Why is it NOT worth buying optional excursions from tour representative in hotel?
We are on a long-awaited vacation in Turkey. We have just arrived and we are at the hotel. We’ve almost started the holidays, but we still have a meeting with tour representative. It is not obligatory, but sometimes it is worth being on one. Maybe this time we will learn something interesting? Maybe our tour representative will say something more than what can be found on the boards in the lobby? Your tour representative will probably persuade you to purchase optional excursions. And there would be nothing wrong with it, if not their behavior.
Why is it NOT worth buying optional excursions from tour representative in hotel?
It is not worth buying optional excursions from tour representatives and there are at least two reasons for that. The first are the prices of these trips. Typically, trips bought directly in a hotel are much more expensive than the same trips purchased at the local travel agency. Sometimes price differential the is really big for the same kind of trip. In this case, it is better to buy a trip at your local dealer. The money saved can then be spent on something else. For more trips or for entertainment.
The second reason is the lies that very often we are fed with by tour representatives. They argue that local travel agencies do not work legally – this is obvious nonsense. They operate legally, because Turkey is not a third world country. Here, we care for tourists and their well-being. They are paying money. Local offices are legal and even have the appropriate certificates. You can see them on their pages.
Another lie is that there are no native language speaking guides in such local travel agencies. Fact, some trips do not have them, but there are very few of them and they are usually trips in which a native language guide is not needed.
What about insurance?
Tour representatives sometimes claim that a tourist traveling with a local travel agency has no insurance. Which is also a lie. Unless we choose extreme sports, our insurance is valid. It is active and we can use it if necessary. What’s most interesting, it sometimes happens that the trip sold by a tour representative in hotel is handled by a local travel agency. It is only more expensive and is the basic and often the only difference.
Sometimes it’s worth it
Of course, this is not always the case. Sometimes you can buy trips from tour representatives at same prices as in a local agency. Sometimes tour representative is specific and tells the truth. Sometimes they have great deals. But unfortunately this is not the norm. This is an exception. Therefore, before leaving, it’s worth getting to know the region we go to and look for reliable local travel agencies. It will pay off.