A tour is a great way to experience any site that you have a particular interest and enthusiasm for. If you are planning to undertake a tour alone or with friends or family, there will be multiple factors that play into that decision especially if you are flying or traveling for it. Here are some things to consider before planning for a tour.
1. Pick The Perfect Tour
Whether it is a historical site tour, a cruise/tour, a walking tour of culinary delights or any other kind that piques your interest, you need to book well in advance as many popular tours are often all booked up for the foreseeable future. If you are flying or having a road trip to get to this tour, booking plane tickets or making other necessary preparation should be done at least a month in advance.
Bear in mind that many popular tours have non-peak seasons in which they may host various tour packages to attract clients. By booking outside of the main holiday or tourist season, you will have an overall more tranquil experience with a better spot on the trolley bus or in the group of attendees.
2. Where To Stay
Have accommodation sorted out as part of your planning for the tour. For out of town tours like a copper canyon train tour, you should book a short-term rental or even a motel as you won’t be there much and will be out sightseeing. In the case of expensive hotels, booking well in advance can usually get you a better rate than arriving without a reservation and asking for a room on the spot. In the tourist season hotels are usually booked almost to full capacity, leaving only their more pricey suites empty.
3. Rely On Cash
A common mistake even domestic travelers make is to only travel with their credit or debit cards. Make a point of having some cash on your person for snacks, cabs, buses or other emergency items. Depending on where you are going for your tour, there may be food stalls or other facilities around that do not necessarily accept card payments.
Furthermore, it is useful to have an approximate budget in mind so you can research well in advance about local restaurants and other sites in order to make the most of your trip. Some costs are basic like the cost of the tour itself and accommodation and food and then you can add in extra activities.
4. Know The Weather
From afar the weather may seem like an insignificant factor but it matters a great deal for many kinds of tours especially ones that have an open double decker bus or are walking tours of historical sites. Carrying a portable umbrella can help if rain or drizzling is expected and having a hat and some sunblock on you is great for sunny days in which heat strokes can occur.
5. Personal Safety
If you have any personal health concerns, you will want to do research pertaining to that. If you are traveling to Colombia for example you will need to register with check mig Colombia which requires tourists and travelers to share personal health information and fill out a form.
Checking if pharmacies in the area stock medicine that is vital for you and if they don’t, make sure you have a kit big enough to sustain you through your trip. Many tour sites may be wonderfully educational and enjoyable but may have some security concerns like pickpockets and so forth. Have a list in a notebook or in your phone of all the main emergency numbers in the area and consider carrying a small self-defense weapon like a pepper spray.
6. Read The Material
Part of preparing yourself for a grand tour is to know more about it before you join it. Read their brochure or any material they have put out online to build up the excitement and to also help you decide on the smaller elements like clothing, packaged snacks, or other items you need to be comfortable. Reading up on the tour is especially beneficial if you are going with children so they can be educated on why taking that tour is important and the fun activities they can expect to partake in, once they are there.
7. Duration
Deciding on the duration of your trip is an essential aspect of planning due to the number of work holidays or the amount of money you will be spending per day that you are in town for the tour.
