Five myths about private adventure trips
The world of private adventure travel trips is booming. Offered by many of the same tour operators who have scheduled group trips, these custom trips are a chance to go with your family and friends — and just your family and friends — on a biking, hiking or multisport trip. They might sound expensive, but here are five myths to consider the next time you’re planning an adventure getaway with your tribe.
1. Why would I take a private trip when a scheduled trip costs less?
The fact is that a scheduled trip is not always cheaper.
Megan McGovern of Backroads, the largest active travel company in the world, says that “on a Backroads Private Trip for 10 or more guests, you lock in the lowest price and save an average of $300 each compared to signing up individually on a scheduled departure. If you invite more friends to join you — say, 20 guests — you'll save an additional 5% each or typically about $200, for a potential total savings of about $500 per guest by going private.”
That said, it’s not always cheaper. But even if it costs more, there are distinct advantages to choosing a private trip, says Cari Gray, founder of Gray & Co, which was just ranked the No. 1 tour company in the world by Travel + Leisure. “Private trips offer maximum choice and flexibility,” says Gray. “You go with your personal agenda, not someone else's fixed itinerary. You get exactly what you want from a destination, as well as hotel rooms, meals and activities.”
Then again, they’re not for everybody. Rob Rankin, owner of Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland, says “If part of the enjoyment of a tour is meeting the other people from around the world, then a scheduled tour can be a great way to do this. But it does mean that you have less or no control over the planning and itinerary for the tour. With a private tour you have the advantage of much more control over what you get to see and do, where you can overnight and potentially more access to the guide. For some people this is worth any extra cost.”
2. Private adventure travel is only for the very wealthy.
Actually, it isn’t. The number of travelers of all stripes seeking a private group trip has grown so much that many adventure travel companies now derive a substantial portion of their business from private groups.
“It doesn’t always have to be more expensive,” says Rankin of Vagabond. “Certainly if the group is very small, then yes it would be pricey, but we base our pricing on the size of the group and have a very fair sliding scale of prices depending on the group size. A private tour for a group of 10 people costs the same as the equivalent scheduled tour, and the 11th person goes free.”
While Cari Gray of Gray & Co. make no bones about the fact that she appeals to the very affluent, she also says that it’s not always five-star level and that there is room for savings
“You can always reduce costs by choosing a lower room category, or opting for meals at bistros and pubs,” she says.
Five myths about walking vacations
3. These trips are really all about staying in the most expensive hotels.
Not at all. In fact, the cost of the hotels is often secondary to the experiences and the itineraries on offer.
“You can book private with Backroads and stay at various levels of accommodation from deluxe camping and casual inns to premiere inns,” says McGovern.
Gray agrees, noting that “many of our favorite luxury properties are not the most expensive. Sometimes that’s because they’re located at the perfect trailhead or the start of a ride rather than in an expensive city center.”
Five myths about adventure travel
4. I don’t need a private trip, I know how to use a GPS and read maps and I can book the hotels myself — and save a bundle.
Dream on. Unless you plan to spend months researching your trip and perhaps going to the area beforehand, you can’t possibly compete with the pros, who know the regions inside and out and run trips there with some frequency.
Companies like Backroads hires and trains trip designers, guides, bike mechanics and a guest services team. They have long-term relationships with hotels, which not only helps with price, but often gets you better service. In short, they handle all the logistics. If the point of the trip is to relax and unwind, why not let them do it?
Gray acknowledges that while GPS technology has come a long ways, “we do most of our biking on tertiary roads that often aren’t mapped well by GPS. We always drive or hike all the routes just before travelers arrive to make sure all is in perfect form. If the wind or bad weather comes up, it's good to know how to best alternate routes to still get in a fabulous, scenic and safe ride.”
5. My group of friends and family is of different ages and levels of fitness, how could we possibly bike or walk together on the same vacation?
Accommodating travelers of different ages, abilities and tastes turns out to be pretty much the point of private adventure trips.
“This kind of flexibility is actually more possible on a private tour,” says Rankin of Vagabond. “With any active group tour there is always an element of balancing different abilities and levels of fitness and levels of willingness. It’s generally easier to do this on a private tour.”
On a biking, walking or multisport trip, Backroads gives you several expertly designed routes each day, with detailed directions and a route rating system showing if shuttles are necessary.
Gray & Co. also offers flexibility and support, thanks to “multiple guides, drivers, mechanics and small support vehicles that allow travelers to go at their own pace while we keep all the wheels in motion. On any one departure at any one time, there might be fast riders, slow walkers, 5- to 10-year-olds, teens and grandparents. We make sure there's time apart where everyone gets to do what they want at their own pace, and then there's time together for meals and pool time to ensure that everyone has the private experience and trip that's perfect for them.”