Independent travel family thinking about first ABD

[rlk]

I've read through numerous threads after my family discussed the possibility of doing a group tour. I understand the feeling of traveling with the group and becoming a 'family' that happens, but what I'm really trying to figure out is that in most of these threads, people mention the extra "VIP" experience when traveling with ABD. Since my experience has been traveling independently and hiring private guides in each (or most) countries/cities we visit, I am curious if ABD guided tour (step on guide)portion of the trips are different. On our tours, the various guides allowed us to cut the lines, were extremely well informed and interesting. Is there anything else the step on guides from ABD do that is different?

 

[sayhello]

I've read through numerous threads after my family discussed the possibility of doing a group tour. I understand the feeling of traveling with the group and becoming a 'family' that happens, but what I'm really trying to figure out is that in most of these threads, people mention the extra "VIP" experience when traveling with ABD. Since my experience has been traveling independently and hiring private guides in each (or most) countries/cities we visit, I am curious if ABD guided tour (step on guide)portion of the trips are different. On our tours, the various guides allowed us to cut the lines, were extremely well informed and interesting. Is there anything else the step on guides from ABD do that is different?

The step-on guides *are* pretty much what you're describing above. The difference is, ABD vets them, so you *know* they're good, and they sometimes take you places that only companies like ABD can arrange for you.
Now if you're talking about the *Adventure Guides*, that's a whole other level of service.

Sayhello

 

[rlk]

Thanks Sayhello. I've read all about the ABD guides and how much they add to the experience. That's a big part of our looking into ABD. I had reviewed our spreadsheet from our most recent big vacation and realized that while we saved some money doing it ourselves, all the planning fell on my shoulders. I would love a trip that I didn't have to worry about anything. I think that might be worth the extra expense for our family.

 

[disneyphx]

Hi

Without knowing where you have been or exactly what your private guides have done, I think ABD offers a few things over DIY with private guides:
- they do all of the planning for you
- they have the Adventures guides (2), plus a step-on guide in a lot of places, plus a whole behind the scenes support team - so they get to cram in a lot more things than if you were doing some aspects yourself. Our first ABD was in China, and while I think a lot of the touring could be replicated with private guides, the logistics of flights, transfers etc would have taken a lot more. A couple of times on that trip, we walked into the airport, were handed a boarding pass and were on the plane 20 minutes later.....
- travelling with other like minded people - we have always connected with others on our trips, so that adds a dimension that we would miss on our own

Are you looking at particular itineraries?
We started with China as figured that was a hard place to DIY so figured a group made sense either way.....now 6 years later (with a few ABDs and other group trips in between) we are doing London and Paris ABD, even though we could (and have done) both places on our own!

Michele

 

[rlk]

Hi

Are you looking at particular itineraries?
We started with China as figured that was a hard place to DIY so figured a group made sense either way.....now 6 years later (with a few ABDs and other group trips in between) we are doing London and Paris ABD, even though we could (and have done) both places on our own!

Michele

I wouldn't say we have traveled extensively,we have been to Europe 3 times, with another trip planned for this summer.
We are interested in South African Safari, China, as well as Vietnam,Cambodia and Laos. These are places I am not comfortable doing on my own. When we can travel might limit our choices. My boys are both in high school, so we are looking for late July/August 2018.

My biggest obstacle for joining a tour is my anxiety. I am an introvert and while I love people and am very friendly, have a hard time getting comfortable around strangers. My husband on the other hand, can talk to a wall (we make a great team).

 

[mathgeek]

My biggest obstacle for joining a tour is my anxiety. I am an introvert and while I love people and am very friendly, have a hard time getting comfortable around strangers. My husband on the other hand, can talk to a wall (we make a great team).

I am also very much an introvert and have done 3 ABD tours, 2 of them as a solo traveler. For me, it was nice to have other people I knew who I could sit by at the breakfast buffets if I wanted to, but if I wanted to sit alone, that was fine too. I also found it easier to do some of the activities that I was afraid to do (zip lining) by having other people in the group cheering me on.

- travelling with other like minded people - we have always connected with others on our trips, so that adds a dimension that we would miss on our own

I think this made a huge difference in my comfort level on these trips. I very much dislike going to parties and doing the small talk thing, but traveling with like minded people who want to discuss the tour, the activities, and the culture made it a lot easier to feel comfortable with them. There was also enough on your own time built into the tours that I didn't feel like I had to be a part of the big group all the time.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Thanks Sayhello. I've read all about the ABD guides and how much they add to the experience. That's a big part of our looking into ABD. I had reviewed our spreadsheet from our most recent big vacation and realized that while we saved some money doing it ourselves, all the planning fell on my shoulders. I would love a trip that I didn't have to worry about anything. I think that might be worth the extra expense for our family.

I am the travel planner in my household. Yes, I can plan a fabulous trip to many places. I can arrange private tours, drivers, etc. But it is a LOT of work, and I don't mean just the research and initial booking. Once we arrive at our destination, then I have to make sure we have confirmation numbers and phone numbers, etc., plus I always like to have a backup plan in case my original arrangements don't quite work out as planned.

Going with the ABD, somebody else does all of the pre-trip and during the trip work for you. The very name Adventures by Disney opens doors that even the best independent guides can not always access. They take care of making all the arrangements of where to do this, when to do that, and they take care of the backup plans on the trip if a vehicle or boat breaks down, etc., etc.

As the planner in our family, I find going with a group to be far less stressful overall for me. That way I get to enjoy all of the trip, too.

 

[BluesTraveler]

rlk - you could be describing me! I had a hard time deciding to pull the trigger on our first ABD for the reasons you listed. Another hesitation for me was we are not big Disney people. We've taken the kids to the parks over the years and enjoyed them just fine, but a mouse-themed vacation would definitely not be our style. So I was a little worried about that part. However, I really wanted to do Alaska without worrying about the logistics myself. We pulled the trigger on that one, and now I swear I can't go back.

First, I had no idea how much energy I was spending on our family trips on logistics. How to get places, what kind of transportation, where/when to eat, how much time to do things - I've never minded this planning at all, but when someone else did it for me - whoa. It was SO much more relaxing.

Second, I didn't realize how much energy my husband and I spend cajoling children to be where they needed to be, when they needed to be there (and yes boys, with your clothes and shoes on). And they are good travelers! But the dynamic on the ABD was completely different - if the guide said to be on the bus at 8:00am, they hopped right to it. They really enjoyed being with other kids and as a result there was just about zero of the low-level bickering that sometimes goes on during family vacations.

Finally, I am an introvert, and one of my kids definitely is. I had a freakout moment on our plane on the way to Alaska when there were 2 other families on our flight, and it suddenly occurred to me I was going to have to actually talk to people and interact with them!! On my vacation!! What?!?! But there is enough down time built in that you will have your time away from the group (I even thought a smidgen too much, which surprised me). And the travel time on the bus is a good time to pop on your head phones and listen to a podcast or something if you need quiet time. Also, I found that because my energy wasn't spent on logistics and corralling kids, I had more energy to chat with and enjoy our fellow travelers. For this strong introvert, it was really great.

Overall, it was the most relaxing family trip we've ever done in terms of my own mental energy.

We have ABD Wyoming booked for this summer. ABD is the only company we've used so far, but we are certainly considering Tauck Bridges, National Geographic, and Austin Adventures, in addition to ABD, for 2018.

 

[BluesTraveler]

I just realized I didn't answer your actual question. On our independent travels we have also hired private guides, "VIP tours," etc. No - ABD doesn't seem to exceed those in terms of access, so that shouldn't be your expectation. But think of it as those private guides handling your entire vacation, not just the museum tour/city tour/etc.

 

[rlk]

I really appreciate all your responses. I am now determined to book a tour for 2018, just have to decide when and where.

 

[calypso726]

My biggest obstacle for joining a tour is my anxiety. I am an introvert and while I love people and am very friendly, have a hard time getting comfortable around strangers. My husband on the other hand, can talk to a wall (we make a great team).

Hi from a fellow introvert! We will be doing our 9th ABD this August and I have been very comfortable with each one. No anxiety or panic at all in a group of complete strangers. The guides do a fabulous job of making everyone feel comfortable. I have also found that people on ABD trips are easy to be around. I find I am able to both look like a normal, sociable person on the outside and feel like a normal sociable person on the inside. Usually, I look normal and sociable on the outside but on the inside I feel like I am on a stage, playing a part just so I can get through the day without being completely drained and falling apart into a hot mess.