... What is a Tour Operator? ...
by infocostarica.com staff

Thinking of visiting Costa Rica? Then chances are you’ve searched the web or purchased a travel guide in hopes of finding the best value in flights, accommodations and tour options. Some people prefer to go at it alone, booking a flight with an airline, reserving their own hotel room and then maybe, if they’re lucky, stumbling upon the perfect adventure tour. For the independent traveler with a lot of time on his or her hands, this may be the way to go. But for many of us, without the time to research every available hotel and travel option, there is a solution – tour operators.

You may well ask what’s the difference between a tour operator and a travel agency? In many circles the distinction between the two has become blurred. There are, however, some well-defined differences well worth mentioning.

A tour operator is a company that actually puts a vacation together, taking all the various elements such as flights, transfers and accommodation, and packaging them to sell. A travel agency, on the other hand, acts as a retail outlet to sell the packages offered by the many tour operators.

The rapid rise of Costa Rica’s tourism industry, during the past fifteen years, has brought a host of tour operators dedicated to offering everything from white water rafting to bungee jumping or sightseeing at a nearby volcano. Unfortunately, as is the case in most rapid growth situations, quality has at times taken a back seat to quantity.

With the variety of options available, choosing a reliable tour operator may seem like a daunting task. But it really doesn’t have to be. Look for a company with a proven safety record, check the operator’s brochures, licenses and ask for references. Take a look at the company’s website, who are they affiliated with, is the company licensed by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism? Also, make sure you are dealing with a real “brick and mortar “ operation, and not just a virtual “company” with a P.O. Box and some travel broker looking for his next commission. An established company with offices and employees will tend to offer names and telephone numbers, copyright text and consistent quality across the site.

While you may choose to work with a tour operator from your own country and reserve a trip before you arrive at your destination, it is usually cheaper and easier to work with an experienced local tour operator that has the inside knowledge of a destination and access to certain areas or attractions that a foreign company may not.

Are there any disadvantages to using a tour operator? Some point to a loss of flexibility and having to pay higher prices for itinerary modifications. The truth is most tour operators have now responded to the demands of customers requiring more flexibility in their travel arrangements, by offering custom-made itineraries and allowing travelers to pick and choose only those elements they require.
So whether you’ve decided on an exciting jungle adventure, a relaxing sun soaked beach resort, or both, a tour operator can help make your vacation dreams come true!