Going on tours can be a great way to experience the new country you’re exploring, or it can devolve into an irreversible, unenjoyable disaster. Before you book that Tour, isn’t it best to be duly informed beforehand? Today we are going to talk about the different kinds of tour packages available and the advantages and disadvantages of each one so that you can decide on the tour that’s right for you.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll differentiate tours into two categories: private tours and group tours. A private tour is run exclusively for the customer and his family, or friends, or small groups of the same affiliation like a school group or a delegation from a corporate event. It does not include strangers or other tourists in your party. A group tour on the other hand is a collection of people from different parties who may be strangers to each other before the start of the tour itself.

First off, the basics: both kinds of tours offer basic itinerary planning, make allowances for transportation or come with transportation of their own, and handle all the organization and preparatory work for visiting well-known landmarks in the area. Reputable tour companies employ knowledgeable guides who will be more than happy to show you “The Most” of their country: The Most Delicious Food, The Most Exciting Experiences, The Most Awe-Inspiring Structures, The Most Incredible Attractions. Where independently traveling tourists may have to queue up for a ticket into a famous spot, a tour guide will arrange everything beforehand so that all you’ll have to do is sail through the entrance and go straight to enjoying the sights. For first-time travelers, going on tours is a great way to ease yourself into the culture and beat of the country you’re visiting.

Group tours can be relatively cheap and a great way to socialize with like-minded travelers. Since the cost for things is spread over the entire group and many tourist attractions offer discounts to large parties, you’ll find that you can shell out less money in joining one. After a full day of exploring, you may even become friends with some of the people in your tour group. If you are the kind of traveler who makes it your main goal to take in as many of the sights as possible, group tours are a great option: these schedules are always packed to get more bang for your buck and you will be able to do the most possible things in the least possible amount of time.

There is however a flip side: because group tours are so rigidly scheduled, you have to make sure that you arrive on time at the designated meeting place or risk being left behind. There’s also no room for changing plans – if the tour has to be at the Colosseum in Rome at 2:30 P.M., you cannot linger in the place where you currently are regardless of how much more there is to explore. The efficient pace can also feel a little hectic; you may want to take more pictures of the Trevi and find that the guide is calling you to hop back into the bus and go see a new attraction. Group tours are not for everybody, but they’re certainly not for those who have low energy.

Private tours may end up being slightly more expensive, but the advantages also speak for themselves. If you desire a more personalized experience – say you and your party have an interest in food and wine – a tour guide can compile a schedule for you that showcases the best gustatory delights in the area. The tour starts where and when you want it to, lasts for exactly how long you want it to, and ends where and when you want it to. This kind of flexibility can be invaluable to the more laidback traveler who prefers a chill setting in order to soak up Italy at his leisure. You’ll also receive more specific attention from your guide and be able to ask all the questions you want without annoying the rest of the people in your party who may want to go to the next destination on your itinerary.

Tours make your traveling life simpler by taking care of even the most minute details for you. If your goal in visiting Italy is to enjoy, you certainly can do so on a tour – just pick a pace and let yourself be swept away in it.

Tour Italy Now offers great group tour packages that can take you to all the major tourist destinations around Italy. Sign up with us and let us take you on that dream vacation that you’ve always wanted.

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