What Type of Tour Should I Take?
So you’ve decided where you’re going and that you want to take a tour of the area. What type of tour should you take? Below, we break down the most common options, and show how Boston Hidden Gems can help choose the best for your needs!
The cheapest and easiest type of tour you can take in most areas is a self-guided tour. In most places, you can buy one for $5-$10, or, if you have a guidebook, one may be included! Unlike all of the other options discussed here, you don’t have to worry about your schedule - you can do these at any time! Self-guided tours are usually easiest to follow on foot and take an hour or two complete. They’re a great way to get to know a neighborhood on your own time. Alternatively, some particularly great companies offer self-guided tours for free!
The most common type of guided tour is a group tour. You’ve probably been on one of these before. They’re usually pretty affordable and short, usually between 1-2 hours and between $20-$40 per person. Group tours almost always happen on foot, and usually only travel a mile or two. You’ll have one guide, and a few (or even a few dozen!) other people on the tour with you. Group tours very efficient, and a great way to get a quick overview of an area. However, they generally lack the personal touch, simply due to the size of the group.
Another common type of guided tour is a semi-private tour. These are a good middle ground, where you get some of the benefits of a private tour with all of the cost, but you also miss out on some of the more personal and convenient aspects of a private tour. They’ll usually be several hours - at least 4, sometimes as long as 10 or 12, and will generally include a vehicle, like a large van. The cost will depend on the exact tour and its length, but a reasonable estimate would be between $50-$250. You’ll usually be in a small group of less than a dozen, and you’ll get to know the guide and your fellow tourists a bit.
Often overlooked and undervalued, private tours are the cream of the crop. Although they are more expensive, they can often end up being a better deal than a group or semi-private tour, since those are usually priced per person and private tours tend to be priced per group. For example, while a group tour might be $20 per person per hour, our most popular tour, Best of Boston, could be as cheap as $14 per person per hour! And with a private tour, you will usually get to ride in a private vehicle (you get a luxurious minivan with us!), and you’ll receive door-to-door service with included pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, airport, cruise port, or anywhere in the area! In addition, you usually get the option to customize the itinerary, to skip something you’ve already seen, or add something you really want to see!
So which type of tour is right for you? That depends on your budget, your needs, and your group size. If you’re traveling alone and don’t have much time, a self-guided or group tour is probably right for you. If you’re alone or with one other person and have several hours, a semi-private tour might be a good deal, unless you want the personal touch that comes with a private tour. If you’re with a group larger than that, a private tour will probably provide you the best value! You’ll get picked up at your door, have a personal guide all day, and you can customize the itinerary as needed!
Have any questions or want more information on our tours? Contact us!