How to Choose a Vacation Tour Company With Confidence
You are a seasoned traveler; an adventure seeker with a curiosity for unique destinations, cultures, and natural beauty. Once you have chosen WHERE to travel, how do you know the company you are considering depositing your hard-earned travel dollars with will deliver a memorable and value-packed experience? GREAT question!
Name a destination in the world…any destination. Now GOOGLE it to see how many different travel companies there are out there promising to deliver the vacation of a lifetime. It’s overwhelming, right? How the heck are you supposed to know which one will give you the best guides, the most bang for your buck, the experiences that are authentic and incredibly rich and memorable?
If you are a regular reader here, then you know the best answer is “Ask Bobbie”. Or hire the travel professional of your choice. There is another tool you may be unaware of, however. USTOA, short for United States Tour Operators Association, is an organization for travel providers that holds it’s members to the “highest standards in the industry” with a $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. IN other words, if you book your trip with a member of USTOA, it’s like having an insurance policy in place without paying for it.
“The association made history in 1976 when it became the first travel organization to establish a consumer protection fund, followed by a $100,000 per member bonding requirement to protect consumers’ tour deposits and payments in case of bankruptcy or cessation of business.”
It’s website describes it well. “Integrity in Tourism” requires members to adhere to the highest standards in the industry. Among these is the principle of ethical conduct, which requires members to conduct business according to a set of professional standards which include representing all facts, conditions and requirements relating to tours and vacation packages truthfully and accurately.”
A fun new feature you can take advantage of today is their new collection of video blogs. These are short clips (about 2 minutes) on various destinations, offering visually stunning natural beauty and excursion ideas for your own explorations. I think you will enjoy taking some time to watch, especially if you are looking for inspiration for your own next amazing adventure. Click on this link for a sample video blog. I loved the nature one from Philippines.
The Olympics has brought Brazil top of mind. Here’s another blog about South America.
Click Here for the list of active members, as of today. You can check it out to see if that company you are considering “has your back”. Protect your travel investment with an individual insurance plan or one purchased through the supplier (be sure they use a third party insurance company).
The bottom line is this. Be confident about your choice of travel company. Ask a professional to share their opinion and to assist with all the details, and choose a strong and financially stable tour operator who will deliver that trip of a lifetime!
Peace, Bobbie Rae Murphy, Active Travel Pro
