If you book an escorted tour, most everything is paid for up front, so you deal with fewer money issues. They allow you to enjoy the maximum number of sites in the shortest time, with the least amount of hassle, as others arrange all the details. Escorted tours give you the security of traveling in a group and are convenient for people with limited mobility. Many escorted tours are theme tours, putting people together that share the same interest or activity (such as cooking or sailing).
On the downside, if you book an escorted tour you often have to pay a lot of money up front, and your lodging and dining choices are predetermined. Escorted tours can be jam-packed with activities, leaving little room for individual sightseeing, whim, or adventure. They also often focus only on the heavily touristed sites, so you miss out on the lesser-known gems. Plus, you may not always be happy rubbing suitcases with strangers. (If you're lucky, your fellow travelers will be pleasant, but there is the occasional exception to the rule.)
