Lodging
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.
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