What type of traveler are you?

Independent Travel or Escorted Tours?

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When you travel you can have a completely different experience than what your friend, family member, or co-worker may have had, even though you both went to the same destination.  Your traveling style will make all the difference on your experiences.  As a travel agent, that's what I will help determine for you, whether a FIT (Foreign Independent Tour) or an Escorted Tour is best for you.   Do you want to have more activities included in the package, or is having a flexible schedule more important?  I am here to figure out what your dreams and expectations are when it comes to you traveling.

What does FIT really mean?   What is an escorted tour?  Let's learn about both of these so you can determine which is right for you.

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What does FIT Mean?

FIT is an abbreviation that refers to either “foreign independent tour”, "free independent traveler, "frequent independent traveler" or “fully independent traveler.”  All of these definitions share a keyword and concept: independent.  This means that the traveler or travelers will be taking a trip that does not follow a packaged itinerary and will not have a set tour guide or leader. As your travel agent I would create an itinerary of your flights, hotels, transportation, and then help you plan custom sightseeing with a private tour guide, arrange a private cooking class or a wine-tasting tour, and even help with finding a knowledgeable local representative all based on the input you provided.  

The traveling is still independent, but the planning benefits from using my professional expertise and inside knowledge is well worth it.  And of course, it takes much less time than searching for all the information you need on your own.

FIT travel provides travelers with the benefit of flexibility and customization that they may not experience on an escorted tour.   It can be a little harder for clients to budget for an FIT trip since it may not include many, if any meals, in-destination transportation, or sightseeing costs. When I am creating a custom itinerary I enjoy getting to work closely with my clients to craft a tailor-made trip specifically for them. 

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What does Escorted Tours mean?

Planning a vacation can be time consuming, and it can be hard to know where to eat, what to do, 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.   Escorted tours, where you travel with a group of people and a tour guide are a great option for travelers looking for an organized, social travel option with lots included, and is more structured.

As your travel agent I can determine which experience will be best for you based on the input you provide,  If you are wanting to visit London for an example and you want to see all of the major highlights of the city (such as Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre).  You want to travel to Stonehenge and a castle if possible but you don't want to rent a car and you feel a tour guide would help experience these locations, then an escorted tour would be recommend.  This will give you the best chance to see and do everything on your list,

Escorted tours appeal to my clients who want to see the best of a destination.   You may worry that an escorted tour is more expensive than a FIT trip, but in reality, a traveler on an escorted tour is a cost-effective way to travel. Because the price of escorted tours includes transportation, admission, and usually some meals, escorted tours allow travelers to anticipate the total cost of their trip before they even leave.

Some may argue that escorted tours are only for retirees. Escorted tours cater to everyone, from millennial travelers and families to wellness travelers and foodies.

One of the best parts of an escorted tour is the social aspect. Since everyone is traveling together 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 can turn into lifelong friendships.

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, experience culinary adventures or spend time in the great outdoors, there’s sure to be an escorted tour for you.

How do you want to travel?  I would love to help you determine if an FIT or an Escorted Tour is best for you.  Let's find out

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