What group trips cost
The number on the page is rarely the number you pay. Here is how the pricing works, so you can compare two trips fairly.
- The price is almost always land only. Flights are separate.
- Optional activities are where two similar prices drift apart.
- Compare trips on real cost per day, not the price on the page.
- Read the cancellation terms before you pay a deposit.
The price is almost always land only
Land only means everything from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Flights to and from the trip are separate, and you book them yourself. A few companies bundle flights, mostly on tours for your twenties.
What is in the price, and what is not
- Places to stay
- A leader or guide
- Transport during the trip
- Some meals, most often breakfast and a few group dinners
- Some or all of the activities
- Flights
- Travel and medical insurance
- Some lunches and dinners
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Visas and entry fees for the country
- A private room
Optional activities are where two similar prices drift apart. On some trips nearly every activity is in the price. On others the price covers the route and the beds, and the activities are sold as add-ons.
How to compare two trips
Add what is missing, then divide by the number of days. Here is a made-up example.
| Trip A | Trip B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price on the page | $1,900 | $2,400 |
| Activities you would add | $450 | $0, included |
| Meals not included | $250 | $100 |
| Real cost for 7 days | $2,600 | $2,500 |
| Per day | about $371 | about $357 |
The trip that looked $500 cheaper costs more. These numbers are invented to show the method. Run it with the real ones.
Deposits and payment dates
You normally pay a deposit to hold your spot and the rest a few weeks before you travel. The size of the deposit and the date of the final payment vary a lot.
- When you bookA deposit holds your spot.
- A few weeks beforeThe rest of the price is due.
- On the tripYou pay for whatever the price left out.
One real example. SYBour company asks for a 20 percent deposit, with the balance due six weeks before the trip starts.
Cancellation terms
Read these before you pay anything. Three things to look for.
- What you get back, and until when. Cash, credit toward another trip, or nothing.
- Whether the deposit is ever refundable. Often it is not.
- What happens if the company cancels. You should get your money back or a free move to another date.
The same real example. At SYBour company, payments are non-refundable. If you cancel more than 45 days before the trip, everything you have paid becomes credit for another trip within 12 months. Inside 45 days you get nothing back. Many companies have terms of this shape, with different numbers. That is why insurance matters.
Insurance
Many companies require travel and medical insurance. Even where they do not, it is what protects you if you get sick, a flight is cancelled or you have to pull out late. Buy it when you book, not the week before.
The single supplement
If you want your own room, expect a fee. It can be a small add-on or a large share of the trip price. If you are happy to share, most companies will pair you with a roommate at no extra cost. More on that in going alone on a group trip.
Three questions that settle it
- What will I pay for on the trip that is not in this price?
- Can the price change after I book?
- If I cancel 60 days out, and 30 days out, what do I get back?