Advantages and Disadvantages of Small Group Travel for your tour in China

China is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination. When it first re-opened to ordinary foreigners in the early 1980s it really was a place for the adventurous at heart. Nowadays it is much easier to get to and there are many more choices for travelling around. This hub looks at the pros and cons of travel within the framework of an organised tour or package with a small group of like-minded travellers.

Efficiency

A travel package includes transport and accommodation and, often, much more besides. All of these arrangements are handled behid the scenes saving you from the chores - research, selection, queueing, etc - so that you spend more time seeing and doing the things that you want.

Companionship

By joining in a group you (and perhaps your friend/partner) will get to meet other like-minded travellers. Just by having chosen the same trip you have something in common.

Information

Organised tours usually include local guides at sites so that you get a good briefing on the site and all that is relevant. This is particularly important in China where some sites still do not have much in the way of an explanation in English.

Support

In a group you will have various levels of support. Your tour guide and group will be on hand to help with day-to-day issues and there should be some form of organization behind the scenes to deal with major issues. You should be provided with a number to call in emergencies, a luxury that independent travellers may only dream of.

Restricted Freedom

Tour packages have a set itinerary and by following this your own freedom is restricted to some extent. You may feel that there is not enough time at some sites and that you really are not interested in others.

This issue can be mitigated when the tour package includes an element of free time.

Cost

Since travel companies aim to make a profit then you can be sure that the prices they charge are higher than if you make the arrangements yourself. The question is, are you willing to pay that for the convenience?

Tour packages suit many people but not all. Only you know how much you value the respective factors.

Typically, visitors to China find themselves more willing to join a tour because the language and particularly the script, make it more difficult to travel independently than elsewhere. For some, that is eaxctly the sort of challenge that will make their travels special.