Ask our Experts

Is it much cheaper to travel as part of a group tour than on a private journey or tailor-made holiday? And which would you recommend in terms of the overall experience?

Asked by Tom

Group travel does tend to bring costs down as you are sharing the cost of transfers, guides etc between more people. The price difference however is often not as big as you think.

Choosing between a group tour and a  private journey or tailor-made holiday is more a case of how you want to travel. If you want the added security and the expertise of a tour leader and you like travelling with a group of like-minded people, then a group tour is perfect. They can also be great if you are travelling alone or visiting the continent for the first time.

A private (pre-designed, but for individuals with flexible dates) or  tailor-made (booked for you from scratch) holiday is a far more intimate and private experience. You also have the added bonus that it is tailored to your specific dates and preferences, so if, for example, you are not so keen on handicraft markets or there is a place you have already been, then this can simply be removed from your holiday. You can also decide on the standard of accommodation you want for the trip, or choose to mix and match – so for instance you might have tourist-class hotels throughout your trip and then somewhere really flash to end the holiday in style.

There is no hard and fast rule about cost for group and tailor-made travel. A Classic Journey to Peru for example can cost about the same as a tailor-made version of a similar itinerary, as it is possible to do some of the transfers and excursions on a shared basis. For more remote countries like Guyana or Venezuela you may find that differences are more significant.

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