Travel Independent
VS Guided
Tour
Traveling with own notes compared to traveling with the travel agencies
is different. It not only involves financial factors, time and limitation of
destination as well.
Recently,
Many of the travellers
prefer to travel / travel abroad despite the lack of travel restrictions, time
arrangements by own and follows the itinery programs organized by the travel
agency.
Here,
I will share about my own
experience traveling to destinations mostly as solo with self-port raising
notes. It's very-very worth it!
1Free travel
Allows for a slower pace,
allowing you to recognize more local culture and create a richer experience in
one particular area.
So it's okay if you're on a
trip to New Zealand for example, walking across a couple, or eating cheese cake
with your friends in the mountain villages of Sapa, it's authentic.
What I'm talking about here
is the cultural journey we want to see and learn, that may be more difficult to
do is about relationships from different destinations and also different
country.
Sharing experiences when I
speak and meet a family in Lombok. The family recently returned from a guided
tour of Indonesia with a travel company. While the family really enjoyed the
time, but the father complained that he had no "authentic"
experience.
He was very disappointed not
to have the opportunity to leave the world of tourism groups to recognize the
life of the village. Not only that, the journey is too short with location to
every destination not more than 30 minutes. It is fast and has no chance to
enjoy the beauty of the city. In addition, at the beach of Gili Trawangan, they
have no opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of the low tide which will allow
tourists to take pictures on a very beautiful and interesting cradle. Just
because in Gili Trawangan Beach, Lombok only has this kind of beauty. Disappointed
to it.
He was not even disappointed
to hear that I had travelled the same, freely, walking freely among the
villages and never had a problem even wandering alone.
2More Flexibility
While you can usually find a
guided tour that can fit into your travel plans, there is still a limit on
where you want to go and what you want to do?
Benefits not bound to travel
agency are not tied to the program provided. Because if planning to follow a
travel agency, no last minute change plan is allowed and you cannot travel an
hour or two to another city you expect to see as well.
And of course it is always
possible that you hate the places you visit. What can you do now? You cannot
change the plan of your trip suddenly. Or vice versa because you need to follow
the program provided then, what if you fell in love with the place? There is no
way you can decide to spend just one more day. Not easy!
So, if we are not tied to
the travel agency it is easier for us to change the travel plan because all
decisions are in our hands.
3Cheaper
Before going on a trek, I
always try to find information about the destinations that will go and print it
to bring. What's more important is collecting information- the cost of the
destination, budget accommodation and the interesting location and travel
method. Everything comes at the price attached and that's all relative to your
experience.
Guided tours are always more
expensive as you pay for others to plan for you. Though, sometimes small group
visits are a cheaper option.
I have travelled to 27
exciting destinations. Most of the locations I visit are budget. I'm pretty
good on my way with the budget. We see guided tour pricing and know that we can
do the same and more, at a slower pace, with the same more or less frequent
local experience. But of course it comes with troublesome prices, hard work,
and discomfort.
4Social Dynamics
You launch a guided tour for
the next 1 months throughout Europe, you have paid all your money, you are very
excited and then on day 3 you realize you have nothing like 30 other people on
the bus.
In fact, you cannot stand
it. What you think of the adventure of your dreams, has turned into a
nightmare. Tired of being able to get back home quickly!
One thing I learned from
traveling with others is that you need to be truly selective. Friendship can
explode quickly. You are in the pocket of each one for the days ending.
If social dynamics do not
work it can be terrible. With free travel you can choose who you bring with it.
If you find that you are not competing with your travel buddy, you can make a
choice quickly and change directions apart from each other.
I have experience while
studying at a Bachelor's Degree in University. Travel with six friends to
Thailand. While in Thailand, we do not agree to the location but even night
activities are different. So it's because we have decided to withdraw from next
adventure. It is very sad.
I am more than happy to
travel alone and have friends who share the same interests. Do not like being
tied to any program and prefer to move in accordance with the self-prepared
plan. More challenging, save, fun and profitable.
Good Luck and Be Patient
With Your Own Step!!!
@Jackie San