Eastern/Central Europe cost comparison- tour versus on your own

Please share with us why you think the cost is going to be more economical with a tour company as opposed to doing it on your own - where do you see the savings come from?

I don't know if it would be. That is my question. I have seen some sites that state that some packages can end up being more cost effective, particularly for shorter trips.

i think you'll save at least on transportation and food if you go on your own. both are relatively cheap, and buses/trains are efficient. also note if you're ok with staying in hostel or people's rented rooms you'll save even more. you do want to cut a few things - prague + budapest could take 10 days by themselves.

We are seasoned budget travellers, which made me question whether a package offered more than convenience. Wish we had more time. :( Need to win the lottery.

We went through some of these areas on our own. Get a good guide book or two, Rough Guide or Bandt are the best, for us anyway. There are tourist "what to see" pamphlets in almost any hotel that can help also. Hotel desk clerks are a wealth of information that we use. You can do this on your own and save lots of money for trinkets.

Sheila- I am taking a trip to these areas in September and have planned and booked all lodging and travel aspects of my trip. My partner wanted to just take a RS tour, and while I like the tours and have been on one, my travel dollars are limited. Our 21 night trip ended up being $3100 per person, including all lodging, all international flights and internal flights, all trains, shuttles etc. Obviously, my total does not include site entry or food, but I don't spend much on food when I travel and the restaurant meals on a tour are of little value to me. We stay in well-reviewed apartments almost everywhere, which is really a savings. The RS Eastern Europe tour is basically 15 days at $4200. Airfare will likely be about $1000 and you're at $5200. Somehow, once I do that math, I usually end up traveling on my own. I am happy to share my economical lodging details. PM me if you want them.

Yes, you can def do the tour cheaper on your own than on a RS tour, but I'm not sure if anyone does one of Rick's tours because they think it's cheaper. On a multi-country tour like this it will be virtually impossible to see, do and experience as much on your own as on a RS tour, especially if it's your first time in the region. Plus, it makes many logistical problems disappear. That being said, you can go on your own and have the time of your life. You might consider reading the Rick Steves "Eastern Europe" guidebook and take a look at the tours pages to get some itinerary ideas.

I'm curious what other experienced travelers think about the comment that it is virtually impossible to do as much as a RS tour covers if you are an independent traveler. I guess I'm generally confused because for many years, the RS message encouraged novice travelers to plan and research their trips, but to explore Europe independently, and now I think there's a RS contingent that holds up his rather expensive programmed tours as the "best" way to travel. Is there a shift in the party line?

Actually, I was NOT thinking specifically of a Rick Steves tour. I had found others much cheaper. I know some tours provide more bells and whistles, but in terms of offering a package versus me paying a la carte for air, hotel etc, it seems it can come close to doing it yourself. And there is the slight edge of not having to arrange for your own transportation, hotel, etc. if you use the tour. The convenience factor.

I've done 3, soon to be 4, RS tours. I don't agree that you cannot possibly cover what they do on your own - many have done this and many will again. However, for me, I highly value the time savings an organized tour provides, especially as it relates to transport (no waiting for trains, no missing busses, etc.) and the services of a knowledgeable guide. Time is money, and the value of these two things alone have far outweighed the slightly higher monetary cost of the tour versus planning it myself. I love planning, and with a RS tour I still get to do some of my own (pre- and post-trip, plus you get time on your own every day). It is a matter of personal preference though - so decide what things are most important to you (cost, flexibility, control of time, etc) and do what suits those preferences.

CL -- that is a great post, and spot on I think. I would never denigrate the value of independent travel -- I always combine independent travel whenever I am able to take a RS tour. (And generally I abhor the idea of 'tours'). Just to site one example, on the Best of Eastern Europe tour, we visited a Hungarian Gulag (not in any guidebooks), lunched with Hungarian students at their school, had a wine-tasting at a small Hillside winery, visited the home of our Slovenian bus driver.... Some of these experiences you would be hard pressed to do on your own. Add to that wasting precious little time in queues, not getting lost -- except on my own time when it was the goal, efficient transportation.... The tours are not for everyone, but the price is comparable to other tours when you compare 'apples to apples'. In the end though, however you choose to travel in Europe, just do it. To each their own.

The choice is really one of style more than cost. I don't much care for groups and am a bit introverted and so I enjoy not being on tours. BUT there are times when to see what I want to see and learn what I want to learn I make the sacrifice. Others thrive in the group environment. When it comes to cost and only cost I think independent trips end up costing more because when you are making the individual arrangements yourself you tend to choose higher class amenities than those you are for some reason willing to accept as part of a group. Budapest is one city where it is hard to find value in group tours. There may be value in Prague because the tour operator may be able to get you through or around the crowds of tourists. Krakow if you are going for the Jewish connection might just be one of those trips I would insist being on a very first class tour, Croatia I haven't been to so.......

I can always do a trip cheaper than a tour, but it doesn't mean I will have exactly the same experience. Part of travel on my own is figuring it all out... how to manage the logistics, find my way, etc. and sometimes that is lots of fun. But, there is something to be said for having all of that taken care of for you... travel is always a tradeoff. If I were doing your trip I would probably leave out Croatia. Are you interested in seeing the countryside at all? Are you going by train or renting a car?

I agree that Croatia is a bit of a stretch;but beautiful and its on my must do list. here is an option: Prague to Krakow then through Slovakia to Budapest. Why Slovakia? Does this and similar sights interest you? http://www.penzionmalafatra.sk/image/oravskya.jpg

I would suggest you do only 2 cities for a 10 day trip. Also, its been my experience that it's more economical to plan the trip yourself instead of going with a tour company. All of my trips over the last 10 yrs ended up being anywhere between $1500 - $3000 per person less expensive on my own then with a tour company. And it's possible to see just as much as a RS tour on your own at way less expense. But you have to be prepared to do quite a few hours of planning before the trip. Personally, I use trip planning as a relief valve from everyday stress, so it's OK with me to spend 60 hrs planning a two week trip for my husband & I, plus any family or friends that want to come along. It's something positive to look forward to when life takes some nasty turns. I make an itinerary up by day just like any tour company would do with all important info to take with me in my carry on & another copy in one of my checked bags on the trip along with printed copies of all my reservations for transportation, lodging, and special sights/events. That along with my guide books, maps, and other printed material off the internet keeps us good. I also usually leave one day with no plan - usually day 3 - just in case something didn't go as planned in previous days which can be seen then. And if all goes well, I always have 2 choices of what to do with that free day. I may book a day tour with a local company on day 4 just to take a break from being the "tour guide" and to cover some places that are must see but not in depth or farther out of my home base if not using a rental car. Everything all works out in the end and never had a person come back unhappy from one of our trips, with may the exception of wishing they could prolong the fun by staying longer. It must be good, because I now have to plan 3 yrs out since I limit to not more than 3 extra folks coming with me and always have folks wanting to go.

You will notice it thought it a stretch as well to do so many major hits in 10 days. But if you flew into Prague. You are going to need 14 days to do Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Krakow and Budapest and there is no way you get to Croatia. 1. Depart the US 2. Arrive Prague about 2 pm 3. Prague Old Town 4. Prague Castel District 5. Depart Prague for Budapest, Arrive Budapest late in the afternoon 6. Budapest 7. Budapest 8. Budapest 9. Budapest 10. Depart for the US I guessed wrong on the definition of a 10 day vacation then add a day to Prague, but 4 full days in Budapest seems to work well. Krakow should be a two full day trip. It just seems to come up short on getting there and enjoying it. One option for just one more day of travel would be to get to Budapest and then take advantage of Ryanair's midnight flights to and from Krakow. Spend two days in Budapest, then Dump your bags in a rented apartment or with the hotel Concierge and take the night flight up, spend one night there and then take the night flight back to Budapest; unwind for a couple more days in Budapest before you go home. Great town for unwinding. Now if you can stretch it to 16 days (that would be a Saturday through a Sunday missing only 10 days of work), then I have some great ideas for you. • Prague • Cesky Krumlov • Krakow • High Tatras of Slovakia
• Budapest Complete with 3 to four stunning castles, small towns, forests, profound history and wonderful cities.