A. Generally:

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. 

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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.

How to Plan your 4 ‘free-time’s Options 

• Personal Rest & Relaxation’s Time
• Large Bus Tour Optional Excursions
• Guest’s Self-Booked Local Excursions
• Local Guides

Dig Deeper

My simple 6-step process