Organize your motorcycle road trip yourself or with a professional
When you decide to embark on a road trip adventure, you have two options: organize it yourself or hire a professional.
Both approaches offer distinct advantages, and choosing between them can be difficult. Here's an overview of the benefits of each.
Organize your own road trip
Freedom and flexibility
By organizing your road trip yourself, you'll be free to choose the itinerary that suits you best. You determine the route and stages, as well as the number of nights at each stage. You can even choose not to book anything at all, so you can adapt your itinerary according to your desires or the discoveries you make along the way. In short, you're on your own.
Another advantage of organizing your own road trip is that you don't have to keep to a schedule. You choose when to start and when to arrive, and you can choose to extend your stay in a place you like, or change your destination at the last minute.
2. A rewarding experience
Preparing and planning your own trip is the best way to ensure that you'll experience it intensely, because it'll be yours.
You'll need to study maps, read travel blogs, find out about places of interest, build your stages, make reservations and so on.
Organizing every detail yourself brings great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment once the trip is over.
3. Potentially lower cost
By managing accommodation and transport bookings yourself, it will be easier to adjust the level of service, find the best deals, and keep your budget under control.
If you're on your own, you can opt for more economical options for meals, accommodation, activities and so on.
Calling in a professional
Simplicity and peace of mind
Calling in a professional can save you a lot of time. Preparing a road trip as an amateur requires hours and hours of reading and research, if you're serious about it.
Professionals make this investment for you. The time you save can be spent on other things, such as your other activities, or simply enjoying your road trip.
Another advantage of relying on a professional: you'll save the stress of planning, booking or dealing with the unexpected.
In short, you'll be more available to enjoy your trip and share it with your fellow travelers.
2. Expertise and experience
As an amateur or neophyte, you can't compete with a true professional, who is bound to know the destination much better than you do, the routes that make the difference, the sites or panoramas not to be missed, the best local addresses, etc.
At Hellenic Rides, for example, we attach great importance to the quality and character of the accommodation we select. For us, this is an essential criterion that is part of the art of travel as we understand it.
Tour operators specializing in a particular destination can also help you benefit from their local partnerships, or give you access to unique experiences you'd never be able to enjoy on your own.
Last but not least, a professional can provide you with the practical advice you need to get the most out of your trip, such as how to avoid the inconveniences of overcrowding on the most popular sites...
3. Security
A professional tour operator will accompany you from the days or weeks before your departure to your return. With him, you'll benefit from a full briefing to prepare for your trip, and to prepare for it yourself.
If a problem arises once you're on site, he'll provide you with fast, efficient support. Breakdowns and accidents spring to mind, but it's much more likely to be administrative or communication difficulties. The most classic case is accommodation where you think you've booked a room, but can't find any record of your reservation when you turn up.
When you've just ridden your motorcycle for 5 or 6 hours or more, in the rain or in very hot weather, and you've lost your way, and your passenger can't take it anymore, you're glad you can count on someone to sort things out for you.
4. Meet
Taking part in an organized road trip allows you to meet other motorcycle enthusiasts, share experiences and forge new friendships.
It's a dimension that shouldn't be underestimated, because the intensity and flavor of travel have a lot to do with the notion of shared experience. "To travel is to discover others, and that often begins with oneself. But to experience it, you need to be available, which will be difficult if you're in charge of preparing and organizing your trip.
On the contrary, the presence of a guide or supervisor guarantees you greater openness to others, simply because you won't have to deal with them yourself.
A few questions to help you choose:
Do you know the destination?
Do you speak the language?
Will you have the time to organize the trip yourself?
Are you ready to accept imperfection and handle the unexpected yourself?
Do you want to be 100% available to enjoy your trip?
In conclusion
Whether you choose to organize your own road trip or hire a professional depends largely on your personal preferences and priorities.
For adventurers who value freedom and flexibility, planning their own trip can be extremely rewarding. Conversely, those seeking peace of mind, security and the benefits of local expertise will find considerable advantages in relying on a professional.
At Hellenic Rides we have something for everyone. Our 3 travel packages let you experience your trip the way you want to, and our motorcycle road trips offer choice and diversity.
