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Savvy Travel: The Scoop on Group Travel

Which type of travel is right for you? Fifi LaMode, The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor, gives us the scoop on traveling with a group. —BB


by Fifi LaMode
Never have so many opportunities been available for people to see just about any place in the world. Not long ago, in the 50's, an economy ticket to Europe cost about 4 months' wages and people dressed up to go on planes because it was such a big deal. Going to Florida in the winter was for the well-off and if you did a family trip to California from the Midwest, it was by train, or you drove. Now, even with rising airfares, travel is still a bargain. To get the most from your travel dollar, it's important to decide how you want to travel, whether in a group or on your own.

Group travel has its advantages:
  1. Once you are met at the airport by the group representative, you don't have to schlep luggage. It's delivered to your room at each hotel. It's picked up in the morning and placed on the bus. All included in the price of the tour.
  2. You get to meet people from all over the place who share your interest in the places you're visiting.
  3. The research is done for you. You don't have to look for hotels on your own and negotiate prices. Some of the meals are usually included, breakfasts almost always.
  4. Once you've paid upfront for the tour, in US dollars, you don't have to worry about exchange rates or budgeting except for non-included items, like tips for the guides and incidentals and lunches/dinners.