Self-Guided & Independent Tour & Trip Reviews

1,272 reviewsAverage rating 4.61146 trips

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Self-Guided & Independent Tour & Trip Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
218
Great
49
Average
7
Disappointing
2
Terrible
3

Tour Reviews

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K

Kevin

Jan 2014

Written on

Cycle Catalan comes highly recommended

My girlfriend and I did the 6 day self guided Mountains to the Sea tour in September this year. We had a fantastic time on the route that Alan and Vivien laid out fo...

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John

Mar 2014

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Wonderful trip, as energetic as you want it to be

From the moment we met Alan we felt confident and comfortable that this trip will be great and it was ! Great bikes, good advice, long lunches on route (made for rel...

M

Mirjalol

Feb 2020

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The trip was great!

The trip was great! I travelled with my mum and dad and we all really enjoyed it! The accommodation in most places was comfortable but the hotels in Boracay, Puerto ...

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Jensen R.

Jan 2017

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One of the more meaningful things I did!

Spending a day with Masicorp was one of the more meaningful things I did during my stay in Cape Town. They gave us a safe, exciting experience into the culture and p...

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Alyce L.

Aug 2015

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Walking Connection is your best sourceIf you are looking for walking adventure travel

I met JoAnn and Gene Taylor years ago right after they conceived the idea of Walking Connection and started the program. I knew from the start they are special, cari...

Self-Guided & Independent Reviews

G

Ginger

Aug 2015

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Wonderful!

Wonderful and accommodating hosts, and first class, fantastic trips. The Walking Connection with Gene and Jo Ann truly make traveling everything it is meant to be. I...

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Aiko Y

Jan 2017

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Very special

If you are seeking an opportunity to get to know the countries and communities you are visiting on a deeper level, definitely partake in Give a Day Global! The teams...

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Nora Ic

Feb 2017

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Great experience

Alessandra Good afternoon yesterday was a great experience. Michele has managed to intrigue the children and to create a good climate so different pupils have addres...

6

673JAIA

Nov 2016

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Spent two and a half days with Michael!!

We spent two and a half days with Michael in Perugia, Assisi, Spello and Orvieto. When we were in the places where all the tourists visit, His personal and private c...

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Jensen R.

Jan 2017

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I had a great time volunteering at Baphumelele with their day care center.

The children were amazing and it was easy to get there and get involved. I would highly recommend checking them out if you have some time during your travels in Cape...

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Top Self-Guided & Independent Tours

Self-Guided & Independent Reviews

K

Kailey and Matt

Jan 2017

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I would recommend it to everyone!

We volunteered on our Honeymoon in Costa Rica and I would recommend it to everyone! There is no better way to truly learn about a country and its people than to volu...

S

Susan

May 2022

Written on

Fantastic Safari

We recently traveled through Tanzania visiting Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. We were impressed by the game-packed game drives with Gabriel the tour gui...

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1261 - 1272 of 1272 Reviews shown

Editor’s Take

What to Look For in Self Guided & Indpendent Tour Reviews

Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary. 

Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.

When looking at self-guided tour companies it’s important to remember that many of these tours are not as detailed as fully guided tours. Tour companies provide some bookings, but for many parts of your travels, you are responsible for making your bookings.

Positive reviews for self-guided and independent tours highlight the ability to enjoy attractions and their trip at their own pace. Self-guided tours allow you to move around the country at the pace you are most comfortable with without having to wait for larger groups, worrying about holding other travelers back, or be restricted by a strict itinerary.

Some negative reviews for independent tours revolve around poor local tour guides. While tour companies can create itineraries, on self-guided tours you are usually responsible for booking local tour operators. It is highly recommended to do your own research beforehand if you are booking local tours as these type of tours mostly rely on your own research.

When working with tour companies or travel agents, make sure you find the one that matches your travel style. If you prefer luxury or budget travel or want to incorporate more outdoor activities, communicating that will help create a tailored trip. Working with the agent or company to create the itinerary or bookings that match your comfort and travel style is extremely important to an enjoyable tour.

Many tour operators may provide self-guided booklets or advice about your destination, but some of that advice may need updating or additions. Doing your own research about a destination will help keep down any surprises or issues you may run into.

If you want a professional take on Self Guided travel, see the Stride Independent Travel Guide »

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