Beware dear lonely travelers
There are a billion travel companies floating around the world wide web. Most travelers want the lowest possible price to get away and go straight to “cheaposity.com” before they even narrow down their list of dream destinations! This can lead to disaster, or at least a waste of time and money in a place that will disappoint you. Let’s say a friend encourages you to visit Nepal. You have no idea, but you use local Google tour operators. More than 1200 appear. You choose “Yak on a budget trip”, because they are very cheap and you send them a deposit by PayPal. Five months later, no one welcomes you at the airport upon your arrival. Outside, Kathmandu assaults your senses, but you manage to take a taxi to your 2-star hotel that adjoins a youth hostel. No breakfast, bad bed. His guides are unsatisfactory with thick accents. You get half-day tours every day instead of full days as promised in vans without air conditioning. At every famous site, the guide says, “I need money now for entrance fees.” And the story goes on and on for 8 long days of disappointment as you watch other tour groups gleefully get out of the luxury coaches and head to the front of the lines for the best views.
A kind reminder dear travel lover: research the credentials of the tour operators first! Choose one with a proven track record of reliability. How? Please read your company profile carefully. Is the business run by the owner or is it presented through a travel agent who does not want the expense and responsibility of being the principal? Is it a cheesy website with template blocks to cut and paste in your contact details, looking like something designed by a teenager? Be very careful if stock photos are inserted instead of actual people who traveled with this company.
Ask how long the tour operator has been in business. A year or less, I would run. Are they fully licensed and linked? Do they have an IATA license and other credentials? Any report to the Better Business Bureau is a big red flag. Find reviews on Google. If an emergency occurs, does the company have insurance to protect you? Understand that countless tour operators close each year. What protection do you have if you paid for the trip in full and they close the store a week before leaving?
Consider the companies that have successfully sent groups around the world for a long time. Look for regular travelers. Visit their website to feel the passion and integrity that comes from their information. Make sure they use non-stock photos that show real people on their travels. Take a look at hundreds of happy testimonials, each honest and trustworthy. Spend the time researching who you will book with. Find a company that delivers. After all, it is your investment in an exciting adventure that will provide you with forever memories.