What if you could go on an inexpensive tour and did not have to plan any of the routes? Where all the lodging was taken care of and you had a choice of hotels, where meals were taken care of, and most importantly, you didn’t have to carry your luggage from place to place. On top of that, what if you could go any date you wanted? What if you didn’t want to be part of a group with different abilities and interests than your own – wouldn’t that be even better still? Guess what, you’ve discovered self-guided travel!

There are variations in self-guided travel. For comparison sake, you should note the differences between companies. Self guided travel can be characterized and differentiated as follows:

Flexible: durations can be modified to meet a client’s schedule and availability; hotels are available for many budgets, often in combination; and there’s no minimum participation, so your trip should be confirmed upon booking.

Affordable: prices are exceptional compared to guided group tours, yet worth the extra it might cost given the time it takes to plan quality routes, rent gear, and make lodging and dining reservations. Pricing usually vary based upon your level of accommodations and the duration of your trip.

Supported: most self-guided tour operators also provide baggage transfers, emergency support, orientations, transfers, and other add on services. These support services are extremely valuable since they’re founded on expert regional knowledge.

Off the beaten path: many self-guided tours have a theme and are created with your vacation experience in mind. Routes are well chosen and occasionally on shorter routes, there are opportunities to interact with the locals.

Source: Discover France