There are a lot of tour operators to choose from when planning Latin America tours. Options range from giant international operators offering everything everywhere to the small, locally-based independents. People searching for their Latin America vacations can quickly get confused.
To make sure you pick a reliable Latin America tours operator that is right for your kind of vacation, be sure to ask the following questions.
Where can I get referrals about your company?
Every operator should be able to point you to a testimonials page on their website, but how can you double check? Easy. Social media is on your side - check out what people have to say about the Latin America tours operator on big travel networks like www.tripadvisor.com to find out what people are really saying. If the operator can’t point you in the right direction for external reviews, maybe they’ve got something to hide...
Who are your tours designed for?
Find out what kind of people take the Latin American tours on offer. For this you’ll need to do a bit of thinking beforehand - what is it that you want? Do you want to visit Peru, Argentina, Chile or all three? Adventurous travel? Luxury and comfort? Relaxation? Take some time to think about these things and you’ll find it a lot easier to match up a tour operator.
How much do your tours cost and what choices do I have?
This is a tricky one - some Latin America tours operators overcharge and give you inflated quotes, while others slash their costs and pay their staff and suppliers very poorly. A classic example is porters on the Inca Trail in Peru - some budget operators don’t pay the porters fairly for their work to keep their costs low. You can find out if the operator is overcharging or ruthlessly cutting costs by asking straight questions.
Are there any additional costs?
Be sure before you book if you’re going to have to pay any additional costs for meals, transport, tours, entrance fees...anything. Check what is included and what isn’t.
What safety policy do you have?
Your Latin America tour operators should never compromise your safety. In addition they should provide 24/7 support via telephone so that if you run into any problems they are never too far away to help you out.
How much am I doing for the duration of the tour?
Do you want to spend your whole trip on transport, occasionally jumping off to spend a few minutes before shooting off somewhere else? Probably not. Check that the itinerary is realistic.
With custom designed tours you have complete control over your vacation. In this case, you should ask your Latin America tours operator for help in putting together a realistic itinerary that allows you to enjoy your destination at a reasonable pace.
A final thought...
What is the attitude of the tour operator when responding to your questions? Are they friendly, helpful and enthusiastic? If not, what chance is there that they will be when you’re abroad?
What questions do you ask your Latin America tours operator when you book? What are some of the things to watch out for?
Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America
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