Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

ESCORTED GENERAL-INTEREST TOURS 57
newspaper. Or check ads in the national
travel magazines such as Arthur Frommer’s
Budget Travel Magazine, Travel &
Leisure, National Geographic Traveler,
and Condé Nast Traveler.
Package tours can vary enormously.
Some offer a better class of hotels than
others. Some offer the same hotels for
lower prices. Some offer flights on
scheduled airlines, while others book
charters. Some limit your choice of
accommodations and travel days. You
are often required to make a large payment
up front. On the plus side, packages
can save you money, offering
group prices but allowing for independent
travel. Some even let you add
on a few guided excursions or escorted
day trips (also at prices lower than if
you booked them yourself) without
booking an entirely escorted tour.
Before you invest in a package, get
some answers. Ask about the accommodations
choices and prices for each.
Then look up the hotels’ reviews in a
Frommer’s guide and check their rates
for your specific dates of travel online.
You’ll also want to find out what type
of room you get. If you need a certain
type of room, ask for it—don’t take
whatever is thrown your way. Finally,
look for hidden expenses. Ask whether
airport departure fees and taxes, for
example, are included in the cost.
15 Escorted General-Interest Tours
Escorted tours are structured group spend lots of time behind the wheel.
tours, with a group leader. The price All the little details are taken care of,
usually includes everything from airfare
to hotels, meals, tours, admission there are few surprises. Escorted tours
you know your costs up front, and
costs, and local transportation. can take you to the maximum number
Connections for 18 to 35’s (call of sights in the minimum amount of
Australian Pacific Touring, & 800/ time with the least amount of hassle—
290-8687 in the U.S.; Goway, & 800/ you don’t have to sweat over the plotting
and planning of a vacation
387-8850 in Canada; & 1800/077
251 in Australia or 07/3839 7877; schedule. Escorted tours are particularly
convenient for people with lim-
www.connections1835.com.au), and
Contiki (& 888/CONTIKI in the ited mobility.
U.S.; 800/268-1835 in Canada; 020/ On the downside, an escorted tour
8290-6777 in the U.K.; 09/309 8824 often requires a big deposit up front,
in New Zealand; or 02/9511 2200 in and lodging and dining choices are
Australia; www.contiki.com) specialize predetermined. As part of a cloud of
in escorted tours for 18- to 35-yearolds.
These trips attract a lot of Aus-
for serendipitous interactions with
tourists, you’ll get little opportunity
tralians, too, so they are a good way to locals. The tours can be jam-packed
meet locals. Connections for 18 to with activities, leaving little room for
35’s also does a range of active holidays individual sightseeing, whim, or
for people of any age. Premier Vacations
(& 800/321-6720 in the U.S. only on the heavily visited sites, so you
adventure—plus they also often focus
and Canada; www.premierdownunder. miss out on the lesser-known gems.
com) is another reliable escorted tour Before you invest in an escorted
operator.
tour, ask about the cancellation policy:
Is a deposit required? Can they
Many people derive ease and security
from escorted trips. Escorted cancel the trip if they don’t get enough
tours—whether by bus, motor coach, people? Do you get a refund if they
train, or boat—let travelers sit back cancel? If you cancel? How late can
and enjoy their trip without having to you cancel if you are unable to go?