Book a tour or do it yourself?

I'm often asked if it's better to book a group tour or arrange everything yourself. There are definite advantages to both approaches. In an ideal world, you'd have a private valet arrange everything and chauffeur you around, but that might be a bit expensive. These are my tips in making the big decision.

I've done both independent trips and organised trips. I recommend organised trips if you're tight on time and have a lot of distance to cover. They're ideal for trips around Europe. You jump on the bus, get dropped outside the next attraction and your guide pushes you through the group entrance. You're in and out whilst the independent travellers are still in the general admission queue. This is great for seeing the big attractions - getting up the Eiffel tower or into the Sistine Chapel.

Group tours are also great for a flying visit to a region that you've never visited before if you plan on coming back for a more leisurely trip later. You can see which bits you like, which bits you don't, then come back later to the good bits. A friend described this as outsourcing the planning, which is fair enough.

Traveling with a group is also an interesting dynamic. Whilst you may end up on a tour with like minded people who share similar views and experiences, you're just as likely to end up with someone you detest and want to push into the nearest canal. On short tours, this is not so much of an issue, but on a long tour, everyone starts to bother you eventually. On the other hand, it can be a bit lonely traveling totally by yourself. Sure, you meet other travelers on the way, but a group gives you a built in support network.

Asia is a little different, however. The tourism industry isn't as tightly wound as it is in Europe. Generally, most attractions don't have big queues - you can get in right away if you're in a group or not. The pace of travel is also much slower, so there's no need to rush.

The other issue in Asia is the amount of flying that is required. Few countries have organised efficient rail systems that take you to all the tourist destinations, so you'll find yourself flying from point to point. That's just as easy to do by yourself as in a group. There's also a great growth in budget airlines, so flying around is quite cheap. If you choose Bangkok as a hub, then Bangkok Air will take you most places. Similarly, in Singapore you have a choice of Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways.

Something else to consider is the language barrier. Despite the opinions of some American tourists, not everyone speaks English - not even if you talk REALLY loud at them. This is where the internet comes in to save the day. I book all my accommodation in advance over the net. It gives you a destination to head towards, without having to find a spot at each new city. It usually provides you with a printed name or address to show to a taxi driver, so that's half the battle won.

Traveling alone also gives you great flexibility in your itinerary. Go where you want, when you want. Guide book in hand, you shouldn't have too much trouble.