This is not a comprehensive list, but these are seven great examples of when a guided tour can be a better plan than a self-guided tour.
I feel like I should note: we love a good solo trek. We enjoy the personal timeline, choosing our own restaurants, etc. However, there are several instances when choosing a tour makes more sense. Here are a few of them:
When you get to skip the line.
This is a huge one. Most travelers are on a limited schedule. Even if you aren’t, no one likes to stand in line. Trust me, after an hour standing in a queue that just keeps turning corners with no end in sight, you would probably agree the time benefit outweighs the cost of getting a tour guide.
Now, be aware that having a guide does not automatically mean you skip the line. Ask before booking if you will get priority access to attractions. This can vary from city to city and from guide to guide. Some attractions have a limited number of guides who have special passes, for example.
When we traveled to Istanbul on a cruise we only had a day to see the sights. Impossible. We decided this was the place to take advantage of a tour guide, and oh, my goodness, did it make a difference. In addition to a multitude of other benefits, our tour guide was able to skip the line completely to three of the major attractions. We literally walked straight past the hordes of people looking angrily at us as they waited in the hot sun. Sorry, not sorry. :-/ The one place we couldn’t skip the line, tour guides “looked out for each other” and we somehow still only waited ten minutes.
When you get access to experiences unavailable to individuals.
There are certain times and places where you have to be part of a group in order to gain access to special events. For example, my parents went on a river cruise and their group was able to take part in a fantastic meal and waltz lessons in a Viennese Castle. This was after hours and a completely different experience than I as an individual was offered in my standard castle tour on my own.
In other instances, some attractions will simply not open unless enough people sign up. One way of ensuring the attraction will be open before you make arrangements to show up is to book a tour. In some cases, they will still cancel if not enough attendees sign up, but at least you know before you are standing at the front gate knocking on the door.
Finally, guides are required to access certain locations. For safety reasons, we needed a trained guide to climb a glacier in Iceland. He showed us how to use the equipment, listen for running water underfoot, and helped find safe routes across the ice.
When you want “insider” information.
While you can attempt to meet and interact with locals at local coffee shops or bars, tour guides are great resources of information from people that are literally being paid to talk to you. Even when on a larger group tour, I stick close to the guide. This way, while walking to the next location or waiting for others to take pictures, I can pepper the guide with questions about where they grew up, what school was like, or how they feel about the latest news story about their country. I have almost exclusively been greeted with enthusiatic responses to intrigue about their everyday lives. Many even expressed appreciation that we care about their culture as well as just the main attractions in their country.
Be careful, though. You don’t want to be a tour guide hog. Make sure you are respectful of the guide’s time as well as your fellow tour companions. There is a certain amount of key information the guide will want to get through on the tour. They are responsible for making sure everyone has a good experience, not just you.
When you don’t want to plan in advance.
Guided tours can cover all the main attractions, along with transportation to each one. In some cases, this can simply mean a walk downtown. In others, you may have to take a van or even boat to see all the cities’ main attractions. Guided tours can take all the stress out of your day. No figuring out local transportation or worrying about taxis. No surprise attraction closures.
If you want a completely worry-free vacation, you (or I would advise a travel agent in this case) can arrange for a multi-day tour where a guide will be there to help you with every attraction, tell you the great restaurants to eat at, or even book the reservations for you, and you can go into an amazing trip without the stress of planning anything. This is going to be a more expensive option, of course, but if you don’t have the time or desire to plan ahead it can be well worth the expense.
When it actually saves you money
It seems contrary to think that hiring a tour guide can save you money, but there are a few instances when it can. If you have to pay for transportation, for example, and there is no public transport available, it can be cheaper to take a tour that comes with hotel pick up than it can be to hire a taxi to drive to and from your location and around throughout the day.
When you want to get in depth information about a location
Many attractions now feature audio guides that can tell you a lot about the specific castle or museum you are visiting. However, if you are walking around a town, this is not an option. A tour guide can show you where a famous film was recorded. They can tell you why the buildings on one side of the street are built in a completely different style than the other side. They can point out markings on a door and explain how homeless would mark the doors to show whether occupants are willing to help or not.
Another example is how they can make a place like Mt. Vesuvius come alive. While walking through ruins, it can be difficult to imagine what that pile of rubble is, but a guide can show you how the door faced a certain direction and how you can tell where the occupants slept. Some will even provide pictures of places in the past to give you better context. Without experience, these are things you would likely never figure out on your own.
When you are looking for a unique experience
There are a ton of specialty tours out there today, and they can be very, very fun. Some examples are e-bike tours, segway tours, food tours, and wine tasting tours. Different locations work better for one type of tour than another, so try not to get set on a certain type of tour if it is not great in your location. We, for example loved a food tour we went on in Lisbon, so we tried to recreate the experience on a short trip to Orlando. We should have already known. Food tours are best in places where the food is very unique. Also, part of the charm is walking around town.
Remember to be open to truly one-of-a-kind tours as well. In Rothenburg, Germany we went on the Nightwatchman’s Tour. This tour would not make sense anywhere but in Rothenburg, but walking around town by lamplight listening to a man dressed in Medieval garb was perfect for the visit.
I hope these situations help you decide whether or not to get a tour on your next excursion. If you are looking for some great tours with reputable guides, check out these on Viator. Or check out these Cruise Excursions. If you have any tips or questions please leave a comment below. You can also contact me directly if you are looking for advice or help booking your next trip!
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