Planning a trip abroad? Many of us wonder whether we should plan the trip on our own, or simply opt for a packaged tour. Here's a quick run down of the pros and cons of both options, so you can make a well informed decision.
Children
Travelling with children? If so, consider going in for a packaged tour. You will already have your hands full with kids around, and the last thing you need is everyone arguing over what they want to do and see next. In addition, you want to be looking out for your children making sure they don't wander too far. If your eyes are glued to the map, this may not be very easy.
GROUP PACKAGES
Family Fun
Packaged tours are also very family friendly, and most of the time they are geared towards having fun with the family. As a result, the outings included generally call for a good time for everyone.
Choices
Tours also very often have a few extra options, which you may need to pay for. For example, your holiday to Paris should invariably include an optional visit to the Lido show. As this is not suitable for children, you could opt to stay behind with them, or you could opt to leave your children sleeping in the hotel room, while you purchase two tickets for you and your spouse.
It is also likely that others from your tour group opt out of certain shows. You may feel more comfortable leaving your kids behind if you know that there are familiar people at the hotel.
There is always a possibility that other families are travelling with children, in which case your kids will enjoy the extra company.
Convenient
In a strange country, there is always safety in numbers. Also, little inconveniences like not knowing the local language do not matter as everything is taken care of.
Economical
Such trips also work out to be more economical, since travel agencies get group discounts, and they pass these benefits on to their clients.
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL
Freedom
Young couples travelling without children often prefer travelling by themselves, so they are not bound by anyone else's itinerary.
Economical
They can also work out an even cheaper trip on their own if they plan well and stay in youth hostels or other budget accommodation. Such accommodation may not be very appealing after a certain age, or when you are with children. If you opt for the same level of accommodation and a similar itinerary as provided by packaged tours, you will definitely end up spending more.
Flexible
Plans are more flexible. You can stay on longer at certain places, and cut short your trips to other places. Travelling by the local transport system also gives you a better experience of a place than if you simply pass through in a tourist bus. So when in London, move around in the Underground.
Experience
You can avoid tourist traps and spend time experiencing a place, instead of just seeing it. There's really nothing like a "must-see" in any place. Many Indians living in India haven't visited the Taj Mahal, many Bombayites haven't seen the Elephanta Caves. Yet, we have experienced India like tourists haven't. So instead of opting to visit some botanical garden if you have little interest in botany, consider spending your time at a restaurant typical of the place, and try some of the local cuisine.
