Group transfer: straight talk and an honest life hack. What is a transfer in tourism? How much does a tourist transfer cost?

When planning your vacation in another city or country, you want to agree on everything in advance so as not to be nervous later. Many hotels around the world offer their guests an additional service - transfer, often included in the package, but many tourists do not know what this means and what services they will receive.

What is a hotel transfer and its types?

A transfer is a pre-booked trip along the customer’s route. Most often, a transfer is ordered to quickly and safely travel from the airport to the hotel and back. Depending on the type of transfer, vehicles from cars to buses are used to provide services.

By ordering a transfer service, you no longer have to worry about transporting yourself and your luggage from the train station or from the airport to the hotel.

Services included in the transfer price:

• organized meeting at the airport or train station;
• delivery of vehicles with a personal driver;
• waiting for the arrival of a plane or train (unlimited time);
• waiting for a tourist to leave (1 hour) after the plane lands or the train arrives;
• payment for paid parking;
• guaranteed delivery of tourists to their destination and assistance in accommodation;
• baggage allowance (no volume restrictions).

Transfer advantages:

• pay only for it, and all other expenses are paid by the company;
• no time limits for execution subject to prior warning (continuation of vacation, postponement of departure);
• saving time (no need to look for a taxi);
• safety;
• no more expensive, or even cheaper, than a taxi.

Main types of transfer:

• individual;
• group.

What is a private transfer?

Do you want to see the sights, go shopping or attend events? Then you need an individual transfer that will take you along the developed route. A personal driver will accompany you everywhere, wait the necessary time, and even tell you about other interesting places along the route. Usually the driver is selected with knowledge of your language, so that it is convenient to communicate and you can get answers to your questions.

This type of transfer is the most popular service among tourists, since personal safety and guarantees of fulfillment are the most important things in a successful trip to another country.

What is a group transfer?

This type of transfer means that meeting and transportation from the airport to the hotel will be carried out by a group of tourists by bus or minibus.

To understand what a transfer in tourism is, you should understand the meaning of this word. A transport service that delivers passengers or cargo to a predetermined location is called transfer. Typically, such a trip is negotiated and paid for far from the last minute, and the person is eventually picked up from the airport by a driver in a comfortable car. This service should not be confused with a taxi.

Transfer is used in various fields, including serving tourists arriving at airports, hotels, and so on. In this article we will try to reveal in more detail the intricacies of such a meeting and find the answer to the main questions: transfer - what is it at the airport and what are its advantages?

By using the transfer service, a tourist can be sure that a car driver will be waiting for him at the place of arrival. Very often he holds a sign with the customer’s name in his hands to make it easier for him to navigate. The driver provides the following services:

• guides the person to the car;
• will help you carry your luggage;
• will take the client to the right place.

It’s hard not to agree that this is very convenient, especially for those tourists who arrive in an unfamiliar city for the first time and, naturally, worry about getting lost. By using a transfer, a tourist reduces the chance of getting lost to zero.

Hotel transfer

When planning your vacation or work trip to another country or city, you can use a hotel transfer. Today this is a popular service. We will now analyze what a hotel transfer is and what types of it exist.

When selling travel packages, many companies offer their clients such additional services in advance. By using them, vacationers will not have to worry about the method of delivering their luggage, as well as their own way to the hotel from the train station or airport. You must pay for the service in advance, in its the price includes the following:

1. The client is met by the driver of a comfortable car at the place of his arrival.
2. The car arrives on time and awaits the customer, even if the flight is delayed.
3. The client and his luggage are delivered to the hotel; if necessary, the driver can help him get into the room (carry the luggage to him).
4. Regardless of the volume of luggage, all the client’s belongings are loaded into the car and delivered to the desired location without damage.

Among the main advantages of this service are the following:

• the client pays only for the transfer, all other expenses are covered by the organization providing the car;
• tourists are guaranteed to save their free time, since they do not have to look for a free taxi or other type of transport that will take them to the hotel;
• An experienced driver is behind the wheel of a comfortable car, which guarantees complete safety on the road;
• The cost of the service is quite reasonable.

If a client who has pre-ordered a transfer to a hotel is forced to reschedule his trip, he must simply notify the company about this and will not need to pay for the service. Unlike a taxi, he will also not have to pay more depending on the mileage.

What is the most convenient way to get to the airport?

More and more travel enthusiasts are choosing transfers to get to or from the airport. And this is not at all surprising, because by using this service, the customer receives the following:

• the opportunity to independently choose the most convenient car model for yourself, taking into account the number of things being transported. Customers can choose a passenger car from domestic or Western manufacturers and even an SUV. The companies also have buses of different capacities, which will be convenient for several tourists to use at the same time;
• a vehicle is ordered in advance, the driver delivers the car to the specified address in advance. Thus, the traveler will not worry about being late for his flight; he will not have to wait for a long time for a taxi, especially during the so-called rush hour. An experienced driver will not only arrive in advance in the car chosen by the client, but will also deliver the customer to the airport or train station, and will also help unload and carry luggage;
• a vehicle of any model is supplied in a clean and serviceable condition. Before each departure, the vehicles are checked for technical serviceability, and thorough cleaning is carried out both inside and outside;
• The transfers are conducted by professionals who have been working in this field for a long time and have excellent knowledge of the city and beyond.

Types of transfer

You can order in advance both individual and group transfers to or from the airport to the hotel complex.

What is a private airport transfer? It is convenient to use if:

• tourists want to get acquainted with the sights of the country;
• go shopping at local boutiques and stores;
• spend a free evening at a concert or other interesting event.

Having ordered an individual transfer, the client will be accompanied by a personal driver in a personal car along a special route, which is agreed upon in advance. This service is popular among travelers, since a chartered car with a personal driver acts as a guarantee of safety in an unfamiliar place.

A group type of transfer is ordered if you need to meet a group of tourists from the airport. Regular comfortable buses and minibuses are available to clients.

Group transfers are most often ordered by:

• for delivering a group of tourists from the airport to the hotel and back;
• for excursions in which many people take part;
• for business, corporate trips.

It is most convenient to use a transfer for those tourists who find themselves in an unfamiliar city and country for the first time.

Benefits of the service

Numerous passengers who regularly use the services of air carriers have already been convinced of the convenience of transfer to the airport. Among the main advantages I would like to highlight the following:

1. Reasonable price. The cost in some cases is cheaper than a taxi or Aeroexpress. This is explained by the fact that there is no taximeter on the transfer. And if several tourists order a car, the price of the trip will be quite acceptable for them.
2. By ordering a transfer, the client is guaranteed to save his free time, which is very important for a modern person.
3. During the trip, the cars do not break down, as their serviceability is carefully monitored by experienced mechanics.

Transfer services will help you get to the airport at the right time, in complete safety and comfort.

How can I order a transfer?

Tourists can order a transfer very simply by visiting the official website of the organization providing this type of service. On the resource you should familiarize yourself with the available vehicles, choose the most suitable model for yourself and place an order for individual or group transportation using a special column. Be sure to enter the time and date of departure, as well as the place of arrival. You can pay for the service in a way convenient for you, which is indicated on the company’s website. All further concerns will be taken care of by the company's employees, the car will be in a clean and serviceable condition, on time, and will deliver the client at the right time without delays along the way.

In contact with

The convenience of package tours cannot be disputed. The comprehensive service package includes air tickets, insurance, delivery to the hotel, and accommodation. If you solve these problems yourself, it will take a lot of time, which you often don’t have. Of course, it is more profitable for a vacationer to get a clearly organized transfer from airport to hotel and back. Rarely does anyone estimate the cost of a transfer service separately from a package tour. But is everything so great with this service?

There is no such thing as too much information
Organized transfers attract the vast majority of tourists: in this case, you don’t have to look for a taxi yourself or think through routes using public transport and get confused in unfamiliar streets.

But few of the future vacationers, when purchasing a ticket, decide to meticulously study the information and inquire about the price of the transfer.

Tour operators do not highlight the price of this service separately, and therefore there may be hidden pitfalls. To ensure that you get only pleasant impressions on your upcoming trip, try to study the features of a group transfer in advance.

We reveal all the secrets of the transfer

A shuttle bus for a group transfer does not transport hordes of people arriving on vacation for free, and tour operators also try to provide their service with minimal costs. Both are interested in saving money on tourists. You can be sure of this practice.

The task of the tour operator is to maximizeCheaply breed a horde of tourists

Usually, tourists arriving on a charter organized by a large tour operator are met at the airport by good buses. Car showrooms, which can accommodate 30 to 60 people, are equipped with air conditioning and a toilet. But small operators operating on mass routes often book simpler options, and it is impossible to guess which of these buses will serve you.

It is also impossible to predict organized boarding of the bus and its departure time. You may have to wait for passengers who are shopping at the stalls or resolving issues of retrieving their lost luggage.

About unpleasant surprises through the mouth of a vacationer
If a tour operator entrusts the task of delivering tourists to the hotel to its administration, a scam situation cannot be ruled out. Read the review of a tourist who traveled to the United Arab Emirates.

When we bought the tour, a representative of the company said that the transfer was included in the price and that it would be the hotel, not the place, that would meet us. And today they called us and said that the transfer is at the discretion of the hotel, and since we are coming to this hotel alone that day, they will not meet us. We were stunned.(((What to do now?.. First time in the UAE. Where to run?

From a review on ftour

Half a day at other hotels
A long journey is always burdensome, especially with small children who get tired quickly and require special conditions and attention. But you are not alone on the transfer, the bus is filled to capacity, the people are tired and irritated. Everyone wants to get to their hotel as quickly as possible. But there is one big BUT that you cannot jump over!

The shuttle goes along a route that stops at several hotels, and whether yours will be first or last on the priority list will become clear later. This news will not make the road any more pleasant.

Small children will be exhausted by traveling by bus through several hotels

It’s good if you still feel some energy and can place a tablet on your lap to pass the time on the road. What if your tired child sits on these laps and asks to go to his bed, annoying angry fellow travelers? Comments here, as they say, are unnecessary.

Other bus nightmares
At the indicated time, the “beautiful” (with terribly dirty windows, faulty seats and non-functional ventilation) bus was actually there. But its departure was delayed for another hour - they were waiting for a late passenger. They didn’t wait, as it turned out later - to great happiness for us (the company’s unfortunate clients “censored"). Finally the bus started moving... not far though. While we were waiting for the lady accompanying the bus, another batch of passengers arrived. Then it turned out that two of them (a guy and a girl) had tickets for the same seats as us.
From a review on Mahnem.ru

Strangetransfer pricesto the airport
According to the official prices of Pegasus Tourist, group transfers from Bangkok airport to Pattaya and back are free of charge. That is, you no longer need to worry about organization and payment.

In fact, the cost of a group transfer is about $10 per person; this expense is simply included in the cost of the package tour.
An individual transfer by Audi A3 car will cost $42, that is, for a family of 4 people it is $10.5 per person. If you plan to take a lot of luggage, then you will pay $72 for a minivan. In principle, the difference with such a superficial calculation is small.

There is also the option of ordering an individual transfer from the same Pegasus, but you will still have to wait for a guide who will seat all the tourists in the group and the cost for a Honda Accord will be $124.

Don't flatter yourself - you haven't saved!
Such savings, given a more serious approach to calculations, are questionable. Let's say that you were unlucky with the transfer to Pattaya, and you and your group spent 4 or even 6 hours on the transfer. And, by the way, they are already the time of your stay at the hotel, paid for by you in advance.

According to average prices, a trip to Pattaya for two for 10 nights costs $1,046. Due to the fact that you were transported to the hotel for a long time, your monetary losses actually amounted to at least $70. And this is only a one-way transfer!

Let's add here the moral and physical costs that people experience while traveling. The result is not bad. And if in such calculations we take into account all the vacationers of an organized group?

You have a choice!
It is not at all necessary to become a member of a group transfer. You can refuse it in order to take a taxi directly at the airport. Or replace a group trip with an individual one.

You are informed that the transfer is provided free of charge and no compensation is made for the service. So what? Agree, when something goes wrong, you lose a lot more. And this despite the fact that an individual transfer will cost a little more on your wallet than a taxi, which is ordered from a travel agency or through a transfer booking service.

Circumstances vary
Indeed, it doesn’t happen every time, and circumstances develop differently. Some will be lucky with the bus, but others will not. And as always, no one will answer for this.

Tourists who are quickly taken to the hotel by a Mercedes famous for its comfort will be grateful to the operator for a well-performed service, for accuracy and attention. And those who find themselves in a streak of bad luck, and even with children in their arms, will receive hellish torment and great hassle.

When choosing an option, weigh all the pros and cons and prioritize. On one side there will be a service in which there are failures, on the other side there will be slightly larger monetary costs that will save you from loss of vacation time, hassle and prolonged shaking in a very uncomfortable bus. What is more valuable to you?

Of course, if you go on a trip alone or alone, you are sure that the hotel is located near the airport, you know how to entertain yourself and can handle waiting for groups of tourists well - then a group transfer from a tour operator is your option.

But if you have taken elderly, not so strong and resilient relatives or children on vacation, and also do not have accurate information about the route to the hotel, then taking into account possible troubles, it is worth considering other options. A difficult road can have a detrimental effect on the health of your loved ones.

And one more thing: already at your vacation spot, try to compare the prices of these options yourself. You will most likely be very surprised.

The first thing that worries a tourist before a long-awaited trip is safety and tranquility. Everyone who is going on a long trip expects that a travel agent will provide their client with a full range of services for moving or flying to their destination.

However, upon arrival, the traveler may be in for an unpleasant surprise - the lack of transport to the hotel or the next flight point. This can be avoided by mentioning the transfer service in the contract. What this is will be discussed further.

What is the transfer?

This terminology is borrowed from English, where it literally means "to move." In fact, the answer to the question of what is a transfer in tourism is extremely simple - moving from point A to point B, while maintaining the safety of the tourist and at the expense of the agency. In practice, this means that the travel agency assumes responsibility for ensuring the safety of the tourist upon arrival and undertakes to deliver him to the destination mentioned in the contract, be it a hotel or another airport.

What type of transfer is there in tourism?

Transfer, as a term, is used not only in tourism, but also in the economic and social spheres. Several types of this service are available for tourists, which differ in cost, scope of amenities and the degree of the agency’s commitment to the client. In general, all types of support in tourism can be grouped into three large blocks:

• private transfer when the agency undertakes to accompany one tourist;
• group transfer, the object of the agreement is a group of people;
• VIP transfer p, which is characterized by a greater completeness of available services for the client.

The first two blocks are also divided into free and paid support. The first appears in most contracts on a permanent basis, but does not contain an all-encompassing completeness of services and is limited only to movement, for example, from the airport to the hotel.

Individual transfer: person with a sign

Before issuing a visa or travel package, the client is often offered additional services, after which the question naturally arises of what a transfer means. So, the most common type of this service is just a “man with a sign”.

This involves accompanying the client in an agent's car from the airport to the hotel itself, where a room has been reserved for the tourist.

The agent himself will find the client, meet him, help with his luggage and even fill him in on the peculiarities of the local mentality and the availability of attractions.

Group transfer: “policy” for several people

Group transfer means that the travel agency takes responsibility for accompanying a group of people. For these purposes, a special bus is hired, the agent gathers the entire group and there is practically no chance of getting lost for each individual client. The key advantage of this option is lower cost, since the price of escort is, in fact, divided among all participants in the trip. However, this also gives rise to the main disadvantage of this option, namely the loss of mobility, since you will have to “ride by the hand” with a group of 10-15 people.

VIP transfer: personal limousine please

The most expensive and high-status VIP transfer involves accompanying a person “in style”, bypassing the delays of waiting for the rest of the group, the inconvenience of a small or dirty car and providing refreshments during the trip. This option is also the safest, since often the list of high-class escort services also includes an insurance policy. The only drawback is the cost.

Return transfer

Backtracking is literally delivering the client from the hotel back to the airport and ensuring a reliable flight, if you need to make several transfers. A return transfer is necessary if a person does not speak the language at all and, moreover, has limited funds. This service allows you to avoid the unpleasant moments of trying to communicate with taxi drivers and staff at the airport, which in itself is a significant advantage.

Free cheese: is it worth overpaying?

Some travel agencies offer tourists a choice of two types of escort - the one that is available by default, that is, free, and the additional one. Choosing a free escort is a deliberate concession in your safety, since the agency will not be constrained by an additional agreement to ensure the client’s safety on the road. In turn, a paid transfer is characterized by the following advantages:

• lack of red tape at the airport;
• no language barrier;
• availability of transport;
• complete security;
• the organization assumes additional costs if any arise.

This option more fully covers the agency's obligations to accompany the person and often includes a return flight.

The key difference between any escort is convenience. The higher the degree of convenience, the correspondingly more substantial is the cost of the service, but sometimes this is a smaller blow to the wallet compared to the price, for example, of a taxi from the airport to the hotel.

And this is provided that the tourist can explain to the driver exactly where he needs to go.

Therefore, when signing an agreement with an agency, a tourist should pay more attention to his safety and put stinginess into the background, because he pays primarily for his own convenience and peace of mind on the road.