Boldly Go Solo

USTOA says you can save a lot of money on vacations by signing up for packaged tours instead of planning a trip on your own. Well, of course, they’d say that. Their members are the ones packaging those tours, and making money from them.

The thing is, they’re right in a lot of cases. Particularly if you’re not the backpacking, sleep-in-hostels kind of traveler. And for solo travelers, specifically, a package tour provides community.

When I went to Victoria, British Columbia, last weekend, I tried to do it as cheaply as possible. I was only going for a few days. On the Internet, I found a relatively inexpensive hotel and a downright cheap car rental. Or so I thought.

That $35 a day car rental turned into $80 once I had to add on gas, overnight parking and taxes. Yowza. I knew there’d be extra charges but wasn’t expecting the total to be more than twice the price. The meals added up too.

And although the hotel was cheap-ish, it smelled funny. And whoever decorated the joint has a grim way of coordinating dull brown furnishings with dull brown bedding and rugs. Blech.

I had no one to complain to except myself. I wasn’t able to check the hotel out before I got there, except online, and it seemed fine. (Maybe someday they’ll offer a scratch-and-sniff feature for online lodgings.) Tour operators, however, know who and what they’re dealing with. Or find out soon enough and don’t repeat a negative experience. And if things are bad on a tour, you might actually get money back after complaining.

I’ve enjoyed most of the organized tours I’ve been on. They’ve been active tours, from biking to kayaking to multi-sport.
I’ve usually agreed to share a room, keeping the overall trip cost
down. The guides know what they’re doing and I just relax and follow.

The USTOA president says in a press release that
because tour operators buy in bulk, they can pass on savings to guests. Makes sense.

For instance, one company’s nine-night Japan tour
would cost $1,000 more if booked independently. And, booking it by
yourself would require an awful lot of research. Including how to get
around the country when signs are all in Japanese. The package tour
provides drivers and guides.

As I’ve written before, the pros battle against the
cons. I often feel rushed when I’m with a group. Sometimes a person or
two annoys me and yet, I have to spend a week with them.

But when things go well, I’m energized by other
guests or I’m snorting with laughter because I’ve met hilarious people.
When things go very well, I keep those friends for a long time, even
after we go our separate ways.

Photo: Ellen Perlman. The Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC. High tea, anyone?