Pros
- Everything is done for you. Literally all you have to do is show up.
- There's no need to worry about a language barrier. Typically if you book a tour from the US, an English-speaking guide is part of the whole shebang.
- Budgeting is a lot easier. Most tours that you book are going to provide you with a list of what is included, so you have a better idea of what you will have to pay when you're there. There are less surprises that would compromise your budget.
- You learn a lot about the history of the place you're visiting. Every time you hop on the tour bus, your guide will use that time to provide you with information about the next place you're stopping or the place you just came from.
- Fancy digs. Usually, tours put you up in nice hotels and you eat at nice restaurants. But, keep in mind that this will factor into the price of the tour.
Cons
- You loose interaction with the locals. When you arrive and depart in a big group, it's difficult to interact with the locals and learn about them and from them.
- There's always that person/ group of people. You know, the ones who you don't care to talk to at all, or find incredibly annoying. There's almost always at least 1 and you're stuck with them for the duration of the tour.
- Not a whole lot of alone time. It's hard to escape the group and have a moment to yourself to really soak in the experience.
- Tours are expensive! I've found that tours, even when they include most things in their list price, are pricier than doing everything yourself (staying in hostels, eating cheap, figuring out what days museums are free, etc.) Of course, the exception is when you find incredible deals through Groupon or Living Social!
Those are more of less the main points I consider when I'm traveling to a new place. On my first trip to China, I think an organized tour was a smart move. I had never been to Asia and China is such a huge country, it seemed overwhelming to tackle. Also, I was really worried about the language barrier and my ability to get around. To be honest, my China tour just kind of fell in my lap. I think it would have taken a lot more time for me to make my way to China on my own, so I chose to book the tour that screamed ease and convenience. I also think the tour granted me entrance into museums and special events that I probably would not have found on my own. Thinking forward though, I could return to Shanghai sans-tour and navigate just fine on my own. Rural China is still on my list, but that is a whole different ballgame.
All in all I think I am more of a solo traveler than one who will repeatedly go on tours. I personally like having to research how I am going to get from place to place. Doing the little leg-work doesn't bother me when it comes to travel. The biggest draw for me though, is the ability to interact with the people who live in the place I am visiting. The day in Shanghai where I got to explore solo, without the rest of the tour group, was the highlight of the whole trip. Human interactions across the globe are what really interest me, and I'm not willing to give that up for the ease and convenience of a tour.
