Advice on Choosing a Tour or Tour Operator

What should mature travelers look for in choosing a domestic tour or tour operator?

A lot, of course, depends on the age of the traveler. Those 50 to 55 or thereabouts will find the choices easier than will older travelers 60 and up, who generally will have different travel preferences and priorities.

Most, but certainly not all, will prefer a more leisurely tour. They would rather be in the company of a group their own age, start later in the morning, take earlier stops and cover fewer miles per touring day.

If you are a member of a senior club or organization that has an active travel program, you’ll discover that the choices of a tour operator and the tour will have already been made for you.

There are more than 2,500 such groups in Southern California. Many offer from 12 to 20 tours a year, from day excursions and Las Vegas “turn-arounds” to two- and three-week escorted tours.

But if you are interested in making your own travel plans, here is how to choose a good tour operator:

Look for one who is a member of the National Tour Assn. (NTA), a national and highly professional travel organization. To be a member, an operator must have at least two years’ experience in planning and operating tours and must adhere to the NTA code of ethics.

More important, they (therefore you) are protected by the NTA $100,000 consumer protection plan, which safeguards your deposits and tour payments in the event that a tour operator becomes insolvent.

Also, each NTA member must carry a $1-million professional liability policy in errors and omissions insurance.

You should also look for the initials C.T.P. after the tour operator’s name. They stand for Certified Tour Professional and indicate that the operator has had extensive training and experience in planning and operating tours. It’s a new title, so not too many tour operators have it yet.

In addition, check to see if local tour operators are members of the Senior Travel & Recreation Activities Council (STRAC). Of about 100 good tour operators in California only about 12 are members of STRAC, which is dedicated to serving senior clubs and organizations in Southern California.

All STRAC tour operators plan and operate tour groups specifically for senior clubs and organizations. Most also operate open-to-anyone tours, with an average of 90% or more of the tours made up of mature travelers.

When looking for the right tour, start with the price. Statistics indicate that 75% of mature travelers make the price their first consideration.

Tours of the same length and destination can easily be several hundred dollars apart. Check carefully what you get with the price. Start with transportation: Is it included from your home city? By air or motor coach? How much sightseeing, and how much of it is optional?

Accommodations and number and type of meals also vary widely.

The terms “deluxe” and “first class” when applied to hotels are sometimes open to interpretation.

Find out what you’re really getting. If they’re not in the brochure, ask specifically for the hotel names. Then check them against the Mobil or AAA travel guides’ star and diamond ratings.

Mobil and AAA guides also provide information on hotel facilities, such as restaurants, laundry services, pool and in-room services. It may be a good idea to also check the hotel’s location. Is it in or near the center of town or six miles away at an interstate highway interchange?

Although almost all tours now specify the number of meals included, you still can check that breakfasts are full, not just “continental” with rolls and coffee. The better tours also specify the restaurants.

When reading brochures, be wary of descriptions such as: “Today we’ll see the maritime museum, art museum and world-acclaimed aquarium.”

Seeing does not always mean a visit. The tour may just pass the attraction, with the tour guide pointing at it.

Also, read the tour “conditions.” They should spell out in simple terms booking and cancellation policies, baggage allowances, tips and transfers, service, schedule and accommodation substitution policies. Do not take anything verbally; make sure everything is in print.

If you’re traveling alone, check the additional cost for a single supplement (which is often a shocker) and whether the tour operator will match singles.

Check the amount of miles between overnight tour stops to gauge the pace of the tour. Most mature travelers prefer less than 250 miles on an average travel day and more than one-night stops whenever possible. Also find out if the tour omits a major attraction or scenic sight along the route, and why.

If possible, check similar tours planned by other operators. Compare prices, hotels, number of meals and everything else that’s important.

And if a mature or senior tour costs a bit more than a similar tour offered for a younger audience, don’t be alarmed. Senior tours usually stay at more popular, convenient city hotels, feature more meals and offer some additional services.

You’ll discover that most mature tour prices are competitive. If the dollar value is not there, the tour operator will seldom stay in business for long.

Finally, take note of the 1990 figures for typical auto touring costs as compiled by the American Automobile Assn. It’s $70 a night for two adults, a minimum of about $50 a day for meals and $8.40 for motoring costs per 100 miles.

It comes out to $141 per couple for a 250-mile touring day--not even counting sightseeing costs and entrance or admission fees.

You can use that to compare against a typical motor coach tour, which can vary from $49 to $99 a person a day. It includes transportation, hotels, sightseeing and some meals, but also an escort and driver. It also eliminates the hassle of driving, baggage handling, checking in and out of hotels, tips and other services.

To learn more about escorted group tours, get the National Tour Assn. free booklet, “Travel Together.” Call toll-free (800) 284-4682.

Another free brochure, “How to Select a Package Tour,” is available from the United States Tour Operators Assn., 211 East 51st St., Suite 12B, New York 10022.

If you have just become a senior or simply want to know of a senior club or organization offering tours, send a self-addressed envelope to STRAC, Department MT, P.O. Box 1558, Torrance 90505.