A trip to an unfamiliar country is for many tourists not only a pleasant stay, but also a certain stress. Barely arrived, the traveler needs to think about how to get to the hotel, and being in the room, sometimes you have to smash your head, how to get to one place or another in a completely unfamiliar city. However, today a tourist service solves this problem for you by providing special services.
What is a transfer in tourism and how does it work
Translated from English, this term means “move” and is used in banking, economic, sports, in some types of production, for example, in printing.
So, in tourism it is the transportation of a tourist from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, or moving from a hotel to a tourist attraction, for example, to a large shopping center or major attractions.
If you bought a transfer service from the airport, then a person with a sign will meet you in the waiting area. It will be either your name (if the service is individual), or the name of the travel agency (if you bought the full package), or the name of the hotel (if it provides this service). Then you will be taken to the hotel by car or bus. If you are coming back, you usually expect an attendant in the hotel lobby who will also come for you.
Types of transfer in tourism
Tourist transfer can be divided into three types:
- Individual.
- Group.
- VIP transfer.
The first is usually ordered separately at a special passenger company or at the hotel at the place of arrival. Sometimes the transfer is offered by the airline itself. In case of individual movement, a car of any class will arrive for the tourist, depending on the cost of services. Most often, this type of service is ordered by tourists who travel themselves, without the mediation of a travel agent.
Group transfer is more common, as many travelers buy a ready-made package at the agency. It usually includes a trip from the airport to the hotel and back.
A VIP transfer in tourism is an individual option, but with additional highly paid services (for example, a representative car class, champagne and flowers in a salon, etc.).
Group and individual services are also possible at the destination, for example, when you want to go somewhere, but do not want to pay for the tour, then you only pay for the round trip. If such a group transfer (and it is usually cheaper), then you need to catch the necessary bus, which will either wait for you at the agreed place or pick you up directly from the hotel.
Pros and cons of transfer
So, having understood what the transfer means in tourism, you should touch on its positive and negative sides. After all, as you know, there is no one without the other.
Among the advantages you can list the calmness of a tourist. He knows for sure that he will not have to worry about how he gets to the place he needs. This is especially true in an unfamiliar country without knowledge of a foreign language. Also, an accompanying person will certainly help you load your luggage and unload it at the hotel, so a transfer in tourism is a convenience for families with children or older tourists.
Among the minuses of group service is the waiting time. First, the guide will assemble a group, sometimes even from several flights. Then the bus will transport tourists to their hotels, and you will be lucky if your hotel is not the most remote, otherwise the journey may take more than one hour. Although this has its advantages: the cost of the service is already included in the package, and you do not have to pay extra for it. In addition, during the trip, the guide will have time to tell tourists about the features of the country, give advice and answer questions.
Individual service is good because you do not need to wait for anyone: you flew in and immediately went to the hotel. However, such a transfer in tourism is a more expensive pleasure (and substantially), and you will have to pay on the spot. But if you have a small child, you can ask for a car with a car seat of the desired group or even order a premium car with a leather interior. The possibility of these additional services is another plus of an individual service.
How to order a service
If the meeting at the airport is not included in the travel package or if you buy services separately, then you can purchase a transfer:
- Directly with the carrier company.
- Through online booking services that combine the offerings of multiple carriers.
- At a travel agency.
- At the hotel where you plan to stay.
The most popular and convenient way to book a transfer in tourism is to order a service through special services. They combine offers from carriers in many countries and cities, you can order a car directly on the site and be sure that you will be met in time by a person with a sign with your name.
The largest transfer reservation services:
- Kiwitaxi - covers about 50 countries in Europe and Asia, convenient order form, reliability.
- A2B - 11 thousand directions around the world, the possibility of ordering a car of a different class - from economy to premium, as well as a minivan or minibus for a large company.
- Intui - collected 130 countries and 6 million destinations, ordering both group and individual movement from the airport, hotel and taxi directly to the city.
Transfer cost in different countries
If you buy a ready-made package, the transfer is already included in its price, and you cannot refuse it. However, if you do not want to use the group service, you can order an individual service to your hotel at your own expense. Also, travel costs will have to be budgeted for those who are going to relax not on a package trip, but on their own.
The cost will depend on the class of the car, the number of passengers, distance and additional options, such as a Russian-speaking driver or a meeting person, child seat, etc.
So, the cost of the budget option in Montenegro from Tivat airport to the resort town of Budva will cost a tourist 1300 rubles. Longer distances will be expressed in higher numbers, for example, the road to Herceg Novi will cost 3300 rubles already.
If you order a transfer in Turkey from Antalya airport to the city, the trip will cost 1800 rubles for an economy class car. The same trip, but on a premium car - already 11 500 rubles. It is most profitable to travel by a company of about 10 people, then a small minibus will cost only 2,300, which is a little more than 200 rubles per person.
But not only abroad are similar services available. If you are traveling to Moscow, then a trip from Domodedovo Airport to the city center will cost 1,500 rubles, like a taxi, but you need to look for a taxi, and you will already be met by a person waiting for it.
Alternatives
If you know what a transfer is in tourism, photos of satisfied travelers convinced you of its advantages, but you did not have time or could not order this service, then try to take a regular taxi. However, this alternative is only suitable for cities. If you want to travel from the airport, then a taxi will cost significantly more than a transfer. Especially if you have to travel far.
If you are a budget tourist and go wild, ask in advance whether there are regular buses to the city from the airport or train station, and be sure to check the timetable to plan your return trip.
Well, the last option - to do without a transfer - is suitable for those who have friends in the country or city of arrival. Just ask them to meet you.