Ten Tips to Planning Active Vacations

02-02-2011

 Ten Tips to Planning Active Vacation From World‚s Top Tour Operator ˆ Austin-Lehman Adventures

 

How to Research, Compare, Select Best Tour Operator

Knowing Right Questions To Ask

 

Billings, MT, Feb. 3, 2011 ˆ It is summer vacation planning time again and knowing how to find and vet the best options is an important step. Following are Ten Tips from a „world‚s best‰ tour operator to take you from research to R&R as you strategize when and where to spend precious vacation time and dollars.

 

„A little time and energy spent on the front end helps ensure the vacation of your dreams. The planning process should be a fun part of the overall experience,‰ says Dan Austin, owner of Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) / that was named the World‚s Best Tour Operator by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine for the past two consecutive years (#1 in 2009 & #2 in 2010).

 

In 2011 ALA will host guests on small group departures to 28 countries around the world.

 

The first bit of advice in choosing the right tour operator is to get everyone involved and as Austin points out, „remember it‚s the journey, not the destination that counts.‰ To help guide the consumer through the maze of vacation options, the tour experts at Austin-Lehman Adventures offer these useful tips (http://www.austinlehman.com/adventure) when starting the trip planning process:

 

#1 Build Files Organize brochures, maps, notes from conversations to website links.

 

#2 Google is Your Friend! 96% of all travel research is now done online. Use „long tail‰ search terms to hone in on your questions such as: „Best family adventure vacation to Yellowstone.‰ Bookmark the better sites you visit.

 

#3 Shop for Information off-line Pick up travel magazines and regional guides reflecting your interests. Talk to friends and co-workers. Visit your local travel counselor for input.

 

#4 Create a bucket list Create a list of dream destinations and activities; cut it to a short list. Use logic. Is Mexico too hot in summer? Maybe. Then consider fall travel. Keep track of your thinking and why.

 

#5 Who Gets Your Business? Seek tour operators specializing in the kinds of vacations on your short list. Again, Google is your friend. For example, search for „best bike tour operator in Italy‰ and note results. Pour through travel magazines that often list the „best of the best‰ in special annual editions. Look for them online. In the end you will have created a list of operators that best match your short list of destinations and activities.

 

#6 Work Your Shorts List! With your A-list of destinations/activities and tour operators, begin emailing or calling. Track all interactions. If a company fails to get back to you in a timely manner and/or fails to answer your questions accurately and thoroughly, do you really want to trust your vacation to them? The best will rise to the top.

 

#7 Ask Questions How long has the tour operator been in business? Is the owner involved in day-to-day operations? Does the company run its own tours or outsource? What are deposit/cancellation/trip insurance/satisfaction guarantee policies? What happens to a small
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