Escorted & Package Tours

Escorted Tours and Special-Interest Trips

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.

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 they're navigated by bus, motorcoach, 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 they 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 jampacked 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.

Often, operators and agencies offer tours embracing a special interest. For example, two organizations, Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures (tel. 800/528-8147; www.smithsonianjourneys.com) and Collette Vacations (tel. 800/340-5158; www.collettevacations.com), teamed up in 2007 to offer their "Spirit of Washington" tour, focusing on art, architecture, and American history in the nation's capital. (They offer several other packages, as well, all over the world.)

If you're interested in exploring escorted tour packages and special-interest trips, you might start by accessing the websites of two major trade organizations, the U.S. Tour Operators Association (tel. 212/599-6599; www.ustoa.com) and the National Tourism Association (tel. 800/682-8886; www.ntaonline.com). Tour companies and other travel professionals must satisfy certain requirements to become members, which means that you can count on finding dependable professionals in each association's roster. Both associations list their members online and offer a destination-search feature, which brings up names of companies that offer trips in that particular place.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2008 Author: Elise Hartman Ford Pub Date: October 22, 2007 Price: $16.99				Related Titles: Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Washington, D.C., 6th Edition Frommer's Portable Washington, D.C., 6th Edition Frommer's Portable Washington, D.C., 7th Edition