Choosing the Right Adventure Travel Company
Open any magazine or walk into any travel agency and you will find dozens of tour companies offering a variety of adventure vacations from biking and hiking in the United States to photo safaris in Africa. The key is knowing how to find the tour company and the trip that's right for you.
In order to assist you in making an informed decision, we have devised "10 Essential Questions to Ask Every Tour Company". By knowing the right questions to ask, you will be able to choose the best quality outfitter to meet your particular vacation needs.
What kind of a trip am I looking for?
Begin by determining what is important to you in a trip. Some aspects to consider are:
· Trip destination
· Trip dates
· Activity: biking, hiking, rafting, etc.
· Price range
Trip destination and activity should help to narrow your search between four to five tour companies. Now it is important to contact and evaluate each tour operator. Your initial phone call will tell you a lot about the company. The office staff should be friendly, efficient, knowledgeable, and able to answer the following questions.
10 Essential Questions to Ask Every Outfitter
1. How long has your company been in business?
In what area of the world/activity do you specialize?
The older the company, the more time it has had to perfect the vacation package or to "iron out the quirks." It is usually better to choose an operator that specializes in the area you'd like to visit and the activity you'd like to partake in.
2. What is the group size for a trip?
Be sure to ask the maximum number of participants allowed on a trip and the client-to-guide ratio. A smaller group and client-to-guide ratio will offer a more personal experience, better support, and allow for spontaneity and all the little extra touches. Also, be sure to determine if other families have already booked the trip.
3. What is the general profile of your participants?
Tour companies often cater to a specific type of person and most don’t specialize in working with families. Knowing the age range, marital status, gender and athletic ability of participants will help you decide on the right company and trip for you and your family.
4. What is included in the price of the trip and what additional expenses should I expect?
Most tour companies include all meals and accommodations in their advertised price. Some companies also include rental equipment, while others provide the option of bringing your own or renting for a nominal fee. Air transportation is not usually included in the price, but ask for a travel agency recommendation. Most tour operators either have a travel agency or work in conjunction with one to provide you with the lowest airfare.
In determining your total trip cost include airfare and any additional transportation costs (shuttles, rental cars, etc.) needed to arrive at the designated trip starting point.
5. What are the food arrangements?
All tour companies differ in meal arrangements. You may want to ask the operator if they use preset menus, go to restaurants or dine at someone's house, how dietary restrictions and dietary preferences are handled, and what the lunch arrangements will be. Many lunches are provided picnic-style and can vary from simple peanut-butter sandwiches to gourmet spreads.
6. What type of accommodations are provided?
Whether it is an inn-to-inn or a camping tour, accommodations play a critical role in the enjoyment of a trip. Ask about the inns used, if it is a bed & breakfast or a simple hotel, the size of the lodge, what the room arrangements will be, and if the accommodation caters to families. For example, “can I get a discount if my family shares a single room?” or “do the inns have private or shared baths?”
For camping trips, location can be everything. Find out if the campground is in a remote area or part of an RV park, and if showers are available.
7. What training do the guides have?
First-aid and a good regional knowledge are essential for any tour guide, as are personality, leadership skills and experience in working with children. Ask how long the guides have been with the company. This should indicate if they enjoy working with the outfitter. Additionally, ask about their experience level and what the minimum skills required of a guide are. In general, a tour operator will schedule every trip with at least one highly experienced guide.
8. How do you rate the ability level for your trips? Do we all have to do the same activity?
Some companies have trips with differing ability levels while others claim "good for all abilities." Beginner to one company may be advanced to another. Talk to the company about your families’ fitness levels in comparison to the trip ability level. Find out how many miles a day you will be covering, what the terrain will be like and if there are any elevation gains. If you are having difficulty deciding between two levels, the easier trip may be more comfortable for you and your family.
Many tour companies prefer to travel as a group with all the participants partaking in the same activity. However, some operators do offer different activity or degree of difficulty options on any given day of the tour. The latter is the preferable option for families, helping to ensure that everyone’s needs are met on a day-to-day basis.
9. What is your cancellation and refund policy?
All tour companies have their own cancellation and refund policy. Therefore, it is very important to carefully read and understand this policy before you put any money down.
Ask the tour operator what will happen if the trip is canceled. Will you receive a full refund? If not, you should look into purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. Also, find out when you will be notified. Discovering two weeks before the start date that the trip has been canceled will leave you scurrying and panicked to find another adventure.
10. Do you have any references I can contact for your company and/or this trip?
Always check references! A past participant is more likely to tell you the ups and downs of a trip and give you a better feel for the "personality" of the tour company.
Last Thoughts
Regardless of the adventure you choose, we hope that this information will aid you in finding the best tour company to meet your particular active vacation needs. Being equipped with the essential questions will help to take the guesswork out of this decision process and make the experience easy and enjoyable.
We wish you the family adventure vacation of a lifetime in the great outdoors!