Anyone cares to share some insights of joining group tour?

Though I had never joined any group tour traveling overseas, but while in airports met many groups tour in airport, because of older ages like late 50 to early 70 years old, so very obvious.

Due to age gap, I foresee group tour may not that enjoyable, like half way nenek sakit. Atuk letih etc.. Vs young adult, 1 day sleep 5 hours enough, no problem long time walking, walk fast, eat and drink heavy.

Can I survey tour company the tour members average age prior purchasing the package?

Any recommendations?

Traveling by group tour is good if you don't wanna plan and think about where to go and what to do. Just blindly follow. May also come in handy when the traveling conditions isn't as ideal or safe for us to travel on our own, such as driving in snowy mountainous roads for long distance on the opposite side. Also will get free luggage bag?

Other than that, many cons if you ask me. Not much time to chill. Have to visit places that you may not be interested in. Most likely every night different hotel. Food may not be to your liking. Tour members may be problematic. May bring you to touristy places to buy stuff so they get commission. Service may not reach your expectations, we were given a brand new tour guide in training to guide about 20 of us and he has never been in that country before, can't even speak english to communicate with the local bus driver. And most of the time, more expensive than traveling on your own.

I've done local tours where you engage the tour agency for a day or two at your destination. Those are pretty good cause it'll be a full day tour and it'll only be your small group of people. One of the group tour that I traveled with, a Malaysian tour company, meet you at airport and all that. Worst travel experience ever lol. Last minute cancel meals, ask us to sendiri find dinner eat at hotel or eat maggi mee in the room. Lots of promises, none delivered. Our group even got the minimum required number of pax for private tour, but end up the tour company decided to add in a few more random people to our private group. Never traveling with them ever again. I'd say lower your expectations if wanna follow group tour, and do proper research on how good their tours are. Don't think you can do much about other tour members cause there would be all sorts of people that join these tour groups.

if you truly enjoy traveling and is capable of doing ur own planning (financially, physically & mentally ready), just avoid joining group tours at all cost

I had the luxury of following my parents for group tours when i was younger, but I remmeber I hated every moment of it, almost hated travelling after that
As I grew up and started my own trip planning etc, travelling is much more enjoyable

This post has been edited by evilhomura89: May 10 2025, 10:55 AM

Tourist agencies can get you cheaper airfare and accomodations.

For some exotic tours, e.g. to Antarctica, most people follow tour groups.

suitable for those who don't like to plan themselves

but not suitable for ppl like me who likes to have it free and easy and enough time to bathe/pangsai

i was told by others it is quite hectic. Need to wake up early and go already.

I usually spend a lot of time in the morning to groom/bathe/pangsai first before getting ready to go out.

This post has been edited by Blofeld: May 10 2025, 11:31 AM

better to hire own tour guide and set own plan.
no need rush, no need to go places you dont want to.

if you are young, just diy your own group own tour.

THISSSSS

Quite high chance will happen. The tour group may have ppl give good testimonial. But still they will suddenly drop quality for whatever the reason. Highly common especially when come to those package with "cheap" price. The most annoying part is when u kena upcar u still need to stick it out till the end, the person in charge also most likely already know sinking ship they just stop trying cos they already know u not going to be return customer.

Avoid group tour. No further explanation needed.

its damn tiring, wake up at 7am for breakfast and prepare, then 8am meet at lobby with the tour group, rush to all the tour locations no rest, then 9pm or 10pm only reach back hotel to rest, repeat everyday until tour finish

Bring you go see demo and drink "Honey". If you no buy, then nanti tour guide muka masam.....

Speaking from a muslim perspective going with tour agency that specially cater to muslims.

- easy find local halal food as the tour take breaks in restaurant that's already verified by tour agency.
- the schedule break and stop at dedicated place to pray during solat time.

And yang bawah ni regardless of religion

- airport transfer already arranged. some place like Japan getting cab to/from airport is ridiculously expensive. And some case family include children so hard to carry luggage and manage them lagi in train.
- everything else from attraction tickets, local travel tokens (like suica card) handled by agency.
- can still free and easy or split of from main tour and meet back later.
- any issues can refer back to tour agency. like a case that happen in my friend tour agency recently, where the dad in his group headache then turns our got brain tumor. so many things to arrange including medical escort on plane back, I'd imagine it will be very hectic to handle if I don't speak their language.

If you work in gomen like my wife, easy to provide documentation. gov staff need travel approval 3 months in advance, so many documents needed. touyr group help provide all these.

This post has been edited by emino: May 10 2025, 12:58 PM

You are asking for confidential info

I suggest you organize your own tour. More flexible

I love my own self planned group tours with friends

So fun when going in your own group that have similar expectations

Old folks prefer tour group, just pay and go with the flow, cuz they prefer not to think so much

If you're in 20 to 60, joining just restrict the fun in vacation

Tour groups are doing very well despite the brickbats by ktarts.

it very much depends on you (travel style) and destination.

on top of whatever mentioned by members above, destination is also part of the consideration.

some places which are not so tourist friendly, will be better to follow tour. some places where language will be a barrier, tour will help bridge the gap. Some tours also provide you good tour guide especially if you travel to historical and religious places where you want to learn more in depth about the history or culture. tour is also a good networking platform (hugely depending on the type of tour you choose), cheap tour get cheap ppl, luxury tour meet diff circle ppl. and if join younger tour then u get the energetic vibes and even dates if you met another single.

if you want the best of both worlds? join private tours, smaller group, more customised itinerary, better experience.

This post has been edited by farscope: May 10 2025, 03:02 PM

Lol yea this too. I literally argued with the tour company boss in the middle of our trip until my relatives had to stop me. He avoided me for the rest of the trip and kept sending messages in the WhatsApp group to defend himself.

Definitely would not recommend tour groups unless you have zero expectations and prefer to follow blindly.

If you are banana, very hard to find English group tour.

Must choose those tours that don't do too much visit factories, souvenir shops to force tourist to do shopping.

I more prefer more time for scenic tour, explore and freedom to move around than being taken to some place where you be promoted many souvenirs.

In places where public connectivity is not well developed, group tour would be helpful. In well connected place, you can make it on your own.
Group tours also help in places that have massive crowds. Tour groups will allow you to cut the queues that the local peasants have to endure.

suggest you can hire your preferred tour guide

gowithguide.com

you can tailor everything then the guide can quote you instantly

quite transparent and fair as you have the option to pick, unlike tourist agency