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There are many different types of tour packages from fully escorted tours at one end of the spectrum to a fully customized tour to your specifications at the other end. There are many variances in between. Below I will describe some of the options. I am familiar with and can book all of these for you.
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Before I go into types of tour packages, I'd like to point out the advantages to you of booking some type of tour package:
- Cost Effective - Tour packages usually offer lower rates than booking components individually.
- Security - Tour companies research and often personally inspect the properties they offer in their packages. You can rest assured that a property you are booking through a tour company has met standards established by that particular company. Different companies offer different levels of properties.
- One Stop Shop - Through a tour package you can book multiple components for your trip. You can book the air, accommodations, airport transfers, sightseeing activities, meals and trip insurance all in one package. This can save you a tremendous amount of time in shopping different companies for each component of your trip.
- Travel Assistance - Just about all tour companies offer contact phone numbers where their customers can reach them while they are traveling. These numbers can be used for destination information, the purchase of additional services, changing travel plans and handling emergencies. You always have a phone number to call.
Most people who have booked travel with me have booked a tour package of some sort. You may or may not have realized this. It is on very rare occasions that I do not book a package of some sort. Below are the different types of tour packages:
 Fully Escorted Tour - This type of tour is the most structured and allows the least amount of flexibility. The tour price will include the full itinerary as presented in the tour brochure including accommodations, transportation throughout the tour, services of an escort, many meals and most sightseeing. The advantage to this type of tour is that you will maximize the time you are in each location, you will be provided with full narration by your tour escort often accompanied by local guides, and all arrangements will be handled by the tour escort. All you need to do is follow the tour escort. The disadvantages of this type of tour would be lack of leisure time and the need to follow the group's schedule... not your own. Escorted tours are offered in all parts of the world by companies such as Tauck, Trafalgar and Globus. - Hosted Tour - This type of tour follows a set agenda; however,
.jpg) there is a lot more leisure time built into it. There is not an escort that accompanies the group throughout the tour. Rather, there is a host representing the tour company who will be at the hotel who makes sure each activity gets off as scheduled and is available to offer suggestions and is able to book optional activities for members of the group. A good example of this type of tour package might be a Hosted Tour of Paris offered by a company such as Trafalgar Tours. Inclusions in this type of package are likely to be roundtrip airport transfers, hotel accommodations, breakfast daily, and some sightseeing tours. This type of tour is perfect for those travelers wanting some degree of flexibility; yet, would feel better if they have an on-site "go to" person who can handle trip logistics and any additional requests they may have. Another advantage is that you will have a group of people you will meet that you will do some activities with that you might want to get together with during your free time. There is more of a chance for socialization than if you traveled totally on your own.
 Independent Tour Package - This type of package is for travelers preferring to travel independently; however, are interested in taking advantage of discounted pricing often available through tour companies that is not available by booking individual trip components with each travel supplier. Most of the travel that I book falls into this category. GoGo Worldwide Vacations, Funjet Vacations, Apple Vacations, Northwest World Vacations and Travel Bound are the companies I use most frequently in booking independent tour packages. They offer a very high degree of flexibility in that there are usually numerous accommodations, many flight options and sightseeing excursions to choose from. Many trips I have booked to Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Europe have been this type of tour package. - Fully Customized Tour Package - This is where you and I work t
 ogether and build an itinerary for you totally from scratch based on your personal preferences. This is where I have the most fun. As an example, you might have an interest in Mozart and are interested in visiting Austria specifically visiting places where Mozart spent his life. I will research it to the point that I know the key places to send you, I'll line up local guides specializing in Mozart to accompany you and I'll arrange for you to see concerts performing Mozart's works. Along with my own research, I will work with travel specialists in Austria to put together the ultimate Mozart Experience for you. I can do this for you in any part of the world around any special interest you may have. If Mozart and music are not your thing, then maybe its art, architecture, churches, zoos, food and wine. The possibilities are endless!!! This is the level of travel where you can really live your dreams!!!
 While I have treated each one of these types of packages as a singular experience, it is possible for me to add a specialized activity to a hosted tour or an independent tour package you may have booked. I can cite a couple of examples of things I've done for past customers. I booked an independent tour package to Spain for a couple. The man had an interest in swords and they were visiting Toledo, Spain. I arranged for a private guide to spend a morning with him taking him around to area attractions that housed swords of particular significance. They also visited a sword factory and antique stores that carried swords. He made some purchases and has souvenirs of very personal significance to him from his trip to Spain. As another example, my family and I were on a Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago and visited the Greek island of Santorini. My son is very interested in archaeology. I arranged for my husband and son to have a private guide take them through the remains of the ancient settlement of Akrotiri (which many believe was a city from the lost civilization of Atlantis). Not only did they have the guidance of a specialist taking them through the area, Akrotiri was closed to the public at that time so they had access to something that otherwise wouldn't have been available to them. Through my network of worldwide contacts, these are the kinds of doors I can open for you.
 In another instance, I had some customers booked on a fully escorted tour of Italy. They decided that before their tour, they would like to spend five days seeing Switzerland. They wanted to travel on their own schedule; however, they wanted all the details taken care every step of the way. They asked me to design a five day tour of Switzerland for them including accommodations, all transportation and sightseeing. This tour was customized down to me arranging drivers to meet them at their arriving track at the train station, remove their luggage from the train and driving them to their hotel. At the end of their stay at each place, a driver would take them to the train station, accompany them to the correct track and train car, load their luggage for them and see them off. They had private tours in each place which maximized their time and enabled them to get the most out of the places they visited. While most people do not travel at this level, I have the expertise and the worldwide connections to design this type of itinerary.
I will work with you in designing the type of experience to best suit your needs.
Travel Experts of Toledo - 6711 Monroe Street - Sylvania Ohio 43560- 419-882-1257
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