All You Need to Know About Guided Tours

The first time I went abroad was to London with my now-husband and I didn't book any tours or activities (well, except for tickets to the Harry Potter Studios. Priorities, ya know?) I literally flew to a new country without a single idea of where to go, how to get there, or what to even do. Needless to say, my travel planning skills were not too great back in the day (aka three years ago). Our plan was to simply wander around, using my trusty phone's GPS to guide us to specific sights when needed.

Wanna know what most of that wandering looked like? It was a heck of a lot of pointing at cool buildings and saying to one another "hey, that looks important". I know - massive eye roll inducing moments. Guys, it was my first trip without a parent ever. Looking back, I know I missed sights I would have loved to see. I know I walked past important stuff without realizing it. Plus, I’m pretty sure I took the most inconvenient routes while wandering because I had no clue where I was going. The FOMO was real because I just felt I was doing this sightseeing thing wrong.

By the end of the trip, we bit the bullet and booked one of those group-guided tours in a bus for a countryside tour. You’d think having transportation figured out, timetables sorted, restaurants picked out, narrated walks, and tickets all purchased would make it the perfect itinerary addition. But I actually found myself bored and a little unhappy with the tour.

It felt like we were cattle being herded. We were by far the youngest in the group and dealt with middle-age ladies throwing elbows to take just ONE MORE PHOTO of the Cliffs of Dover. Sure, we learned a lot about what we were seeing and most of the logistical stress was lifted. But it made me feel like such a tourist – one of those awkward tourists that would sport a fanny pack and RFID-blocking anti-theft wallets. It felt, well, unauthentic and rushed.

Throughout my travels, I’ve taken plenty of tours, from mass guided ones to small-group, to specialty themed ones to casual walking ones. Wherever you may be going, you might be considering some sort of tour. Today, I wanted to break down some of the types of tours that are available, and the pros and cons for them Consider me your tour guide for tours…

Most tours you see advertised are likely these large group tours. Unless the activity description specifically states otherwise, your tour is bound to be a mass hoard of people on a bus being shuttled from place to place. There’s usually a very knowledgeable guide narrating the tour, offering history lessons, fun facts, and other random stories to varying degrees of detail. Most of these tours cover the main sights of a destination – think Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, London Eye and Buckingham Palace in London, etc. You’ll stop at most of the big sights to snap some photos, or hit up a museum or castle or cathedral with narration along the way from your guide. You sometimes get some free time for lunch or to explore on your own, but sticking to the schedule is the priority.

PROS:

It’s so easy. Everything is coordinated and planned out. You simply show up and get shuttled around – ideal for those who clamp up when it comes to sorting through details. The transportation makes it easy to see sights that are spread out (plus the bus is usually equipped with AC). The narration from the guide allows you to learn a heck of a lot more than you could on your own. It’s usually easy to break away from the group without being detected from your guide (not that they would care). Plus, it’s usually one of the cheaper guide options.

CONS:

You will never feel more touristy in your life. Maybe you’re cool with that, but I prefer authenticity. From my experience, most of the tour demographics will be on the older side. It may be fine but waiting thirty minutes for recently-retired Larry to hike up the stairs to the Acropolis tests your patience. You will feel rushed, since you don’t get to wander at your own pace. I had a minor case of heartbreak at only being able to check out Canterbury for twenty minutes – I could have spent a whole day there. Also, some people on the trip care about taking ONE MILLION PHOTOS no matter the cost. So yes, Collette from France (who will ask for the tour to be narrated in English and French), will be all up in your business to take a photo from your bus window as you whiz pass a monument.

Walking tours are fairly similar to mass group tours, in that you’ll be guided around from place to place with the help of a guide. It comes without the transport and instead you’ll get to log some miles on foot. Usually there’s a general meeting place you’ll have to navigate to, and from there you’ll embark around town. The groups tend to be smaller than mass bus tours (though not always). In larger, spread out cities, you may not get to see all the major sights given how much walking you’d have to do – in these cases, you might see more specialized walking tours (ex. walking tour of the west side or whatever). These tours tend to be on-par price wise with bus tours, if not slightly cheaper.

PROS:

It feels good to stretch your legs compared to sitting in a bus. Walking tours are really helpful in learning the layout of a city and how to navigate, too. The physical aspect of the tour means those of a certain age usually avoid these types of tours (I’m not hating on anyone, for the record, I’m just an impatient person). Walking “in between” sights means you get to wander and pass through areas you would otherwise miss on a bus or public transport – meaning you can find some hidden gems you may have overlooked. You get a better feel for the vibe of a destination outside of tourist spots, plus your guide will still give you all the narration and insight you’d hope for.

CONS:

If you book these in the morning, it can mean your feet hurt by the end of the day. You can end up walking for up to four hours and cover several miles. You’ll also rarely get to venture inside of museums or anything that requires an entrance ticket. These tours usually operate rain or shine, so if you hit bad weather it could make it fairly miserable. You’ll also feel slightly like a baby duckling following a mother duck – the row of tourists walking behind a guide as you try and beat the crossing lights feels almost comical. Bonus – some tour guides insist on waving around a brightly colored flag of some sorts, which feels cringe-y.

Okay – think mass tour, but smaller. Novel idea, right? Small group tours are restricted in size, sometimes ranging from just four to twenty people. It’s an intimate setting that can either include shuttling around to locations, using public transport as a group, or simply walking. You’ll get to see the major sights, get narration and insight from your guide, and have most of the details sorted out for you in advance. Think mass tour – minus like half the people.

PROS:

The intimate setting makes it easier to ask questions and get to know your guide and tour mates. Trust me, I’m intensely introverted, but even I enjoy getting to hear the stories and backgrounds from other tourists. Plus you can usually swap restaurant recommendations! It’s easier to hear your guide and occasionally they will veer off-course to meet the group’s interests (ex. movie buffs might get to see areas where famous movies were filmed). Generally, people who book small group tours are more invested in the experience and stories than the photo ops, so you might get to dodge fewer elbows (see Collette from the mass tour example).

CONS:

If the tour sucks, you’re kind of stuck. Also, if your tour mates suck, it can feel awkward – like forced social interactions. I can remember taking a small group bike tour and the chick in front of me DID NOT know how to ride a bike and would brake by simply sticking her feet out. I almost crashed an ungodly amount of times and still feel frustrated when I reminisce to this day. Small group tours are also usually more expensive since they feel more “exclusive”.

It’s just you (and your travel companions, if you have them) and your guide. Maybe a driver, if that’s part of it. It’s hard to describe a private tour because the experience can really vary. Higher-end excursions might include entrance fees to museums or gardens, or even meals. The guide might have a general structure for the event, but usually leaves it open to what you want to see. It feels less scripted overall and much more conversational in nature.

PROS:

Where to begin. I really do like private tours, so I may be providing a highlight reel here. You really get to see the city from a local’s perspective. You can ask questions you have or get firsthand recommendations. It’s especially helpful if you’re working with a language barrier (though it’s not as bad as it seems, trust me) since they can communicate and clarify for you. You’ll see hidden gems and get a customized tour based on what you like to see. It feels much more relaxed and you won’t feel so touristy. One of my favorite travel memories was getting to play tejo (a Colombian game that’s like cornhole WITH GUNPOWDER) at a closed back-alley bar in Salento – we only got to experience it because our guide was friends with the bar owner and talked him into letting us play.

CONS:

The big one is price. Private tours come at a cost – but you get what you pay for. The more laid-back nature of the tour means conversations can get awkward if you’re not good at small talk. It’s hard to find negatives since you’re essentially getting a personalized, one-on-one guide to a city, so it truly comes down to how expensive these can be.

Consider this a subset of any of the aforementioned tours. Where general tours will lead you to the major sights, specialty tours focus in on an interest area instead. Think food, wineries/breweries, history, photography, paranormal, whatever. It’s crazy how detailed these tours can get. Essentially, you meet up with like-minded individuals and embark on a tour (that can be walking, private, small group, etc.) that’s all about that niche. These are especially perfect for second-time visitors who already took in the must-see sights or those traveling to an area for something specific (like Outlander fans hitting up filming locations or pastry lovers touring Parisian bakeries).

PROS

These are usually memorable experiences and are very tailored to your interests. While we all have a passing interest in seeing major sights, to dive into something you’re really excited about is very special. You’ll also be surrounded by others who feel the same, which already makes small talk easier given your common interest. While some history lessons in general tours go in one ear and out the other, you feel like a sponge absorbing all the specialty knowledge that’s 100% your jam.

CONS

Cost. Damn money. Specialty tours are curated experiences and come at a premium. A guided tour of Santorini will be cheaper than a multi-stop winery tour in this Greek Island for example and I’m sure it’s easy to understand why. And while these tours can be so cool, it can take away from experiencing the city depending on what your tour focus is. For example, seeing Harry Potter filming sights is awesome, but it’s not like really discovering London, ya know?

A subset of the walking tour. Sometimes you just show up, or you can reserve a spot in advance in case they meet capacity. You’ll meet at a general spot and then walk around and take in the major sights with commentary from a guide. It won’t include any extras (like admission to places you see) given the fact that it’s free.

PROS

Again – it’s free. Free is always good (well, you do have to tip the guide). Because you have so little invested, you can bounce midway if you find an area you want to explore or the tour isn’t jiving with you. Sometimes, if it’s a very slow day, you might end up with a small group or private tour anyways! Also, you can occasionally get a gem of a guide.

CONS

Given that it’s free, it won’t have any extra frills. I don’t want to make generalizations, but you may also find yourself with a less than stellar guide given that they typically just work for tips. You might also get a weird hodgepodge of tourists joining in from all walks of life, which could make it interesting, but it can go south, too.

You’ll be given a helmet and a Segway, and sometimes elbow pads. Your guide will led your pack of upright, motorized transport vessels through the city – zoom zoom. It’s very much like a walking tour, but with Segways instead.

PROS

None. Unless you were planning to recreate a foreign version of White and Nerdy, that is.

CONS

Everything. Do not be this person. I want to say just do you, but we cannot be friends if this is your thing. You will look like a dork. Others will laugh at you. You’ll probably fall. The helmet will give you helmet hair. You will reach a new level of tourist that you can never rebound from. Unless you were triple dog dared (since that is legit), step away from the Segway.

If you’re still on the fence about what type of tour you should book, here’s some guidance!

• Try a free tour – if it ends up terrible, you can always leave without being out any money (aside from the tip). If it ends up stellar, your gamble paid off!

• Check out the reviews for various tours. If you see SEVERAL poor reviews (not just one, since that person could have just been an a-hole), skip it. Keep in mind that people rarely write reviews when the service is amazing, so don’t be put off by companies with only a few reviews.

• Go for a general tour at the beginning of your trip. Some tour companies will offer a discount or coupon to use on a second tour. If your experience was great, go ahead with booking another specialty one at a lower price.

• If your budget allows, go with a private tour. You’ll get a chance to basically quiz a local on etiquette, best restaurants, and sunset viewing spots that tourists normally don’t ever discover.

• Always book your tours for the start of your trip if it’s a “general” sightseeing tour. It will help you learn the lay of the city and if you score suggestions, you’ll have time to check them out. Nothing is worse than hearing about the best place for breakfast on your last day there.

• I usually use Viator (not sponsored) to scope out tour offerings and reviews! Some of my favorite tours have included this walking food tour in Vancouver, a private tour of Salento arranged by Hacienda Bambusa, and this sobering Sachsenhausen experience in Berlin.

Alright guys, thanks for reading through my extensive guide to all things tours. Navigating a foreign city on your own can be overwhelming. Guided tours are a fantastic way to learn about a destination and see the sights without too much stress or hassle. I hope this helps you narrow in on your decision making process with booking a tour for your next getaway!