When you travel, make sure you schedule every activity in the best order! Here is a list of three simple tips to make sure it all works best!
1 - Make sure the first is a short tour. Half a day tops. you want to make sure the company you have chosen is good. You don't want to be stuck for a day with a lousy guide and group.
2 - Some tours are less outdoorsy than others, make sure to check up on the weather forecast for the week and schedule the museum and gallery tours on the rainy days ;) ... leave the sunny days for more outdoors activities.
3 - Ask for availability of tours, sometimes in order to take more than one you have to play around with the dates. Ask the tour operator in what order the tours you are interested in are being offered. This may lead not only to a better availability and so you are able to take them all, but if you ask ... a discount ;)
Tell the operator you are interested in taking more than one tour... there is a very good chance you'll be offered a discount.
stay in touch! what other tips would you recommend in terms of scheduling tours and activities?
what works for you?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Small busses vs Big busses - make sure to ride the best one for you!
Very important! Find out what kind of tour you are signing up for. There are many reasons why this is important!
I am going to list a few points for you to take in mind.
Route - A big bus is a pain to drive! (I have been a tour guide since I was 19) I can't drive people around all the small and fun places in the city that I know of if I have this big bus to worry about. Reality is, small busses make it very easy to tour around the city. You are able to visit all the little spots in the city, and make all the short sudden stops that allow you to experience a better tour.
Service - being one of 50 tourists can really affect the amount of attention and the overall experience compared to being part of a group of 20. If you want to be a part of a large group, or if you want to enjoy a more individualized experience it is important you take into account the effect the size of the bus has on the service quality.
Comfort/amenities - This is, in my mind, the only advantage a large bus may have over a smaller one. Large busses often have washrooms and a lot of space for luggage and baggage. If the tour you will be taking consists of long runs of road... a larger bus will be more comfortable for you.
Overall... lets face it! Smaller busses are more fun, more practical, and stop at better places. Next time you travel make sure to include a tour and make sure the bus is as small as it can be!
Please tell me what you think in the comments field!
I am going to list a few points for you to take in mind.
Route - A big bus is a pain to drive! (I have been a tour guide since I was 19) I can't drive people around all the small and fun places in the city that I know of if I have this big bus to worry about. Reality is, small busses make it very easy to tour around the city. You are able to visit all the little spots in the city, and make all the short sudden stops that allow you to experience a better tour.
Service - being one of 50 tourists can really affect the amount of attention and the overall experience compared to being part of a group of 20. If you want to be a part of a large group, or if you want to enjoy a more individualized experience it is important you take into account the effect the size of the bus has on the service quality.
Comfort/amenities - This is, in my mind, the only advantage a large bus may have over a smaller one. Large busses often have washrooms and a lot of space for luggage and baggage. If the tour you will be taking consists of long runs of road... a larger bus will be more comfortable for you.
Overall... lets face it! Smaller busses are more fun, more practical, and stop at better places. Next time you travel make sure to include a tour and make sure the bus is as small as it can be!
Please tell me what you think in the comments field!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
How and when to book tours?
Some people book tours in advance, others wait until the last second. What are the best options to book tours?
Is there an online portal for tour bookings that you trust? Are you comfortable booking tours in advance?
Waiting until you are on your trip to book via pamphlet and calling a tour company may cause you to be too late in the booking process and risk your opportunity.
Some people prefer booking last second just in case they don't feel in the mood or in order to try ensure the best tour provider for them.
In my experience, the best companies are those ranked favourably on google. Has there been good experiences booking via online portals?
Is there an online portal for tour bookings that you trust? Are you comfortable booking tours in advance?
Waiting until you are on your trip to book via pamphlet and calling a tour company may cause you to be too late in the booking process and risk your opportunity.
Some people prefer booking last second just in case they don't feel in the mood or in order to try ensure the best tour provider for them.
In my experience, the best companies are those ranked favourably on google. Has there been good experiences booking via online portals?
Why take a tour?
Going on a tour can be a great experience. I am going to list a few scenarios when it is ideal to consider a tour and when it may be a good idea to consider another option like going on your own! Travel is a unique experience and is NOT enjoyed by all of us the same way.
Here are a few of the scenarios I can think of, maybe you can help by adding a few extras you know about in the comments field.
- When not to take a tour? - if you are an adventurer, lone rider and enjoy the uncertainty of cruising around a known city. If you don't want to meet more people and if you already know enough about the city. Tours aren't for all of us! its normal!
When is it a good idea?
- First days in a city - A hop-on-hop-off tour is great in this case. These tours typically consist of you buying a pass that is valid for one or two days and allows you to go around the city by hopping-on and hopping-off different tour busses that have the same route and belong to the same company. An example of these are the big red busses in London. Now a days you are able to find these busses in almost every major touristic city in the world.
- Day trip to a nearby city - Who wants the trouble of dealing with maps and foreign roads? Renting a car may be an alternative for all of you adventurers and freedom-travelers, but for most of us looking to relax and enjoy our vacations (without fighting with our wives over asking directions), it is a great opportunity to hop on a bus and be guided by an expert. With gas costs, rental costs, parking costs and how tiring driving the distance may be... arranging a tour may be a great idea for you!
- historical importance and/or specific interest in a particular city? - Going on a tour will, ideally, result in you being toured around by an expert. This may give you the best information about the city and solve those tough questions you couldn't find the answer to or need more help understanding. A tour guide may bring that fresh practical perspective that allows you to learn more about a city.
- Meet other tourists! - A tour may be a great opportunity to meet others in your same situation. Arrange activities and lunches/dinners with other tourists... who knows? maybe you'll make lasting friends!
- Don't miss a thing! - Guides are locals and also experts! Don't hesitate to ask us questions and talk to us a little about the kind of things you are interested in about the city you are visiting Sit, participate, and filter through what the city has to offer you!
What other things can you think about?
What good experiences have you had by taking tours?
Here are a few of the scenarios I can think of, maybe you can help by adding a few extras you know about in the comments field.
- When not to take a tour? - if you are an adventurer, lone rider and enjoy the uncertainty of cruising around a known city. If you don't want to meet more people and if you already know enough about the city. Tours aren't for all of us! its normal!
When is it a good idea?
- First days in a city - A hop-on-hop-off tour is great in this case. These tours typically consist of you buying a pass that is valid for one or two days and allows you to go around the city by hopping-on and hopping-off different tour busses that have the same route and belong to the same company. An example of these are the big red busses in London. Now a days you are able to find these busses in almost every major touristic city in the world.
- Day trip to a nearby city - Who wants the trouble of dealing with maps and foreign roads? Renting a car may be an alternative for all of you adventurers and freedom-travelers, but for most of us looking to relax and enjoy our vacations (without fighting with our wives over asking directions), it is a great opportunity to hop on a bus and be guided by an expert. With gas costs, rental costs, parking costs and how tiring driving the distance may be... arranging a tour may be a great idea for you!
- historical importance and/or specific interest in a particular city? - Going on a tour will, ideally, result in you being toured around by an expert. This may give you the best information about the city and solve those tough questions you couldn't find the answer to or need more help understanding. A tour guide may bring that fresh practical perspective that allows you to learn more about a city.
- Meet other tourists! - A tour may be a great opportunity to meet others in your same situation. Arrange activities and lunches/dinners with other tourists... who knows? maybe you'll make lasting friends!
- Don't miss a thing! - Guides are locals and also experts! Don't hesitate to ask us questions and talk to us a little about the kind of things you are interested in about the city you are visiting Sit, participate, and filter through what the city has to offer you!
What other things can you think about?
What good experiences have you had by taking tours?
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