5 Reasons I Dislike Group Tour Packages

When a friend in university once mentioned that she was going to the travel agency to make a payment for a vacation trip (probably to South Korea), I arrogantly asked, “Why?”

Not why she was paying for joining a group tour package.

But why she preferred group tour packages over independent travel.

“Because the agent plans everything for us.” Convenient.

The friend was travelling with her elderly parents. Lugging luggage and walking long distances can be taxing for them. Tour packages often include transportation, accommodation and meals.

Okay, I understand. Tour packages provide convenience and ease.

But, it will not always be the choice for me. Back in October 2015, my family had the opportunity to join a company trip for a 6 days, 4 nights (no typo here) tour in Tokyo, Japan. Here is a list of reasons I was unhappy with the tour.

Note: Malaysia is southwest of Japan

1. Itinerary planning

Isn’t the planning part the pro of taking a tour? Yes, but with someone else making all the planning, you don’t get to decide what you want to do. Not everything on the itinerary will interest you. Sometimes, you get to do what you want to do, but not when you want to do it.

Day 1 was arriving at the hotel at night and settling down. Day 2 was straightaway a free and easy day. A full day of free time on our own when we had yet to get our bearings in the chaotic city of a new country.

Sure, we could follow the tour guide’s recommendation or travelled with him. Most of the group members went for shopping. I did a little prior homework and we travelled outside Tokyo to visit Nikko. We would have preferred to have the free day in the later part of the tour.

Free and easy strolling through the forest in Nikko

On the other hand, if we travelled independently, each day is a free day.

2. Standard tourist destinations

Many tours are set to bring you to as many of the standard most popular tourist destinations as possible within the allocated days. It’s quite understandable for not wanting to miss out the popular sights or "must-see" attractions. While it may be fun to cover these destinations, it can be quickly boring, especially if these destinations are hyped up shopping spots one after another.

Throughout our tour, it was mainly shopping stops here and there. I'm not saying don't visit Tsukiji Fish Market (if traditional food, fruits and vegetable are your thing), Gotemba Premium Outlets (which also offers views of Mount Fuji), Harajuku or Ginza. Or don't stop by the stores at EXPASA while on the road. We’re not shopping enthusiasts. Window shopping lost its fun after a while.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Done sightseeing at Tsukiji Fish Market and ready to move on

Highlight of visit at Gotemba Premium Outlets

3. Lack of flexibility

Travelling with tours for the most part is having to adhere to the schedule. You are often limited to a few hours in each destination. This means no room for spontaneity if you decide to stay longer at a destination, or leave earlier if you have had enough of it.

Oshino Hakkai was a charming scenic destination, although quite crowded. We would have liked to spend more time breathing in the fresh air of nature there, instead of leaving when we had to, so the tour could have time for shopping at Gotemba.

Would you leave this view of Mt Fuji in Oshino Hakkai for some evening shopping time?

We would have liked to start the day earlier, if we were ready, instead of waiting for the others. And we would have liked to not feel guilty, if we overslept.

4. Accommodation and meal options

With tour packages inclusive of hotel and meals, you have no control over the choices. You will expect fine accommodation and good food, but if they don’t meet your expectations, you cannot change the hotel and you will have to pay extra for food elsewhere.

Actually, I don’t have much complain with the hotels, ranging from 3-stars to 5-stars. I would have been contented with budget ones though, since we spent most of our time outside of the hotels.

We had continental breakfasts at the hotels. Other meals, however, comprised mostly of traditional Japanese cuisines, such as tempura, kaiseki, and soba/udon, which were too ornate for our simple palates. Even the izakaya we dined in was an upscale dining experience with servings of more traditional Japanese food.

Tempura rice set

Tempura rice set

Full course kaiseki dinner

Full course kaiseki dinner

Udon set with tempura, grilled salmon, rolled egg, boiled vegetables, pickled vegetables and rice

Udon set with tempura, grilled salmon, rolled egg, boiled vegetables, pickled vegetables and rice

Now, I have nothing against trying out new food as a way of exploring foreign culture. Sympathised with my dad. The food experience overall was unforgettable for my hungry dad, who was not adventurous with food and ate only a little. The only foods that increased his appetite was yakiniku lunch (grilled meat) and buffet dinner (that had crabs served cold, which also disappointed him).

5. Costs

Cheaper or more expensive? It depends.

Because of the grand hotels and fancy foods, and the destinations mostly freely accessible on our own, I would say travelling with the tour required more costs than if we were travelling independently. Instead of taking out money to do things we would have liked to do, it was more like paying for a window shopping trip. It’s not very much fun paying to have mediocre time.

No right or wrong way here.

Tour packages can be the right choice for the right type of traveller (like the friend I mentioned in the beginning). Just not for me. Since it was the first travel abroad with the family together, I can forgive it.

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Admiring Mount Fuji from Oshino Hakkai