Great travel experiences don’t have to be extremely expensive. Amazing destinations can still be seen and explored at reasonable prices. For the budget traveler it can be hard to decide which tour operator can provide the best trip that fits within a specific budget.
It can feel like traveling with a tour company is more expensive than trying to do all the research and planning yourself. This can feel especially true when you already know what style fits you best whether that’s sightseeing, nature travel or adventure travel. However, traveling with a tour company can save you time and money because of their knowledge and expertise about what to include in each trip.
They can help you iron out all the specifics so it's less stress on your shoulders and even add destinations or attractions that you didn’t know existed. Budget travelers can rest assured that you don’t have to do everything alone. There are tour operators out there for your right price.
Below are the top 5 best tour operators for the budget traveler who doesn’t want to settle on any trip less than extraordinary.
1. Exoticca
Budget Range: The prices generally fall within the 1,000 dollars and 2,000 dollars range. The lowest price offered by Exoticca is $799 for a trip to Peru. The highest price offered is $4,549 for a trip to Ethiopia.
Exoticca is able to offer such low prices because they negotiate and purchase each component of the trip with the final provider, work directly with suppliers and are an online agency instead of having a physical store.
Reviews: The majority of reviews are excellent with an 85% recommendation rate. Those who have traveled with Exoticca have said the travel agents were very friendly and helpful. Others have said it was easy to both plan and pay for the trip. One review title states: “Amazing offers at amazing prices”.
Browse more reviews to see what people are saying about Exoticca.
Travel Style: Many of the tours are focused on wildlife, cultural tours and nature parks. There are planned tours and destinations but there is also ample free time to roam. However, if you don’t know what to fill your free time with, Exoticca offers suggestions of places and things to go do and see.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Exoticca:
Exoticca travelers love to get out in nature and see all the beautiful flora and fauna. They loved planned and guided tours to take the ease off of planning but they also enjoy some free time to go exploring themselves. Exoticca travelers don’t mind walking or some hands on activities. Nothing crazy but the immersion is always desired.
2. Smartours
Budget range: Most trips fall between 2,000 dollars and 4,000 dollars. The lowest price offered is $1,899 for a trip to China. The highest price is $9,999 for a trip to Antarctica.
Smartours offers such low prices because they have many long standing partners with travel providers. They also have the travel knowledge to plan the best trips for the right prices without padding the travel experience with unnecessary costs.
Reviews: Nearly all reviews fall within the excellent category with just a few reviews in the great section. The agency is a 99% recommendation rate. Most of the reviews are about how great and memorable the trip experience was for them. One review stated, “Trip beyond expectations”.
Browse more reviews to see what people are saying about Smartours.
Travel style: Smartours offers guided tours with everything planned but also leaves time for leisure such as shopping and exploring the destination or taking a dip in the hotel pool. Some popular tourist attractions travelers can expect to sightsee and explore include national parks and temples.
Who will enjoy traveling with Smartours:
- Baby boomers
- Travelers who like structure and leisure time
- Sightseers
Smartours travelers love sightseeing. They’re less about the hands-on, adventure travel and enjoy slower paced activities. Some of these may include visiting Buddhist Temples, Great Pyramids of Giza or exploring Buenos Aires. Smartours travelers love structure but they also want a little independent exploration time as well.
3. Gate 1 Travel
Budget Range: The pricing range of Gate 1 goes from under 1,000 to around 4,000 dollars per trip. There are trips that cost more than 4,000 dollars but most of the trips will be below that.
They don’t offer insight into how they offer such low prices but they do function by the motto: More of the world for less.
Reviews: Most reviews fall in the “excellent” category but there are also reviews distributed in the “good” and “average” categories as well. One review is titled, “More of the world for less…”
Browse more reviews to see what people are saying about Gate 1.
Travel Style: The focus of Gate 1 is on sightseeing. This involves structure and guided tours so travelers can see unforgettable sights like the Great Wall of China or the 15th century Blarney Castle. However, Gate 1 specifically leaves in time for leisure if travelers want to stay and relax in the hotel or go out and do some exploring on their own.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Gate 1:
- Baby boomers
- History and culture lovers
- Sightseers
- Travelers who like structure with included free time
Gate 1 travelers live for history and culture. Travel is most fun when they get to explore and sightsee some of the most well known historical and ancient sites. These travelers love for everything to be planned but they would still prefer some free time to go to destinations that fit their personal interests.
4.Topdeck
Budget Range: Prices typically fall within the 1,000 to 2,000 dollar range. The lowest price offered is $189 for a trip to Bangkok. The highest price offered is $6,549 for a trip to Greece.
Topdeck can offer such low prices because they take care of the logistics and accommodations instead of the traveler. They also have a lot of inclusions.
Reviews: The vast majority of reviews for Topdeck is in the “excellent” category. One review is titled, “Most amazing experience ever!”
Browse more reviews to see what people are saying about Topdeck.
Travel Style: Topdeck has many different types of travel for people to choose from. The list includes sailing, overland, hotel plus, ski, gap year, hotel, festivals & events and explorer. In each trip there are many planned activities but there are also optional ones. This leaves free time for travelers to either enjoy the optional activities or do some exploring on their own. Some popular activities include going to beaches, sightseeing and visiting towns and marketplaces to get the full cultural immersion experience.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Topdeck:
- Baby boomers
- Travelers who want structure and free time
- Sightseers and explorers
Topdeck travelers are a mixture of different travel styles. They love both sightseeing and exploring. These travelers would be just as excited to visit the Louvre in France as they would be to swim in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. A little sightseeing and experiential activities are perfect for the Topdeck traveler.
5. Intrepid
Budget Range: The majority of trips offered by Intrepid fall within the 1,000 through 4,000 dollar range. The lowest price offered is $135 for a trip to Istanbul & Turkey. The highest offered price is $33,990 for a trip to the North Pole.
Intrepid can offer such low prices because they focus on sustainability within their travel experiences.
Reviews: Most reviews fall within the “excellent” category with some also falling in “great”. One review is titled, “Can’t wait for our next trip with you”.
Browse more reviews to see what people are saying about Intrepid.
Travel Style: Intrepid focuses on budget travel that is both original and comfortable. They don’t want to offer anything less than great because the price is so low. Their biggest focus is on small group tours but there are options for solo travelers as well. Travel with Intrepid involves more active experiences than sightseeing exploration.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Intrepid:
- All ages
- Those looking for adventure travel with physical activity
- Small groups and solo travelers
Intrepid travelers love when traveling takes the form of memorable, hands-on experiences. These travelers don’t feel intimidated by the phrase adventure travel but rather they embrace it. The perfect activities for Intrepid travelers include cycling, trekking and camping. Cultural immersion is also a great addition to Intrepid trips as many destinations include homestays.
