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USTOA Survey reveals savings

Vacation packages and tours save travelers money

The United States Tour Operators Association recently surveyed its members to find out how much money travelers save when buying a vacation package…

The United States Tour Operators Association recently surveyed its members to find out how much money travelers save when buying a vacation package or tour over making the same arrangements on their own. Dollar savings during high season ranged from a low of $350 on a 10-night Europe river tour – or $35 a night; to $3,430 – or nearly $230 a day – on a 15-day Europe tour visiting several countries. The survey also found that travelers can reap savings up to an additional 40% by traveling during the low season.



Below are some sample tours and packages, along with the savings on each.



Europe Escorted Tours (With Air)



Examples of actual dollar savings buying an air-inclusive escorted tour to Europe range from a low of $350 on a 10-night Elbe River Tour (priced at $3,500), to a savings of $3,430 on a 15-day Heart of Europe tour visiting Holland, Belgium, Germany Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. If booked individually at rack rates, the Heart of Europe tour would cost $6,470.



Travelers would save another $500 by booking the Elbe River tour during low season, and an additional 16% on the Heart of Europe during low season.



In commenting on the savings, USTOA member Mike Kazlauskas of Image Tours notes, The actual cost of a Europe tour at rack rates comes out to be much more than 40%, but it just sounds too unbelievable that it literally can cost double to go on your own instead of on an escorted tour. Adds John Severini, President, Trafalgar Tours: Basically, we provide a whole experience for the price of a hotel room.



Europe Independent Package (With Air)



Independent travelers can save $367 on a 9-night Imperial Cities Value Package to Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, including air fare from New York (priced at $1,966), saving 25% more during low season.



Alaska Cruise Tour (With Air)



Closer to home, a 14-night Escorted Heart of Alaska cruise tour, priced at $5,248, including air fare from Los Angeles, saves travelers $869 over booking the components individually. Consumers save another 20% by traveling in the low season.



Hong Kong Package (With Air)



A five-day Hong Kong Shopping & Dining package with air fare from Los Angeles or San Francisco, which costs $400, would be $1,760 if booked individually, saving travelers $1,360. Low season savings would be an additional 30%.



India Tour (Airfare Additional)



Another example is a 9-night India in Luxury tour, offering a savings of $629 (priced at $5,050 plus air fare). Travelers save an additional 30% by going in low season.

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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