Large Bus Tours
many cities & sites anywhere & everywhere
Table of Contents
I. Intro
- Traveler's Anxiety:
- Loneliness:
- New Friendships:
- Guest Age:
- Wardrobe:
- Luggage:
- Solo traveler's opinion - Planning & Logistics:
- Lodging:
- One night vs Multi-nights
- Food & Restaurants:
- Perks:
- Amenities:
- Where Bus Tours Can Go?:
- Seasonal Dates:
- Actual Travel Days vs. Advertised:
- Big Bus Tour Lengths:
- "Shop Steering":
- Tier 1, 2, & 3 Sites & Activities:
- Local Culture:
- Sensible Itinerary:
- Free Time
- Tailored Specialty Tours:
- Tour Company Reputation:
- Price & Extras:
- Large Bus Tour Book Agreement:
- Eco Friendly
- Support Local:
Large Bus TOURS
(LBT)
I. Introduction:
Bus Tours, generally, are very large luxurious tour buses with up to 60 passengers traveling daily from city to city &/or between travel sites & experiences, constantly, safely cocooned in a large bus or hotel when not semi-culturally immersed at travel sites.
For many LBT tourists bus touring is an escape from the humdrum monotony or grinding pressure of their daily lives AND a reward for sacrifices they have made for their children & family over decades.
The greatest value of LBTs to most folks, particularly, first-time travelers, is that such tours are worry-free, well-planned & organized including all daily itinerary logistics, lodging, most meals & professionally guided access to the important historical & cultural sites & cultural experiences that fulfill your travel dreams for the energy & budget you have.
Whether your first BB tour or one of many, IT should
be one of your life’s highlights.
Show up on time with luggage, some pocket change & you are off.
Your Cruise Company does all the rest … if you wish.
While mass market, large bus tours are the most economical, there are also a broad range of more tailored exclusive, more expensive options. Small bus & van tours offer more intimacy, fewer passengers, greater itinerary flexibility and a tiered range of quality amenities a higher cost.
It's important that it be the most fulfilling experience possible for the money you budget. The following information should help you choose a LBT Package at your ideal quality vs. price
My Brief suggested way to use these LBT Factors:
1. Simple Tour Factor List: Start a simple written or computer list of my “Expanded TOUR Factors” for keeping track of what you consider important. (At 85 I don’t remember if I don’t write down.😀
2. Thoroughly read Tour Factors: Read each Tour Factor thoroughly noting what's important to you AND rejecting the rest. NOTE: Some LBT Factors may have one or more links & sub-sections. [labeled (dig deeper)] taking you deeper into that Factor’s content making you even better informed.
If you initially skipped around to different Tour Factors that caught your attention, I strongly urge you to go back through the entire expanded list for the factors you missed. Those missed factors may well have key information you have not thought of that may be valuable to you.
Your ideal choice of Large Bus Tour package will be based upon the total/collective value YOU place on each of my Tour Factors. Your summary opinion will guide you toward the best Large Bus Tour package for you.
3. Super simple Tour Factor List: Finally condense your rough list into a very simple checklist you can refer to when screening through Large Bus Tour package offerings.
NOW, you will be ready to search the Internet for tour companies offering your ideal tour package. Your knowledge of these tour factors coupled with your research & prudence will help you choose your ideal package tour.
Your ONLY guarantee of quality vs cost is the thoroughness of your understanding of the following Large Bus Tour FACTORS I am providing you …. & perhaps the reputation of the Package Tour Company you choose
1. Traveler’s anxiety: IMO, all travelers (me) suffer some anxiety traveling to foreign countries, because the cultures are usually very different from our own: language, smells, currency, etc.
But LBT travelers can be inherently less anxious because your tour company intentionally avoids the most unnerving circumstances.
2. Loneliness: is our mind’s feeling of being unattached or unwanted, but LBTs 
mix you with dozens of others. You have to TRY HARD to be alone.
Loneliness
Many single folks fear domestic or foreign travel because they may have no significant other or friend to share their travels with. They fear the loneliness of traveling alone. ‘Loneliness’ is the mind’s self-perceived emotional feeling of isolation, lack of companionship or being “unwanted”.
Not an idle concern. Human bonding has been fundamental to man’s evolution, survival and civilized advancement. We seek bonding in our personal, familial, and casual lives.
The fear of traveling alone is real. Avoidance of Loneliness is 3rd in Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.Anecdote: At 28 I won the Dating Game TV show(s): with an all-expense paid stay
& personal tour guide at exclusive Villa d'Este Hotel on Lake Como, Italy which I then extended with 2 weeks of solo independent travel to other nearby countries. 
Yet, I came home early because I felt lonely without a romantic partner to share.
A LBT experience is the complete opposite of “alone’s loneliness”. Rather, it is a crowded, jam-packed melting pot packed in a large tour bus moving to & thru a tourist site like a gaggle of chickens humans* in close physical proximity of fellow travelers for several days or weeks.
Large Bus Tour Option: airport & back transport.
To & From Airport & tour bus starting/end point pre-arranged and 
reliable transport may be offerred by some large tour bus companies at extra cost) particularly for uncertain or anxious single travelers make the process smooth and stress-free, regardless of whether you're traveling solo or with others for an extra price.
For single travelers, This can be a reassuring option for single/cou-le travelers because it’s.
3. New Friendships & memories All types of folks book big bus package tours; singles, couples, groups; all ages, genders, nationalities, and cultural backgrounds.
20 to 60 guests, mixed together between cities & sights in a large tour bus, randomly seated together for meals, and eagerly milling about your tour guide at travel sites for 4 - 7 days fosters/nurtures exciting new friendships & lifelong memories.
You must be an "Introvertus maximus” not to make new friends. 😃
New Friendships & Memories
Most tourists relish the new relationships & viewpoints this close mixing facilitates. Each guest seeks to be known by others as humans have for hundreds of thousands of years. A fundamental human instinct.
Making new LBT friends can be very rewarding ... like discovering gold nuggets in a Yukon Klondyke stream. Most travelers relish the 
camaraderie of their new friends and recounting of day’s excitement.
During ‘free-time’ you & your new friends may even share a self-guided walking tour of an Old Town district and dine in a local's recommended restaurant. Too cool!!!
Such travel experiences may stretch into the future as lifetime friends & memories. My gregarious solo independent traveling friend Sally invariably meets a fellow traveler she afterward travels with on future trips.
Ironically, a single person on a large bus tour would have to consciously work hard NOT to meet other guests at meals, during activities or when just driving from site to site.
Bus Tour Company "Guest Profiles"
1. A broad international clientele & age range: Intrepid, Djoser & G-Adventures: —Intrepid is Australian, Djoser is Dutch (but conducts its tours in English), & G-Adventures is Canadian.
2. An over-50, all-American crowd: Globus, Cosmos, Overseas Adventure, Trafalgar, Grand Circle, Perillo Tours & Rick Steves Tours.
Note: If it matters to you, most companies will be upfront with this type of information.
[close]4. Guest Age: Guest age 
may not seem relevant, but it actually is. An elderly couple’s calm, relaxing bus tour vision might sorely conflict with a large bus tour dominated by partying youth or young families.
Not an indictment of either; merely a practical consideration.
Some large bus tours mix all ages; others, are restricted. (none over 90 or children etc) (if I live into 90s, happy to be excluded😇)
Age Tailored LBTs
While the Large Bus Tour group travel market may be dominated by retirees (41-50%) & 50s upwards, package tours accommodate almost all age groups including families with children with perhaps minimum age limits
Yet, some tours are designed JUST for specific age group preferences … occasionally to the exclusion of others e.g. adult-only tours. Tour companies carefully tailor or define the physical limits of tour activities so individuals can adapt.
Ironically, some tour companies appear to exclude anyone OVER 90. (Note: If I get to 90, please exclude me.😀)
Travelers in their 20s, 30s & 40s may naturally choose tailored, adventurous package tours including kid/family-friendly tour profiles. Some tour operators either welcome families with children over a certain age e.g., 6 years, or can design a family-with-children experience. [Jump LK]
Travel Statistics by Age Group:
travel statistics
Condor: TRAVEL TRENDS BY GENERATION:
https://www.condorferries.co.uk/travel-statistics-by-age-group#:~
Age-Related Specifics:
1. Adults-Only BT: Senior or Retirement Cruises: While usually not explicitly marketed as such, many LBTs are 
designed to appeal to older folks' desire for quiet ambiance, and worthwhile knowledge.
The following big bus tour companies intentionally design for Seniors & retirees over 50, up into their 80s. Most emphasize comfort, and educational activities matched with the appropriate physical or mobility capability. Some even book flights etc for patrons.
a. EF Go Ahead Tours:
b. Road Scholar: average age: 72.; educational focus.
c. Trafalgar: 50s to early 70s. Manages health protocols,
d. Intrepid Travel: solo travelers; local, cultural immersion.
e. Odysseys Unlimited: 50 - 80 years old, art, history focus.
2. Minimum Age Requirements: Most have no limit, but under 15 must be with an adult. Confirm to avoid issues.
3. Legal Activities Age: varies by tour company &/or local law.
4. Family-Oriented: accommodates all ages, but is often weighted for kids including flexible ticket values; Open-top buses are even more exciting for kids.
But, cautions:
1) bring kid entertainment (cell phone games. ),
2) plan stops at child-friendly attractions,
3) plan for strollers or extra luggage,
4) interactive activities rather than boring school lectures.
5. Vaccination & Health Rule: up-to-date required vaccinations.
[close]5. Wardrobe: LBT companies seldom encourage or require formal or semi-formal attire, rather, a woman's much more comfortable woman's casual ”capsule wardrobe.” & man’s 'smart casual.'
Your Large Bus travel wardrobe should have 2 goals:
1) Respect for Host culture: its mores, religion etc.
2) Your Comfort: casual, comfortable sightseeing attire
ambassador of we American people.
Anecdote: Asian perception of foreigners: In addition to a history of invasion, occupation & disruption, Asians, if they notice us at all, presume we are wealthy simply because a plane ticket alone might equal a substantial part of their yearly income. My goal is respectful, but confident humility.
BEST STRATEGY: be a Fashion Clever Traveler: with a ”capsule wardrobe.”: a mixable minimalist, interchangeable wardrobe of essential, versatile clothing items that can be mixed & matched, …. creating a variety of outfits characterized by:
a) Versatility: Each piece mixed with multiple other items
b) Quality Over Quantity: that lasts longer and maintains their look.
c) Timelessness: not trendy, but simply indefinitely stylish.
d) Neutrals with Pops: neutral color base & variety of accent items.
Nordstrom: “WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?”
https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/content/blog/capsule-wardrobe
Specifically:
A. Comfortable Walking Shoes: opt for sneakers or comfortable walking shoes. that, if necessary, you've broken-in well because you will be doing a lot of walking, Avoid unstable high heels or non-supportive sandals.
Note: I wore these hiking shoes for comfort &
endurance on city street,
dirt
roads and mountain trails. I didn'want extra shoes extra weight.
Anecdote: worn-out Camino de Santiago hiking shoes: I usually replaced my hiking shoes after every 3 month trip. When I finally completed the 600 mile Camino de Santiago trek, & Portugal, Morocco, and Spain travels I had quarter size holes worn in my soles.
⇐⬅︎⬅︎ My treking pole 'basket' was broken & worn out. 
breathable fabrics; sun HAT 
, sunglasses, and always a light waterproof jacket, or compact umbrella for evening or air-conditioned buses.
retention & reduce heat loss. Remove outer layers & wrap around waist as walking warms your body up.
C. How much stuff? While an overly-fashion-conscious ocean ship cruiser may sense a social need to make multiple clothing changes each day, every day, the LBT travel seeks the minimal necessary wardrobe focused on comfort & efficiency.
a) One of the great values of a "capsule wardrobe" is that you minimize the variety and volume or number of items you need to take because you can mix and match in near infinite variety of looks.
Anecdote: MY solo traveler's perspective: Again, resist the belief that others gauge your travel skills or character & status based on your luggage & wardrobe. I never dwelt on others. If they dwelt on mine, it was none of my business & I didn’t care. I doubt anyone, but pickpockets do care.
“Avoid superfluous wardrobe redundancy,
fashion is fatuous.” (me)
b) Rick Steve's warns, (paraphrase): 'You might have to carry or roll your luggage over uneven pavement for several blocks, and then, sometimes, up & down multiple flights of stairs to your room at each hotel. 
The more travel experienced you become,
the more you whittle down & refine
what you carry ..... to the bare essentials.
Quote “Take half the stuff and twice the money”, Susan Heller.
D. Specialized Clothing & Equipment
Water Activities (if not provided): PDF (life jackets), (snorkeling/diving
mask, snorkel, fins, ‘reef’ shoes; fast-dry clothing & swimwear)
Adventure and Sports: (climbing walls, zip lines, surfing simulators):
non-restrictive clothing, non-marking shoes. Check package
requirements.
Fitness and Exercise: (gym, yoga, spin classes):
Clothing: moisture-wicking, layered shirt/vest/jackets (rain), hiking
boots (broken-in for comfort), long sleeve shirt, lotion & hat.
Equipment: whatever enhances your workout.
Spa & Wellness: (saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs):
Bathing suits: but NOT OK in saunas/steam rooms. Use towel
Flip-flops/spa shoes: to protect feet from hot surfaces.
Shore Excursions: (e.g., hiking, biking, cultural visits):
Clothing: layered shirt/vest/jackets (rain), hiking boots (broken-in
comfort), long sleeve shirt, lotion & hat.
Equipment: daypack, water, insect stuff, sunscreen, & trekking
poles.
Themed Nights: (even if informal): costumes, etc.,
My 'solo travel' Wardrobe
(The following text is a succinct version of the following link:
SIT Wadrobe & Equipment]
WADR, I have little regard for other people’s opinions of my dress style. Rather I have created a travel wardrobe that I believe is --
1) culturally respectful, &
2) enhances my safety, comfort & ease of solo independent travel.
In all my travels, NO ONE ever seemed to notice or care. My ‘old-guy, foreigner’s’ persona was, perhaps, of far greater curiosity.
Remember, you are one of the millions traveling the world ostensibly to discover other cultures, etc. WADR, neither you nor I, are Queen Elizabeth on her World Cruise of the colonies.😀
My solo traveler's practical wardrobe considerations: OK, at 80, 
its not a pretty image, but it worked for 20+ years.
a. safety: modified to hide lots of money
b. comfort: allkinds of weather & climate
c. culturally respectful: NO ONE ever voiced
concern.
d. necessity: truly necessary & Might Become
Necessary:
e. washing ease & quick drying: overnight
f. all around utility: Cargo shorts/pant’s multiple
pockets, belt
w/ cash, hand sanitizer, compass, & a mini-
flashlight.
g. all weather conditions: layered shirts, vest
jacket (rain/snow)
Anecdote: Hiking the Camino de Santiago: over the Pyrenees
into Spain, I passed a powerful young man, perhaps 30 years younger than I dressed like a WWII soldier with a large rucksack …. 2 to 3 times as large as my day pack. Terribly overloaded.
I said, “Hello” as I passed, and he responded with a simple nod. The next day I passed him again, saying, “Hello”, and his response was an UNfriendly look, a curt nod & grunt. I never saw him again.
Anecdote: My 3 seasons wardrobe for 600+/- mile Camino de Santiago trek: My late summer early Fall CdeS trek from France across Spain had to anticipate August’s central Spain’s rainy/foggy rolling-hilled vineyards PIK: cloudy vineyards TO the Meseta Plateau’s chilly September early morning starts (6 am) & blistering hot treeless afternoons TO the west’s high plateau’s cold Fall mornings & lovely middays.
I carried everything for 35 days in a medium-day pack, switching out items in Burgos & Leon.
Youtube video: is a few hours hiking from Muxia on Pacific Coast to the REAL end of the Camino trek. After an early chilly morning start, I am peeling off a couple of layers to tie down on top of my daypack.
h. anticipated activities: hiking trekking poles.
[close]
6. Luggage: Most bus tour companies allow 1 Suitcase (62" total of W, L & H) stored under bus AND 1 carry-on per person.
Luggage
The ancient steamer trunk was today's suitcase, but larger & more cumbersome for your man-servants to handle. It carried the bulk of what you were taking to 'the Continent.'
Today's suitcase is usually smaller with efficiency-packing compartments and mobility features: rolling wheels, extendable handles and top/bottom 'grab handles.'
Most are prettier than mine (at right) which has been dragged down innumerable dirt roads, over rough cobble-stone streets, tossed on train & bus luggage racks all over the world for 20+ years, AND modified & repaired several times.
Today's day-pack is your suitcase's 'little brother or sister ' companion; a useful airline carry-on AND for carrying your daily essentials when sightseeing.
Anecdote: Camino de Santiago:
for my 600-mile trek across north-central Spain, I purposely carried only a medium-sized day pack of essentials relying on albergues (refugios, nunneries & monasteries), restaurants & cafes along the way. YTplaylist
Resist the belief that others gauge your travel skills or character & status on the newness, cost, or flashy look of your luggage. I never dwelt on 'others' luggage.
If they dwelt on mine, it was none of my business & I didn’t care. I doubt anyone, but thieves do care; fancy bags attract thieves.
Your travel belongings should be in these TWO
A. So, luggage has 4 parameters: 1) type, 2) size, 3) number, & 4) durability.
Some haul a couple of suitcases, a handbag/briefcase with other bags dangling off their arms. I have often seen those extra dangling bags left behind on a plane’s overhead, bus seat or hostel dorm floor.
Quote: “Take half the stuff and twice the money”, Susan Heller.
1. Type of luggage?: my basic ideal combination: a suitcase & a
daypack.
2. Size: suitcase & day pack?
a) Dimensions & Weight:
1) Suitcase: Maximum is about 62 in total of length, width, & height; weight: not to exceed 50 pounds (23 kg).
2) Carry-on: must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment (briefcases, small backpacks, or totes)
PLEASE remember --
(a) You are Sharing the Overhead Rack: with ALL your fellow passengers. Please .... don't hog that space with innumerable handbags, camera cases, etc.
(b) Don't Block Your Feet: Anything you store under the seat ahead of you blocks available space for your feet which after several hours of walking at or riding to sites, you might want to stretch out.
b) Luggage Hauling: Rick Steve's warns, (paraphrase): 'You might have to carry or roll your luggage over uneven pavement for several blocks, and then, sometimes, up & down multiple flights of stairs to your room at each hotel.
The more travel experienced you become,
the more you whittle down & refine
what you carry ..... to the bare essentials.
Quote “Take half the stuff and twice the money”, Susan Heller.
Anecdote: Jim & Mary’s cruise luggage: 3 giant suitcases: on my only big cruise ship experience my friends had 3 giant suitcases that Joe could barely lift. 
I vividly recall his overweight face, bulging red with exertion as he pushed, shoved, & dragged each one separately up 2 flights of stairs. (Note: they should have only needed one in their room, other 2 left downstairs)
3. Number of pieces? Clever Traveler’s designed ”capsule wardrobe.”
Anecdote: Jim & Mary's cruse luggage: 3 giant suitcases: (immediately above)
BEST Strategy: be a Fashion Clever Traveler by designing a ”capsule wardrobe.”: See a complete explanation immediately above under the “Wardrobe” section. [jlk: Wardrobe]
Anecdote: MY solo independent traveler’s (SIT) perspective: Resist the belief that others gauge your travel skills, character or status based on your luggage & wardrobe.
I never dwelt on others. If they dwelt on mine, it was none of my business & I didn’t care. I doubt anyone, but pickpockets do care.
4. Durability: most tech’s synthetics are essentially bombproof.
Deeper Luggage insights:
1. Type of luggage? I will not delve deeply into the entire World of Luggage. Instead, I’ll focus on my basic ideal combination: 1 suitcase & 1 daypack.
2. Size:
a. Suitcase: Yes, the bigger the suitcase, the more ’stuff’ you can pack in it. You should be able to carry it in a pinch, from the bus, down a street & up to youir room.
Anecdote: Jim & Mary’s 3 giant suitcases: on my only big cruise ship experience my friend-couple had 3 giant suitcases that Joe could barely lift. I vividly recall his overweight face, bulging red with exertion as he pushed, shoved, & dragged each 1 separately up 2 flights of stairs. (Note: they should have only needed one in their room, other 2 left downstairs)
b. Daypack: a small daypack for daily bus touring essentials: medications, travel docs, etc....:
1) Airline carry-on
2) 4-7 hour bus touring [pplk: Safety: Soft Crime],
Remember it should be small & comfortable to carry around for several hours, but you are not overnight camping. 😄
Anecdote: Camino de Santiago: for my 600-mile trek across north-central Spain, I purposely carried only a medium-sized day pack of essentials.
3. Number of Pieces?: Most bus tour companies allow:
a. Number of Bags:
1 Suitcase per person in storage compartment under bus.
1 Carry-On: small enough to fit under seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment (briefcases, small backpacks, or totes)
b. Size & Weight:
Suitcase: Maximum suitcase dimension: about 62 inches of length, width, & height total AND weight not to exceed 50 pounds (23 kg) (Often mimics airline limits)
CAUTION: Overly-fashion-conscious tourist’s may sense a social need to make multiple clothing changes each day, every day, translating into “more stuff.” & maybe more suitcases.
Anecdote: Jim & Mary: 3 giant suitcases: (immediately above)
BEST Strategy: be a Fashion Clever Traveler by designing a ”capsule wardrobe.”: See a complete explanation under “Wardrobe” section immediately above.[jlk: Wardrobe]
Anecdote: MY solo traveler’s perspective: Resist the belief that other’s gauge your travel skills or character & status based on your luggage & wardrobe.
I never dwelt on other's wardrobe or luggage. If they dwelt on mine, it was none of my business & I didn’t care. I doubt anyone, but pickpockets do care.
4. Durability: In the "Golden Age of Ocean Liners” the wealthy, as they do, packed many steamer trunks with everything their elite social status & antics demanded, carried by servants, of course.
The metal & wood banded trunks were close to bomb-proof which is why they are a popular American antique at the ends of beds to hold blankets. They lasted.
New technology’s synthetic fabrics & plastic structure or aluminum make most luggage essentially bombproof.
MY Solo independent traveler’s perspective:
Independent travelers opt for high mobility, low volume & weight luggage because we have to transport it in a variety of vehicles, up & down stairs, down long airport concourses, long city streets, & rural village's dirt paths, and thru soft wheel-grabbing sand, etc.
Anecdote: medium rolling soft luggage: I have traveled the world as a solo independent traveler [jlk: SIT - below] for 20 years with the same soft, but rugged, medium size rolling dragging it down endless rough cobbled lanes & 3rd world dirt streets; my daypack on my back.
Over time my rolling luggage looked worse & worse, occasionally needing repair, but presumably a less likely target of thieves. Ironically, it was so ratty that TSA frequently ‘randomly’ (LOL) inspected it AFTER I checked it. 😄. (TSA leaves a little note each time.)
Oh, & my wardrobe & ‘stuff’ always fit because I limited its contents.
Legendary novice tourist mistake: Too much stuff …. including me 25 years ago for several reasons:
1) Older we get the more ‘necessities’ we require e.g. my dozen prescript drugs & vitamins for 90+ days. [pplk: Health: ]
2) fashion-conscious tourists may sense a social mandate to ‘compete’ with other passengers’ large stylish wardrobes AND THUS, need large, multiple suitcases to carry it all.
In fact, the fashion-clever traveler creates a "capsule wardrobe.” significantly reducing volume of wardrobe needing to be packed.
Nordstrom: “WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?”
https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/content/blog/capsule-wardrobe
3) try to anticipate every possible minor & major need that might ‘possibly ‘ arise. Look closely at my Inventory list and you will see my examples of this. [pplk” Resource: INV list]
Anecdote: Skopje, Macedonia’s hostel’s dull knives: kitchen knives were too dull for salads. So, I sharpened the knife on a brick wall outside the kitchen. Thereafter, I carried a tiny sharpening stone 3” x ¾”. Tiny, but useful. to make salads easily. also carried a very tiny emergency can opener cuz I once needed one. pik
Note: If a minor crisis arises, your guide can help. Not their 1st rodeo. 😃.
Anecdote: CdeS: walking 300+ (?) miles a woman carried a separate toiletries bag with multiple forms of soap: hand, hair, body lotion, etc. I carried a couple of small hotel soap bars.
My Independent Traveler's Inventory List (of stuff):
Over time, I developed an exhaustive (obsessive) Inventory List [pplk: Resources: INV] that detailed every single item, it's quantity & its specific location in various individual compartments & pockets of both my day pack & rolling luggage.
My Inventory List was useful for several reasons:
1. I knew exactly where each item was & could fast & easily find it.
2. I could easily add necessary items or subtract unnecessary
items based on each new trip’s climate, etc. (think So Mexico
vs Antarctica)
3. I could easily amend my last Inventory List for each future trips,
A cruiser can do the same.
7. Planning & Logistics: Very little is required once you have CAREFULLY chosen your ideal LBT package based on your knowledge of all these LBT Factors. Tours provide worry-free, ground transport, food; lodging, site tickets, and local guides — you are never lost.
Unless you will travel independently before and after your tour ...
YOU just book your flights, before & after hotels (if needed) & pack.
8. Lodging: Often, large, sterile, impersonal tour company-owned efficiency hotel or a large chain's hotel for a single night only,
unless smaller, higher quality tour's lodging.
BEST: Welcoming small family-owned hotels near or in Old Town tourist areas allowing YOU easy "free-time"’ independent
walking tours. (Rick Steves Tours).
Quality of Different Sized Tours
a. Large tours:
Large Bus Tour lodging tends to be an impersonal, standardized, big box, generic antiseptic large bus-tour hotel often owned by a large tour company or a hotel chain .... chosen because they can house 100’s efficiently at low cost per/person to Large Bus Tours operators allowing them to offer low-cost Large Bus Tour packages.
PROs:
1. Least expensive: basic, no frills,
2. Amenities: minimum with expensive extras (laundry, ironing)
3. Bus direct to hotel entry: easy bags unload with elevators.
4. Convenient bus parking:
5. Single Person Lodging: (Legal/inclusivity concerns in play)
Option 1: Single Supplement: premium price for ‘single occupant’ rooms
that normally sleep 2 persons.
Option 2: Shared Room:
(a) auto Same-Sex Pairing (normal)
(b) Guest’s rooming preference: guest's preference solicited: same-sex
only or mixed ok; … no smokers, etc.
CONs:
1. Impersonal, standardized, antiseptic: prioritize efficiency
2. Inconvenient location: often at outskirts far from tourist area
3. “Hotel Hostage”: trapped at town’s outskirts & overpriced, low-quality hotel food & beverages.
Must take a taxi to Old Town walkabout’s authentic cultural sites, & upscale restaurants.
OTOH, you may be too exhausted to care!
4. Extra Amenities: very overpriced (laundry, etc)
5. Minimal Comfort: mattress, linens,
6. Single Room Supplement: (see PROs #5 above) Caution: limited availability.
b. mid-size tour: small family owned B&B /hotels
PROs:
1. Class & Style Ambiance: boutique hotels, local guesthouses, or
even more unique hostels or Airbnb-style.
2. Owner’s pride & entrepreneurial enthusiasm:
3. Perhaps family-owned: welcoming & ‘homey’- like home
4. Vehicle accessibility: direct or close to lodging's front door.
5. Hotel owner & guest camaraderie: staff engages & assists.
6. Guest to guest camaraderie: more intimate surroundings.
7. Located conveniently: near authentic restaurants & environs.
8. Near-by access to ‘"free-time"’ walkabouts: self-guided tour of
locals Old Town’s sites, cafes, shops & their culture.
9. Free times’ direct access: to 1) Local Excursions, 2) self-guided
walking tour, 3) local’s cafe experience.
CONs:
1. More expensive element of tour price
2. Maybe ‘bag dragging’ access: if narrow streets.
c. small tours: May be either niche market for:
1) very exclusive high-end luxury, personalized service accommodations, gourmet meals, and premium transportation (air).
I'll skip the ‘super exclusive high-end luxury’ niche market because outside my wheelhouse & your "Personal Assistant" (iPhone) is more knowledgeable than I. 😀
Anecdote: Carol Walton’s Expedition tour flies guests on a custom-designed tour between African safari sights. Some of these specialty tours (not Carol’s) can cost $100,000.
2) esoteric adventure or deep-dive cultural experience tour.
Anecdote: I took several small Australian van tours across the Nallabor, up the west coast to Broome, a flight to Alice Springs & a van tour up to Darwin. We camped out most nights, and cooked group meals …. all at a very reasonable price for this penurious traveler (cheapskate.)
PROs:
1. Price: often a little more expensive, but varies.
2. Pragmatic: Only modestly priced, practical way for logistics, 
sites & activities over that long or remote distance.
3. Customized or very basic: luxury, cultural or hardcore.
4. Greater spontaneous itinerary flexibility: group input
possible. India B&B ➞➞➞➞
5. More personalized guide: low guide-to-guest ratio
6. Deeper guide insight & discourse: deeper discussion
7. Greater guest connect: low guest to guest ratio
8. Better quality services: lodging, meals, site flexibility.
9. Special Interests: client-tailored: historic/eco inns, rare sites.
10. Greater site accessibility: smaller, special vehicles: 4 WD
11. Greater time efficiency: avoid most research & planning
12. Secluded, remote sites/activities: Australia ranch "swag'.
CONs:
1. Limited Capacity: great demand, book early or trust luck.
2. Comfort & Amenities: Carol Walton’s Luxury African Safari vs ‘bare-bone roughing it’ small adventure tours.
3. Cost/Person: varies dramatically between luxury vs adventure.
4. Anonymity: if REALLY seeking privacy book a private guide, OR, go SIT (solo independent travel [pplk: SIT: home & SIT].
5. Group Compatibility: A mix of personalities & viewpoints always a risk, yet can always search for something positive.
6. Limited Luggage Space: smaller plane or bus, ask tour limits.
[close]
9. Multi-nite hotel stays v overnight: Multi-night hotel stays are a travel blessing versus the wasted time & energy of ‘pajama' or racing 'Jumping Jack’ large bus tours. These multi-nite hotel stays are ripe with self-fulfilling ‘free-time' options instead of daily long & frenetic drives to multiple site visits ending in nightly exhaustion.
Multi-nite Stays Benefits
Big bus “jumping jacks’ tours must change hotels daily without a break to visit all sites promised. These huge buses are often unable to access the hotel directly without blocking traffic, so guests must haul luggage 
down those narrow streets and then upstairs to their room adding to their exhaustion.
OTOH, while multi-night stays in the same hotel may reduce the number of sites & experiences, multi-night stays will dramatically enhance worthiness & comfort of your entire journey.
PROs:
1. reduce daily packing & unpacking hassle,
2. minimize wasteful daily departure & arrival time & chaos,
3. less energy drain Dragging Luggage blocks to hotel
4. reduce energy drain of Luggage Carry up/down flights of stairs.
5. reduce precious energy drain: of 1-night stands.
6. more on-site time: for exploration & reflection
7. More ‘free-time’: deeper cultural immersion in Old Town’ self-guided
walkabouts to minor tourist sites, cafes, & city parks.
ANECDOTE: My pre-cruise early morning London walkabout: On my only cruise to prove to friends I did not LIKE cruises, I awoke several hours before my friends and made a solo self-guided walking tour of the neighborhoods near our London hotel. A redeeming experience in the quiet London morning. ytlk Baltic Cruise
8. More relaxed & reflective: rather than constantly exhausted.
9. Quick refresh: for a self-guided walkabout Old Town areas.
” …. Bus drivers call tours with ridiculous itineraries "pajama tours."
You're in the bus from 8 a.m. until after dark, so why even get dressed?”,
Rick Steves’ Europe
CONs:
1. Perhaps fewer site visits & activities: but entire trip is more rewarding.
10. Food & Restaurants: BEST: small tour’s relaxed, locally culturally authentic or ‘"free-time"’s guide-suggested local town's dining on your own …. rather than big tour’s culturally ‘faux’, rapidly served, dubious quality food.
Large Bus Tours vs Small Tour
Dining Options
A. Large Bus Tour’s restaurants: 
PROs:
1. pre-arranged, probably uninteresting.
CONs:
1. minimum or dubious quality:
Anecdote: On my only cruise, St. Petersburg, Russia we were served en masse a suppossedly authentic fish lunch. It was so terribkle that I estimated less than 5% of us ate it, ... if that. Cruise company and guests scammed???
2. Culturally Americanized:
3. Rushed service & fast eating for efficiency: on tight schedule
4. Ambiance or authentic embellishment: little, if any
Note: Small local & quality restaurants refuse large bus tours because they lose
their local customer experience, must reduce cost to fight tour company
price pressure.
B. Small tour meals: more likely to be a more relaxed sit-down atmosphere with friendlier staff, more culturally authentic, & maybe locally grown foods. 
PROs:
1. Local cultural ambiance:
2. Authentic or traditional dishes:
3. Memorable settings & experience
4. Relaxed & welcoming:
5. Accommodates special needs
CONs:
1. makes tour more expensive, but infinitely more rewarding
2. takes more time, but worth while.
C. ’"free-time"’ options: In both cases, Large Bus Tour or small bus tour’s ‘free-time’ afternoon or evenings MAY offer you your ONLY truly authentic dining experience at a 'locals' restaurant suggested by your guide or hotel staff. 
Ironically, the local folks who work in the tourist shops, etc probably speak English and can direct you to THEIR favorite non-tourist, off-the-beaten-path restaurants. Walkabout or grab a taxi and go!!
TIP: Truly helpful tour guides may conveniently drop you off in Old Town at ‘Restaurant Row’ with their personal recommendations. You return to lodging at your leisure.
11. Perks: tour companies may offer Loyalty programs, booking incentives and upgraded or luxury packages:
Perks in more detail.
A. Loyalty Programs: may include:
1. Luxury Accommodations: pre-planned luxury charter
bus tours focused on comfort & convenience. CoElite Coach,
2. Specialty Dining Experiences,
3. Corporate luxury experiences and personalized itineraries.
B. Booking Incentives: discounts for early bookings, special
promotions via social media, or online-only deals)
C. Miscellaneous fees/amenities: May include:
a) airport to/from transfer fees,
b) meal choice & quality,
c) pre-tour lodging, no bag limit, free wif (huh?), bottled
water, no luggage fees, and priority boarding, etc.
Always ask or check the fine print & customer reviews for hidden costs.
12. Amenities: VP Boarding, Seating, access, Food and Beverage Packages, Special Events or Shows, Merchandise or Souvenirs, Extended Hours or Night Cruises, Photo/Video Services, & large or excess luggage handling.
Amenities by Tour Size
Whatever you imagine that can be bought.
operations, each offering different amenities based on the scale, duration, and theme or focus of the tour. 1. Luxury Seating: Often with more space per passenger, Chauffeured
sometimes includes reclining seats. plush
3. Audio Systems: guests' personal headsets for guide's talk. Sprinter
5. Bottled Water: Provided for hydration. extended
6. Snacks: Sometimes included, especially for longer trips. legroom
1. All amenities from small tours, plus:
2. On-Board Restroom: Particularly useful for longer trips
4. Larger Entertainment Systems: Screens for movies or dos.
5. Storage for Luggage: More organized space for personal stuff.
6. Coffee Machines or Kitchenette: onboard self-service
1. Multiple Restrooms: To accommodate more passengers.
2. Enhanced Seating: Perhaps luxury swivel seats or tables.
3. Catering Services: Perhaps on-board meals prepared.
4. Tour Guide's Commentary: live, plus assistance.
5. Advanced Entertainment: Perhaps, interactive or better sound.
Anecdote: Pakse, Laos to Danang, Vietnam's night sleeper bus: roughly built interior of triple bunk beds & narrow aisles, a few rest stops; saved 1-night's hotel cost. Better, simpler Transport Solution than my researched Laos to Danag transport options.
2. Destination: Remote area tour's priorities: better suspension for rough roads, while urban tours focus on
connectivity & entertainment.
3. Tour Theme: Adventure tours: less luxury, but more utilitarian amenities like gear storage, whereas luxury tours emphasize
comfort & service.
4. High-end amenities vary with mission: seasick motion, limited luggage & privacy.
13 Where Tourist Vehicles can go?: Touring vehicles can go almost anywhere on land, of course, subject to: 1) tour's theme or goals, 2) tour’s duration, and 3) local large bus parking regulations.
Most cities and smaller towns have anticipated & provided reasonable parking, off-loading & loading spaces to facilitate access to their tourist sites. Tourism is usually in a town's economic interest, even if it annoys some.
Bus Size Restrictions:
A. Large Buses: pose a substantial issue even in large cities.
1. Large cities:
a) some narrow or dead-end streets are too difficult for large buses.
b) regulations specifically prohibit even brief blocking of streets.
c) sensitive areas may require special parking & access permits
2. Small Buses & Vans: Small towns usually recognize their access issues and may prohibit tour vehicles in some areas, BUT, OTOH, most wisely provide special bus parking lots & convenient temporary off-loading & loading spaces near their tourist sites.
Anecdote: Jackson, Wyoming, USA: is a gateway town to Teton National Park & Yellowstone National Park with summer tourist travel in the millions. Large tour buses may briefly drop & unload passengers at the Town Square and then quickly move to a BUSES ONLY parking lot a few blocks away.
3. National Parks etc: may NOT provide access to small 
roadside sites & trailheads, yet provide large bus & tourist parking at major sites (think Old Faithful Geyer in Yellowstone NP)
B. Small buses or tourist vans: usually have much easier, flexible access & parking even at the most popular Tier 1 sites and certainly to Tier 2 & 3 sites large bus tours must avoid.
NOTE: Access & parking are often easier at early arrival times. BIg tour buses get late start tending to arrive around 10 am & depart by 3:00 pm. More nimble van tours get to busy sites on opening.
14. Seasonal Dates: Select a season & tour schedule to match your desired climate, weather, and tourist goals, but remember the great travel opportunity:
-- winter in the Northern Hemisphere ....
-- is summer in the southern hemisphere including Antarctica. Dig Deeper.
Seasonal Anecdotes
Northern Hemisphere's winter may be a superb time to Large Bus Tour New Zealand's summer, or closer to home in southern Mexico & Central America's Palenque, Chitzen Itza & Tulum ... Mayan sites.
Ironically, I visited Rome, Florence & Venice in December, which was chilly and rainy, but very few people in the Roman forum. Pretty much all to myself.
Anecdote: My 3-month winter in New Zealand's summer: February 1999 start of my mostly self-guided van camping tour of New Zealand. Subsequent Trip STARTS: Argentina/Chile: Feb 2007, 3 months; Mexico City, Panama, Peru, Mar, 2008: 3 months; China: Sep 2011: 3 months.
Anecdote: My Southern Mexico van travel’s high 90°s: My RV van had A/C, but I decided that if I once started using it, I would be addicted & afraid to leave the van. I opted to just accept great muggy heat. I have owned 6 Roadtrek RV vans and never used the A/C.
Anecdote: Yangon, Myanmar wet temps: Got off the plane from US via China, at midnight's high 70°s & 65% humidity. It hit me like a warm wet blanket. Next day, was even hotter. I complained to myself & then said, “You knew it would be hot, so quit bitching and ignore it like the locals do." That was my attitude from then on throughout South America and Asia.
15. Actual’ travel days vs advertised: Tour operators often define a 'travel day' differently The average tourist may believe an ACTUAL tour day includes substantial touring to tourist site(s), ... rather than merely a 1st day's check-in and a last day's early morning departure.
Actual Travel Days vs Advertised Travel Days
If 1st day's afternoon tour's hotel check-in AND is an "advertised tour day', that seems duplicitous, IMO. If the last day is mainly an early departure day AND included as an advertised tour day THAT also seems duplicitous.
OTOH, if a tour's 1st day is a morning check-in followed by an afternoon of tour sites or necessary travel to tomorrow's tour sites, then that seems like a legitimate travel day. If the last day is mostly site visit(s) &/or travel back to the tour's start point for a late afternoon departure then it may be a legitimate travel day.
Grok, XAI's AI agent, suggests that everything you do from home departure to return is in some specious way "a travel experience." I find the transparently self-serving & disingenuous. Not a slight at GROK, but rather the industry's duplicitous heavy marketing slant.
I would inherently TRUST the Large Bus Tour that makes 1st & last day activity descriptions VERY clear. BUT, sometimes, phony advertised travel day vs legitimate advertised travel day is just too close to call.
Example: MAYASITES TRAVEL SERVICES: 7 Night 8 Day Tour of MAYA OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST, YUCATAN PENINSULA AND HIGHLAND RAINFOREST: "ITINERARY: A legit 1st Day Travel Day & a non-travel 8th 'departure day.
Day 1: At 8 am your driver & guide will pick you up at your hotel (any hotel between Cancun & Tulum) and take you to spectacular Tulum.
Day 8: Private transfer to the Villahermosa airport for departure.
Based on the above, you must check the itinerary closely to see if the 1st & last days are legitimate travel days or just advertised as 'travel days' to make the tour look longer & thus a better deal.
16. of Bus Tours Length: The length of the Large Bus Tour package you choose wil be dictated by your motivation, # of sites & activities you want to visit, travel comfort & pace you desire, and your physical capability.
Some want to just 'get away', relax and 'see' the countries, cities & a few Tier 1 sites they have dreamed of throughout their lives. Others want much, much more: many sites, deep-dive exploration.
Dig Deeper: Typical Tour Length FACTORS
Dig Deeper: Typical Tour Length
Dig Deeper: How man sites & activities for you
Dig deeper: Free Independent Travel
Typical Tour Length FACTORS
LBT length depends on several factors:
A. your travel motivation.
B. # of sites & activities desired
C. desired comfort level & pace
D. physical activity level
E. your available time & money budget
A. Motivation: Most LBT travelers want to --
1) escape life's predictability
2) to reward themselves while they still can for multi-decade-long commitment to family & career.
3) see the countries & Tier 1 & 2 sites they have heard about during their lives (Eiffel Tower, Coliseum, Beijing's Forbidden City or Taj Mahal)
4) create memories that will relish the rest of their life:
Anecdote: My Youtube Travel Videos: I shot my domestic &foreign travel videos for 30 years including my voice-over commentary of my observations & reflections … so that I could revisit & refresh the ever-fading memories of my travel life's unique moments and thoughts when too infirm to travel. (now—cancer).
Only recently did I realize that YouTube provided the free technology allowing me to publish my 1400+ edited videos for others .<https://www.youtube.com/@scottsolotravels> 
B. Sites & activities you desire? Some LB tourists can only spare a short Tour's few days to visit famous sites at least once in their lives while others with more time want much, much more.
Typical Tour Lengths
a. Short Tours (1-3 Days): Ideal, if limited time or splurging on high-end amenities focused on 1 or 2 significant sites (e.g. Mexico's Teotihuacan from Mexico City or Chichen Itza from Cancun.
b. Medium Tours (4-7 Days): More culturally immersive time flexibility focused on several key sites (e.g Yucatan Peninsula's Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba.
NOTE: Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower,
Peru’s Machu Picchu &
Beijing China’s Forbidden City….
Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country:
Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompei
Esoteric Rekjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really?
Really!!! 😀)
Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche
& not worth average cruisers time & money.
Level 2
How many sites & activities for you?
Your choice of LBT package will, in part, be dependent on the number of countries, cities, sites, and activities you want to visit for the time & money available.
Some want to just 'get away', relax and 'see' the countries, cities & a few Tier 1 sites they have dreamed of throughout their lives. Others want much, much more: many sites, deep dive exploration, & all.
a) Most LB tourist's minimal goal.
Most travelers seek the thrill of a site’s Charisma of Place … hoping .. day after day -- to be awed & thrilled by its historical & cultural significance.
Dedicated travelers seek a deeper connection to Tier 1 or 2 sites that they have always dreamed of (Rome’s coliseum, etc) or sites that their current research exposes exciting their curiosity (Rome’s catacombs.)
True independent self-guided travelers seek the quality of experience, NOT the braggadocio of a mere visit.
Anecdote: 1st to arrive at Michelangelo’s “David” statue: in Florence’s Accademia Museum, I stood alone for many long minutes contemplating the work itself, but even more so, his effort.
I tried to imagine myself 5 centuries earlier, sitting quietly watching Michelangelo’s intense concentration as he ‘chipped here & there, sanding roughness into smoothness, trying to imagine what his thoughts were then. Charisma of statute & artist.
“Charisma of Place”: is an old National Geographic Magazine’s geography term that describes the eerie emotional admiration inherent in a thing, person or place. Your tourist site visit should give you that feeling.
Anecdote: When a Cadet at the US Air Force Academy: President Eisenhower, former 
5 star General, —-the man who shepherded the WWII Allies to the Nazi defeat’ ....
.... 'passed in review ‘ right before me. Humbling awe.
Charisma of person.
Anecdote: Rummaging amongst the German cannon bunkers: (aka pill boxes) at Normandy's Pointe du Hoc’s cliff-edge I tried to visualize heroic WWII U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion climbing & dying to take those steep cliffs. I was emotionally reverent & humbled at the memory of those courageous moments.
Charisma of Place & Persons!
Charisma of Place makes a travel site special, not just to the tourist, but to the culture it sprung from. Your Shore Excursion choice should add to your knowledge and intellectual appreciation enhancing your Quality of Life a smidgeon and building lifelong memories.
ADVICE: Don’t try to pack in too many sites etc. ------- go deeper into fewer.
Anecdote: Caesar's Cremation site: One rainy morning in Rome’s Forum I stood alone under the canopy that protected the spot where Caesar’s body had been cremated. [yt vid : Cesar]
I fantasized that my spirit was somehow connecting with his across time’s invisible barrier. Moments later I walked the nearby Appian Way imagining that I was walking on the very stones that once felt the weight of Julius Caesar. [ytlk: Eng & France - time stamp]
Anecdote: The Balkans: In grade school, I remembered creating a map of the Balkans which
I apparently took pride in.
Six decades later I remembered ‘that’ map, researched the Balkans & spent 2½ months solo traveling thru the Southern Balkans & ..... 2 years later, another 2 ½ months thru Northern Balkan countries discovering sites & experiences I’d never imagined before.
Wise travelers seek the history, the humanity, the emotional & sensory Charisma of Places the world has long revered or that they learned about somewhere.
True travelers seek a deeper connection to Tier 1 or 2 sites they have always dreamed of (Rome’s coliseum etc) or sites their current research exposes that excite their curiosity (Rome’s catacombs.)
We only live once! Don’t squander your only opportunity.
b. Maximum 'bang-for-the-buck' travelers.
Some LB tourists seek the max ‘bang-for-the-buck’ of visiting as many sites as possible and as quickly as possible. The allure is apparently the dubious ‘bragging rights’ of having visited as many countries, cities, sites & experiences as possible with selfies to prove it. 🥹
But IMO that is a silly ego-driven, misplaced fantasy because they will only wear themselves out and on their return home, simply bore their uninterested, mildly sheepish friends with their endless selfies.
Anecdote: My friend's reactions to all my 1½ to 3-month trips on my return: each time I returned from a 2-3-month foreign trip my BEST friend would, without my prompt, ask, “How was your trip?” I would respond simply, “Great trip", and that was IT. No further discussion; no curiosity.
I suppose I expected to be welcomed back as the great adventurer. At first, I was annoyed & mystified until I accepted the reality that others have no duty to be enthused with my travels.
True travelers seek the quality of experience.
NOT the braggadocio of quantity
* Globus: "Gems of the Balkans: 7 days/3 countries
c. My travel obsession.
Years after my Dating Game TV show's free trip to Europe at 28, I often lamented my lack of photographs or journal. Even then, I realized that my travel memories were simply thin mental photographs with little context or nuance.
At 1st I transcribed my travel reflections on a handheld dictation device knowing in the future I might relish those audio recollections. Fortunately, before my extensive foreign travel, small video cameras like Sony's Handycam became available. Today, in my recliner, my audio journals come alive again. [pplk; photos vs video]
I video-taped most of my US, Canada & Alaska hikes & kayak road trips which now, 35 years later, I can relive my earlier adventurers' colorful scenes and reflections even though I can barely walk at 85 after prostate cancer.
Anecdote (kinda): my travel obsession: I have been curiosity-obsessed with visiting my life's collected travel buds & all else my research uncovers, BUT ALSO with the myriad nuances of those Travel Buds.
[yt vid:m Casa Professa]
I want my video camera's telephoto to probe high above a Peruvian cathedral's altar for the dome's intricate artwork seldom noticed or seen by others. I want to poke around Chnia's 'off-limits" unrestored Great Wall portions, learning & imagining what I can.[yt Great Wall)
C. Comfort and Pace:
LB tours can be a very physically demanding 'jumping jack' bus race from one site after another, then a constant walking & standing jaunt through one site after another site so guide can keep your group on schedule each day AND so you can your money's worth as promised in your package.
OTOH, smaller tours are usually slower paced with fewer daily site visits, but deeper immersion; and more question-and-answer conversations with your guide. Perhaps in a more comfortable luxury van with relaxed luncheons & multi-nights at the same hotel avoiding the usual toxic night & morning luggage haul in & out of your hotel. Overall, much less physically demanding.
Both size tour packages may offer free-time segments for self-guided exploration opportunities if you are not too worn out. [jlk free time]
D. Activity Level: Most tours are designed for the reasonably mobile. Older or less mobile tourists might opt for shorter, more leisurely paced trips, while young, active travelers might prefer longer, more adventurous tours.
Unlike the great energy drain of a high-speed ‘jumping jack’ large bus tours with their luggage-humping in & out of hotels each night, smaller bus tours may often be more relaxed, moving slower, and exploring deeper.
Important Caution: You still might have to lug bags down narrow streets & up equally narrow stairways. Be prepared. Maybe options for the infirm. Check with your tour company.
E. your available time & money budget.
Most travelers determine 'tour length' based on work's vacation time or how long they feel comfortable being away from family, work etc. In my case, for a variety of reasons, 3 months was my desired and max.
Wise travelers calculate their entire travel budget including:
a) the base package cost
b) an estimate for the tour company's extra-cost Optional or guest-booked local tours and any other add-on costs: perks, amenities, specialty activities, etc.
c) a wise traveler always carries a little bit more. cash 😇
Quote: “Take half the stuff and twice the money”, Susan Heller.
Recent Trending Shorter LB Tour Companies
XAI's Grok indicates a trend towards shorter European large bus tours. Here's a summary based on current web information:
-
Large Bus Tours and similar operators focus on hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours, which inherently cater to shorter, more flexible travel schedules. These are popular in major European cities like London, Paris, Budapest, Vienna, and Istanbul, allowing tourists to explore at their own pace within a limited time frame.
-
Rick Steves' Europe mentions the utility of one-day bus tours from big cities into the countryside, which can be particularly appealing for those on shorter trips looking to make the most of their time with guided sightseeing.
-
Busabout specifically markets itself with options for shorter trips, emphasizing flexibility with their hop-on hop-off network across 38 destinations, suggesting a market for travelers who want to experience multiple places in a shorter period.
-
Trafalgar offers shorter tour packages among its broader selection, providing an entry point for those with less time but still seeking a comprehensive tour experience.
-
Also.
Dig deeper
Free Independent Traveler" or
"Fully Independent Traveler,"
Also increasing demand for FIT standing for "Free Independent Traveler" or "Fully Independent Traveler," A style of travel where you—or a small group—plan & manage your own trip without relying on a pre-packaged tour or a group schedule.
You get to call the shots: where you go, where you stay, how you get around, and what you do. It’s all about flexibility and crafting a journey that fits your vibe, whether that’s solo, with a partner, or with a handful of friends or family.
This website's primary purpose is to serve this kind of traveler & travel with the maximum amount of knowledge available. Pleas visit my Home page.
deciding on a whim to hike a trail or try some local street food the next. It’s popular with people who want authentic experiences—like chatting with locals or exploring hidden spots—rather than sticking to the tourist treadmill. Does that sound like your kind of adventure?
Recently shorter Cruises have been trending; premium luxury surge for 3 to 4-night affordable escapes.
Affordability: budget-friendly, especially with promo deals.
Convenience: fits limited vacation time.
Accessibility: more manageable & less daunting: 1st-timers or families.
17. “Shop Steering" are undisclosed or dubious time-wasting, impromptu tour stops usually at retail shops, gee-gaw factory sites that makes & sells goods tourists might be interested in: souvenirs, diamonds; leather/silk clothing, & even occasionally illegal or immoral.
Tour companies or guide may get kickbacks on your purchases, but often just waste your time or worse. Such tour operators/guides & shops are not your friends.
Fraudulent Shop-steering” visits.
Shop-steering” visits are undisclosed or dubious time-wasting, impromptu Cruise stops usually at retail shops or factory sites that make & sell goods tourists goods: souvenirs, diamonds; leather/silk clothing, diamonds, & even occasionally illegal or immoral options.
NOTE: The following YouTube clip from my Thailand, Cambodia & S Vietnam trip is NOT the usual FRAUDULENT shop steering because it balances a useful, authentic & informative tourist experience with the justifiable income needs of this small hill tribe.
Dishonest companies or guides get kickbacks on your purchases, but often visits just waste your time or worse.
Anecdote: Pristina, Kosovo: One gracious young man whose invite to his restaurant I accepted. Another guy, so literally in my face, I finally yelled at him & physically shoved him aside. Foolish tout & owner.
Ancedote: Tallinn, Estonia cruise ship stop: Tallinn ships take tourists directly to the main Old Town Hall Square packed with tourist stalls & restaurants and then maybe later a small tour to other specific shops.
Anecdote: Bangkok tuk tuk driver suggested silk shop visit: I knew he was ‘shop steering’ me, but I wanted the experience. I was curious. It was not high-pressure, but respectful. I bought nothing. In a silk suit I would be the proverbial ‘overdressed pig.’
NOTE: If you REALLY want to buy a silk suit, blouse etc, Google search where they are commonly sold & visit several shops bargaining for your best price. Safe 5: Soft Crime[pplk: Safe: Soft - Bargaining]
Cruise Company’s careful examination of Shore Excursions will have undoubtedly eliminated this possibility. If not complain & report.
Beware of Shop Steering [jlk: shop steering] [plpk: sub-pil” xyz Kinds of (B) Guides)
18. Tier 1, 2, & 3 Tourist Sites & activities: select a tour package with your most desired Tier 1 sites & a few 2nd tier sites, but few, if any, Tier 3, etc unless Tier 3 site is for convenience to break up a long drive.
BEST: A mix of Tier 1 & 2 sites & perhaps, the occasional unique off-the-beaten-path site or activity when feasible at guide’s discretion. If ‘"free-time"’ afternoons and evenings, then either Tour company's Optional Tours OR self-guide walking tour & a local dining.
Site & Experience Classification
A. INTRO/General: Large Bus Tour packages allow a tourist of limited time, minimal travel confidence, and varied budget levels to EASILY book a life-fulfilling travel experience allowing you to visit the sights & experiences that interest you most without the intense pre-trip research & planning: bus schedules, restaurants & lodging I must do as a solo independent traveler..
Intense Tour package competition creates a near-infinite mix of Tier 1 & Tier 2 sites & experiences appealing to the broadest range of tourist goals, available time & budget.
Your challenge is to find ‘the’ tour that fulfills all or most of your expectations within your budget.
Serious Note: The more you understand my 27 Tour Factors the better your tour package choice & ultimate enjoyment.
B. Caliber of tourist sites: 1st Tier, 2nd Tier & 3rd tier: FYI: Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower
Beijing, China’s Forbidden City….
Bali's beaches & culture
Peru’s Machu Picchu
ANECDOTE: Mach Picchu, Peru (aka "Lost City of the Incas”): After a 1½ hr long train ride from Ollantaytambo to tiny Aguas Calientes village far below Machu Picchu & an evening walkabout, ... early next morning I rode up through the morning fog a 20 min bus ride up the steep switch-backed road to the site.
Then, from the ticket office a moderate walk up into the site. There, on a high plateau above with the Caretaker’s Hut to your right, I gazed over Machu Picchu ruins spread out before me backdropped by iconic Huayna Picchu mountain.
I made several self-guided walking tours videoing the entire complex AND hikes to the original entrance, the Inca Bridge, and up Huayna Picchu mountain.
Tier 2: Tier 2 sights & activities lack global prestige, but are significant sites in their regions
or country and tend to be either:
a. less popular or well-known:
1) Belize’s Lamanai Archaeological Reserve
2) Italy's, Herculaneum, buried with Pompei ➡︎➡︎➡︎
b. difficult access & parking for a large bus:
1) China’s Lijiashan stone-carved village
2) Indonesia, Komodo Island: no bus parking.😀
c. too far off-the-beaten-track:
1) Mara, Peru’s Inca salt pans: historical
2) Lithuania's Kėdainiai preserved Old Town:
d. too esoteric an interest:
1) Edinburgh’s Penis Museum (Really? Really!!! 😀)
2) Checz Republic's, Prague's "John Lennon's Wall of graffiti tribute
e. Physically demanding:
1) China’s Huà Shān Sacred Mountain:
2) China's Leaping Tiger Gorge hike:
Tier 3: ... is my ‘city dump’ category which includes all other sights & activities NOT in Tier 1 or Tier 2. They are by my definition uninteresting & unimportant to most travelers whose travel time & money is not to be wasted. Some tour operators may use Tier 3 sites as 1) ‘filler sites’, 2) ‘fill-in’ awkward schedule gaps or, 3) to break up a long city-to-city bus ride.
Additional PROs/CONs:
PROs: May allow guide’s discretion to go-off-itinerary to unique sights, particularly if ‘running ahead of schedule’ or unforeseen Tier 1 or 2 access issues. (A good & often novel thing!)
CONs: Dishonest & duplicitous tour companies may:
a) offer just a few Tier 1 & 2 sites, then, ‘pad, fill or puff’ your itinerary with too many Tier 3 sites, activities, & ‘shop steering’ visits. shop-steering
b) may schedule too much 'free-time’ hoping you will opt-in to their overpriced Optional Tier 1 or 2 Excursions which you can easily book less expensively yourself.
c) use hidden tactics you won’t notice when you research & book their package: sub-standard lodgings & dubious meals
Anecdote: On my only cruise, St. Petersburg, Russia we were served en masse a suppossedly an authentic fish lunch. It was so terriblle that I estimated less than 5% of us ate it, ... if that. Cruise company and guests scammed??? [close]
19. Local Culture: Large tour buses are a ‘tight people-bubble’ racing through a culture experiencing little deep engagement with local people or their culture except contact with their tourist-acclimated hotel staff etc.
Level 2
The Local Culture
If at all, Large Bus Tour operators tend to create contrived, faux, sanitized, Americanized, faux ‘authentic’ restaurants, home & village visits which may be the ‘only ‘ taste Large Bus Tour tourists will actually get unless they opt for ‘free (free time) times’ self-guided walking tours thru local communities, restaurants & non-tourist stores. free time
OTOH, small tours with greater accessibility & relaxed schedules may offer truly authentic visits to a family home or farm too small for large groups.
ANECDOTE: Nawalgarh, India’s small farm visit: After a full day of visiting the painted havelies (residences) of ancient Silk Road merchants in small Indian towns riding behind my motorcycle guide, we visited a small family farm for an hour or so. A truly authentic local culture.
20. Sensible Itinerary: BEST: “Goldilocks” Rule: not too many nor too few; but just the right # of countries, cities, sites etc.”
Beware of:
a) wanting too many countries/sights, too fast
b) the bragging rights temptation.
c) Balance of sights and activities.
d) 'Free-Time'. (SEE #21 immediately below this #20 )
What is a "Sensible Itinerary?"
a) Too much, too fast: If you try to ‘pack’ too many sights & activities into too short a tour you are demanding a low-quality experience. More, is often dramatically less.
Example: 5 countries in 6 days is:
1) too much bus time traveling
2) site visits & activities are too brief & rushed
3) hours spent busing means less time at fewer
sites,
4) you WILL probably be worn out …. remembering
& enjoying very little; hating foreign travel experience &
destroying one of your life’s great passions.
ANECDOTE: my friend Marylyn’s Spain trip: Marylyn joined a Spain trip planned & executed by an in-law covering too much, too fast without her input by plane & rented car in a country with a superb train & bus system. Inefficient schedules of Tier 1 thru Tier 3 sites with out her input resulting in ... much wasted time, group conflict & dissatisfaction crushing Marylyn's desire for any future travel.
b) Foolish bragging rights: Some travelers foolishly travel so they can return home and brag about the number of countries, cities or sites visited …. to friends who not only don’t care, but may be put-off by your self-importance & bored by your endless photos.
If this braggadocio is your primary reason to travel, save your money, and stay home and watch YouTube travel videos (https://www.youtube.com/@scottsolotravels.
Anecdote: My friend's reaction to my trip on my return: Each time I returned from a foreign trip my BEST friends would, without my prompt, ask, “How was your trip?” I would respond simply, “Great trip", and that was the extent of their curiosity. Seldom, further questions.
I suppose I expected to be welcomed back as the great adventurer. At first, I was annoyed & mystified until I accepted the reality that others have no duty to be enthused with my travels, and may in fact, be annoyed with their own lack of foreign travel initiative.
c) Balance of sights and activities. A good tour will take you to both historic sights and places of contemporary interest, to both natural places (or at least outdoor areas), museums AND provide some "free-time".
d) ‘’Free-Time”: is the “hidden gold mine” that maximizes your package tour’s goals & memories. [jlk: free time]
21: "free-time": is when your tour itinerary purposely has nothing officially planned during morning, afternoon or evening segments ... that is your “free-time” to do as you wish.
Level 2: Generally
Level 3: How to determine a tour’s available free time
Level 2: How Pros design ‘free-time’ packages?
Level 2: How to Research/Plan your four ‘free-time’s Options'
Level 3: Peer-to-peer Option
Level 2: B. How to choose your ideal “free time” Local Tours:
-- My simple 6-step process
Free-time
These afternoons & evenings of ”free-time" are, IMO, a traveler’s greatest, un-discovered “gold mine” hidden in plain sight.
“Free-time’ offers you a taste of the “independent travelers’ most freedom-driven, flexible & fulfilling form of travel because you can be fully in control of your travel experience.
This ‘"free-time"’ offers guests 4 main opportunities: jlk. ???
1 personal rest & relaxation,
2 BBTour Optional Excursions,
3. guest self-booked ‘"free-time"’ local tours.
4. OR, guest-designed self-guided walking tours.
So, "free-time" is an “free independent travel” option hidden inside your tour package giving you the best of both worlds.
B. Is ‘"free-time"’ a rip off or gift?
Some guests argue that when touring companies schedule ‘"free-time"’, guests are not getting the full measure of professionally curated & guided sights & activities that they paid for & are entitled to. IOW they are being short-changed and their valuable travel time is being wasted.
—- that opinion might be a little short-sighted
It is true that ‘open’ or 'free-time' afternoons & evenings DO reduce the tour company’s food, guide or transportation costs AND may or may not increase their profits because:
1) it keeps their advertised tour package cost lower,
2) helps compensate for inflationary cost increases,
3) attracts ‘price’ shopping customers,
4) probably reduces guides' workload.
Your most fundamental Large Bus Tour benefits
First, A fully professionally researched & designed, planned & scheduled tour of sites, activities & logistics (ground transportation, food, lodging, sights & activities.) INCLUDING ‘free-time’ for your personal flexible use. They have already done the heavy lifting. You just show up on time.
Second, “free-time’s” occasional mornings, afternoons, evenings & pairs of both 'officially unscheduled' let you create your own self-tailored min-travel experiences within your main tour. How cool is that?
Anecdote: My 1st day in Prague: After settling into my hostel, I began my self-guided 
walking exploration of Prague’s Old Town area, strolled the riverside to early dinner at a local restaurant, then spent the evening loitering around Prague’s River’s famous Charles Bridge and the off- the beaten path at John Lennon graffiti ‘homage’ Wall.
[yt vid]
IMO, the wise traveler should view ‘"free-time"’ as a double-edged sword recognizing that it benefits the tour company, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, it equally benefits the traveler because:
1. jam-packed ‘jumping jack’ trips constantly drain your energy,
2. ‘"free-time"’ for relaxation or optional opportunities for personal exploration of local off-tour sites or activities (La Scala opera performance or a cooking class),
3. freedom to craft your own “special’ self-guided walking tour experience,
CAUTION: Unethical tour operators sometimes ‘pad’ or fill afternoons & evenings with sub-par Tier 3 ‘filler’ sites not worthwhile to most.
So , if you think of 'free-time' as a rip off or as ‘dead time’,
consider changing your attitude & perspective and exciting new opportunities blossom.
Let me show you how to 'prize' & open this Easter Egg.
Note: Please remember I don’t get benefits from tour companies.
I only write for you.
C. How to determine your Tour’s Available ‘"free-time"’ segments:
a) Check Bus Tour's itinerary for ‘free-time’ segments: mornings (rare), afternoons & evenings AND particularly,
pairs of both..
b) Know BEFORE you book. Ask tour company for a written itinerary with published ‘free-time’ segments.
Dig Deeper: How to determine a tour’s available ‘free-time.
Level 3
How to determine a tour’s available ‘free-time?
Let’s explore available 'free-time' in one of Rick Steve’s older tour packages: RS Italy (Venice, Florence & Rome) 10 day (2023)”: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome
Side Note: After my ~20 yrs of Rick Steve’s Travel Guide’s experience, I have great respect for his organization’s integrity and Mission.
Anecdote: Traveling around France one summer: my taxi cab driver advised that he had driven Rick somewhere a few weeks earlier. Later at a hostel, I was told the same thing by the owner.
This was SOLID PROOF that Rick at that time, personally, lived up to his boast that, “Rick Steve's guidebooks are updated yearly.” Ironically, on that same trip, I walked to a Lonely Planet listed hostel only to discover it had been closed for 3 or 4 years.
I chose this Rick Steves' tour example because his tours tend to be:
1) small to medium size,
2) guest-focused,
3) generally higher quality,
4) trends older (late 40s+), and
5) considerate of fitness parameters for older guests.
I presumed Rick Steves' had taken into account a tour’s required walking distance, relaxation times, and guest’s desire to explore on their own.
The goal of this quick & dirty, horseback analysis is to teach you how to calculate your available mornings, afternoons & evening 'free-time' segments so you can fully exploit them.
For example, on your arrival day I have only counted the night segment as part of the actual tour, which may often include orientation, dinner and a walkabout tour. AND the last day not counted at all because it may primarily your departure day.
While many days may begin with a most justifiable ‘old or historic town walkabout to quickly give you a sense of the old town or historical context, I also wanted a sense of specific site & activity’s allotted times.
1. Ruff analysis of Rick Steves Tours: “Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour (2023)”:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome
Ruff analysis of official tour time segments vs 'free-time': by morning (m), afternoon (a), and evening (e) time segments which I will call Tour Units*
2. Synopsis of Ruff Itinerary:
Rick Steves Tours: Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome
Dig Deeper: How tour companies design ‘free-time’ packages?
Level 2:
D. How pros design ‘free-time’ packages?
Why should you care?
Your most fundamental benefit of a package tour is that the terribly time-consuming design, research, planning & logistics to create a safe & time/cost efficient tour package at a reasonable cost has already been done for you by travel professionals. You just book your trip and show up at the appointed time & place.
Anecdote: Itinerary creation: I know, because I have done it many times. As a solo, independent traveler, I have spent months researching & planning 2-3 month long trip itineraries for 1-4 countries at a time, many cities, and hundreds of sites & activities and all logistics. [pplk: DOC] [pplk: Resources: DOCs > itineraries]
I easily invested 6 hrs of planning for every day of travel, IOWs, 540 hours (90 days @ 6hr/day).1 mo Research & Planning for every month traveled.
Each tour package reflects the tour designer’s balance between logistics & site touring costs and profit. By design that cost/profit balance includes some ‘free-time’ afternoons & evenings.
So, ….again, …Why would you care? You might care because understanding a Tour Designer’s competing objectives will allow you to design your own simplified & effective 'free-time' itinerary.
How Tour Company’s Design Tour Packages
1. Design the tour’s parameters: So, once a trip designer has defined a tour’s characteristics: 
size, sight locations, guest age & mobility, they then must consider the following factors:
a. Package Itinerary:
(a) jam-packed with site visits & activities or
(b) prudent mix of sites & activities & 'free-time' segments.
b. Package sites & activities vs 'free-time':
1) a ’busy major sites only, or
2) a major Tier 1 site plus a relaxed Tier 2 site versus, or
3) a mix of sites & activities, or
4) just specific activities (cooking, fishing, genealogy).
c. Pace: comfortable speed with relaxed guide conversations vs rushed with constant canned guide’s commentary, little question /answer. [YTclip. Albania fort tour clip]
d. Dining & hotel quality: high vs medium vs large box; welcoming vs chilly.
e. Optional Excursions: highly curated for safety, skilled guide & variety of sites & activities
f. Transport: interesting & scenic routes vs fast & direct between cities/sites
2. Research & Test the Tour Package’s Design. Once the ideal package tour is roughly designed it must be thoroughly researched & tested on the road, so to speak. Transport routes, schedules & accessible site parking, restaurants tested for quality of ambiance & food, hotels reconnoitered for bus & luggage accessibility & amenities, and guide’s professionalism…. so your tour’s execution is smooth and professional.
Anecdote: St. Petersburg ‘cruise’ restaurant: On Shore Excursion’s restaurant served a horrible fish dish. Vast majority of 60 guests left it untouched. Cruise company should have vetted Shore Excursion restaurant better. I would never trust either again.
Also, each newly designed tour must compete with the company’s other tours AND more importantly, with the hundreds of other companies' tour offerings. An extremely complex task.
[close] E. How to research & plan YOUR "free-time" segments?
There are 4 main “free-time" opportunities:
1. Personal rest & relaxation,
2. BBTour Optional tours,
3. Guest booked Local Excursions
4. OR, self-guided walking tour.
Dig deeper: How you can research & plan YOUR "free-time"
Level 2
How to Plan your 4 ‘free-time’s Options
1. Personal Rest & Relaxation’s Time: Hour after hour of on/off bus & site walkabouts can be exhausting to some guests who may seek the solitude & relaxation of a ‘quiet corner’ or a stroll a nearby town’s parks.
How to find & choose your most desired Tier 1 & 2 sites & experiences [jlk: to ??? ]
2. Large Bus Tour Optional Excursions: It is near impossible for a Large Bus Tour package company to economically satisfy all 30 to 60 clients with a truly intimate & complete cultural experience.
So, Large Bus Tour packages often offer a variety of extra cost curated Optional Tours during '"free-time"' afternoons & evenings to enrich their overall tour experience
- Argentina’s Buenos Aires flamenco dancing,
- London’s Thames waterfront evening cruise & dinner.
This strategy ensures a tour company’s;
a) minimum required profit & perhaps a bit more,
b) overall Tour package cost reduction and
c) REDUCES your tour price. They are a for-profit business,
after all. 😀
Often, however, these Optional Tours are overpriced presumably because the tour designer believes guests will opt for tour's easy booking option, BUT you may just as easily book by yourself over the Internet. Please read further below jlk ???
How to choose a Tour company’s Tour.
a. There are online companies allied with local Tour companies that may offer a greater variety of Local Excursions & lower prices not offered by your tour operator. Ironically, they may be the same & at a lower price’.
b. Pre-trip Online search makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking with your Tour Operator & perhaps for less money.
c. Locals provide all necessary transport, meals when necessary, & maybe site entry fees. Enquire & confirm before booking.
3. Guest’s Self-Booked Local Excursions (during 'free time').. [jlk: "free-time"]. Guest-designed ‘"free-time"’ opportunities can be the most rewarding, fulfilling & exciting Large Bus Tour experiences because YOU decide what Local Excursions appeal to you.
ANECDOTE: Tallinn, Estonia’s capital… has several impressive historical sites & museums: Tallinn City Wall; Freedom Square, Estonia Maritime Museum, & on the far outskirts, Sagadi Manor, & Estonian Open Air Museum. All easily done on a tour or more flexibly on your own. I spent many days wandering these sights and the entire city, avoiding the cruise ship crowds during middle day.
Each city or town’s that a Large Bus Tour stops at overnight probably has a range of Local Excursions available to nearby Tier 1 & 2 site tours & unique local activities. Often these local excursions are the same tours as your Large Bus Tour company offers, but at significantly lower prices because they have to compete with your tour company.
The irony is that with simple research & planning AND sufficient time, you can book your own local Optional Tours for your “free-time” segments. Kinda your own “tour within a tour.” Pretty cool, eh?
Your primary challenge is to research what Excursions you want and book them to fit your Large Bus Tour’s '"free-time"' schedule opportunities.
A. FACTORs for Guest Booked Local Excursions
1. Greater Variety of Sites/Experiences: Often a larger, broader, less costly variety of all Local Tour options including same ones your Tour company offers.
a. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist sites & experiences
b. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)
c. Esoteric interests: more narrow interest options than most guests desire: Edinburgh Penis Museum) ignored by biggies. 
2. Pre-trip Online Research: …. almost as easy & convenient as booking with same tour with Tour Operator uses.
3. Lower Local price: may be less because they know they have to compete with your Tour company; the tour itself may even be the same tour as your company offers.
So, … consider changing your attitude towards ‘"free-time"’
& exciting opportunities may appear!
Note: OTOH, to be fair & honest, a local could be ‘similar’, but food, guides & itinerary might be sub-standard.
4. Local Guides: You may hire local guides for large & complex sites or to visit multiple sites quicky because local folks-turned-guides & local tour companies can be highly motivated & respected experts on their local turf because they have ‘lived’ everything local — sites, history, culture, local stories.
Local guides can offer specific & unique Itineraries or will craft one for you. Local guides are a great source of local ‘"free-time"’ options: authentic restaurants and solving minor issues: “I need to replace my lost hat?” May also be the same guide as LBT’s Tours use.
a. Private Site guides: If official, a popular site may have a formal queue like airport taxis queues. All take the next guide in line.
b. Informal Local Site Guides: or, you may have to choose from a gaggle of pushy local guides clustered desperately around the site’s entry.
c. Private Guides: search guides who advertise their experience & expertise on the Internet giving them the credibility of past client reviews. Online scheduling & booking is usually simple.
d. Informal Local Guides:
Anecdotee: Albania’s _____ original residential fortress area’s occupant/guide)
CAUTION: Confirm NO Shop Steering. May just waste your time & money.
5. Booking Tips: book through reputable(?) local companies or use independent booking platforms which may offer both quality, safety & savings:
World Wide Booking Platforms
(Note: only 15 min of online research & from my personal experience.)
a. Get Your Guide: mostly positive …
b. Tours by Locals: mostly positive but for full group prepay
requirement; “… think Viator, but a lot better run…”, with
both clients & guide support, & dispute resolution service
that works. Guides curated before being listed.
c. Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor related): AVOID,
apparently unreliable & overpriced.
TIP: read a page or 2 of these organizations reviews on,
BUT NOT on their site. CAUTION: Confirm NO
Shop Steering; just wastes time often.
6. Local Cultural experience: Local guides can often slip in authentic experience into your tour if time allows.
Anecdote: Inle Lake, Myanmar boat hire: I hired a guide & his roostertail boat to show me Inle Lake's small island communities & local 'floating' culture. Spontaneously he took me to his family's 'floating home' for coffee & to meet his family. YT Myan: Inle Lk
Anecdote: Mandawa, India's 'painted havelis': My motorcycle taxi guide gained special access to several authentic original 'painted' havelis (homes) currently occupied by caretaker families. And then went on a self-guided walking tour of many other Havelis. An intimate look at the lifestyles of former super wealthy great Silk Road trade merchants.
7. Safety & Security: omes) Safer, more secure access to dicey sights/activities.
Anecdote: St. Petersberg gypsy assault: A goups of 8 of us were gathered outsaide Catherine's Palace awaiting entry when we were surrounded by a pack og gypsies trying to steal anything. I immedaiately warnind everyone. On man touched me and I instantly karate, chopped his hand away. They soon backed off.
8. Group Size: Tier 1 & 2 site’s are very often overrun by large tours between 10am & 3pm. Avoid some hassle by purposely booking a small tour or private guide with:
a. VIP or private access tickets,
b. ability to maneuver nimbly,
c. a silent/private Tour Guide Audio System.
d. …. or once at your hotel for night, immediately grab a
Uber & get to top Tier 1 on your own before others.
9. VIP Site Access: Local Tours have arranged VIP access:
India’s Mandawa painted havelis interior access.
Anecdote: Varanasi: boat ride hustler & fee for wat gazing
11. Dining: included if necessary (e.g.: lunch on 6 hr excursion)
12. Peer-to-peer local private host & guide: Peer-to-peer is a relatively new option rapidly growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experiential’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations,
Peer-to-peer Deep Dive
Tens of thousands of private hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities, local hosts and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. English for Brits, Americans, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.
Private hosts’ unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities offered directly to passion-driven traveler’s at an affordable cost, but focused on off-the-beaten-path experiences: actual local events, family dinners, etc..
Typical peer to peer 3rd party operators:
a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com.
b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch
c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private Cruises
& activities led by 900 local hosts in dozens of international
cities.
d. Tours by Locals: Slowlife Family Farm: Cooking Experience: https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/italy/siracusa/tour-details/slowlife-family-farm-cooking-experience-664d242717832fdc0dbb5afd
B. How to choose your ideal “free time” Local Tours: Your locally booked “free time” tours should include your most desired sites and experiences available in each town you stay in overnight.
I chose many of my travel sites from a lifetime of education, public media, reading, videos, & even the news. Each tiny bit of interesting travel site or activity info was what I now call ‘Travel Buds’.
Like tiny rose buds, these near-infinite numbered ‘Travel Buds’ were potential travel ideas lying asleep in my mind ‘under the snow’ waiting for me to turn them into Spring’s travel targets. Same is true for you!
You only have to resurrect your Travel Buds to make your self-booked local Tours travels a “rich experience’ rather than a mere day-dream fantasy”? This ‘resurrection’ can be an exciting personal research adventure in itself.My simple 6-step process
Synopsis: My simple 6-step process should be useful:
(1) Create a List Form, with 2 columns (town & sites/activities)
(2) list all towns where your tour overnights that has ‘free-time
segments
(3) List all your Tour’s officially scheduled site/activities to avoid
duplication
(4) discover & list all your Travel Buds,
(5) Prioritize all sites/activities by town &/or ‘free-time’ segment,
(6) Tailor prioritized sites/activities to ‘free-time’ segments.
This process may seem simplistic, but it works.
1. List Form: Create a simple Site/Experience List form, written or computer, with 2 columns for towns/cities your tour visits.
2. List all towns where your tour lodges that have ‘"free-time"’ morning, afternoon or evening segments, particularly afternoon & evening pairs.
CAUTION: confirm 'free-time' units with Tour …. before booking.
3. List all Tour’s official scheduled sites & activities to avoid duplication.
4. Discover & list your Travel Buds for each overnight town or city for which you have a 'free time' segment.
a. Search your mind for your Travel Buds: Throughout our lives, each of us has been exposed to Travel Buds: — those places & experiences that we have always dreamed of seeing. Once you begin to look for them, you’ll discover Travel Buds fill your mind. [pplk; Resources: “Future Travel” document ] [pplk: Future Travel list].
Anecdote: some of my Travel Buds:
Audrey Hepburn’s “Two for the Road’ romantic European travel fantasy movie,
Russel Crowe’s “Gladiator’s Coliseum; my Rome visits.
Brad Pitt’s “Seven Years in Tibet.”; triggered 3 months in China .
Art History class: exposed Athen’s Pantheon’s intentional optical illusion of slightly bowed steps & bulging columns.
Historical Anecdote: In 1897, the original dirt-poor Alaska Klondike miners: .... dragged heavily loaded 'Sacks of Gold' worth millions today off the Excelsior steamboat onto San Francisco’s pier. What valued travel nuggets will you return home with? PIK miners
StockCake* https://stockcake.com/i/gold-panning-miners_468231_735279
b. Online search your ‘free-time’ towns, for all tourist sights & experiences that you didn’t know about ….that may excite you enough to add to your list.
c. Watch TV or Netflix travel shows for more Travel Buds
- Rick Steves' Europe: several steaming sources
- Public Television: streaming episodes on Rick Steves' website, through PBS's platforms, & Amazon Prime Video.
- YouTube: official YouTube channel: clips, full episodes, travel tips, & behind-scenes stuff
- “50 of the Best Travel-ish Shows to Watch ….”: https://www.going.com/guides/best-travel-shows
d) Explore Travel blogs in search of Travel Buds. (Don’t search “Travel websites” yet because most are Cruise company adverts)
“FeedSpot”: ”100 Best Travel Blogs To Read”:
https://travel.feedspot.com/travel_blogs/
As you build your list of Travel Buds, some country, region or city sites & activities will truly speak to your interest. It will happen. Trust me.
5. Prioritize & curate ALL your Travel Buds; of most desired sights & activities. TIP: I use a different color circled numbers to left of items.
Examples:
Tier 1: (1) Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, (2) Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps.
Tier 2: Baths of Caracalla, Trastevere neighborhood, Galleria Borghese museum, (3) Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio,
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, and so on.
6. Tailor prioritized Travel Buds within each “free-time” segment you have. Map out a hypothetical route from one site to the next estimating both travel time & on-site time (just like your tour company does)
Example:
- Afternoon Segment (1pm > 5pm): site-linked self-guided walking tour.
CAUTION: Double-check the Tour Schedule so you are not late for next ‘Scheduled’ Tour activity. UNLESS you choose to skip. Your trip remember! 😀…
- Evening Segment: (5pm > ?): maybe dinner & a river cruise (London)
- Afternoon & Evening Pair: return to hotel when you like. NO worries except tomorrow's early & busy day. 😀
All this planning you can do BEFORE you leave home magnifying your anticipation & excitment
[close]
22. Tailored Specialty Large Bus Tours: Themed, Luxury & Boutique Tours, Adventure & Expedition, Age or Lifestyle, and Educational & Cultural Tours:
Tailored Specialty Large Bus Tours
Specialty tours are small almost by definition although nature & educational tours might be larger. Many companies offer or can arrange …. specialty group activities or focus tours.
A. Relationship tours:
1. Family, Siblings, Friends-Only:.re-new old flames, heal old hurts & share
new stories.
2. Adults only: avoids family/kid mayhem TO enjoy “adults-only” activities.
3. All-women / All-men: Girlie things vs guy stuff.
NOTE: NOT intended for European style “I’m free!” raucous bachelorettes or bachelor bacchanals which many hostels outlaw.
4. Wedding: I am a bachelor, so, haven’t a clue.?😀
B. Sports & Adventure Tours: Any athletic activity you can imagine or design! 
Medium fitness to high intensity athletic ‘extreme sports’: road cycling & rugged mt bike trails, highly skilled white water river kayaking, camping & rugged, long-distance trekking, & mountaineering.
C. Activity Specialty: Hobbies & Interests: art & architecture, cooking, music, history, science, birding. Artisans of Leisure: https://www.artisansofleisure.com/tour/Arts_tours_luxury_travel.html),
D. Earth’s Nature & sustainability/environmentalism: Such tours include Wildlife Conservation Adventures, Eco-Friendly Wilderness Exploration, Cultural and Community Engagement, Climate Action and Carbon-Neutral Travel, Regenerative Nature Retreats, & Educational Eco-Tourism 
National Geographic tours & Rick Steves’:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/eco-friendly-travel-europe
E. Volunteering: Some tour operators promote volunteer experiences & pro-active sustainability travel (eco lodgings, etc) all over the world.
Some Volunteer opportunities are for a few days or weeks to months. Curiously, some often charge a weekly fee; $180 > 3000/week or you work for basics: food, tools, experiences. Huh??? Go figure.
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): https://www.volunteerhq.org/destinations/
F. Specialty or Narrow Focus: Japan’s “Cherry Blossoms” tours: , 
Religious, Shopping, Gstronomic (food), Genealogy, Christmas Markets Getting-Back-To-Your-Roots.
Trafalgra Tours: Japan’s “Cherry Blossoms” tours,
Vivator: Top Europe Ghost Tours:https://www.viator.com/Europe-tours/Ghost-&-Vampire-Tours/d6-g4-c118
G. Curious, esoteric, contrived, silly Trips:
1. Single, Yet Ready-To-Mingle Trip: Huh?
2. Do-Nothing-At-All Trip: go to Motel 6 & watch TV; save money & hassle
Travel Triangle: “15 Types Of Trips For Those Who Believe
Change Is Only Constant In Life!”
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/types-of-trips/
[plpk: sub-pil” xyz Kinds of (B): Tailored Specialty Tours]
[pplk: SIT Expanderr Tour Factors]
H. Peer-to-Peer ...local private host & guide. A relatively new peer-to-peer local private host & guide option is growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experience’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations,
Tens of thousands of hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities; local hosts and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. 
English for Brits, Americans, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.
Private host’s unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities tours offered directly to passion-driven travelers at an affordable cost, but focused on off-the-beaten-path experiences: actual local events, family dinners, etc. sites & activities.
a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com
b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch
c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private tours & activities led by 900 local hosts in dozens of international cities.
NOTE: Lodging may or may not be included, but Airbnb Experiences, Vrbo etc. lodging sites can easily sync to coincide with peer-to-peer tours.
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23. Tour Company Reputation: BEST: Online reviews that are NOT curated by a tour company or a site that benefits from tour company advertising: e.g. TripAdvisor etc. .
How do you know a Company's Reputation?
Possible Good Sources:
Social Media Presence: Company's profile’s user posts on ‘X’ & AI, Instagram, et al;
Independent Forums: for consumer facing businesses', but beware of those forums that rely on
businesses subscription fees.
Travel Blogs: Beware of travel blogs whose income is dependent on advertising & sponsorship.
If you directly contact a tour company, consider their personality,
inquiries or complaint responsiveness, & general sentiment of posts. (Trustpilot & Sitejabber: Often provide feedback.)
Remember, IMO, most, if not all, companies will try to manage their reputations: some by direct manipulation (Disney), some by extortion (Disney). Be cautiously wise. Look for evidence of at least a few Good & Bad reviews each to suggest impartiality. Seldom is any company perceived as perfect.
Anecdote: Disney’s attempt to ‘bend’ (extort) X (former Twitter) to it’s will. An attempt openly & boldly thwarted by Elon’s public, “F… You, Bill" referring directly to Disney CEO, William Eisner who was sitting in the audience.
Direct Communication: Contact tour company directly with all questions. Evaluate their natural spontaneity, willingness to provide detailed information, and credibility of their response. If suspect it is a 'customer service call-center' be suspicious.
TIP: Your digging too deeper at this early stage may be a Rabbit Hole of diminishing returns. Not worth your effort until & unless a specific Tour seems suspicious.
24. Price & extras: BEST: The Tour price you are willing to pay should reflect:
1) the availability of your desired sites & activities, quality & comfort level, & amenities you are willing
to pay for,
2) your willingness to pay upfront or as sites arise while touring, &
3) of course, your wise evaluation of my various 27 Tour Factors that you have just read thru.
Three (3) tour price classifications: 1. Inclusive (all inclusive), 2. Partial Inclusive,
and 3. All Exclusive.
Key Question: “What is included in the price?”
Only you can value a tour's quality level; only you know how much you are willing to pay.
Deep Dive Discussion of '3 Price Levels'
Again, your ONLY guarantee of tour quality vs cost is the thoroughness of your understanding & evaluation of the 27 Tour Factors I have offered you.
Only you can value a tour's quality level; only you know how much you are willing to pay.
Your human brain superbly amasses this kind of info and reduces it down to a simple decision.
So trust in yourself.
Usually, as in most purchases, the higher the cost, the greater the quality, but CAUTION, sometimes lower price merely disguises lower quality. Beware!
A. Quick Look: (Please read closely because terms are subtly confusing)
1. Inclusive (all inclusive): Covers most or all expenses; offers simplicity & convenience, but little ‘free time’ flexibility.
2. Partial Inclusive: Some expenses, but not all covered so guest must control their budget AND do their own ‘free time’ planning
3. All Exclusive (All-Inclusive): Basics covered is included for a completely worry-free trip, but with higher costs and less flexibility & choice.
B. A Deeper Look:
1. “Inclusive (All-inclusive)” (both mean the same)
Definition: These tours cover almost all expenses at a single price for a worry-free trip
CAUTION: Usually, as in most purchases, the higher the cost, the greater the quality, but,
sometimes lower price merely disguises lower quality.
BEST deal: if you eat, drink, & participate a lot.
PROs:
1. Price: Single upfront price. ‘Good deal’, if take full use. No ‘final surprise bill'!
2. Price/Quality Options: Many deeply curated levels of quality & price.
a. Carol Walton’s Expedition flies high-rollers between African safari sites.
b. Some specialty tours (not Carol’s) can cost $100, 000.
3. Research, planning & logistics: done for you.
4. Transportation: included, maybe transfers to/from airports
5. Lodging: Included
6. Meals: often all meals, maybe snacks beverages & alcohol)
8. Activities: included a wide range of activities, excursions, or fun.
9. All planning: …. site, activity & logistics done for you.
10. Extras: maybe includes; tips, hotel & local taxes, service charges,
to/from airport, transfers, food, snacks, alcohol (premium brands, 24/7);
wifi & cell on bus, hotel taxes,
11. Non-tour expenses: maybe Local Entry & Departure Tax
(Costa Rica, cash only), on-arrival visas, Currency exchange & ATM Fees.
12. Worry-free: because rigid, but comprehensive.
13. Predictable cost budgeting: all costs known upfront & included.
14. Less cash to carry: supposedly because initial price covers all, but …..
TIP: Be wise. Always carry cash or cc/dc; you just never know.
CONs:
1. Near-zero flexibility: rigid site/activities/meal schedules, & little ‘free time’.
2. Less value for $: if you don't use all the included services.
2. Partially Inclusive:
Definition: Includes some, but not all, expenses in a single package price.
It Is the middle ground between ‘inclusive (all inclusive)’ & ‘exclusive’ tours including some, but not all expenses in the package price. but, most importantly, probably some 'free-time' opportunities.
So guest must control their budget AND do their own ‘"free-time"’ planning.
PROs:
1. Price: low initial cost, but often budget-busting add-ons; must-budget extras.
2. Better Value for Money: particularly if you highly value “Free Time” options.
3. Flexible: some “free time” options: local walkabout, meals, local Excursions.
4. Transportation: maybe to/from airport transfers.
6. Lodging: for specified tour nights
7. Meals: Varies: some or none. You must ask in advance.
8. Activities: a few Tier 1 & 2 sites, but maybe not free optional activities.
9. Guides: guided tours for the entire tour.
10. Entry fees: included for some attractions/activities, but not all.
11. ’Free time’ options: some afternoons & evenings.
Rick Steves Tours seems to go out of their way to ensure you have all the pre-booking info you need. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/comparing-tours
CONs:
1. ‘Free time’ opportunities: require fun pre-trip planning, & booking.
2. Extra ‘free-time’ budgeting: excursions, restaurants, Uber etc.
3. Flights: often not included, unless specified: “air-inclusive"
4. Meals: most not covered, but varies. Please ask.
5. Personal Expenses: Not covered: souvenirs, alcohol, tips, bottled water.
6. Optional Excursions: NOT covered, often overpriced; may book locally.
7. Contract & Promo’s Fine Print: Read to avoid surprises & dissatisfaction.
8. Travel Insurance: I always bought.
3. Exclusive: usually ONLY includes basic published tour features most basic, least expensive initial cost with largest % of 'free-time'
(Not to be confused with ‘all-inclusive')
CAUTION: Term "exclusive" often duplicitously used to suggest ‘exclusivity’ i.e high quality, but not necessarily so.
PROS:
1. BEST: plentiful "free-time" for self-guided walkabout options: local's
restaurants, intimate neighborhood walkabouts
2. Cost: least costly, …. if you avoid costly add-on services, etc.
3. Tour Published Basics ONLY: lodging, meals, sites/activities
4. Transportation: unlikely to/from airport transfers
5. Food & Lodging: minimal basics
8. Attraction Entry Fees: yes, for most package-specific attractions
9. Perks: limited, if any: snacks, beverages.
10. Internet ‘"free-time"’ research & planning: “Believe it or not …”,
can be exciting [pplk’ 3 trips in one’ idea].
11. Budget ‘"free-time"’ additional costs, if any: local excursions, dinners. etc.
NOTE: Your self-guided walking tours are free & worthwhile. [jlk "free-time']
CONs:
1. Cost: may exceed budget, if too many add-on services. Restraint. 🥴
2. "free-time"’s options: may add cost, unless budgeted beforehand.
3. Attraction Entry Fees: for some package attractions. Ask?
4. Hidden extra expenses: know what is not included. Ask !!!
5. Optional’ excursions: not covered, often overpriced
6. Food & Drink: usually NOT covered: alcohol,
7. Lodging services: not included; usually expensive: laundry, pressing.
8. Single supplement fee: single person's extra lodging fee
9. Fine Print: ALWAYS check fine print, or ask about hidden costs.
10. Guest perks: some included, but, others are extra: tips, spa
treatments, high-end optional activities &luxury services, souvenirs.
12. Personal Expenses: extra $: snacks, alcoholic & other drinks;
alcoholic beverages: limited, if at all.
13. Flexibility: Little ‘basic package’ flexibility: rigidly designed, YET,
often more ’"free-time"’ options for solo walkabouts.
14. "free-time" is usually significant
(Rick Steve's’ Tour: 36% of morning, afternoon, night segments.
15. "free-time"’ expenses: No! Uber, food, souvenirs, excursions, tips
FYI, “Best & worst package holiday providers”: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travel-agents/article/travel-agents/best-&-worst-package-holiday-providers-agVuo5r7eV33
Rick Steves: ”Tips for Comparing European Bus Tours”: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/comparing-tours [close]
Back to Table of Contents
25. LBT Book Agreement: most publish own versions of such agreements, tailored to them, but generally the same broad themes. [plpk: sub-pil” xyz Kinds of]
LBT Booking Agreement
3. Payments & Deposits: full payment in advance or …; price changes
4. Cancellation & Refund Policy: either party(?); deadlines, fees, refunds.
5. Pricing: Cost/person/group rate
16. Privacy Policy: data use, storage, and protection
17. Special Conditions: duty to disclose: age, physical, dress codes.
19. Customer Expectations: policies: booking changes, refunds, hidden costs.
20. Service Guarantees: inherent service quality.
21. Legal Jurisdiction: in case of legal disputes.
26. Eco-friendly: The image of LBT buses is 'diesel fumes belching road hogs' which the industry argues is UNFAIR because the industry is pursuing eco-friendly initiatives as evidenced by their proudly displayed Green Globe Certification. BEWARE: Greenwashing! Dig Deeper
Bus Touring Company Eco Agendas
Large Bus Touring companies may pursue 1 or more of the following:
1. ....are significantly more fuel-efficient per passenger than individual cars or even trains by reducing overall fuel consumption & emissions e.g. a bus can be almost 7 times more efficient than a car in passenger miles/gallon terms.
2. .... produce considerably less carbon dioxide/passenger mile vs. planes or cars. e.g. studies show buses can reduce carbon footprint by almost 77.5% compared to planes for 
a greener long-distance travel option.
3. .... contribute lower noise pollution vs. multiple cars, motorcycles, or Asia's cities' skooter or tuk-tuk hordes ➡︎➡︎➢
for a more peaceful environment. Further, by reducing the number of vehicles on road, buses decrease overall road wear & tear, which indirectly reduces pollution from road maintenance activities.
4. .... many bus tour company's buses use cleaner CNG & bio-fuels & even hybrid & electric models.
5. Influx of tourist & bus company monies facilitates upgraded infrastructure: roads, waste processing, water quality, etc.
OTOH, some communities restrict LBT, to certain roads, roots, and parking areas to insulate local communities.
BEWARE: Greenwashing describes all businesses including travel businesses that fraudulently ‘pretend’ to practice ESG, but really don’t. [close]
27. “support local’: Does tour company proactively patronize local businesses (lodging, taxi service & restaurants, retail, etc) to direct your tourist dollars into local economy rather than to big or foreign businesses or worse, corrupt government (Myanmar’s Military).
ANECDOTE: Avoiding Myanmar dictatorrship: I purposely used local hostels, restaurants small grocery stores. Unfortunately, Mayanmar's corrupt dictatorial military directly or indirectly controls all 3 in-country airlines
- 4. Faiure to Appear or Late “Return to Bus: DANGER: If you miss your bus's tight schedule Departure Time, it can be very expensive to catch up to your bus. Risk: Late bus return.
Suggestion: Don’t book more than 1 day tour unless positive you have plenty of time to return to bus on time.
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Waiting Period: Tour guides or drivers may wait 5 to15 minutes, depending on 1) tight itinerary, 2) traffic conditions, etc.
-
Contact Attempt: via phone or text, via earlier provided cell phone number.earlier (mandatory emergency contact info or a mobile number.
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Search Efforts: Guide MAY check nearby areas, BUT On Time guests experience trumps late guests. .
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Decision to Depart: 1) Bus driver & guide decision based on potential itinerary disruption (reserved site entry time, a meal.
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Left-Behind Protocol: Pre-trip Warning Notice: should include operator/guide phone number.
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Catch-Up Plan: Usually instructed to rejoin group at next stop, hotel, etc. subject to provifed written itinerary with key iinfo.
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Transportation Costs: Pasenege liable for all Re-Join costs etc. Not Tour operators responsibility or liability.
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Luggage: Bus retains luggage for safety security until passeneger reunits.
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Company Policy Variations:
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smaller or luxury tours, might be more flexible, but NOT large bus tours sticking to strict schedule for benefit of majority of passengers.
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In rare cases, if habitually late, passenger gets warningt, & a last resort, removed as per terms and conditions.
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Emergency Considerations:
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If possible passenger danger (e.g., medical issue, accident, or unusual circumstances), guide may alert local authorities &/or the passenger’s emergency contact. Most uncommon.
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Always record guide's exact departure time & location announced by the.
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Set phone alarm.
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Always carrry guide & tour operator’s contact number & itinerary.
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Inform guide ASAP if possible delay (e.g., lost, etc.)
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CAUTION: Anticipate diiferent time zones, particularly if crossing European country borders.
5. Safety & Security: Safer, more secure access to dicey sights/activities.
Anecdote: Gypsies benign assault: On a Baltic Cruise, for some reason without a guide, we were standing as a group of 8 fellow travelers waiting for The Alexander Palace, in Pushkin to open when we were assaulted by a family of gypsies poking & grabbing at us. I immediately warned everyone to be CAUTIOUS. One person touched me and I intuitively karate-chopped his arm away and he backed off & the band dispersed.
6. Free Time Shore Excursion CAUTIONS: Your 1st true exposure to a foreign culture comes on your 1st in-port day’s Shore Excursions, curated by your Cruise Company for its worthwhileness, quality, safety & reliability.
Your Shore Excursions will travel safely thru the countryside or city to some famous Roman or Greek site or an authentic local cooking class, etc. Your choices are limited only by ship’s in-port hours.
a. Rushed shore excursions: Too little time for too many sites equals a tiring, rushed superficial experience AND risk of ‘late return’.
b. Distracting Guide Commentary: large, rushed tour group’s guide commentary at chaotic crowded Tier 1 sites may be boringly ‘canned’, distracts from your reflections, and may not be easily heard UNLESS Tour Earphone System is used. Small group Guides can be more intimate & flexible.
c. Crowded Tier 1 & 2 tourist sites: long entry wait times & jammed with multiple large, noisy, jostling tourist groups.
7. ’Shop-steering” visits: jlk
8. Authentic Local Culture Visits: May be your 1st true exposure to a foreign culture, but often faux, Americanized unless Shore Excursions or self-guided walking tour.
9. Local Guides: with deep site expertise: history, culture, & local stories may have greater expertise & insight. Can be highly motivated & respected experts on their local turf. Cruise operators may consistently use a tested local private guide to complement your tour guide.
10. “support local economy’: cruise ships inject massive income into ports-of-call: tourist’s local purchases, all sector job creation, port fees & taxes, good local infrastructure.
11. Eco-friendly: huge cruise ships have a great eco-impact on local areas belching diesel, polluting waters, overrunning resources, infrastructure & Tier 1 tourist sites …despite recent pro-eco agendas
BEWARE: Greenwashing: [jlk: eco-friendly)
~~. LBT free time segments: Many LBT's provide afternoon, evening & ocassionally morning free time segments that allow guests to pursue their own travel agendas including: 1) relaxation, 2) travel sites & experiences NOT already included in your LBT's itinerary.
1. Relaxation in or near your hotel: You may relish the relaxation & solitude of a ‘quiet corner’ after a busy day of jump-on/jump-off bus site visits which may be exhausting for some guests.
Some lodgings may offer diversions or you might poke around a nearby Old Town seeking a quiet cafe.
2. LBT's Optional Tours: LBT companies often provide free time segments that allow guests to further enrich their tour experience with a variety of variably priced Optional Tours, at an additional price, meticulously curated for safety, worthiness, guide experience & overall guest satisfaction.
These Optional Tours attempt to fullfill guest's special interests: cooking class, specialty museums etc. making your overall LBT more fullfilling & worthwhile. Guest reviews seem to endorse Optional Tours as the “icing on the cake of a LBT lifestyle. Dig Deeper
1st Level 2: Guide's Professional Responsibilities & Skills
2nd Level 2: LBT’s Tour FACTORS Due Diligence
3rd Level: Guide's Professional Responsibilities & Skills
LBT’s Tour FACTOR'S
A. An LBT's Due Diligence Factors: LBTs seek to to provide the most fulfilling & worthwhile tours for the price.
1. Tour Company's Optional Tours: tour operators meticulously curate their optional tours for:
a. safety standards,
b. service,
c. safety,
d. variety & worthiness of sights experience.
An LBT's Optional Tours are often those that historically appeal to most LBT travelers diverse wants & budgets including mobility-access.
Trafalgar & Globus, et al: provide 'free time' segments and offers "Optional Experiences"
curated for available time, exclusive site access, expert guides etc.
2. Feedback Mechanisms: after an Optional Tours, tour companies have an extensive customer
feedback loop to continuously validate, add and upgrade "Optional Experiences". Grok confirms X
posters approve of most Optional Tours.
3. Optional Tour Standardization: consistency of guest experiences & satisfaction; guide’s knowledge
& personalization, language fluency, & group size. But, some companies customize optional tours
for small groups or individuals.
4. Activity Mix: large variety of sites & activities: cultural tours, adventure sports, & relaxation options;
something at a price for everyone.
5. Training & Quality Control: LBT company required local tour company and guide's training &
recommendations to ensure service standards.
6. Customer Experience Management Teams: constantly developing new optional tours, enhanced
customer service, and prompt issue resolution to improve future offerings.
7. Insurance & Safety Measures: all activities may be insuraned with strict safety guidelines protect
company & guests.
8. Shop Steering: unlikely if well-curated. Ask to be sure.
B. LBT's Optional Tour's FACTORS:
1. Start & End Times: usually afternoon &/or evenings, sometimes morning, beginning when
bus returns to lodging at day's end or just before next official LBT touring segment.
2. Variety availability: wide variety of well-curated optional sites & experiences; educational,
environmental, adventure, & more serious agendas.
3. Customization: Some will 'tailor' personalized & customized Optional Tours for small groups or
individuals;
4. Habitually late tour guests:
a) inconsiderate boors reduce everyone’s on-site visits.
b) Some tours 'warn' boors once. 2nd time ousted as per Booking Agreement.
5. Exclusive Access: may have exclusive access to sites or services, not publicly available.
All Saints Church London attendant's gracious access to crypts
6. Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless Optional Tour's intentional focus or …. your self-guided
walking tour.
7. Pricing Strategy: Fairly priced compared to similar /identical LBT, activity uniqueness & service
level, site access exclusivity, amenities, group size & dining options.
8. Back-to-hotel guarantee: usually not an issue because LBT usually depart next in. morning.
9. Extra Costs: entry fees, meals, other transport, etc. etc. etc.
10. Price-match Policy: against local tour operators' prices to reassure LBT Guest’s that their prices
are fair.
11. Guide: professional, trained, screened, trained expert guide handles everything: logistics, your
needs & personalized commentary.
Dig Deeper
3rd Level:
Guide's Professional Responsibilities & Skills
A. Logistics: 1) Transportation, & 2) Food
1. Transportation: Shore Excursions vehicles range from very large touring bus to various appropriate smaller vehicles and when appropriate other conveyances : boats, electric rickshaws, etc.
Anecdote: My Mekong Delta multi-day excursion: included 1) large tour van, 2) ferry, 3) large wooden river cruising boat-hotel with overnight room & meals, and 4) a native’s swamp canoe paddle with multiple authentic riverside experience stops. Masterfull guiding effort.
Mekong Delta canoe ride
2. Food: Most long (4-7 hours) Cruise Shore Excursions may provide dining options, or if a cultural Shore Excursions, authentic local dishes.
B. Guest’s care/special needs/concerns: 1) monitors guest constantly, 2) bonds with guests, 3) resolves guest issues
SEE [pplk: TRAV KINDs B for detailed ‘big bus Cruise’ vs ‘small bus Cruise’ differences for each of these factors. Remove at some point.
Your Shore Excursions guide is trained & experienced to:
1. monitor constantly your safety & security ever alert to pickpockets, lurking thieves, bogus vendors,
a broken step or a nasty dog.
2. bond with guests & encouraging a group camaraderie; perhaps even searching out those introverts
in the shadows.
3. solve guest issues & questions: 1) guest needs: if pre-arranged & agreed to in advance, and 2)
unforeseen issues: emergencies, illness, accidents.
NOTE: Cruise & local Shore Excursions companies should disclose standard of guest fitness etc required before you book, particularly if a demanding, unusual activity to ensure a worthwhile trip for all.
Anecdote: Florence Cathedral’s double dome: The climb up between Brunelleschi’s famously designed Florence Cathedral’s double dome involves 463 steps, through winding staircases, sometimes steep, & narrow corridors. No elevator. Demands fitness & agility. [ytlk: Italy: Dome climb]
NOTE: Not ethical to complain LBT guide when you ignored company & guides ‘physical ability’ warning advice. You must solve YOUR issue, perhaps, by staying on bus or wandering the surrounding area’s shops etc.
SEE [pplk: TRAV KINDs B for detailed ‘big bus Cruise’ vs ‘small bus Cruise’ differences for each of these factors.
C. Guide’s Commentary Quality: Your guide’s goal is to expose a site’s Charisma of Place.
Charisma of Place, is a term that implies a compelling emotional admiration inherent in a tourist site or person that the world has long revered or that you learned about in school. [jlk: Charisma of Place]
Anecdote: Standing in the drizzling rain in the ancient Roman Forum: I saw, “…. a small mound which was the altar, a few bits of the walls, and not much more, covered by a modern roof.” (Trip Advisor) — one of billions of nondescript mounds in the world, BUT, this is the site of Julius Cesar’s cremation.
I was emotionally overwhelmed by its Charisma of Place. The emotional awareness of standing so near to Caesar absent the transparent glass of ‘time passed.” Awed from youth by Rome's 1000 yr history somehow, Caesar’s Imperial power and his assassination felt very real. Not religious, but spiritual.
Your LBT guide’s narration hopefully will re-ignite your research-inspired, pent-up excitement for a site by summarizing a site’s cultural importance, exposing its unique history & today’s relevance with bristling exciting & intriguing insights adding to your original curiosity & anticipation.
Presumably, you are visiting a site because you researched it or have been intrigued since school, a movie or a book you read. Something about this ‘travel bud’ [jlk] tickled your imagination AND now you are REALLY here.
NOTE: Smaller-sized LBT Guide’s commentary:
PROs:
1. More personalized & intimate
2. Mix of humor & confidence with entertaining insights.
3. Tailored info to guest’s interests
4. Greater depth & detail of information
5. Encourages guest-guide interactive discussion.
6. Usually guest’s language although English often added
CONs:
1. May distract from your contemplation, but hopefully tour is relaxed enough to allow you to
roam a bit on your own with guide’s approval.
3. Guest Booked Local tours:
Most large bus tours offer additional local tours thru local guides & tour companies or through national online booking companies (think Air BnB-like). to fullfill passenger's free time segements.
Such local guides, tour companies etc. may offer more numerous, diverse, special focus & less expensive tours than the Bus Company.
A. Guest’s Booked Local Tour FACTORs:
1. Pre-trip Google Search: makes Local tours & experiences research & booking almost as easy as booking thru your LBT company.
2. Convenience: Less convenient than LBT extra tours, BUT Internet search (Google, Grok ChatGPT, etc) minimize inconvenience with more leisure to decide. CAUTION: Late Return issue
3. Greater Site/Experience Variety: 3rd party local tour companies may offer greater variety &/or lower prices, (ShoreExcursions.com
a. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Peru’s Machu Picchu & Beijing
China’s Forbidden City….
Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless
significant sites in their regions or country:
- Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompei
- Esoteric Reykjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really?
Really!!! 😀
Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche
& not worth the average cruisers time & money.
b. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)
c. Esoteric interests: (Edinburgh Penis Museum)
4. Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless tour is focused on the authentic (SEE above right YouTube video) .... OR ... you plan your self-guided walking tour.
Anecdote: Albania’s Kruja’s Castle: [NOTE: not an official guided tour] Arriving early before tourists I roamed the castle grounds and, then, I entered the original preserved residential area. Soon I was met by a gracious young man who ... uninvited ... accompanied me … tossing out tidbits of local history. He & his aged mother actually lived there.
Doesn’t get much more authentic.!
5. Group Size: Super travel season demand PLUS Tier 1 & 2 site popularity equals large tour group size.
TIP: Purposely select small or private-guide tours with: 1) priority access tickets, 2) nimble movement, & 3) silent/private Tour Guide Audio System …. or immediately after hotel arrival, grab a Uber & go to Tier 1 site before others.
6. Booking Tips: book through reputable local tour companies or use independent booking platforms like Viator which can offer both quality, safety & savings, …. BUT MUST GUARANTEE return times unless a free afternoon or evening free time segment before next morning's departure. and NO Shop Steering
My Review of world-wide booking platforms
Note: After ONLY 15 minutes of online research & from personal experience:
a. Get Your Guide: mostly positive
b. Tours by Locals: mostly positive except for full group prepay requirement; “… think
Viator, but a lot better run…”, with both clients & guide support, & dispute
resolution service that works. Guides are curated before being listed.
c. Shore Excursion Group: mostly positive; smaller, more intimate group size, can be
tailored, maybe lower cost, On Time Rerturn guarantee.
d. Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor company): AVOID, unreliable & overpriced.
TIP: read a page or 2 of reviews on these organizations, BUT NOT reviews on their sites.
7. Late Return: Reputable Local tour operators usually guarantee “on-time return”, but usually not an issue for bus travelers because normaly don't depart until following morning.
8. Pricing: Often competitively lower priced to compete with LBT free time tour's similar or identical offers.
9. Local Guides: Local folks-turned-guides & local tour companies may have a highly developed knowledge of everything local — sites, history, culture, & local stories & can offer specific & unique Itineraries or will craft one for you. May also guide LBT's shore excursions
10. VIP Site Access: private access:
Guide's access occupied Painted haveli
11. Safety & Security: More reliably safe than solo access to dicey sights/activities.
12. Dining: included if necessary (e.g.: lunch on 6 hr tour)
13. Peer-to-peer local private host & guide: Peer-to-peer is a relatively new option rapidly growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experiential’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations, Dig Deeper.
Tens of thousands of private hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities, local hosts and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. English for Brits, American, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.
Private host’s unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities offered directly to passion-driven traveller’s at an affordable cost, but focused on off the beaten path experiences: actual local events, family dinners etc. sites & activities.
Typical peer to peer 3rd party operators:
a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com.
b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch
c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private Cruises & activities led by 900 local hosts in
dozens of international cities.
d. Tours by Locals: Slowlife Family Farm: Cooking Experience: https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/italy/siracusa/tour-details/slowlife-family-farm-cooking-experience-664d242717832fdc0dbb5afd
[close]
Visit to authentic family farm in Nalwalgarh.
B.How to choose your ideal Optional Local Tours:
I chose many of my travel sites from a lifetime of education, public media, reading, videos, & even the news. Each tiny bit of interesting travel site or activity info was what I now call ‘Travel Buds’.
Like tiny rose buds, this near-infinite numbered ‘Travel Buds’ 
were potential travel ideas lying asleep in my mind 'under the snow' waiting for me to turn them into Spring’s travel targets. Same is true for you!
So how can you resurrect those Travel Buds? This can be an exciting personal research adventure in itself.
Very few Travel Buds that you can’t safely visit. You only have to discover them & decide how & when to make your travels a “genuine probability rather than just a mere day-dream fantasy”
Please re-read “Large Bus Tour optional tours" above.
1st Level 2: My simple 7 step process
2nd Level 2: LBT Categories: Luxury levels to Adventure, etc
1. My simple 7 step process :
Dig Deeper
2nd Level: (2nd Level) (3rd Level). (Ishould provide links to existing text
My simple 7 step process
1. If you already know what Country region or city you want, then skip to 3) below
2. If you DON’T already know what countries or cities you want, follow these suggestions:
a) Create a simple Potential Site LIST, written or computer , with 3 columns: See Future Travel List
1) region or country,
2) cities,
3) the Travel Bud sites or experiences you have always dreamed of.
Your mind is filled with your own Travel Buds, if you look for them. Throughout our lives each
of us have been exposed to Travel Buds.
Anecdote: some of my Travel Buds:
Audrey Hepburn’s “Two for the Road’ romantic European travel movie; European travels.
Russel Crowe’s “Gladiator's Coliseum; my Rome visits.
Brad Pitt’s “Seven Years in Tibet.”; triggered 3 months in China .
Art History class: exposed Athen’s Parthenon's intentional optical illusion of slightly
bowed steps & bulging columns.
b) Watch some TV or Netflix travel shows:
“50 of the Best Travel-ish Shows to Watch”: https://www.going.com/guides/best-travel-shows
c) Explore some Travel blogs. (Don’t search “Travel websites” yet cuz mostly advertisements)
“FeedSpot”: ”100 Best Travel Blogs To Read”: https://travel.feedspot.com/travel_blogs/
As you build your list, some country, region, city, sites & activities
will truly speak to your interest.
It will happen. Trust me.
3. Confirm your continuing interest in your list of Travel Buds with Internet Search (Google, Work, etc). You may have changed your opinions. Eliminate those that you have less interest in.
4. Internet Search (Google, Work, etc) your desired countries & cities for all tourist sights & experiences that you didn’t know about … that excite you enough to add to your list.
5. Prioritize your FULL ‘List’s of most desired sights & activities (maybe with colored circled numbers next to site or activity.
TIP: I use a different color, often making circled numbers to left of list items. Examples:
Tier 1: (1) Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, (2) Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps.
Tier 2: Baths of Caracalla, Trastevere neighborhood, Galleria Borghese museum, (3) Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Basilica di San Clemente and so on.
You NOW have a condensed checklist you can use as a screen when researchingt through Cruise company internet LBT packages.
6. Choose your ideal LOcal Tour: seeks a Local Tour with your desired quality level & style that includes your top desired sites & experiences. Note: Be careful that slected tours will fit easily into your free time segment. Dig deeper
2nd Level:
Local Tour Categories: Luxury levels to Adventure, etc.
Before you wade into the gargantuan pool of available Local Tour packages, select the Local Tour packages style that most suits you and, THEN, focus 1st on those package offerings.
-
Price Range: Typically, ~$33 to ~$110 per Optional Tour depending on the activity and location.
-
Group Size: Larger groups, often 40–50+ travelers, to keep costs low.
-
Inclusions: Fewer meals, sites, & activities included; maybe additional entry or guide fees.
-
Experience: Fast-paced, more travel time, shorter site stops at major sights, less info depth.
-
Examples: FREETOUR.comFree Walking Tours: Many cities offer local guides/students; tip-based; historic & cultural sites.Free Attractions & Tours: Museums, gov't buildings, & parks: FREETOUR.com, GuruWalk, or
Sandemans New Europe
Factory & Brewery Tours: Some factories, distilleries, or breweries.
Free Events & Festivals:
Platforms: for Budget Tours: AffordableTours.com, TourRadar, & GetYourGuide: some under $25,
- Price Range: Generally, $44–$132 USD: a balance of value and comfort.
-
Group Size: Smaller than budget tours, typically 24–40 travelers, more personalized feel.
-
Inclusions: included: meals often, entry fees. Maybe unique activities (local cafe, or cultural stop.
-
Experience: Elevated, deeper experience, special access
Gaudí Bike Tour; Vienna, Austria: Guided Schönbrunn
Palace Gardens; London, UK: guided option: Jack the Ripper Tour; .
-
Price Range: ~$88–$220 USD.
-
Group Size: Smaller groups, often 12–24 travelers, more intimate and tailored experience.
-
Inclusions: Most meals, priority entry access (e.g., skip-the-line), & exclusive private guides, wine
tastings, or behind-the-scenes tours. -
Experience: Slower-paced, more time on site, expert guides, & focus on luxury, comfort, and in-
depth cultural emersion. High end coaches. -
Examples: Abercrombie & Kent, Tauck, & Globus or OsaBus premium offerings.
-
Price Range: Varies widely, $88–$330 USD depending on customization.
-
Group Size: small, but varies depending on the focus.
-
Inclusions: Highly flexible, specialized activities (helicopter tours, etc)
-
Experience: Customizable for specific focus interests (e.g., art, WWII history, etc)
-
Operators: Euro Travel Coach, OsaBus, Tauck, Insight Vacations (Luxury Gold), Abercrombie &
Kent, or Globus. - Transport: modern, air-conditioned, Wi-Fi-equipped buses with ample legroom.
- Guides: expert, often local, guides with in-depth knowledge.
- Pace: relaxed, deeper emmersion, more time on sitea more relaxed schedule.
- Destinations: include hidden gems, rural areas, or off-the-beaten-path stops, rare access.
8. Shore Excursions Packages: NOW start combing thru available Optional Tours for the Category you like. You may find so many exciting Optional Tours, it may be like “deciding’ which child you love the most.’ BUT YOU MUST choose. 😃
FYI, Again! : Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower
Peru’s Machu Picchu
Beijing China’s Forbidden City….
Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country:
Italy’s Herculaneum buried under volcanic flow at same time as Pompei
Esoteric Reykjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really? Really!!! 😀)
Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth average cruisers time & money.
V. Guest designed ‘self-guided walking tour’ of sights & activities. [jlk: Free time]
1) My pre-trip researched & planned self-guided walking tour of my most desired Tier 1 & Tier 2 sites & activities relying on guidebooks, internet websites, and cell phone apps. My walking tour itineraries allow excess time on site and for impetus side trips that arise.
3) totally serrendipitous, un-searched & unplanned wandering about.
Examples: in
Rome, Italy: Free self-guided walk via rome.info to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon—download a map or audio.
Edinburgh, Scotland: Stroll the Royal Mile.
Factory & Food Tours: some breweries, markets, or producers:
Germany: Oktoberfest
Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia: Bus or taxi can whisk you quickly from your cruise ship to Tallinn’s Old Town Square where you can either wallow in tourist kiosks or immediately start exploring surrounding streets for Tallinn's historical flavor & a local’s cafe.
Click link to go directly to FULL discussion of Local Shore Excursions: [jlk:]. ???
A. Self-guided Walking Tour FACTORS:
1. Freedom’s flexibility: pre-plan itinerary or just wander with whimsy.
Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia: Walking from your lodging to Tallinn’s Old Town Square where you can either wallow in tourist kiosks or immediately start exploring surrounding streets for Tallinn's historical flavor & a local’s cafe.
2. Full personal responsibility: Try getting 'lost': kinda hard nowadays with a cell phone & Google Maps in hand. Fun to try.
3. ‘On-time Bus Return: Not usually an issue if afternoon or evening's free time segment before
next morning's bus departure.
5. Navigation: on cellphone use guidebook maps, GPSmyCity app or plot yourself on Google
Maps/Apple Maps. TIP: wise to research & plan before you leave home, then be flexible walking.
Rick Steves Audio Europe (free for many cities). Local tourism sites (e.g., visitlondon.com, rome.info)
6. Sites & activities: Pre-home departure, research site/activities not on your LBT itinerary.
7. Local Cuisine: ask locals for non-tourist, more authentic café or restaurant.
8. Route Strategies: Best: a walking or taxi loop out from lodging & back, 2) taxi to farthest point &
wander back, 3) "hop-on, hop-off" bus route; many buses running same route.
Anecdote: Yangon, Myanmar: I took at taxi several miles out to a Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple visit, then wandered the streets back thru a historic market area, deep diving into Shwedagon Pagoda, thru old British colonial residential area back to my hostel.
9. Walking Tour Websites/apps: e.g. GPSmyCity smart phone apps,
10. Less expensive: little, if any, necessary expense; cafe lunch, window shopping, etc.
11. Curious Cultural Immersion: Cultural immersion, by definition.
Ancedote: Self-guided walking tour: In Asia I often realized I was an invisible Caucasian wandering amongst the Asian multitude’s buying dinner at local outdoor markets & poking into antique shops, etc. I relished that.
12. Miscellaneous: comfortable, broken-in shoes, hat, sun glasses, of course,
13. IMPORTANT TIP: always carry Safe 5: Soft Crime. hidden emergency USD & local currency for snacks, etc. pplk: money
3. Guest Booked Local Shore Excursions:
Most cruise ship ports, if not all, offer Shore Excursions either by local guides, local tour companies or through national online booking companies (think Air BnB-like).(see below)
40-50% of cruisers might engage in independent activities, which includes tours not organized by the cruise company.
Often, in-port local Shore Excursions providers AND local guides offer more numerous, diverse, special focus & less expensive Shore Excursions.
A. Guest’s Booked Alternative Shore Excursions FACTORs: [plpk: sub-pil” xyz Kinds of ] ???
1. Pre-trip Google Search: makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking thru your cruise company.
2. Convenience: Less convenience than Ship’s Shore Excursions, BUT greater variety & lower price; sometimes same tour & guide. CAUTION: Late Return issue
3. Greater Site/Experience Variety: 3rd Party Shore Excursions companies may offer greater variety &/or lower costs,Dig Deeper. (ShoreExcursions.com
a. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist sites & experiences
2nd Level:
FYI: Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower,
Peru’s Machu Picchu
Beijing China’s Forbidden City….
Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country:
Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompei
Esoteric Rekjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really? Really!!! 😀)
Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth average cruisers
time & money.
b. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)
c. Esoteric interests: (Edinburgh Penis Museum)
4. Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless Shore Excursion specifically designed OR your self-guided walking tour.
Anecdote: Albania’s Kruja’s Castle: Arriving early before tourists I roamed the castle grounds and then entered the original preserved residential area. Soon I was met by a gracious young man who, uninvited, accompanied me … tossing out tidbits of local history. He & his aged mother actually lived there. Don’t get much more authentic.!
5. Group Size: Super high cruising demand & Tier 1 & 2 site popularity equals large tour group size.
TIP: purposely select small or private-guide tours with: 1) priority access tickets,
2) nimble movement, & 3) silent/private Tour Guide Audio System …. or
immediately jump-ship on landing, grab a taxi & get to top Tier 1 before others.
6. Booking Tips: book through reputable local in-port companies or use independent booking platforms like Viator which can offer both quality, safety & savings, …. BUT MUST GUARANTEE:
a. NO Shop Steering
b.’on-time ship return.” Ship’s don’t normally wait for late non-ship Shore Excursion’s
late passengers.
Level 2:
My Review Research of World wide booking platforms:
NOTE: My Review research after 15 minutes of online research & from personal experience:
1. Shore Excursion Group: mostly positive; On Time Ship Rerturn guarantee PLUS $1,000 USD
per customer for inconvenience of missing ship.
2. Your Guide: mostly positive …
3. Tours by Locals: mostly positive except for full group prepay requirement;
“… think Viator, but a lot better run…”, with both clients & guide support, &
dispute resolution service that works. Guides curated before being listed.
CRITICAL Guarantee: If late to boat … guarantee to, “ arrange for and cover the costs of overnight accommodation and transportation to your next feasible port-of-call.”
4. Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor company): AVOID, unreliable & overpriced.
TIP: read a page or 2 of reviews on these organizations, BUT NOT reviews on their site
7. Late Return: Reputable 3rd Party Shore Excursions operators usually guarantee “on-time return”.
Check all Reviews
Level 2:
Captain’s Discretion controls Ship's Departure Flexibility
a) priority to Ship’s Shore Excursion passengers
b) all other: may be based on …:
1) # late,
2) how far away (in time),
3) wait costs ( ship’s dock fees, extra fuel),
4) next port arrival schedule,
5) weather etc, 6) tug/harbor pilot availability. Dig Deeper
8. Price: Pricing Strategy: Often competitively lower price to compete with Cruise Ship’s similar or identical offers, perhaps greater booking convenience, AND most importantly: Ship’s Late Return guarantee.
9. Local Guides: Local folks-turned-guides & local tour companies may have a highly developed knowledge of everything local — sites, history, culture, & local stories & can offer specific & unique Itineraries or will craft one for you. May also guide cruise ship’s shore excursions
10. VIP Site Access: private access:
Anecdote: Mandawa, India’s painted havelis (homes): Jumping on my Nawalghar private guide's motorcycle for a 60 mile loop to Mandala, Fatehpur and other small towns to visit exquisitely exterior & interior-painted ancient residences of wealthy Silk Road merchants, ....ultimately welcoming my guide & I into a few still occupied private residences. A real treat.
11. Safety & Security: Safer than solo access to dicey sights/activities.
12. Dining: included if necessary (e.g.: lunch on 6 hr excursion)
13. Peer-to-peer local private host & guide: Peer-to-peer is a relatively new option rapidly
growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experiential’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations,
2nd Level:
Peer-to-peer local private host & guide
Tens of thousands of private hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities, local hosts, and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. English for Brits, Americans, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.
Private hosts’ unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities are offered directly to passion-driven travelers at an affordable cost but focused on off-the-beaten-path experiences: actual local events, family dinners, etc. sites & activities.
Typical peer to peer 3rd party operators:
a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com.
b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch
c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private Cruises & activities led by 900 local hosts in dozens of international cities.
d. Tours by Locals: Slowlife Family Farm: Cooking Experience: https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/italy/siracusa/tour-details/slowlife-family-farm-cooking-experience-664d242717832fdc0dbb5afd
CAUTION: Shore Excursions Ship ‘Return on-time’ Guarantee.
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