Whether you’re a bunch of students on a tight budget, a family looking for a quiet getaway, or a group who just want a good old-fashioned adventure, travel can be complicated.
Hiring vehicles, booking restaurants and attractions, or even knowing where to go can be difficult and stressful no matter how experienced you are.
You obviously want your holiday to have as little stress involved as humanly possible. So, how do you ensure you don’t have to worry about the things that can turn your relaxing getaway into a total nightmare?
A private tour operator should ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. By engaging the right operator to plan your trip for you, you can focus on the important things, with all of the annoying aspects of travel well and truly taken care of.
Here are some reasons why you should hire a private tour operator on your next holiday:
Save Time and Energy
We have all experienced it – a fun and relaxing holiday that seems to whizz by at the blink of an eye. This is why it’s so important to maximise your time and conserve your energy to create the best experience possible. A competent tour operator will enhance your overall experience and save you time, money and stress.
Insurance
A reputable private tour operator should carry general or professional liability insurance. The last thing you want is to be injured on holiday, and have to worry about how you’ll pay for it. Tour operators will make sure your bank account is safe from any costs caused by injury or property damage due to misrepresentation.
Resources
For tour guides, experience and forming business relationships with local businesses means they have the ability to bargain, and thus get you the best deal possible. Tour operators can give you special discounts on restaurants and attractions that you wouldn’t be able to achieve by yourself.
Knowledge
Any private tour operator should have local knowledge that surpasses most others. By having an experienced tour operator or guide, you can save time navigating new areas, or have help finding the best places that you wouldn’t have otherwise discovered. For your needs, experience means efficiency, knowledge, and maximising what you get out of everything you do on your holiday.
What Makes a Great Private Tour Operator?
When looking for a tour operator to help organise your next trip, there are a number of important things that you should look for in order to ensure you have the best experience possible.
A bad tour guide can waste your time, and your money. Therefore, here are several things you should look for when booking your next private tour:
How Experienced are They?
Experience is an important consideration when looking for the right option. Therefore, you should look for tour operators who have 5+ years experience, know the area well, and are preferably a local resident.
Do They have a Solid Reputation?
The last thing you want is to be ripped off or disappointed with the service, so look for a tour operator with a solid reputation. You can achieve this by searching online for reviews on Facebook and Google, from past customers.
Are they Insured?
Insurance is integral when looking at a private tour company. If they can’t be held liable for any mistakes they may make, then you shouldn’t trust them with your holiday planning.
Do they have a Package that Suits Your Requirements?
It’s important that your private tour operator is able to effectively service all of your requirements. Are they able to support the number of people you intend to bring?
Will they take care of restaurant and attraction bookings? These are just some of the factors you should absolutely look into when looking for a suitable tour operator.
Are they Affordable?
You don’t want to create an unnecessary hole in your bank account. If you find a private touring company that suits your needs, try to look for similar packages from other providers. If the package you selected stands up to it’s counterparts, and the price is competitive, you’ve likely got a winner.
Please note: Price is always an important factor but certainly should not be the only consideration – you typically get what you pay for…
Do They Offer Free Expert Advice?
A reputable and experienced tour operator will take the time to understand your requirements and offer expert advice on the best destinations and most effective travel route, in order to maximise your experience.
If you are visiting a destination for the first time, or you would like to visit some new interesting places, the tour guide should be able to suggest a personalised tour specific to your individual requirements.
Do They Cater for Your Special Needs?
A member of your group may have a disability or special dietary requirements. It’s important that you notify your tour operator of these special needs, prior to making a booking, to ensure that they can offer a suitable package.
Where to Get Started?
Now that you understand all of the important factors to consider when hiring a private tour operator, you can start to look for potential options.
Google is a great place to start your research, although make sure you speak with the business before you make a decision – You will often get a good feel for the level of customer service they provide by having an in depth chat about your requirements and what they have to offer.
We also suggest that you speak with a mix of large and small operators. It’s often the small family operated businesses that offer the best customer service and attention to detail.
The Margaret River Experience WA
Margaret River offers some of the finest wineries and boutique breweries in Australia. The Margaret River Experience WA (MREWA) provides fun and relaxed private tours throughout Margaret River and the south-west of Western Australia at highly competitive prices. As a local family operated business, they are breathing a new energy into the tourism industry in WA.
