How to Get the Best Price for Group Tours (Insider Tips)
How to Get the Best Price for Group Tours
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’m a big believer in group tours as one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for busy, working travellers to see the world.
That said, not all tour prices are created equal — there are some important factors to consider at the booking stage. This post is about how to get the best price for groups tours. If you follow my advice, you can save a significant amount of money before you’ve even packed your bags. Money saved at the booking stage means more pizza and gelato in Italy, more champagne in France, or simply more left in the bank for your next adventure.
Here are the key strategies I recommend on how to get the best price for group tours whether you’re a seasoned or first time traveller.
1. Book as Early as Possible
Booking early is hands-down the most important factor in getting the best rate on a group tour.
Most tour operators price their tours in a very similar way to airlines, using what’s commonly referred to as a tiered or “bucket” pricing system. As seats sell, prices increase.
Here’s how it typically works:
- A tour coach might seat around 50 passengers
- Those seats are divided into several pricing “buckets”
- The first bucket is the cheapest
- Once those seats sell, the next bucket is released at a higher price — and so on
A simple example:
- Bucket 1 (first 7 seats): $2,000
- Bucket 2: +4% → $2,080
- Bucket 3: +4% → $2,163
- By the final bucket, the tour may cost over $2,530
That’s a 27% price increase for the exact same tour.
Why tour companies price this way
Tour operators run multiple departures of the same itinerary throughout the season, often weekly. Each departure needs to hit minimum numbers to cover fixed costs like the coach, driver, and hotels.
Raising the price on popular dates helps:
- Reward early bookers
- Encourage travellers to consider quieter departures
- Balance bookings across the season
Pro tip
If you already know roughly where and when you want to travel:
- Join the operator’s email list
- Watch for new departures being released
- Book early with a small deposit (often around 10%)
- Pay the balance off later
This locks in the lowest price without tying up all your cash upfront.
2. Pay Attention to the Currency You’re Booking In
This is one of the most overlooked ways travellers accidentally overpay.
Most people simply book in their home currency:
- Australians book in AUD
- Americans book in USD
- Brits book in GBP
But tour operators usually operate in one primary currency, and when they accept bookings in other currencies they:
- Build in conversion costs
- Add buffers to protect against exchange rate fluctuations
That extra margin gets passed on to you.
A real-world example
Expat Explore operates primarily in British Pounds (GBP).
When I check their website from Australia, prices display in AUD. For example:
- Europe Taster tour: $2,333 AUD
Using a VPN to view the same departure from the UK:
- Price: £1,084 GBP
- Live conversion: approximately $2,126 AUD
That’s a saving of $207 — almost 10% — simply by booking in a different currency.
This isn’t unique to Expat Explore. I’ve tested this with other major operators and seen similar differences.
How to do this
- If the website lets you choose the currency, test a few options
- If not, use a VPN to change your location
- Compare prices in major currencies (GBP, EUR, USD)
If you don’t already have a VPN, it’s worth getting one — not just for this, but also for protecting your data when using public Wi-Fi while travelling. I personally use NordVPN.
3. Avoid Currency Conversion Fees
You might be thinking: “Won’t I just lose that saving in bank fees?”
Not if you use a modern, fee-free travel card.
App-based banks like Revolut, Wise, and Monzo allow you to:
- Hold multiple currencies
- Pay at the live exchange rate
- Avoid traditional bank conversion fees
I personally use Revolut.
With Revolut, you can exchange and spend up to a certain amount each month fee-free. A smart strategy is:
- Pay the initial deposit in the cheaper currency
- Gradually pay off the balance over time
- Stay within your fee-free limits
Once you’re travelling, that same card becomes your everyday travel card — saving you money throughout the trip.
(I’ll be writing a more detailed post on travel cards soon.)
4. Use Discount Codes and Special Offers
If you’ve booked early and chosen the best currency, you’re already doing well — but there’s one final step.
Many tour companies work with content creators, tour leaders, and travel experts to promote their tours. These partnerships often come with exclusive discount codes, usually around 5% off.
This is known as affiliate marketing:
- You get an instant discount
- The creator earns a commission
- The tour company gains a new customer
Everyone wins.
My Expat Explore discount
I’ve partnered with Expat Explore, a company I’ve worked with extensively as a tour leader.
If Expat Explore feels like a good fit for you, you can use the code:
TOURLEADERSJOURNAL
to receive 5% off your first tour. View Expat Explore tours.
Expat Explore also offers a 10% lifetime discount to returning travellers, which is a standout perk given their already competitive pricing.
Conclusion
Group travel doesn’t have to be expensive — but it does reward travellers who plan smart.
By:
- Booking early
- Choosing the right currency
- Avoiding unnecessary fees
- Using available discount codes
You can potentially save hundreds — even thousands — of dollars on a single trip.
Travelling the world will always cost money, but with a little research and strategy, you can make your budget go much further — and enjoy the journey without financial stress.
