Glossary of Package Travel

Around forty definitions to help you understand the vocabulary used by agencies, particularly when it comes to package travel.

• A

Tour leader: this is the person responsible for supervising a group during a tour. To be precise, a tour leader is not a guide; the role is different. In simple terms, the guide "explains" a country or place, while the tour leader handles the group’s day-to-day logistics. This means organising transport, accommodation, setting the visit schedule, managing the group’s budget, and, if necessary, resolving any issues that arise along the way.

Travel agency: different from a tour operator. The agency does not create or produce services, tours, or stays. In fact, it acts purely as an intermediary, selling products and earning a commission from its suppliers. That said, an agency may occasionally act as a tour operator for a few specific products it has put together itself.

Counter agent: this is the agency’s salesperson you will deal with.

Self-drive tour: a package combining accommodation with a rental vehicle.

• C

Travel journal: provided by the agency before departure to participants in a package trip, it usually includes a full description of the trip, a small country guide, luggage tags and pouches, plus promotional items (bag, cap, etc.).

Single room: almost always, agencies charge a supplement for those who want individual accommodation.

Adventure tour: aimed at those who want to travel in challenging environments (high mountains, deserts, etc.) and/or where a certain level of logistics or supervision is required, provided by the tour operator. Some of these tours can be demanding, particularly in terms of physical fitness, and generally require active participation from all travellers. Note that some tour operators also use the term "adventure" for discovery tours... even when there’s no real adventure involved.

Cultural or thematic tour: for history, culture, or any specialised or technical interest. The presence of specialised tour leaders and/or guides throughout the tour ensures a deeper experience.

Discovery tour: implies a set itinerary, usually with a limited number of participants, often using local hotels and transport, with everyone taking part. The tour leader manages the group and acts as an intermediary with the country and its people.

Group tour: formed by individuals who did not originally know each other but have chosen the same tour package with a tour leader.

Individual tour: agencies don’t just cater to groups. Individual tours are designed for those who want to travel alone but with pre-booked services (flights, car hire, visits, etc.).

Commission: tour operators create their tours, which are then resold by dozens of generalist agencies and now also by websites through affiliate programmes. For each sale, the tour operator pays a commission to the agency (and sometimes to the salesperson, though at a lower rate). On average, the agency earns 8–15% of the public price for services, stays, or tours. The same applies to reseller websites.

• D

Guaranteed departure: sometimes offered by tour operators, this ensures that your tour or stay will go ahead regardless of the number of participants—or "from" a certain number (so it’s useful to check before deciding). In reality, clients from different agencies are often grouped into a single programme.

• E

Fam trip: a technical term used in the tourism industry. A fam trip is an offer made by travel providers to agency staff to discover their new tours or products over a few days (free or at a low cost). The goal is, of course, for salespeople to be familiar with the offerings so they can better promote them to clients.

Expedition: a term sometimes used by agencies to describe a simple "discovery tour". But it sounds more appealing...

• F

Fly and drive: in English, "flight + car hire" for a package booked through an agency.

Package: a set of services provided by the agency (e.g., flight + nights + visits).

• G

Pre-formed groups: usually from 15 people (sometimes just 10), the agency will organise a programme tailored to your request.

Guide: the person responsible for "explaining" a country or place during a package trip. They won’t necessarily be present throughout the stay, and the group will often deal with several guides during the trip. To be precise, a guide is not a tour leader, whose role is to "manage" the group for the duration of the trip.

• I

"Inclusive Tours": roughly the same as a package, this involves purchasing a flight plus services (hotel, vehicle, etc.).

• J

J-7 or J-15 (or "last minute"): discounted services 7 or 15 days before departure.

Free days: often included in tour programmes, these allow participants to shop or visit/do things not covered in the itinerary.

• P

Pax: in travel agency terminology, this means a client and/or a flight passenger.

Teaser price: a (very) attractive rate used in agency or tour operator advertising for a particular offer... which in reality very few people will actually get.

Products or services: the range of offerings (or destinations, also referred to as products) that an agency can provide to its clients (flights, stays, tours, etc.).

• R

Local agent: a local agency or organisation that will handle an organised group during their stay. Often, tour operators offer tours or services that are actually managed entirely on-site by this type of subcontractor. Originally, local agents were just service providers for tour operators, but they now increasingly sell directly to the public (especially via the internet).

• S

Stay: unlike tours, which involve multiple moves and hotels in a country, a stay means fixed accommodation from which optional day trips or activities are offered.

Combined stay (or tour): a programme offered by agencies covering two destinations or combining two types of trips (e.g., safari + beach).

• T

Tour operator or T.O.: same as a tour operator. The T.O. negotiates prices, creates products, or charters flights, which it then sells directly or through intermediaries. In contrast, a travel agency only sells products and earns a commission.

"All-inclusive": roughly a stay including "flight + accommodation + meals" at a club or hotel. While their prices are generally very attractive, anything not included is usually much less so...

• V

Tailor-made or à la carte travel: a formula offered by agencies to individuals or pre-formed groups, allowing them to purchase pre-existing modules such as flight tickets, hotel nights, vehicle rentals, or organised routes to combine as they wish.

Package travel: less and less synonymous with herds rushing through as many sights as possible in the shortest time. While some tour operators still persist in this approach, many have developed quality products in recent years that meet demand and, above all, respect the countries and people visited. In theory, package travel includes at least transport plus accommodation or another service and must last at least 24 hours.

Custom travel: for those looking for something specific or with particular requests. In this case, the client approaches the agency, which will offer a personalised package made up of products created for the occasion.

Tour operator: same as a tour operator or T.O.