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Personalized service and experience with attention to detail.

Whether you are a business looking for an incentive travel program or just a leisure getaway for yourself, Platinum Travel & Events can help. We cater to groups as well as the independent traveler. We recognize the need for experienced agents in the Internet age. Internet travel sites list hotels, cruises, and destinations, but offer little […]

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Corporate travel, handled

Pay less, free up your people, and leave travel to the experts

"I estimate that we were paying about $250k more each year plus using two assistants to capacity for travel. Sam came in and cut costs across the board, and freed up my assistants who are now actually doing what they were hired for. Thank you."

Experience the difference

Platinum has been arranging corporate travel since 2010. We look forward to arranging everything for you.

If your company is booking travel by yourself...

• You're paying far too much
• Your key people are booking travel and bogged down by a job they weren't trained to do
• Your miles, rewards, refunds, and vouchers are going nowhere for you, adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted over time
• It's not organized and getting messier by the year

When Platinum is servicing you - you get...

Freedom from everything travel.

All that coordinating, changing, canceling and rebooking - it's on us and we do it well.

Your team will be totally unconcerned with travel tasks, leaving them untethered and ready to do business.

We know travel, leave it to us.

Massive savings

Our relationships, bulk pricing, and strategy mean you NEVER pay online rates again, we devise strategies for enormous savings and you never overpay a dollar again.

You'll be completely shocked at how much money we save you in the first year alone.

Going forward, this will save your company hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.

Accountability

Your piles of vouchers for changes or cancellations will be carefully kept track of so that not one is wasted, miles are working hard for you, and refunds are made to you when due.

We're like a bookkeeper and CFO for travel expenses, and we'll transform this messy area into clean, smooth, and systematic.

You get peace of mind and tens of thousands saved each year. Let us handle it.

Concierge service

No more chasing Jane or John ever again. We're available 24/7 to book any amount of travel for any amount of company staff.

Travel concierge for business while saving money - sign me up!

How it works

Company and executive assistants, secretaries, and other employees who were never trained for travel are booking travel, and it's a heavy load.

In addition, they're unable to track vouchers and refunds for changed and canceled travel. It's a mess and costing you heavily.

Let us take this off your hands and watch it be transformed into a clean and efficient system that saves you hundreds of thousands each year.

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• Moscow Tours

Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

Accommodation

PRIVATE TOUR

A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

Tours by car

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

Walking tours

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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Family & Friends Travel

Friends & family vacation planning.

Family vacation planning or planning a trip with friends can be a fun experience, but sometimes you may want to get some help with the process.

Traveling with friends and family can also be very rewarding. The most important part of planning your vacation might be choosing your destination.

Whether you are looking for local flavor, the best beaches, or multi-generational family fun, our group travel experts know the ins and outs of locales around the world. Tell us where you’ve always dreamed of going and the activities that most interest your group, and we’ll exhaust our resources to make it happen. Not to mention, we’ll handle all the payments and confirmations, which can become overwhelming if you attempt it by yourself.

Custom FIT Groups

For a minimal fee we can also custom-build your vacation. Doing so provides flexibility and control over what you do and how much time you spend doing it. From planning the right itinerary and finding the right accommodations to arranging private touring and transfers. We are passionate about tailoring unique trips that fulfill your expectations. We leverage our experience and our worldwide network of trusted travel providers.

What constitutes a group?

Group Airfare – 10 or more passengers

Cruise lines – Most require 8 staterooms with a minimum of 16 adult guests

All-inclusive Resorts & Las Vegas – A minimum of 10 rooms

Disney – Group Getaways experiences and benefits are available to groups of any size who book and occupy at least ten 10 guest rooms during one 1 night of their stay.

Other requirements may apply to be considered a group.

Contact Platinum Travel to embark on the journey of a lifetime. We’d love to help you with your family vacation planning or planning trips with friends. No matter who you choose to travel with or where you chose to go, we want to help you build memories that last a lifetime.

Put-in tours

Original tour agency in moscow and st petersburg..

Onboard a Soviet van!

Welcome to Russia!

We are Sergey and Simon, a Russian and a Frenchman, both  passionate about Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and classic cars. Together, we have created Put-in tours. Our goal is to help you experience Russian culture off the beaten path. Join us onboard our classic Soviet van and let’s get rolling!

In Moscow we offer you a city tour to discover most of the city in an original way as well as a night tour to admire the lights. Our pubcrawl is ideal to explore Moscow’s night-life and have fun. If you are craving to discover Russian culture, come impress your senses during our monastery diner or join our 100% Russian Banya Excursion . The latest will also bring you to Sergiyev Posad and it’s famous monastery!

For the most extreme travellers, our shooting tour will deliver your daily dose of adrenaline whereas our tank excursion will let you ride a real tank and shoot a bazooka.

We also offer help to receive your visa , safe and multilingual airport transfers , as well as organisation services for team-building events or bachelor parties .

All our excursions (but the monastery diner) happen onboard our Soviet military vans and can be covered by our  professionnal photographer or videographer.

In Saint Petersburg

We welcome you in Saint Petersburg onboard our Soviet van to discover the imperial city with our city tour and night tour .

Continue your discovery in style! The adrenaline lovers will like our shooting tour  which brings 3 Russian weapons to the tip of your trigger finger.

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At Put-in tours, we put you in our classic Soviet vans to go explore Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Russian culture off the beaten path. Discover our Moscow city guided tour, visit Moscow by night, join our banya & Sergiyev Posad excursion, visit and dine in one of Moscow's oldest monastery or even Luzhniki stadium, before you party on our famous pubcrawl! Original and atypical tours : Shoot AK47 and a bazooka after riding on a tank with our tank & bazooka excursion ! Extreme tours: Fly a fighter jet in Moscow onboard a L-29 or L-39 aircraft!

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Moscow Vacation Packages

Moscow vacations are always a great idea when it comes to traveling in Russia. Plan your trip to Moscow with a leading tour operator for Russia and enjoy the ease and pleasure that comes from it. You will stay at the centrally-located hotels, enjoy guided tours to Moscow's best sights with charming local guides, and, most importantly, feel relaxed and immersed in the Russian culture at all times. Wondering what the ideal way to see the best of Moscow is? Well, with a private tour to Moscow, of course! We will listen to your travel preferences and prepare a custom Moscow itinerary just for you. Let's start talking about your upcoming vacation to the gorgeous capital city of Russia.

Moscow Tour Highlights

Explore the capital of the largest country in the world, Russia.

Learn about the most visited sights in Moscow that are worth adding to your Russian itinerary. Create a fantastic tour to Moscow with a destination, choosing your wished activities.

• Moscow walking tour
• The Red Square
• St Basil's Cathedral
• Moscow Subway ride
• Tretyakov Gallery
• The Red Square in Moscow
• The Bolshoi Theater
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Moscow's Kremlin exploration
• 'Seven Sisters' Skyscrapers

Tips for Moscow Travel

Take a look at the good-to-know tips before visiting Moscow and have a fantastic time in the capital.

What to pack

Make sure to check the weather prognosis before your trip and pack accordingly.

When to travel

Moscow is beautiful all around the year. Choose traveling time according to preferred activities.

We suggest to always have some cash with you. You will need Rubles (RUB) for Russia.

How much to tip

Tipping is not required in Russia, but it's considered good etiquette, tip 10%-15% of your bill.

The average summer temperature is approx 18°C (64°F), and winter is around -6°C (22°F).

Some of the most popular souvenirs from Moscow are caviar, Krasnaya Moska perfume.

Best Moscow Sights

One of the highest points in Moscow and one of its most breathtaking places - the Sparrow Hills.

See the 344-feet Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the tallest Orthodox church in the world.

Enjoy masterpieces of Russian opera and ballet in Moscow's legendary Bolshoi Theater.

Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, Red Square is an absolute must see when in Moscow. 

The famous GUM is a large department store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow facing Red Square.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture set in the romantic Red Square.

History and luxury is revealed inside the Kremlin as the Armoury Chamber displays treasures like Faberge Eggs.

Moscow Metro is like a whole underground city that holds the world's largest collection of Stalinist Art.

The symbol of Moscow and entire Russia, the Kremlin is often described as the 8th Wonder of the World.

I am very satisfied.

I have been using the Firebirds (Travel All Russia) services for a while. I am very satisfied.

WOW. From the choice of hotels to...

WOW. From the choice of hotels, an itinerary that ran to plan, the amazing Guides and drivers, and of course the stunning cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. No long queues for entry to museums, churches, and palaces.  I would gladly recommend using Firebird Tours (Travel All Russia) to anyone.

THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

I must say from the day I started to book my tip till the day I got home I had one GREAT trip and experience I always felt safe and cared for help was seconds away not that I needed any I will defiantly highly recommend your company to any traveler to Russia WELL DONE to the Whole team THANK YOU for making this happen for me !!!

We enjoyed the whole trip a lot

Overall we enjoyed the whole trip a lot. Moscow is beautiful and clean. Thank you very much for your patience and excellent organization of this tour. Everything ran very smoothly and according to schedule. The guides met us on time at hotels or at our train carriage on arrival. They all spoke good English, had a good local knowledge and were very kind and helpful.

The tour lived up to all expectations

I’m most pleased with Travel All Russia in arranging our ‘Volga Dream’ Russia tour, I would recommend using your services again as every aspect of our tour went off without a hitch. The communication between our tour representative was excellent as we required additional days on both ends of our tour. The visa process and the logistics were flawlessly implemented.

We had a great time in Moscow!

Everything was perfect and we are very satisfied with services and accommodations.

Loved my time in Russia

The trip was great. Especially want to mention the guides I had on the extra days were exceptional. Both guides and drivers worked out well. Thanks again for all your help and attention. Loved my time in Russia, and still haven’t stopped talking about it.

Exploring Magnificent Russian Capitals, June 2017

Just want to say that our guide in St Petersburg was really outstanding. You really felt like someone was looking after you. Very observant - knowledgeable. We really enjoyed time spent with her.

Exploring Vibrant Moscow, June 2017

The experience was great!!! We had an excellent guide. The hotel was fabulous.

Thank you for your help !!! was an unforgettable trip.

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How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

I 've always considered myself a fiercely independent traveler. I've navigated more than 50 countries on my own, and while I have sometimes booked short excursions, usually for a day, it had never occurred to me to book a group tour. That changed when I decided to take two of my children on a family tour with Intrepid Travel . 

I had planned on spending our winter break in the Middle East but changed my mind at the last minute due to safety concerns . Because of the abrupt change, I knew I wouldn't have time to plan an itinerary, book hotels and arrange transportation before our departure date. However, I didn’t want to let that stop me from having an adventure. I'm glad I took a chance on a group tour because it changed the way I travel. Here's how.

BEST OF THE BEST: 15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours

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The trip planning was stress-free

I spent a little time comparing tour companies but quickly honed in on Intrepid. The company offers a variety of itineraries for families at different price points, and a few of my friends had been on its tours and had a good experience. I also liked that Intrepid offers specialized tours for different types of travelers, including family tours . 

At first I planned on an "original" style family tour but upgraded to a "comfort" tour, which included more activities and meals along with upgraded accommodations. Although it cost more, the company's 10-day Morocco Family Holiday tour was still within my budget and looked like a good value. 

BEFORE YOU GO: The 5 most important questions to ask yourself before booking a tour  

Once I committed to a tour, my planning was essentially done. That was a huge relief. I normally spend hours searching for hotels , figuring out some must-do activities in every location along with some off-the-beaten-track attractions, researching transportation options, and gathering restaurant recommendations. Although I often find it's fun, it’s also time-consuming and can become draining for trips that involve several stops.

Even though a group tour was not exactly what I would have planned on my own, Intrepid's Morocco itinerary was fairly close. I thought giving up some control was well worth the trade-off of not having to do all the planning on my own. Because Intrepid uses local teams based at its tour destinations to plan trips, I also hoped having a local involved would bring me to places I never would have found on my own. 

SAVE MONEY: Kids stay free at these 10 all-inclusive family resorts

Instead of reading hotel reviews and booking entry tickets, I spent the weeks leading up to my family vacation learning more about Moroccan culture. I knew this would enrich my experience more than figuring out all of the details for a trip abroad to run smoothly. I'm usually a mix of excited and stressed in the week or two leading up to a big trip. This time I was mostly excited, and my stress was at a minimum. 

Though I won’t stick exclusively to group tours in the future, this trip taught me to not sweat the small stuff so much. I don’t need to spend so much time finding the perfect hotel or restaurant to have a great trip.

Group trips are fantastic for solo travelers and parents traveling on their own

Before I had a family, I often traveled on my own. Though I enjoyed solo travel , it was lonely at times, even more so when I stopped staying at youth hostels and lost access to the fantastic communities they provide. Now I frequently travel with my two younger children. They are fantastic travel companions, but on longer trips I sometimes find myself longing for adult interaction or an extra pair of hands. Additionally, even though my kids usually get along well, they sometimes get sick of each other in the absence of any other playmates. 

TRAVEL WITH TEENS: 10 best vacation ideas for families with teenagers

On my Intrepid trip, I had other adults to talk to throughout the day. That was a refreshing change from my usual experience of going a week or more without speaking to another adult for more than five minutes, usually for transactional matters like checking into a hotel. My kids also quickly made friends with the other children on the trip. Not surprisingly, all of the families on the trip had similar interests and an adventurous spirit. My children and I were the only Americans in the group, and it was interesting learning more about life in New Zealand, Canada and Australia from the other families.

The parents in the group quickly started leaning on one another for support. One mom, also traveling alone with her children, asked me to take one of her daughters on an outing so she could get some one-on-one time with her other child. I asked a different mom to keep an eye on my son while I packed our things for the next day. It was nice not feeling as if I was on my own. 

UNIQUE TRIPS: Hate bus tours? These 7 unique guided tours were made for you

This "it takes a village" spirit is something I want to bring with me in my future travels. Although it’s not possible to replicate the experience of traveling with other families, it is possible to seek out connections away from home. For example, on a recent trip, my son wanted to play soccer with local children who lived near our hotel. Instead of rushing him away so we could squeeze in another activity, I let him play. He wound up meeting up with the other kids every night we were there, sharing candy and communicating with an app. The nights playing soccer were a highlight of that trip for him and something I probably would not have let him do before my experience with a group tour.  

I appreciated a slower pace

I have serious FOMO and often pack too much into my days when I travel. When I first reviewed the itinerary, I noted right away that it had downtime and even an entire free afternoon built into the trip. Though I know many people enjoy that balance, I was worried I would feel bored and come away feeling as if I had traveled halfway around the world and missed seeing all there is to do. 

TRIP REVIEW: Adventures by Disney’s Peru tour is a riveting family adventure

The reality is it’s impossible to do everything. Trying is exhausting and impossible. There is always something left on the to-do list at the end of the trip. It was refreshing to go into a trip not trying to see an entire country in two weeks and being OK with that from the outset. 

Though there were a couple of other things I would have liked to have squeezed in, I was very happy with the balance of activities and downtime. Other than all-inclusive family vacations and trips to family resorts , I normally don’t schedule time to just relax while I am traveling. It was really nice to have time to read and play UNO with my kids. I also liked that Intrepid had a couple of optional activities for those of us who didn’t want quite as much downtime as others. 

MONEY MATTERS: How much should you tip on a guided tour? All your gratuity questions answered  

I do still feel pressure to see and do everything when I travel, but going on a group trip helped me see the value in traveling at a slower pace. Some of my favorite moments from my Intrepid trip happened during scheduled downtime; they gave me and my children time to just enjoy being with one another without the pressures of work and school. It’s a lesson I’ve tried to carry with me as I’ve planned future trips. 

Learning from a local is invaluable 

One reason I chose Intrepid is the company uses all local guides, and most tours use the same guide throughout the trip. It may sound obvious that learning from locals is the best way to get to know a country, but I had underestimated just how valuable traveling with a local guide would be. 

TOUR REVIEW: Adventures by Disney’s South Africa tour is a lesson in culture, history, and beauty  

I learned much about Moroccan culture through our tour guide, who was always willing to answer questions about his life and traditions. He even brought us to his family home to meet his parents and niece, which was a very special experience. Aside from being able to share the history of everywhere we visited, I also liked that our guide warned us about scams to watch out for, shared the tipping culture and gave advice on bargaining. He was also helpful when it came to practical matters like finding an ATM.  

For future trips, I will be more open to taking guided tours with local guides, even if it’s just for a few hours. I will also make it a point to try to talk to more locals, as long as I can do so without bothering them too much. 

Even though it wasn’t what I had originally planned, not only did I have a great experience on my trip with Intrepid, it has also forever changed the way I plan to travel.

How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com .

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology , we review and select family vacation ideas , family vacation spots , all-inclusive family resorts , and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators , tour operator reviews , tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

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School Group Travel Consultant

Job Details

Due to remarkable growth in group travel across the globe for schools we are now seeking a  Group Travel Consultant  to join a highly successful travel company, remote or hybrid working.

This exciting role is ideal for an experienced School Group Travel Consultant seeking career growth and an exciting role with a forward thinking travel company.

School Group Travel Consultant Duties:

• Creating proposals for tours across the UK, Europe and beyond for school groups.
• Booking flights, accommodation, tours, trains and many other travel products
• Following up on sales leads
• Develop relationships with potential and existing customers
• Create bespoke quotes tailored to the customer’s budget and requirements
• Offering a cutting edge customer service from start to finish.

School Group Travel Consultant – Essential Requirements:

• Experience in booking school trips within a tour operator is essential.
• You must be commercially astute and have excellent communication skills at all levels
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Self-motivated
• Target driven
• Additional languages spoken would be a bonus
• Proficient in the world of MS Office
• A passion for travel

School Group Travel Consultant – Perks

• Lucrative salary uncapped commission scheme
• Opportunities to travel
• Flexible working
• Hybrid or remote working
• Private health insurance
• On-site parking (including EV charging points) for hybrid workers
• Company pension scheme
• Monday to Friday

www.platinumtravelrecruitment.co.uk

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