A really excellent trip is usually determined by just one or two key experiences – such as a food tour that takes you into a local neighbourhood, a small-group tour that makes it possible to visit a difficult destination, or a visit to a museum that alters the way you view the city. However, it can be hard to come by those particular moments. People tend to collect suggestions from short videos, review websites, maps, and separate tour operators. This leads to having dozens of browser tabs open and very little certainty about which tour to book. A more effective method is to first decide on the type of experience you’re looking for, rather than choosing the attraction that has the most photographs.
Begin with a feeling, not a destination checklist
Before you look for tours, make a list of three words which describe the kind of day you would like: for example, adventurous, relaxing, local, family-friendly, outdoors, cultural or spontaneous. A traveller who has six hours in Lisbon might choose a guided food tour rather than one that takes them outside the city. A person visiting New York for three days might prefer a quieter neighbourhood activity after having seen the major attractions. Your own interests are a more effective filter than someone else’s general ‘top ten’ list.
One place to start exploring
Rather than visiting the individual operator websites for each city, travellers are able to find and book travel experiences via Explorat, a marketplace founded in Romania which combines tours, attraction tickets and activities from all over the world. The catalogue includes more than 400,000 experiences that are either available or ready to be sold, giving users a wide range of options when comparing possibilities in different destinations. However, it is still necessary to check the availability, eligibility and conditions for the specific product and date chosen.
Use a simple experience shortlist
For each day create a shortlist of three possible activities but only book one or two. When comparing the options use the same criteria: the exact meeting point, the total duration together with travel time, the group size, the languages spoken, the cancellation policy and the actual inclusions. A ‘boat trip’ could be a short shared cruise, a guided wildlife excursion or a private charter. Titles that are similar may conceal very different products, so it is necessary to look at the itinerary rather than just relying on the headline.
Compare the full price and timing
The cheapest option for your travel date isn’t always the one showing the lowest starting price. You should check the selected time slot, the ages of the participants, the taxes, any upgrades and any admission that is charged separately. If you’re short on time, a shorter tour might offer better value. On the other hand, a longer tour could include transportation or an entrance fee. You should also take into account where the activity is situated in your day; if you have an early activity in a different part of town, it could take up most of a holiday morning especially if you have to get to the meeting place during rush hour.
Look for details that make a booking trustworthy
Useful listings will indicate who the activity is aimed at, explain what will happen in the event of bad weather, state whether identification is required, tell you how accessible the venue is and show you the method by which you will get your ticket. The cancellation conditions can vary considerably even within the same attraction. When a listing fails to answer a vital question, it is advisable to look for another clearer listing or to get in touch with the booking provider before making the payment. Taking just a few minutes to verify the information can avoid disappointment.
Three practical ways to make experiences feel personal
Start by combining something well-known with something less familiar by pairing a major attraction with a local craft, a local food item or an outdoor activity. Next, include some free time in the timetable since even high-quality guided tours can become stressful if your next booking is immediately scheduled in another part of town. Finally, let the group have a say in the decisions because when travelling with children or older relatives or with friends who have different interests it is necessary to have a shorter and more straightforward plan than would be the case with a trip taken alone.
The best itinerary leaves room for discovery
You don’t need to fill up every moment during a holiday. Select activities based on how well they suit you, check the small print and arrange your itinerary around actual travel times. Reserve the things that are most important as far in advance as possible, yet leave room for a coffee break, a detour or an unexpected suggestion. This approach—making careful reservations and at the same time keeping some flexibility—usually results in a better story than simply going through each spot on someone else’s list.
