Escorted & Package Tours

Packages for the Independent Traveler

Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.

One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Major airlines that offer air-land packages to Boston include American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com), Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559; www.deltavacations.com), Midwest Airlines Vacations (tel. 888/235-9693; www.midwestairlinesvacations.com), United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com), and US Airways Vacations (tel. 800/455-0123; www.usairwaysvacations.com). Several big online travel agencies -- Expedia.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com -- also do a brisk business in packages.

Trolley tour companies play a prominent role in Boston tourism. The sightseeing portion of a package is often a free or discounted 1-day trolley tour.

Brush Hill Tours (tel. 800/343-1328 or 781/986-6100; fax 781/986-0167; www.brushhilltours.com) is Gray Line's New England incarnation. Its 3-night "Boston City Package" includes lodging, airport or train station transfers, and a tour on Beantown Trolley (which it owns). Prices start at about $375 per person, based on double occupancy. Brush Hill also offers a variety of half- and full-day escorted tours to destinations such as Plymouth, Salem, Cape Cod, and Newport, Rhode Island.

One often-overlooked option, if you live close enough to take advantage of it, is Amtrak Vacations (tel. 800/AMTRAK-2 or 978/867-1208; www.amtrakvacations.com). Prices are competitive and can undercut air-land packages from many destinations. The train definitely isn't for everyone, though. Sleepers are available on long routes, but if you're paying extra for a berth, an air package might be cheaper and certainly will take less time.

Travel packages are listed in the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Or check ads in the national travel magazines such as Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and Condé Nast Traveler.

Escorted General-Interest Tours

Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation.

Hundreds of companies offer tours that stop in Boston, especially during foliage season, when 5- to 10-day tours of New England are wildly popular. Few spend more than 2 days in Boston, however, meaning that you'll be rushing around trying to cram maximum action into minimum time or skipping sights and activities you were looking forward to. If you plan to focus on Boston, most escorted tours won't meet your needs; you'll almost always be better off with a package tour.

If a quick stop is all you can manage, most major tour operators can accommodate you. They include Liberty Travel (tel. 888/271-1584; www.libertytravel.com), Collette Vacations (tel. 800/340-5158; www.collettevacations.com), Globus and Cosmos (tel. 877/245-6287; www.globusandcosmos.com), Maupintour (tel. 800/255-4266; www.maupintour.com), and Tauck World Discovery (tel. 800/788-7885; www.tauck.com).

Despite the fact that escorted tours require big deposits and predetermine hotels, restaurants, and itineraries, many people derive security and peace of mind from the structure they offer. Escorted tours -- whether by bus, motor coach, train, or boat -- let travelers sit back and enjoy the trip without having to drive or worry about details. They take you to the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle. They're particularly convenient for people with limited mobility and can be a great way to make new friends.

On the downside, you'll have little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with locals. The tours can be jam-packed with activities, leaving little room for individual sightseeing, whim, or adventure -- plus they often focus on the heavily touristed sites, so you miss out on many a lesser-known gem.