They’re back. They’re hot. And they are not your grandfather’s guided tours.
Memories Forever Travel recently traveled to Ireland on an 8 day escorted tour around the southern half of Ireland. From castles, breweries, bay cruises, sheep, horse and carriage rides, scenic cliffs, postcard towns, medieval banquets, Irish shows and so much more—it’s was such an unforgettable vacation experience.
You may be wondering. . .what is an escorted tour and what does it consist of? Well let me explain! Since my job is to plan and perfect all my clients travels, sometimes that last thing I want to do is plan and perfect my own—I need my own travel agent to plan my own vacations—ha, that won’t happen!
I decided to go with a fully escorted tour in Ireland, because I didn’t have to worry or think about my trip—I didn’t want to figure out where to eat every day, what to do each day, how to get from point A to point B, and which tours to take in each destination. An escorted tour takes care of all of the planning for you, so you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing you’re seeing and doing the best of everything. All you have to do is wake up in the morning and consult your itinerary for a day, full of fun and interesting activities, transportation included. Plus, many meals are often included in your tour package, so not only are you saving time and stress in organizing travel, but also money.
Many of the tour operators that offer escorted tours are experts in the destination so they also have the advantage of established relationships with local vendors, so often they’ll get a much better price on hotels, museum entries, guided tours, and other travel expenses than you would on your own.
One of the best parts of an escorted tour is the social aspect. Since you are traveling with a small group of people and experiencing the same things, conversation will happen naturally, and friendships are sure to grow. You’ll be with like-minded people who love traveling, and often relationships formed on tours turn into lifelong friendships. But if you are more of an independent traveler—not to worry, you do have alone time as well.
Another great benefit of an escorted tour is your tour manager, a travel expert who will be with you the entire trip to answer any questions, and let you in on fascinating details of each destination. Your tour manager’s job is to know everything there is to know about the tour, so you can feel safe and comfortable at all times. Any question you have, whether about the history, environment, food, culture, or arrival times, can be answered within minutes, giving you both peace of mind and a deeper understanding of the places you visit.
Escorted tours are diverse, ranging from specific themes to covering vast regions. Whether you’re hoping to fit in multiple destinations or hone in on a specific area—like I did in Ireland, experience culinary adventures or spend time in the great outdoors, there’s sure to be an escorted tour for you.
Does an escorted tour sound interesting to you? Maybe Germany or Italy is calling your name? Either way, make sure you contact your local travel agent, Jeanie Michaels, for your next vacation so I can qualify you and match you up with the perfect vacation experience.