If you google “group tours”, the number of different results is endless. But finding the right tour operator that aligns with your preferences and needs doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. With a little bit of prep work and research, you can find the perfect match.
If you look up the definitions of tourist and traveler in the dictionary, you’ll get very similar definitions.
tour·ist
/to͝orəst/ noun a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.
trav·el·er
/ˈtrav(ə)lər/ noun a person who is traveling or who often travels.
But to me, there is a significant difference between the two words. Tourists visit new places, typically larger cities, in order to take in the most popular sights, eat at the most well-known restaurants, and return home with suitcases full of trinkets – basically unchanged. Travelers, on the other hand, seek out more authentic experiences, immerse themselves into the local culture, and return home with a wider view of the world and perhaps a better understanding of themselve
We are all about maximizing your time in a new destination as you never know if you’ll have the chance to go back. Because of this, we like to provide recommendations of additional ideas of what to do in and around our tour locations. This time around, we’ve provided a list of what do to either before or after our Spain Food & Wine Tour.
You may think that personally planning every last detail of your upcoming vacation is the best way to have a memorable vacation. Or you may only think of the massive get-on-the-bus-get-off-the-bus trips when you hear the words “group tour”. But there is one type of trip that can often be overlooked – the small group tour.
Small group tours provide a number of benefits over trying to plan a whole vacation on your own and certainly offer a more intimate and engaging experience than the 50 person plus group tours.
Going on beer tours can be a lot of fun – though most beer is made using the same process, you can still learn something new on every tour. To help your beer tour experience go smoothly, here’s a few do’s and don’ts to take into consideration before you go.
DO try a few samples or a flight of beers before ordering a pint. It’s the best way to try a good variety of beers to help evaluate what that brewery does well. If you aren’t sure what you like, it’s also an economical way of figuring it out. If they don’t do a full sampler, ask for a tasting of a beer. Most breweries will give you a couple of ounces to try before getting a full pint.
DON’T wander off on your own while touring a brewery. Not only is it rude but you could be putting yourself at risk of slipping and falling, burning yourself, or getting hit by equipment. So stay safe and stay with the group.
DO ask questions and chat up the bartenders, brew masters, other brewery workers, and your fellow beer tour guests. You never know what you might find out about the brewery, a particular beer, or hey, life in general. Also, if you genuinely like a beer, let the staff know.
DON’T just assume that food will be readily available at a brewery. Most smaller breweries do not serve food, but a good number partner up with food trucks that may visit their breweries on a rotating basis. Or if a food truck isn’t available, you may have the option of bringing your own or ordering food to be delivered directly to the brewery. Call ahead to check what the food options are before you go.
DO buy yourself a souvenir of a beer that is only sold at the brewery itself by either purchasing a bottle or if you aren’t flying home, bring your own growler to fill.
DON’T drink too much. Nobody likes that guy on a beer tour, plus the brewery or establishment you are at has every right to ask you to leave. So know your limits and pace yourself. And this should go without saying but, DON’T drive impaired.
DO try the food-beer pairing recommendations (if available), especially if you are at a beer-pairing lunch or dinner. It may not be what you would typically order on its own, but there is a reason the chef and brewmaster recommend the two together.
Have any Do’s or Don’ts of your own to add? Feel free to leave yours in the comments below.
Or put these to the test on our Belgium Beer Tour or Colorado Beer Tour.
