Private tours

[iancal]

Cost is typically secondary for us. Quality/value is at the top of our priority list. We have joined some small groups, have done a number of private tours but so far have not asked others to join a tour that we are part of.

 

We have experienced some really good tours, met some very interesting tour guides, and studiously avoided the big buses, the souvenir shops, the leather shops, the carpet shops, and the cousin's /uncle's/brother's shops where we would be given a wonderful discount because we are special people.

 

We also like the fact that all of the money stays with the locals. Half of it does not sail away with the ship as it does with cruise line excursions.

 

So far, so good.

[bigwally]

I just know the way this poster tends to post. ;)

 

One could say a lightning strike is possible but it will not happen -- as a way of suggesting the odds are pretty darn low.

 

We came real close in Rome.

 

Our English speaking tour guide had asked to be left in Rome instead of escorting us back to Civitavecchia and then having to come back into the city, which wasn't a big deal when we agreed to it. That left the 16 of us, none of whom spoke Italian, with a driver who only spoke Italian.

 

We were already running much later than I was liking due to massively heavy traffic out of the city when we came upon a minor accident - an older fella had side-swiped the guard rail damaging his front fender. He was out of his car and seemed OK, but of course he'd left the car sitting in the middle of the ramp, blocking it for all other traffic.

 

Our driver got out to check on him, which was fair enough, and meanwhile there were a number of cars behind us where drivers had also got out to offer assistance. The whole thing was turning into a scene out of a long, drawn out Italian drama, except nobody thought to move the car from the middle of the ramp.

 

Rightly or wrongly, I was getting more than a bit frustrated - the damage to the car was negligible and the old fella appeared to be OK (in LA traffic it was something most drivers wouldn't have even slowed down for) so I personally saw no reason why the car couldn't simply be driven (or pushed) onto the hard shoulder and, if necessary, one or more of the other drivers could stay with the old fella if that's what was warrantied.

 

Now I'm not going to say my attitude wasn't selfish, but as the tour organizer I felt personally responsible for these 15 other people, and it's not like we could drive to the next port (Ajaccio, Corsica). However, trying to get my point of view over to the bus driver was more or less impossible with the language barrier.

 

We did eventually get going and arrived at 5:30pm for a 5:45pm all-aboard.

 

None of this has spoiled my sense of adventure when it comes to private tours, but it has made me more cautious when it comes to timing out the day.

[Augie's mom]

Question for all you private tour fans; Does the small group/private tour "organizer" receive any kind of discount from the tour operator for organizing said tour, i.e, filling up said van? Gracias! :D

We did a number of private tours,and organizer didn't get any break or recompense . Personally I think she got more work than the rest of us just joining the tour. They were very good, and the price was reasonable .

Augie's mom

[kazu]

We did a number of private tours' date='and organizer didn't get any break or recompense . Personally I think she got more work than the rest of us just joining the tour. They were very good, and the price was reasonable .

Augie's mom[/quote']

As an organizer, I can assert to this.

 

It's for the benefit of the experience and the roll call.

 

the organizer gets "nada" and it's pretty much a thankless job IMO. It takes a lot of time to research and try to line up a good tour. those that join benefit ;)

[donaldsc]

You take private tours because they are better, not because they are cheaper. Also, group sizes are smaller as the group organizer decides how many people will be allowed on the tour. When I organize a private tour, the maximum group size I will ever allow is 8 people. How many ship tours have only 8 people on them.

 

There are even occasional times when you get a truly private private tour. We did one in Australia where there were supposed to be 6 of us on the tour. Everyone had prepaid the guide for the tour and 2 couples just did not show for some unknown reason so it was just the 2 of us on the tour. It was great.

 

DON

Edited September 1, 2017 by donaldsc