Backpacking Travel Companies
With so many backpacking travel companies, these days it’s so hard to tell whether
the backpacking travel company is legit or not? Research shows that these are the ways to tell if backpacking travel companies are legit
- Research the costs – With backpacking travel companies, it’s not always true that you get what you pay for. Many backpacking travel companies nickel-and-dime you, while some are really good at maximizing value for your every penny. Ask how your money is spent to find out if you are really getting the best value for your money. How much of your fee is their overhead? Are you paying for top-notch hotels but staying in two-star guesthouses? You want a company that is transparent with why prices are the way they are. Moreover, make sure you ask if there are added fees to pay when arrive. Many backpacking travel companies require you to pay additional money when the tour starts or don’t include park or attraction entrance fees. That cheap tour won’t be so cheap if you must pay for everything while you’re there!
- Make sure you are the audience – Is the tour geared toward older couples? Young people? Families? You don’t want to end up on a loud Contiki tour full of drunken twenty-year-old when all you want is a quiet holiday. There’s a tour company for everyone — just make sure you don’t end up on one that isn’t yours. Most backpacking travel companies list their guest demographics on their “About” page, and you can usually see from the photos of their tours who goes on it. You can also tell the audience based on accommodation: if it’s hostels or guesthouses, it’s usually for backpackers and budget travellers; if it’s fancy digs, it’s for older travellers and families
- Safety record – Make sure the company follows all the proper safety requirements and is accredited by the local government, the government where they are registered, and any other appropriate trade organizations.
- Environmental impact – There’s a growing trend among travellers called ecotourism. It’s about more responsible travel, not only toward the environment but also toward the locals in an area. This means using local guides, hotels, and services, and making sure to reduce waste and your footprint on the local habitat. Moreover, these backpacking travel companies tend to offer better and more interactive tours that also give you a good degree of autonomy.
- Group size – Backpacking Travel companies that have smaller groups tend to be much more mindful of the environment and the impact they are leaving. It’s a lot easier to meet people in a group of 12 than it is in a group of 60.