Are you considering a guided tour? If you are planning a family vacation to a destination that requires extensive planning, a guided trip can be a fantastic option. When you take a guided tour vacation, you'll purchase the trip, and most of the details will be handled for you. In addition, these trips aren't private. Instead, you'll be traveling with a group.
Before you book your guided group tour, you'll want to know exactly what to expect. Here's what you should expect on a guided tour.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you. I've received one long-weekend guided trip at no cost, but have paid for all the others. All opinions are my own.
What to Expect on a Guided Tour Vacation
What is a Guided Tour?
While a guided tour can be any tour (even a short attraction tour) where you are led around, for the purposes of this article, we are focusing on longer group tours in which your entire vacation is guided.
Typically, you will have one or two guides who travel with you and handle the trip's logistics. In addition, you'll likely have local guides, sometimes at each destination and/or at a specific attraction. This will vary by tour and location.
Group guided tours aren't private. Instead, you'll travel with a group of like-minded travelers who also booked the same trip.
When booking your trip, you'll need to look at different dates, itineraries, durations, and tour companies. For popular destinations like Italy, you'll have many options, while for other, more obscure destinations, you'll have fewer choices.
Types of Guided Tours
There are lots of types of guided tours, including the following:
- Adventure tours
- Expedition cruise tours
- River cruise tours
- Large group tours
- Small group tours
- Family tours
- Adult-only tours
- Luxury group tours
Questions to Ask Before Your Guided Tour
Here's what you'll want to know before you book your guided tour:
- What is included in the trip? Gratuities? How many meals?
- How many guides will be on the trip?
- How many people are the maximum on the trip?
- How much time do you have at each destination?
- Does the itinerary include everything you want to do at a destination? If not, is free time included?
- Where will you be staying at each location?
- Do you need to plan anything beyond the agenda?
- At what ages is it appropriate? Are there any activities that are too strenuous for kids?
- Are there kids (in the same age range as your kids) typically on these trips?
- What times and dates do you need to arrive and depart?
- Is there a recommended packing list?
- How physically active is the tour? Are there alternatives if someone wants to opt out of an activity?
- How much walking is involved?
- Are luggage transfers included?
What the First Day of a Guided Tour Is Like
Typically, with a guided tour, there will be a hotel that guests start at. When I take a guided tour, I like to arrive early and stay an extra night. That way, we are well-rested before the trip starts.
You'll either be told in advance, or you will receive a paper at check-in with information on when and where to meet the first day. Sometimes you'll start early, but often the first day starts later to allow for some people to arrive at that day.
On the first day, you'll meet your guides and the rest of the group. You'll also be given an overview of what to expect. Rest up, because things will be busy after that first day!
What Meals Are Like on a Guided Tour
Meals will really vary on a guided tour. We've been on either guided tours, and the meals have differed daily. There are several ways you'll experience your meals:
- Pre-ordering your entrees from a selection of options
- Small tables where you can sit with your family or new friends
- Large group tables with family-style dining
- Buffets with either larger or smaller tables
- When on the go, sometimes a box lunch is provided
- Breakfast is often on your own, but with a hotel breakfast
If your kids are picky and/or you have dietary restrictions, it's best to check with the tour company first to see what flexibility is available.
What a Standard Day is Like on a Guided Tour
There really is no "standard" day on a guided tour. Depending on your itinerary, it can vary a lot. Your day can include:
- Mostly transportation to your next destination
- Packed with city tours and activities
- A long drive to a point of interest for a day trip
- A hybrid of the two
- A relaxing day on the water for snorkeling and/or swimming
While there's no real standard, days on a guided tour aren't usually leisurely or relaxed. They are typically packed with content, since these tours try to fit in a lot in a short amount of time. They are very efficiently planned.
What Transportation Is Like on a Guided Tour
Transportation types can vary, but you never need to plan them yourself. During my guided trips, I've experienced:
- Sprinter-style vans in areas where large buses aren't practical
- Large coach-style buses
- Smaller buses
- Ferries (for instance, from Santorini to Crete)
- Inter-trip flights (like from Bogota to Cartagena)
- Trains (like from London to Paris)
The great thing about this is the fact that you've just got to show up. All of the planning is done for you.
How Much Free Time You Usually Get on a Guided Tour
This is typically one of the reasons why people are wary about taking a guided tour. Free time is typically not included in many guided tours. While some of the itineraries I've traveled on have more free time than others, the purpose of a guided tour is to have many planned activities.
On some days of a guided tour, you'll have a free evening when you can get dinner on your own. That is a great opportunity to explore the local area. Ask your guides or the hotel concierge for dinner suggestions.
I do recommend staying a day before or after the trip. That way, you get some time to relax at the hotel with no specific planned activities.
What Tour Guides Do on a Guided Tour
The tour guides on a guided tour do so much to elevate your experience. They handle local arrangements, serve as guides to the area, coordinate meals, address any issues with hotel arrangements, and coordinate transportation.
Guides also make sure everything is running properly and sometimes help entertain guests with games and other activities to pass the time. A good guide can really elevate your vacation experience.
What to Pack for a Guided Tour
Packing for a guided tour will vary drastically depending on your vacation itinerary. Before planning your packing list, check whether the tour company has any specific recommendations for your vacation. Here are some things we've been required or recommended to pack:
- Binoculars
- Personal fan
- Insect repellent
- Long-sleeved, dry-fit shirt
- Long socks
- Close-toed shoes
- Bathing suit
- Water shoes
Because there isn't always much free time on your guided tour, you'll want to make sure you have everything you need. I like using packing cubes because I can pack outfits separately for each part of the vacation. Then, I don't have to unpack everything at each hotel.
You'll also want to pack portable chargers, preferably one per family member. Since you'll often be gone all day, you'll want to make sure your device stays charged.
Who Guided Tours Are Best For
Guided tours are best for families looking to visit multiple points of interest and hit the highlights of each destination. It's perfect if you are looking for a low-stress vacation where all of the details are taken care of for you, and these trips are great for families who enjoy meeting other families.
However, guided tours aren't the best option for families looking to spend a lot of time in one destination, those with family members or friends they plan to spend time with there, those who prefer more spontaneous days, or those who just want to relax.
Guided tours can be a great option for families who want to save time and travel efficiently with limited planning. We've loved traveling on guided tours and have always had a great experience.
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