What Is a Package Tour? What's Included: Transport, Hotel, Extras

A package tour is a contract in which at least two of transportation, accommodation and other tourism services are sold for a single, all-inclusive price, and which lasts longer than 24 hours or includes overnight accommodation. This article explains what a package tour is, what is and isn't included, and what you should check before buying.

In short

• A package tour requires at least two services, a single price, and a duration longer than 24 hours or overnight accommodation.
• Day trips do not count as package tours; a separately purchased ticket and hotel are not a single package.
• Read the contract to see whether visa, insurance, meals and optional excursions are included.
• The contract must be at least 12 point font and understandable; read it before signing and keep a copy.

Definition of a package tour: the essence of the rule

A package tour means the parts of a trip are sold as a combined service rather than separately. According to the regulation, for a contract to be considered a package tour, the following conditions must all be met together:

• At least two of transportation, accommodation and other tourism services are offered together.
• These services are sold, or promised to be sold, for a single all-inclusive price.
• The service lasts longer than 24 hours or includes overnight accommodation.

For example, a city tour that includes a flight ticket and hotel offered at a single price and includes an overnight stay fits this definition. An institution that only sells flight tickets has not sold a package tour, because there is no combination of two services.

The Package Tour Contracts Regulation covers all contracts arranged under names such as package tour, package holiday, package travel or similar. In other words, what matters is not the marketing name but the content of the service. The listing saying "holiday package" or "program" alone does not change the outcome; the conditions above are what's examined.

For tours abroad, the contract price may be set in foreign currency. Check the contract to see which currency the price is in and how payment will be made.

What is usually included in the price?

Included services vary from tour to tour. The valid list is the one in the program and contract given to you. Still, the following item groups are commonly seen in package tours.

Transportation

Round-trip flight or another main mode of transport is the first item of the package. Whether airport-hotel transfer and local transportation are included should be stated separately in the program; don't assume. For pre-flight procedures, you can check the online check-in guide.

Accommodation

The hotel's name, room type and board arrangement must be clearly stated in the program. Look in the contract for the answer to whether it's breakfast, half board, or all-inclusive. Also ask whether a single-room supplement applies for solo accommodation.

Other tourism services

Guiding, museum entrances, excursions within the program and meals may fall into this group. Which entrances and excursions are included should be listed one by one. For example, in an Egypt route tour, read line by line which areas are in the program before buying. Don't assume an excursion not mentioned in the program is included.

What may not be included and extras

Even if the price is offered as "all-inclusive," some items may be excluded. The program and contract show what's included. Before buying, ask about these items one by one:

• Visa application procedures and fees
• Travel health insurance
• Optional excursions not in the program
• Lunches and dinners
• Personal expenses, minibar, laundry, extra drinks
• Tips
• Airline extras such as checked baggage or seat selection

This list isn't a rule but a summary of questions to ask; every tour is structured differently. The "not included" lines are as important as the "included" lines.

Ask specifically about the visa: find out whether the fee is included in the price and who handles the application. If you're planning Schengen, check our trusted traveler formula article. Also clarify in advance where and in which currency you'll pay for optional excursions, and get the answer in writing.

What doesn't count as a package tour, and the differences

Not every tour sale is a package tour. Because the service duration is less than 24 hours, day trips do not count as package tours. A trip without an overnight stay, returning the same day, does not fall into this scope.

Another difference concerns buying parts separately. If you buy the flight ticket from one place and the hotel from another, you've made two separate purchases, and these are not offered as a single-priced package. Cancellation and change conditions are set separately for each purchase. Read from the relevant terms how an action on one will affect the other; don't assume. In a package tour, however, the scope of services is contained in a single contract and program.

For short holidays, the choice can be made as follows:

• If you want flexibility, buying the parts separately may suit you better.
• If you want a ready-made program and a single contract, a package tour is suitable.
• If you're traveling abroad for the first time, a ready-made program may make things easier.

If you're looking for a route for a short holiday, check the October 29 holiday route suggestions. After determining the route, comparing package tours on the same route with the trip you've planned yourself makes deciding easier.

Contract and legal framework

The package tour organizer or intermediary is required to draw up a package tour contract with participants. For this reason, requesting a contract at the time of sale is your right. Read the contract before signing it and keep a copy.

According to the regulation, the contract and disclosures must be arranged as follows:

• At least 12 point font size
• In understandable language
• Clear, plain and readable

If you see a document with very small font or one that's hard to understand, ask for an explanation before signing. Also compare whether the included and excluded lists in the contract match the program shown to you.

For details such as cancellation, change and refund conditions, read the relevant clauses of the contract. We don't give figures or durations here; these should be read from the contract. If you hear about a change in the program, get it confirmed in writing. Keep correspondence and payment documents; if a problem arises, the documents you have will be your most useful support.

Step by step, what to do before buying

Follow this order when deciding on a package tour.

1. Read the program from beginning to end. Which city, which hotel, which excursions are included?
2. Separate the included and excluded lists. Which side are visa, insurance, meals, tips and optional excursions on?
3. Check the currency. For tours abroad, the price may be in foreign currency. Clarify which exchange rate and when payment will be made.
4. Request the contract. Check the font size and clarity of the language, and read it before signing.
5. Ask about transportation details. Are flight times, whether there's a layover, and transfers written in the program?
6. Clarify the visa process. Find out who handles the application and who is responsible for the fee.
7. Send your questions in writing. Keep the answers you receive.

If you haven't chosen a destination yet, you can review tours abroad and compare programs side by side. When you compare tours on the same route, you can easily see the difference in included services. Don't use price alone as your criterion; two tours with the same price may have very different scopes.

Checklist before departure

As the tour date approaches, check off the items below one by one.

• Do you have a copy of the contract and the program?
• Are your passport and, if needed, your visa ready?
• Do the flight, hotel and transfer details match the program?
• Is your insurance status clear?
• Have you checked your airline's current baggage rules?
• Did you do online check-in once it opened?
• Have you learned about optional excursions and payments to be made on site?
• Do you have the contact information of the tour representative or company in case of emergency?
• Do you have enough foreign currency or cards with you?

If any item on this list is missing, ask the tour organizer in writing before departure. Keep the answers together with the contract and payment documents in one place. If you experience a problem during the trip, note the dates, times and who you spoke with.

Frequently asked questions

What is a package tour?

A package tour is a contract in which at least two of transportation, accommodation and other tourism services are sold, or promised to be sold, for a single all-inclusive price. The service must last longer than 24 hours or include overnight accommodation.

Do day trips count as package tours?

No. Since the service duration in day trips is less than 24 hours, they don't count as package tours. A tour that includes an overnight stay falls under the package tour definition if it also meets the condition of at least two services being sold at a single price.

What's included in a package tour?

Generally transportation, accommodation and services such as guiding or excursions within the program are included. The exact list varies from tour to tour. So read the included and excluded lists in the program and contract line by line.

Is it mandatory to draw up a contract for a package tour?

Yes. The package tour organizer or intermediary is required to draw up a package tour contract with participants. The contract and disclosures must be at least 12 point font, understandable, clear, plain and readable.

Can the package tour price be in foreign currency?

Yes. For tours abroad, the package tour contract price may be set in foreign currency. Check the payment date and exchange rate application from the contract.

Is the visa fee included in the package tour?

This isn't the same for every tour. Whether the visa fee and application procedures are included in the price is learned from the included and excluded lists in the program and contract. Ask about this in writing before buying.

Does buying the flight ticket and hotel separately count as a package tour?

No, unless they are sold as a single-priced package, a separately purchased ticket and hotel are separate purchases. Read the cancellation and change conditions for each purchase from the relevant terms.

Sources

• General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance — tuketici.ticaret.gov.tr
• Package Tour Contracts Regulation - Board of Inspection — teftis.ktb.gov.tr