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TOUR
OPERATORS OFFER MORE THAN YOU THINK
Six Reasons to Take a Tour or Vacation Package
No matter where you go on your next vacation, booking through a tour operator can provide a number of advantages over arranging a trip on your own. Whether you choose an escorted tour or an independent vacation package, tour operators offer benefits for all types of travelers.
Here are six important reasons for booking a tour or vacation package, from the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA):
Accommodations
Tour operators purchase blocks of choice rooms well in advance. This guarantees you accommodations in many popular vacation areas where rooms might otherwise be sold-out.
Affordability
By buying space in bulk and negotiating special rates, tour operators pass on savings to the consumer. Packages and tours can often save you 25% or more over the same trip on your own. Many tours and packages also include select meals, hotel tips and sightseeing, which add up to additional savings for travelers.
Accessibility
Have you ever waited in line for popular attractions? As part of a tour group, you generally avoid the wait, and go right in. Because tour operators negotiate with local sightseeing companies, they can often provide accessibility to otherwise hard-to-visit attractions, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, or major sports and entertainment events.
Convenience
Tours and packages provide the basic framework for your vacation, offering the convenience of "one-stop shopping." This can range from pre-paid hotel vouchers and a car rental for an independent self-drive vacation, to a pre-arranged day-by-day itinerary, including accommodations, meals, sightseeing and baggage handling.
Variety
Vacation packages and tours offer everything from safaris to spa stays, and can include a variety of experiences that would be hard to arrange on your own, such as heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies or hot air ballooning in Europe or Africa. Itineraries can also focus on special interests such as art, cuisine or history, and are available in many touring styles, from action-packed to leisurely paced.
Financial Security
Travelers who book with tour operators belonging to the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) are protected by the organization's Travelers Assistance Program, which among other requirements, stipulates that in the case of a USTOA member bankruptcy or insolvency, your tour payments are protected up to an aggregate of $1 million.
When you visit your travel agent, check the tour operators' literature for the USTOA logo and $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan symbol. In addition to protecting your vacation dollars, these operators must meet strict requirements of ethics and integrity in their tour offerings and advertising.
Free Brochure
Want to know more about what to look for when planning a vacation? USTOA offers consumers a free brochure entitled, "How to Select a Tour or Vacation Package." To receive a copy, write to USTOA, 342 Madison Avenue, Suite 1522, New York, NY 10173; call (212) 599-6599; or e-mail USTOA@aol.com.
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Press Contact:
Linda Kundell
Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798 phone
(212) 877-3387 fax
LRKPR@att.net or LRKPR@aol.com
For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.
