Don’t settle for just any tour company – do your research to find the perfect fit for your needs and budget. Know what type of tour you would like to go on.
- Eco-friendly
- Different travel styles
- Local transportation and guides
- Access to certain destinations
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Designed for the over 50’s
Content
- What to ask the different Tour Companies
- Is your money going to be well spent?
- Do you need Vaccinations before entering the country of your choice
- What nature of tour would you be going on
- How much daily walking will you be doing each day
- What type of accommodation will you be staying in
- Would you prefer an all-women senior tour or both genders
- In the itinerary is there time out for you
- Define the type of tour you would like
What to ask the different Tour Companies
Not all Tour companies that come up first on a search are the best for you. No two different tour companies are alike.
Every tour company you investigate will have certain weaknesses and certain strengths. As a senior you do not want a huge group of people, nor do you want to be in a group with mostly youngsters. A comfortable number is 15 people and a group of 50 years and over. It is imperative you do research to see which tour company you choose is the one that benefits you most. Unexpected unpleasant surprises are not what you have been excited about.
Is your money going to be well spent?
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
-Benjamin Franklin
You have worked hard in life for your money and you need to be wise about how it is spent. When making inquiries about different tours, make sure you understand how the money that you are paying over is well spent.
Enquire if the total includes your air ticket or not. Sometimes this is not mentioned and you will just “assume” that it is. Get a confirmation from them.
If the amount seems incredible, and miraculously cheap, there is always a reason for this. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? Maybe it is rather like a Contiki Tour which is great for the youth, but not for you. I am sure you do not want to be surrounded by drunk youngsters that live in bars. Hostels and backpacker “lodgings”! These are extra cheap, but may not be appealing to a more mature adult.
Also related to your money, what type of tours will you be going on? Are there qualified local guides with permits? Transportation at your destination?
Most tours stay 2-3 days in one place at a time. Will you be sharing your room with someone else? Fine if you are travelling with a companion, but a bit tricky if it is a stranger. If you require your own room you will need to pay a bit extra.
Is there a cancellation policy? Very important as you never know what may happen before you are about to depart. You may twist an ankle or develop a cold and have to cancel.
What meals are included in the amount you are paying? Breakfast, lunches and supper?
Realistically you need a detailed itinerary. If you are not sure of anything question again until you are totally happy. It is the money you are about to spend on a breathtaking vacation!
Can you leave the time-consuming details for the tour company to organise with confidence?
Do you need Vaccinations before entering the country of your choice
Within each country, there is a committee that advises governments and their health departments on evidence-based decisions on which vaccinations the tourist must have before entering the country. This assists in the eradication of disease or the entry of diseases into that country.
If you have a look at the www.who.int/ website, you will be able to see which mandatory vaccines are a necessity before you travel. For example, if you travel to Angola in Africa, you need to be careful of Malaria, which comes from mosquitoes. Recommended you have a look prior to going on your trip.
I am sure that once travelling to different countries reopens after the COVID-19 Pandemic when vaccination is found, you will need to have this vaccine prior to you journeying out anywhere in the world. How wonderful this will be!
What nature of tour would you be going on
Personally, I would like to go on a tour that is more historical and cultural. I love the ancient architecture of Europe. Another desire is to see the Big 5 and experience the bush of Africa. I appreciate a bit of luxury and really delight in a good knowledgeable tour guide that has a sense of humour and is not totally boring!
I do not mind the travelling experience of a coach, whether big or small. My form of the holiday may be totally different to yours. Do you prefer adventure, hiking or sightseeing tours? Wine tours in the Winelands are fabulous!
Tsiba Tsiba is by far the best. I just love the sense of humour of Willem the owner and the gorgeous outgoing and informative appeal that Colleen Mes has. Have a look at Colleen’s Facebook page called Through the Wine Glass. She is a qualified wine connoisseur and captures such a unique angle to her story.
“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.”
– By Michael Broadbent, British wine writer (1927–2020)
How much daily walking will you be doing each day
Walking miles every day can be rather exhausting if you are not used to it. Even though you are travelling with others over 50’s, sometimes the tour could involve too much walking that your feet can cope with. A certain amount of walking is a necessity to view the sites. Find out from the tour company the extent of walking you will be doing. Maybe it is too little as you are an avid walker. My recommendation on the best walking shoes or hiking boots is Sketches. They are now the only ones I buy, as the comfort is amazing!
What type of accommodation will you be staying in
This can make or break the pleasantry of your trip! This is the time to snooze in comfort. Don’t go below a 3 to a 5-star hotel. Your room must be a place where you can have time to chill out. Have a bit of private time. Read a book, chat on Facebook with your grandkids and kids at home or just watch some television. Does your hotel have Wi-fi?
Is there tea or coffee in your room? A hairdryer, fresh clean towels, air conditioning and a safe where you can lock away some credit cards or money, air ticket and insurance. Also a copy of your passport. You do not want to have to take everything with you as you venture out each day. Always sensible in case there is some sort of drama.
A lounge downstairs where you can gather with your new friends and order some tea. A bar where that glass of wine at the end of the day is so inviting.
The hotel must not be in a busy centre, where loud music overflows into your room and voices can be heard at one in the morning. Do the lodgings have a garden where you can sit outside and soak up the sunset?
“There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it.” ― Mindy Kaling
Would you prefer an all-women senior tour or both genders
As we mature it is not so easy to meet new people and develop long-lasting friendships. You need to examine the type of personality that you are.
Going on an all-women tour, sometimes it is easier to share experiences with openness, without concerning yourself with the opposite gender. Everlasting friendships will be formed.
If you prefer the company of men to women, as I know many women do, then it is wise going on a mixed tour. Numerous friends of mine have met new partners this way. Meet and greet first, dating comes later which can be far less stressful.
In the itinerary is there time out for you
I know many tour companies try to place too many activities into one day. You most certainly need your own space part of the time. Take this into consideration. Every now and then I relish in an afternoon to lie down on my bed to read or go over the pictures I have taken.
If you view my other blogs on destinations, I have chatted about recommended tour companies, daily tours and sites which you may want to visit.
Define the type of tour you would like
- Active adventure
- Little physical activity
- A great deal of walking or hiking
- A small or large group
- Type of Accommodation
- Activity selection
- Location
- Level of VIP treatment
- Form of travel
A good search is through TripAdvisor for different tour companies.
Have you travelled with remarkable tour companies? If you have had a wonderful time, recommend them to us. Include the country in which you did the tour. This will assist others looking at going on tours. Place your suggestions in the Comments section below.
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