Who has time
to plan that perfect adventure? Wouldn’t it be great to just show up and have
someone else sweat all the details?
You can do exactly that these days but this is key:
You have to choose the right company for your
vacation style,
otherwise you could be miserable. Choose
wisely, and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime—and you won’t have to bust the
budget to do it.
First think about the way you like to travel and your budget. Do you want to get out of your comfort zone a
bit, staying in back country lodges with a company like Wildland Adventures
where the focus is on cultural interaction?
Do you want to travel in a small group? Many companies now will arrange private trips
for as few as a dozen people. Or would you rather travel in a bus with 40
people, as I did recently with Adventures by Disney.
Are you visiting a place for the first time and want
to see the major attractions or do you want to get to less touristy areas?
Do you want to spend your time hiking and biking, as
I did with my daughter on a Backroads trip to the Amalfi Coast or would you
rather sit back in a bus or train and watch the scenery go by, like on Colette
Vacations. Maybe your focus is on
education, like with not for profit Road
Scholars, designed for older travelers, as well as those traveling with
grandkids. Maybe you’re going to some
far flung destination you don’t feel comfortable traveling on your own.
If kids are part of the equation, look for special
family itineraries, including those from Abercrombie & Kent, Tauck Bridges
and Thomson Family Adventures, which has added some trips for those with older
teens, as well as a cultural connection for families in Cuba. Abercrombie and Kent can take your family to
China or India, if you have the bucks. These companies will try to match you to
a departure with similar aged kids.
See if there are any special deals or discounts for
when and where you want to travel.
Here’s what
else you need to ask:
--What is the maximum number of people on the
trip? What is the minimum number they
need to run the trip you want?
--What is the daily itinerary? Do you want to be going from 7 to 7 every
day, changing hotels several times? Is
there time to kick back?
--What is the guide to guest ratio? If it is a
family trip, is there an extra designated kids’ activity guide? Are there local
guides at each destination? Are the
guides trained in first aid?
--How long has the company been in business in the
region you’ve been visiting? Is there a
24-hour emergency number?
--What kind of hotels will you be staying at? You can Google them and check out online
reviews. Will you be comfortable if a
lodge doesn’t have air conditioning or do you want brands you know and trust?
So, are you ready to pack?
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