Nashville Escorted & Package Tours

Packages for the Independent Traveler

Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.

One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines offer air/land packages, including American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com), Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559; www.deltavacations.com), Continental Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/301-3800; www.covacations.com), and United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com). Several big online travel agencies — Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com — also do a brisk business in packages.

For travel planning to Memphis, Northwest Airlines, which has a hub in Memphis, offers convenient packages. (From Europe, KLM airlines offers direct flights from Amsterdam to Memphis.) For travel to Nashville, Southwest Airlines offers similar packages into Nashville from major U.S. cities.

The convention and visitors bureaus’ websites in Nashville and Memphis allow tourists to book vacation packages that include hotel and attractions options. For example, the Nashville Nights “Honky Tonk Heaven” package includes two hotel nights, and tours to Ryman Auditorium, the Tennessee State Capitol, Historic Second Avenue, the Wildhorse Saloon, and the Hard Rock Cafe. All packages are customizable online, allowing you to book additional nights and add attractions to your itinerary.

Sweet Magnolia Tours is one of the few tour operators in Tennessee with offices in both Nashville and Memphis. In 2008, the company will begin offering specific vacation packages that combine the best of these two cities. The land-only packages include hotel and attractions. For more information, call tel. 866-320-5295 or tel. 901-369-9838; www.sweetmagnoliatours.com.

For European travelers interested in touring Tennessee as well as Atlanta, Ga. And New Orleans, La., check out the following website: www.deep-south-usa.de.

Travel packages are also listed in the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Or check ads in the national travel magazines such as Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and Conde Nast Traveler.

Ask Before You Go — Before you invest in a package deal or an escorted tour:

• Always ask about the cancellation policy. Can you get your money back? Is there a deposit required?

• Ask about the accommodations choices and prices for each. Then look up the hotels’ reviews in a Frommer’s guide and check their rates online for your specific dates of travel. Also find out what types of rooms are offered.

• Request a complete schedule (escorted tours only).

• Ask about the size and demographics of the group (escorted tours only).

• Discuss what is included in the price (transportation, meals, tips, airport transfers, and more — escorted tours only).

• Finally, look for hidden expenses. Ask whether airport departure fees and taxes, for example, are included in the total cost — they rarely are.

Escorted General-Interest Tours

Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation.

Despite the fact that escorted tours require big deposits and predetermine hotels, restaurants, and itineraries, many people derive security and peace of mind from the structure they offer. Escorted tours — whether they’re navigated by bus, motor coach, train, or boat — let travelers sit back and enjoy the trip without having to drive or worry about details. They take you to the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle. They’re particularly convenient for people with limited mobility and they can be a great way to make new friends.

On the downside, you’ll have little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with locals. The tours can be jam-packed with activities, leaving little room for individual sightseeing, whim, or adventure — plus they often focus on the heavily touristed sites, so you miss out on many a lesser-known gem.