OK, my idea of camping is a stay at the Holiday Inn… and not the Express version, either.
I’d agree to a backpacking trip only where no alternative is possible (eg. the higher reaches Nepal and Tibet) provided sherpas are available. On the other hand,
I doubt I’ll ever want to do another all-inclusive vacation either, but who knows?
Although I’d recommend them for travel novices and those who don’t want to hassle with itineraries, we’ll probably stay away from pre-packaged tours as well. We’ve found that there is always at least one person (are you reading this Hans?) in every tour group who is discourteous and/or inconsiderate and therefore creates tension in the group.
At this point in our lives, we like to travel independently, and the Internet makes that all so easy for anyone willing to do the research… and who wants to save money in the process.
We book our own flights, review hotels and make reservations. Instead of suffering overcrowded tour buses, we book local travel with a tour guide and a driver at our destinations. I especially like when they show up with a Mercedes or BMW. 🙂
This style works for us because Ed and I have the time and inclination to do the research and the work… and it can take time to review and plan all the details for a trip that lasts a few weeks to a month.
It also works because we are both fairly sociable and therefore meet and talk to people wherever we happen to be. Then again, it was independent travel in my twenties and thirties that finally helped me overcome an almost overwhelming shyness.
So, take a chance, save a few bucks and have some fun by doing it your way!
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