A. "Free Time" Definition: ... is when your Large Bus Tour package's itinerary has purposely planned nothing officially during morning, afternoon or evening segments giving you IMO, a traveler's greatest, un-discovered “gold mine” hidden in plain sight. These afternoons & evenings of ”free-time" are, IMO, a traveler’s greatest, un-discovered “gold mine” hidden in plain sight.

Free Time offers even the casual tourist an opportunity to taste the “independent travelers’ (FIT)  freedom-driven, flexible & fulfilling form of travel, -- a “free independent travel” option hidden inside your tour package giving you the best of both worlds. 

   B. Is ‘"free-time"’ a rip off or a 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.

   C. "Free Time" Benefits: offer guests 4 main opportunities: jlk.  
    1 Personal rest & relaxation,
    2 LBTour Optional Excursions, 
    3. Guest self-booked ‘"free-time"’ local tours. 
    4. OR, guest-designed self-guided walking tours.

Two Primary  benefits of your Large Bus Tour:      
       First, your professionally created tour itinerary & trave, lodging & food logistics is the FOUNDATION of your entire trip.  Your tour company has already done the heavy lifting. You just show up on time. 

   Second, “free-time’s” occasional 'officially unscheduled' morning, afternoon, evening segments & pairs of both ....   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, strolling the riverside to an early dinner at a local restaurant, then spent the evening loitering around Prague's Vitava River’s famous Charles Bridge and the off-the- beaten-path at John Lennon's graffiti ‘homage’ Wall. 

 [yt vid]

IMO, the wise traveler should view ‘free-time’ as a double-edged sword because, 1) it benefits the tour company, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, 2) it equally benefits you, the traveler, because: 
    1. jam-packed ‘jumping jack’ trips constantly drain your energy, 

    2. offers you relaxation time or optional local travel opportunities for personal exploration of 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 $ or perks from tour companies.
I only write for you.

“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.