5 Things to Consider When Booking a Guided Tour

Guided tours are so incredibly flexible and customizable – you can find one to fit any traveler’s preferences. Though having many options is great, the difficulty comes in qualifying your clients and narrowing down your choices to found the right fit. In no particular order, here are five things to consider about your clients, the destination and the tour operator when booking a guided tour.

1. How active do your clients want to be on their vacation? This should really be your first question, because it will help you choose the right destination and guided tour type for your clients. If they want to be really active and love biking, consider guided tours operators like Intrepid Travel, who offers active adventures, or Trek Travel, who specializes in bike tours.
2. Do your clients want to travel with other people? If meeting new people and spending a bit of time with them is ok with your clients, you have lots of options in all price ranges. It’s the same if your clients have family or friends they want to go on a guided tour with. And if your client is traveling solo, that’s important to know too, as some guided tours operators specialize in solo travelers, like Collette and Bamba Tours. If they want a private experience, that could change the cost of the tour and the operator you book through.
3. What kind of travel schedule are your clients looking for? Flexible or structured, on their own for part of the vacation and on a tour for the other part or on a tour the entire time? Your clients’ travel style and desired schedule are incredibly important, as the options for guided tours are close to endless.
4. Do your clients want to have an immersive cultural experience? Or do they just want an overview of a city’s historical landmarks or museums? An intimate, immersive experience can lead you to a different tour operator than a classic tour operator. It may also lead you to a different country or city based on what they’re looking to experience.
5. Do your clients want their vacation to have a bigger purpose? Tour operators offer trips to spiritual destinations, like Israel’s Sea of Galilee, on the trail of Martin Luther in Germany or to Vatican City in Rome. Travelers can also give their vacation a bigger purpose by choosing an impact travel or voluntourism package. This means they’ll do some volunteer work in the destination they’re visiting, like helping in a classroom at a school or serving food to community members. For eco-minded clients, send them on an environmentally focused tour to plant trees or work on a sea turtle conservation project.