Choose a guided tour for your next escape

The world was once a daunting place, an expansive challenge to navigate, where travelling was very difficult; you had to understand maps, overcome language barriers and spend hours planning your itinerary.

Today, it’s completely different as an ever-increasing number of people set off on adventures to chart new territories in places that once seemed out of reach. Google Maps can steer us in the right direction and language apps can translate basic words and phrases.

Charting new territory is also influenced by the ever-expanding choice of escorted tours on the market. An escorted tour is one of the best and most flexible ways to get to grips with a new country. An expert guide can lend you a helping hand, they can show us the way, break down all sorts of cultural and language barriers and uncover hidden gems.

Belfast Telegraph Travel works with an expert tour operator who organise tours to a wide range of destinations worldwide with flights, accommodation, transfers and guided excursions all included. They have an incredible choice of holidays to choose from, making it so much easier to explore the world.

The changing face of escorted tours

The idea of an escorted tour can conjure up images of packed, sweaty coaches filled with people that ramble through overcrowded tourist spots with stop-offs in overpriced hotels but today’s tours are much more diverse and sophisticated. There’s something for every traveller.

Escorted tours aren’t always about being active, sometimes it’s about relaxing and soaking up local culture too. Culture vultures can enjoy a city break, stay in a carefully selected hotel and enjoy half-day tours that allow you to get your bearings. You can immerse yourself in the city, soaking up its history, sampling its cuisine and visiting museums, galleries and attractions. You’ll enjoy time at your own leisure, but you’ll also have the benefit of sharing your experience with like-minded people.

It’s stress free

Escorted holidays are ideal for anyone looking to get out of their comfort zone, as it takes away any stress and hassle of planning the trip; particularly to long-haul destinations. Attempting to organise a tour through India, a road-trip through North America or South America in a two-week trip by yourself could be a costly and logistical nightmare. An escorted tour, however, will take care of everything. All you have to do is show up.

With an escorted tour there’s minimal planning stress and you only need to pay once. You won’t have to pore over foreign train timetables or scroll through hotel comparison websites – your tour operator has already done the hard work for you. They’ll make sure every transfer and check-in goes through without a glitch. And if something goes wrong, they’ll know exactly what to do.

You can also budget more effectively, as accommodation, transfers and excursion prices are all included in the main price of the tour. Tour guides and some meals, along with entrance fees to attractions, are usually included too.

It’s authentic

Escorted tours can also give you a more authentic travel experience. When you book a tour through Belfast Telegraph Travel, you will see that the itineraries have been perfected over many years with tried and tested research.

The experts who will look after you on your holiday have a wealth of local knowledge to give you the best and most authentic insider information. They’ve inspected every hotel, bar and restaurant, understand everything about the area and they’ve thought carefully about the diverse needs of travellers to bring together the very best of each destination, ensuring you don’t any time.

They can steer you towards the best restaurants (that aren’t always in the guide books), quirky side street cafes and introduce you to the most interesting local characters. That sense of authenticity allows you to get under the skin of the place and it means that you won’t just come away from your trip with just a few touristy snaps on your phone. Instead, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the destination.

Find some time for yourself

Escorted tours aren’t all about sticking to a schedule either. Touring itineraries factor in plenty of time to yourself, with the flexibility to spend the afternoon sipping coffee at a pavement cafe, wandering through a city to see what you come across or adding extra time before or after the tour to create a holiday of your own.

It also provides you with the opportunity to make new friends. Tour operators curate trips for a range of different age groups. It’s also great for solo travellers. You’ll meet like-minded people along the way who you can share your experiences with. Sometimes fellow travellers get along so well that they even arrange to meet up after the trip or go on another escorted tour.

So if you’ve been planning an adventure for 2019 there’s no reason why you shouldn’t join an escorted tour. You’ll enjoy the trip of a lifetime without any hassle. To plan your next adventure, visit www.belfasttelegraphtravel.co.uk. Our guided tours are provided by our trusted partner, Travel Department, who have over 20 years’ experience in perfecting tours to many worldwide destinations. Holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and guided excursions. Their friendly and knowledgeable local guides will accompany you throughout and be on hand to offer local knowledge and insight into your chosen destination.

Belfast Telegraph Digital