Take a Tour

Debunking Tour Myths

Just picture this: You’re riding around Cambodia on the back of a local’s moped, giving high fives to native children who are so excited to see you. You’re hearing about the history of the Khmer killing fields from someone who survived, but whose family did not. You’ve just jumped to the front of the line in Venice for the gondolas with all of your friends, experiencing firsthand a priceless interaction between the gondoliers. You’re dining in an authentic Italian restaurant filled with locals, not tourists, completely off the beaten path. This isn’t backpacking. This is a tour.

We know what that word, tour, conjured up in your mind. You’re instantly taken back to middle school. Your teacher is leading you through a museum filled with things that you were so impressed with back then, you don’t even remember now. STA Travel tours are vastly different than the follow-the leader-type tour memories of your youth. But, we know how it is. You want to travel the world on your terms, and feel that by hiring a company to lead you around, it somewhat distracts from the experience. You want everyone to know that you’ve done it yourself, and you’re sure that the satisfaction of having done it alone will simmer within you for years and many other travels to come. But, at the same time, we don’t want you to feel that sinking feeling of disappointment as you sit on the plane home and recount all of the places that you didn’t get to see because your train was late, or you missed your connection, or the language barrier triumphed your confidence. Taking a tour that’s booked through STA Travel is the best way to get the most bang out of your travel buck. Here, we’ll address some common tour misconceptions.

Concern #1: I’m going to be bored.

The only time you will have to be bored is when you are on the bus, traveling to the next city or country, and that’s what iPod’s are for! When you’re going through the attractions, you won’t be overwhelmed by a load of textbook history that you aren’t interested in. The tour leaders often arrange local guides to explain the history of their countries. If you’re lucky, those locals might even invite the group to their homes, where you’ll gain real insight in to the way that that particular cultures lives. There are often extra activities planned for you that are optional, but ensure that you don’t waste too much time sleeping in your hotel room, if you don’t want to. You can always ask your guide for advice on what to do with your free time, and there are always options to select from during the structured activities.

Concern #2: I won’t have any free time, or I’ll have to do things I don’t want to do.

You can do whatever you want on your tour. There are usually extra activities that have been planned for you by your tour guide, like a meal, but they aren’t mandatory. You are always welcome to explore on your own, as long as you show up on time when it’s time to get back on the bus. When you get off the bus, your guides will hand you a map and take you on a walking tour to help you get a good sense of direction. Once that’s over, you can go experience whatever you want. There are even whole days of “free time”, where you just meet up on a specified day to head to your next destination.

Concern #3: I’ll be in a group of people that are much older than me, and won’t get a chance to let loose.

At STA Travel, we’re all about students. That’s why when it comes to tours, you’re likely to get on one with a bunch of other students. When you’re looking at taking a tour to a beach destination, you can be sure that there’s going to be a lot of people your age traveling with you, and your guide will point you in the direction of the best places to let loose and have some fun. The majority of our tour operators serve people aged 18-35, so you don’t need to worry about boarding the geriatric bus.

Concern #4: I’m paying too much money for just a spot on a bus.

Taking a tour through STA Travel is not just a spot on a bus. It’s so economical to use a tour because, unless stated otherwise, all of your transportation is taken care of, some, if not most of your meals are included, and you don’t have to worry about your accommodation. When you decide to go solo, and really examine the fares of low-cost airlines, especially in Europe, you’re often looking at least $50 to check one bag, increasingly higher fuel surcharges, “convenience” fees and other hidden non-optional extras. By the time you’ve booked your ticket, that 2€ fare has turned in to a $200 ticket, one way.

You won’t have to worry about that with a tour. It’s all taken care of, and they can advise you on what’s reasonable for extras like souvenirs. When bartering, they can tell you the true cost of some items, instead of the inflated tourist prices. It’s important to help keep costs low in foreign countries, because some of the things you buy overseas, locals at those places have to purchase as well. While it may be reasonable for you to pay $3 for a headscarf, it’s not for locals who live there and are forced to pay tourist prices.

Overall, the benefits of being on a tour are innumerable, but another important benefit is safety. When traveling in countries where there is a huge language barrier between you and the locals, your tour guide will always be conversant in the local language. They can help you navigate, negotiate and barter. And, they are always there when you need help with official documents like visas, or if you run in to any trouble.

So try a tour if you want to make the most of your experience abroad. You certainly won’t have wasted your time, and on that long flight home, instead of gazing at photos of all the places that you just couldn’t make it to, you’ll be scrolling through photos of you there, having the best time of your life.