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brief visit at an attraction, you can stay for as long as you want, eat at any restau- rant you like, take unplanned side trips, and spend more time with the natives. If you’re not feeling well, you can go back to your hotel and sleep rather than tough it out on the bus. Traveling alone or with a companion, you’ll have an easier time getting restaurant reservations and last-minute bus, train, or attrac- tion tickets. You’ll build confidence in your abilities and have some great stories to tell when you get home. For those who would like to try unescorted travel but are still on the fence, Kepnes has this advice: “Just do it. It’s always worse in your head than it turns out to be in real life. Once you get there, you’ll wonder why you stressed so much about it. The Dutch have a saying: ‘The hard- est part of a journey is stepping out the front door.’ ”


Taking the tour route A tour is a good choice for beginning travelers without a lot of experience, Kepnes says. “It’s a good way to get your feet wet.” If you’ve settled on a tour, Fodor’s,


Frommer’s, and TourRadar have online forums where you can glean tour information from those who’ve taken them. TripAdvisor, a major go-to site for travel reviews, has no tour group category yet, but a quick search often will turn up reviews. Terry Dale, president and CEO of the U.S. Tour Operators Association, notes tour operators sanctioned by his organization are required to post a million-dollar bond as insurance for unexpected problems. This is helpful for trav- elers looking for peace of mind as well as a fulfilling vacation. He also recommends using a travel agent to smooth your way.


While it’s true tour companies exist to relieve you of the burden of plan- ning itineraries and making other extensive travel ar- rangements, they’re not all cre- ated equal. Researching a group’s target market will reveal whether it caters more to young people, cou- ples, families, or older travelers. The intended audience can make a huge difference in your level of enjoy- ment. On his site at www.noma dicmatt.com, Kepnes mentions one group that’s geared to 18- to 35-year-olds looking for a good time, where the tours “tend to be filled with parties, young people, and alcohol.” That’s fine if you’re in that demographic, but not so much if you’re looking for a more peaceful or educational experience.


Guiding principles Your guide is the fulcrum on which your tour experience rests, which is why a good guide adds so much value to your trip. Dale recommends selecting tours that hire guides who are native to the country you’re visiting. Kepnes, however, says he thinks a guide who has spent a considerable amount of time in the country and is an expert on the des- tination is sufficient. “If you get a bad guide who doesn’t know much about your destination, it won’t ruin your trip; it just won’t be as memo- rable,” he says. “But you’ll always remember a good one.” Consider- ing that a tour guide is responsible for arranging every aspect of a tour, including hotel rooms, admission tickets to attractions, restaurant res- ervations, and many other details,


it’s no wonder they’re so critical to guests’ enjoyment.


Planning considerations  Make sure the group is fully ac- credited and follows all regulations. Check the fine print for policies on trip interruptions, cancellations, and refunds. Travel insurance is highly recommended.  The adage “You get what you pay for” is especially true with tour groups. The cheapest ones might put you in substandard hotels far from your destination, and you might have to pay for activities that are included with higher-priced tours. Expenses such as museum tickets, meals, tips, and airport transfers might have to come out of your own pocket. Make sure the sights you want to see are on your itinerary. Some tours by- pass sites that are difficult to reach or inconvenient for the operator. A visi- tor to one travel forum complained his group saw nothing but churches on one trip because they were free.  Group size is important. Smaller groups can be more nimble at getting around and make it easier to meet everyone in the tour and participate in activities together. Larger groups offer more opportunity for interac- tion with different people.


MO


— Mark Cantrell is a freelance writer based in North Carolina. His last feature article for Military Officer was “Past Meets Present,” March 2015.


AUGUST 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 65


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