What are the differences between group tours and self-guided tours?

1. Different travel modes

For group tours, you sign up at a travel agency and tell the travel places you want to go. The travel agency makes arrangements according to the tourists’ requirements, and then the tourists arrive at the designated date The tour guide will lead you to the tourist destination for sightseeing, sightseeing and entertainment. The accommodation, food, transportation and travel routes are all arranged by the travel agency in advance. Tourists only need to follow the tour guide according to the itinerary specified in the contract. .

Independent travel is an emerging form of tourism. The travel agency arranges air tickets + hotels, or air tickets + hotels + attraction tickets + other transportation. However, independent travel does not require a tour guide, and food is arranged by the travelers themselves.

2. Different itineraries

Group tours are more planned, and the itinerary has been determined. Due to various reasons such as accommodation and transportation, except for free activities, You are usually not allowed to leave the group outside the scheduled time. The time to visit a tourist attraction is also fixed, and the itinerary is relatively compact.

If you travel independently, you can arrange your itinerary completely by yourself. You can go wherever you want to go and for as long as you want. The itinerary can be compact or loose, which is very free and has greater flexibility.

3. Travel costs are different

Group tours usually include large tickets for scenic spots in the itinerary, group meals, hotel accommodation, tour guide services, round-trip electronic tickets or bus tickets, etc. If If you don’t shop, you basically don’t need to spend any more.

Self-guided tours usually refer to electronic tickets plus hotels or hotel bookings alone, excluding local transportation, tickets, tour guides and meals. These need to be solved by yourself, and the cost will be more expensive than group tours.

4. Different levels of effort

Because in group tours, the travel agency arranges everything during the trip, such as attractions, accommodation, food, etc., so you don’t have to worry about it at all, just follow along. Just let the tour guide go.

If you travel independently, in addition to the air tickets and hotels arranged by the travel agency, other attractions, routes, food, transportation, etc. need to be arranged by yourself, so you don’t have to worry about traveling with a group.

5. Different safety factors

If you participate in a group tour, you will sign a formal contract with the travel agency, you will be insured, and there will be a tour guide following you throughout the whole process, so the safety factor is very high.

You need to rely entirely on yourself when traveling independently. You may encounter situations such as not knowing the way, not being able to find places, etc. during travel. The safety factor is lower than that of group travel.

Extended information:

To register for a group tour, you should go to the travel agency sales department or registration point in person with a valid ID; you should choose an itinerary that suits you; be clear about the items included in the group fee; sign Confirm the travel contract; pay the tour fee and request invoices, itinerary, instructions for joining the tour, compensation details, etc.; confirm the departure time, location, name of the accompanying person, and contact information.

When traveling in a group, you generally need to sign a travel contract with a travel agency when registering. Contract components include: standard contract developed by the Provincial Tourism Quality Supervision Office, travel registration instructions and responsibility details, travel itinerary, invoices, etc.

When signing a contract, pay attention to whether all components are complete and whether the contract is stamped with the official seal and signed by the person in charge. The itinerary should include the service content and standards provided by the travel agency. If a travel dispute occurs, it is one of the strongest evidences.