometimes quite expensive insurance is overkill.
Often such insurance is not possible at all as the free cancellation is simply not offered due to the short time frame. Advantages and disadvantages early booking... Especially if you want to travel to specific place vacation and perhaps still want to stay at a particular hotel, you cannot avoid booking on time. However, hotels and travel agencies are keen to sell their trips and rooms as quickly as possible, which is why they are also attracting big discounts here.
It's no secret that charter flights cheaper than regular ones. However, if you approach the purchase of air tickets wisely, you can buy a ticket for a regular flight cheaper than for a charter one! Airlines often give good discounts on tickets if you buy them in advance (several months before the flight) and during the promotional period. You can always find a hotel cheaper (and even better than the one that the tour operator offered you), insurance, too - and not at the expense of quality. One BUT! If you cannot plan your trip in advance and are suddenly rushed to rest, then it is usually more profitable to purchase a ticket (especially a “last-minute” one).
And in this case, the earlier you order the book, the higher the discount. The disadvantage here is that tourists have to set up very early. Any change in living conditions, be it loss of a job or illness, can lead to the fact that the journey cannot be started. Deferral insurance is always highly recommended for early bookings - so tourists can get back at least part of the booking amount.
Cons of organized tours
What else needs to be considered! Proposals should always be checked carefully because last minute deals, like early birds, can simply serve as an advertisement. When vacations carry these labels, many simply automatically assume that they should be cheap. Unfortunately, this is not always the case - so, always compare!
However, when traveling for a long time, it is almost always more profitable to fly on your own. After all, "package" tours are usually designed for 10-15 days, rarely for 3 weeks. Of course, they will always be able to pick up individual tour, but it will cost a pretty penny!
Conclusion: if you can plan your vacation in advance or if you are flying away for a long time, go on your own. You fly away for a short time and suddenly - it's easier to buy a "package".
It should be considered not only as the price of the trip itself, but also what is included in the amount. For example, is arrival and departure included, as well as transfers to and from the hotel? Likewise, should you pay for meals - all inclusive, half board, full board or no meals at all?
However, this disadvantage can be contrasted with three pluses.
Due to the differences between the two types of booking, they are of course also suitable for different groups people. After the holiday before the holiday and whether it is an early bird or an early bird - we hope that everyone will have great holidays again next year with his preferred booking form!
3. Freedom of movement.
Personally, I do not like any restrictions. You say: “Well, I arrived with a tour operator, so what? Nobody forces me to attend any excursions if I don't want to? " Yes it is. But I'll tell you what. The vast majority of tourists, having paid for a ticket, will not even think, for example, to change the hotel on the spot. Even if it turned out to be mildly not meeting expectations. And it's clear why! After all, money is lost! And then you think the whole rest: "I should have taken another hotel!" When you go by yourself and choose a hotel yourself, it is better to book it for a couple of days, and on the spot you can choose accommodation to your liking and affordability.
Airlines in Germany wanted to make better use of their flights, and previously canceled aircraft seats were mostly offered to business people who needed a flight due to the date change quickly. Others were in turn so that many businessmen wanted their ticket back, which was not the case in the past.
After the airlines, it didn't take long until hotel companies followed suit. There is also quite a competition for last minute travel, such as a train ticket that is very cheap 29 days before the date of booking online.
Do you know this situation? Here you flew to sunny Thailand on a voucher (or to Vietnam, or to Turkey, or somewhere else), you were all gathered and put on a bus to take you to hotels. Only the bus doesn’t go. It turns out that a couple of vacationers disappeared, who began to actively relax on board the plane and continued at the airport. Naturally, the operator does not abandon his tour! And they are looking for them for 2 hours all over the airport. And you could devote these 2 hours to your rest! Well, okay, so they were found !!! Finally let's go! According to the plan, the bus makes a stop on the way for everyone to go about their business. But these two have plans to drink to this wonderful place where the bus stopped. And it doesn't matter that this is just a small cafe on the highway. In short, the bus is waiting again. And you too ... This is by the way real story... When we flew in a "package" to Thailand in 2012, we lost almost 3 hours because of this pair of bukhariks. And could this time already sunbathe under a palm tree!
The benefits of last minute travel. It soon became clear, however, that last-minute offers weren't benefiting all consumers. The reason for this is that most last minute offers need to be made after booking, within days or weeks. For example, families cannot because their children are attached to the holidays. The biggest advantage that last-minute travel will bring is the cheaper price. Price range between regular booking and last trip is at best 30%.
When you plan your transfer yourself, you are unlikely to have such problems. But again, you need to plan everything, know which bus or metro goes from the airport to the city, where you can take this bus, etc.
By the way, for travelers going to Istanbul, the article will be useful: And if you are going to Vietnam:
It depends on the destination as well as the travel time. For this reason, deals are possible. Therefore, for consumers, last-minute booking still means they can save a lot of money by booking such a trip. Often, last minute travel, but only the flight is quite cheap, even a full package of tours can be booked.
Disadvantages of last minute travel. Another disadvantage is that travel cancellations or travel insurance cannot be canceled for a last minute trip. In addition, today it is no longer the case that you can drive with your packed suitcase and family to the next airport to find the next free seat. Seats with last minute transfers at the time of booking may be that seats booked together are not adjacent to each other. Often last minute offers are not as cheap as they used to be.
When you move on your own, you can see a lot of interesting things already on the bus or metro! Even if you are taking a taxi and passing something interesting that you really wanted to see, you have the right to go out and start your excursion program wherever you want. Here it is - freedom of movement! And from tourist bus Nobody will let you go - they are responsible for you
The reason for this is that all travel companies calculate in different ways. Last minute last minute deals. Last minute trips to cities such as London, Paris or New York are particularly popular with consumers. Especially attractive and cheap, especially on weekends. However, there is quite a long way to go here. If only for a weekend in Paris, you should definitely visit the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. In London, the wax figures of Madame Toussé and the Tower and Buckingham Palace... Finally, in New York one should try to take a closer look at the Statue of Liberty and the Museum of Modern Art.
So, in terms of freedom of action, there will definitely be a positive independent travel.
Although, if you eat for a week and you don't need anything other than to lie around with a beer near the hotel pool all the time. And you don't want to think about anything, then a voucher tour will be the best choice for you. They took it, they brought it.
Mallorca and the rest of the Balearic Islands Majorca remains the absolute last-minute destination. And also on others Balearic Islands have one or the other last minute offer. Egypt The little man travels to holiday regions where political tensions prevail or prevail. Therefore, in Egypt, Tunisia and other African and Asian countries, there are many best offers for last minute travel. Germany. Germany also has a number of last minute offers, especially on Easter and autumn vacation... You only need to select the sites of the selected holiday region. Canary Islands Even if Canary Islands almost fully booked in high season... Last minute flights and hotel packages can be found time and time again. Crete Always popular again greek islands such as Crete. The offer also remains very cheap at the last minute. Austria, Switzerland, the Alps in general. It's not just summer vacations that can be booked at the last minute. Even winter holidays last minute may be helpful. Especially at the beginning or end of the ski season, many hotels complain about empty rooms. Especially young people use the latest suggestions for the party. ... Problem with vaccinations and travel documents.
4. Travel impressions.
Any person wants only the most pleasant impressions and emotions from the trip. I would like to experience something new, to see all the most interesting!
Trust me when independent travel there will be much more such impressions than when traveling on a voucher. Already leaving the airport and taking a bus or subway, you are immersed in the local color, you begin to see the life of the people of the country where you have arrived, as if from the inside. True, of course, not everyone needs such impressions. For many, traveling is just a hotel, a beach, and perhaps a couple of excursions. At first I didn't need anything else either. But it was worth trying ... To feel complete independence and freedom of movement. Believe me, this is much more interesting!
During those times when you just go shopping in New York or Istanbul? The last minute is not really an organizational issue. However, the problem with vaccinations and travel documents is often underestimated. When you travel to many countries, in addition to basic immunization, which is now largely available, even special vaccinations are recommended. And then there is a problem with travel documents: if his passport or identity card has expired, entry into many countries is impossible, even if you took care of a replacement document in time.
So the conclusion suggests itself: if you want more impressions of something new from the trip, choose an independent trip. You do not want to delve into nothing, the main thing for you is a calm, relaxed rest - it is easier to be a "packer". Here to each his own.
The visa usually needs to be applied for a longer period of time. With fairly cheap last minute deals to travel, there is another side to the coin. If you're booking a last minute trip, you shouldn't just click without texting the boss. Because it’s only when that holiday for the holidays was really in order that the holiday can begin, because the cheap last minute trip often only starts outside the holiday season.
Last-minute rides are no longer as compelling as they once were. However, the offer on the travel portals offers something suitable for those looking for such trips. There are many good deals that are well worth the price. Ultimately, you just need to be spontaneous enough to actually take advantage of last minute offers.
Reading this article, probably many people think that I have become just an ardent opponent of "package" tours. This is not at all the case. In fact, everything depends on the personality of a person, his desires. For some, independent travel is simply contraindicated! It's just that in this article I want to convince those who want to travel on their own, but do not dare - there is nothing to be afraid of, there is nothing difficult or dangerous in independent travel! Now, in the age of the Internet, when you can plan everything and make all the preparations without leaving your home, everything becomes even easier.
Of course, some readers have already thought about taking the bus on vacation. V last years buses are increasingly being used as a cheap and reliable alternative to the train. Intercity bus companies are under great competitive pressure, which means that the routes offered intercity bus are often only available for a fraction of the price of railroad... Is the bus suitable as vehicle for your next vacation trip?
Most popular tourist trips
According to the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, most of the German population has chosen to take their long-awaited annual vacation by car for decades. The second most popular means of transportation is an airplane. Bus travel also has some advantages and should definitely be considered as an alternative transport for your next vacation trip. But for whom are bus excursions suitable and for which directions of travel is it better to travel by car or plane?
Finally, I want to say: what type of travel to choose is up to you, but make this choice intelligently, do not follow the lead of the "bigwigs" of the business tour. I hope you find this article helpful.
Well, everything, see you on the pages! Till!
But how anyone. Personally, I hate organized tours.
Cons of organized tours:
These often include unnecessary sponsored trips to a jewelry or fur coat store (encountered in Paris and Turkey);
You partially depend on other tourists in your group (they need to pee, souvenirs, they have a baby crying on the bus);
Tours are usually the most popular excursion destinations for which you have already paid. And if you want to go to a non-tourist place, and you are going to Versailles with a bus, you are sorry to refuse, you have already paid.
Pros of organized tours:
You don't have to think about anything: what to do with yourself, how to get to the museum, where to eat, what to see. True, it is not a fact that all the seats will be good.
This is usually cheaper at the expense of travel agents, hotels in the outskirts, or those in which travel agents have special prices, sponsors, to whose store you will be taken on a tour, etc. Also Bus tours, like 7 countries in 5 days, very cheap.
There are very cool tours that are not for everyone, but especially for you. For example, in Ukraine there are guys who take designers and architects on tours. They plan well and with them you can go, for example, to the workshops of famous architects, where you yourself would never go. Or there are photo tours. In short, highly specialized tours that will interest you. Or very expensive and rare tours, such as a cruise near Antarctica.
That is, you can enjoy the tour if you get hysterical from planning and if you don't worry too much about what you will see on the trip. Paris, okay, it doesn't matter what you see (the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, you will see 100%). Or if you find a unique tour.
If independence and quality are still important to you, it is better to do everything yourself.
Pros of self-guided tours:
You do what you want - you visit the places you want, a plane or a bus - you choose yourself, you choose the hotel yourself, everything is up to you.
Websites for the selection of tickets, hotels, restaurants, establishments and entertainment give complete freedom (tickets.ua, tripadviser.com, hotels.com, anywayanyday and other hundreds of sites).
A guidebook (little book) often tells everything that is needed, and if you choose it correctly, you can do without a guide on the bus, as in an organized tour. The Internet, again, knows everything.
You can go to non-tourist destinations that you find out about on some local website, rather than the tourist mass-market places where the quality is designed so that you will never return, and others will arrive tomorrow.
Many interesting routes are not the subject of organized tours. Fuck we would have seen the Scottish northern castles, we would have climbed the most high point Great Britain, would visit Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oberdeen, Inverness, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye in one organized tour. And on its own it is quite real.
Cons of self-guided tours:
You have to plan a lot and rely on yourself. Often this means buying tickets to the museum on the Internet, otherwise there will be a huge queue (Uffizi, Louvre);
You can get to a bad hotel with bedbugs (Paris :)), travel agencies usually choose proven hotels, because the reputation and everything;
You can get to some places only with a group, or it is easier to get with a group or an organized tour (in some collections, excursions are only for groups, cruises, etc. organized tour).
It is a little harder to find yourself a tour guide. I don’t know, somehow we never had the practice of ordering a city guide from the Internet without recommendations. It is always either a blogger-guide whom I read long before the trip (London, Stockholm), or on the recommendation of friends (Tallinn).
In short, independent travel is usually easier and more pleasant to organize for yourself in simple places (cities and countries of Europe and the USA). It is easier and calmer to take a tour to exotic countries, as I understand it
