Anyone aware of any guide services or tour companies that offer extensive worldwide or regional destination options but that are geared to budget conscious travelers? Are there any companies that book groups in moderate priced accommodations instead of high end places? I'm interested in getting benefits such as trip organization & education that group travel can provide but at cost that more resembles solo travel.
1
toadoftoadhall
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Intrepid, G Adventures, Tucan, Dragoman, are good places to start.
Though remember, you're paying for a service so a group tour will probably never be as cheap as doing it yourself. Think of it this way, you can go to the supermarket and buy steak to take home and cook yourself or you can go to a restaurant and order steak. It'll be more expensive in the restaurant but you're paying for the service having it cooked and delivered to you as well as the atmosphere... when you go on a group tour you're paying for having the hassle of finding accommodation, sorting out transport, booking excursions... taken out as well as having the knowledge of a guide/leader and their assistance if things go wrong.
2
cowantimmy12
some or perhaps all of the companies listed in #1 offer small groups and something called local transport tours which should be good for what you are looking for
I have spoken with people on them in some obscure places and they seem to be popular
the cost would have to be less than solo travel presumably
3
lucapal
Those ones Toad mentions are good options (esp.Dragoman).
They will cost you more than doing it alone..sometimes a lot more...but they are 'budget' rather than luxury.
IMHO it depends where you want to go..paying extra for a tour can be worth it in some places where individual travel is difficult and for people who are not confident or indepndent enough to do it without.
For many other places I wouldn't even consider doing a tour (eg Europe,SE Asia etc.)
4
anonymous
I used Intrepid a couple of times when I was new to travel and not confident being on my own. They were always good, geared towards budget/backpackers. They will always be more expensive than doing it on your own though. I met some great people on these trips and made lifelong friends as well as having some amazing experiences. They keep the group numbers low (about 12) so you're not on a coach being herded around like cattle, and depending on the region they will use local transport where appropriate.
5
travelinstyle46
Budget and tour company simply don't go together. If you are paying a middle man it simply can't be as cheap as not paying a middle man.
Tour companies have their place. They are for people who are not comfortable enough to travel independently. You have to PAY for that though.
What you are basically asking is a 'can I have my cake and eat it too?' question. The answer is NO.
6
go_2
Even the cheapest companies will cost you a minimum of 2 x what you'd pay going solo. The middle-of-the-road ones charge about 4-5 x what I reckon on paying.
The advantage (and disadvantage, IMO) is that you get around a lot more places, a lot faster. So if you're cash rich but time poor you might prefer a tour. Otherwise, suck up to it, buy a guidebook and do your planning in advance.
I tend to plan meticulously - just in case - then follow my heart instead. But the back-up of well-planned travel, which takes time, is there if I need it.
7
joolz2
Gecko tours:
http://www.geckosadventures.com/
are among the cheapest, and I know people who love them. It would still be cheaper to do it yourself though, for the reasons mentioned above.
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