Hey everyone! Just got back from America after an amazing month of travel! This trip completely changed my perspective on city tours. I used to think group tours were just about checking off tourist spots, but now I can tell you that if you choose the right ones, they can offer so much variety and great value!
Speaking of value, I spent around 40,000 yuan total touring America. Sounds like a lot? Well, let me share my experience and you can judge if it was worth it.
Chicago truly amazed me! Especially when I discovered the "hidden way" to experience the Chicago River architecture tour - I was as excited as if I'd discovered a new continent!
The architecture tour has two options. I first took the 45-minute short tour for $28. The guide was super professional, introducing us to many buildings' histories and features. When I accidentally learned about the 90-minute extended tour, I immediately decided to go again the next day!
Though the extended tour costs $45, trust me, it's a completely different level of experience. The short tour is like watching a trailer, while the extended tour is the full movie! On the extended tour, I saw not only more stunning architecture but also a completely different side of the city.
Many might wonder: is it worth paying an extra $17 for just 45 more minutes? I can confidently tell you: absolutely!
First, the extended tour takes you to places the short tour can't reach. We sailed along the Chicago River, seeing more historically significant buildings, each telling a story about the city. The guide explains the design philosophy behind each building, helping you truly understand why Chicago is called the "Architecture Capital."
What thrilled me most was that the extended tour takes you to Lake Michigan. When the boat enters the lake, Chicago's entire skyline suddenly appears before you - that feeling is indescribable! Especially at dusk, when the sunset bathes the whole city in gold, with skyscrapers reflecting warm light, it's like a moving piece of art.
The extended tour's boats also stop at different angles, giving everyone enough time for photos. Trust me, these photos will definitely get lots of likes on social media! The short tour doesn't give you enough time for proper photography, let alone finding the best angles.
Through this trip, I discovered there's a pattern to American city tour prices. Generally, big city day tours cost around $100. While this might seem expensive, you'll find it's great value once you experience it.
For example, New York's city day tour costs $99 for six full hours. Think about it - in these six hours, you see Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, and other iconic New York landmarks. Plus, guides share the history and interesting stories about each place that you'd never discover on your own.
Washington DC's evening monument tour is just $64 for three hours. The Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial look particularly majestic under evening lights. Guides explain the historical stories behind each monument, helping you truly understand important moments in American history.
These price differences actually reflect the density of tourist resources in different cities. Places like New York, with many attractions spread far apart, naturally cost more. Washington DC's main attractions are more concentrated, so prices are relatively lower.
City tours are getting increasingly creative! Just the variety of transportation options amazed me.
In Las Vegas, I tried a night helicopter tour. Though expensive, when you see the entire casino city from above at night, it's worth every penny! The neon lights look like colorful rivers, and the hotels and casinos along the boulevard each look like dazzling pieces of art.
In San Francisco, I chose a bicycle tour. Riding along the Golden Gate Bridge, feeling the sea breeze, looking at Alcatraz in the distance - that feeling of freedom was amazing! Plus, bikes let you stop anytime for photos or explore small corners buses can't reach.
In Boston, I tried a Segway tour. I was nervous at first but quickly got the hang of it. This trendy transportation made the whole tour especially fun, and it was easy to navigate narrow streets and sidewalks.
In New Orleans, I rode a vintage Vespa. Cruising through the French Quarter's alleys, experiencing the city's unique French atmosphere, was truly special. The guide took us to less touristy places, showing us the most authentic New Orleans.
Each mode of transportation brings a completely different city experience, which is why I suggest staying in each city for several days to try different tour styles.
Friends often ask whether half-day or full-day tours are better. There's no standard answer - it depends on the city's characteristics and your schedule.
For small cities like Savannah, I think the $45 hop-on-hop-off bus is perfect. Savannah's main attractions are concentrated, and the city itself is meant to be savored slowly. The hop-on-hop-off bus lets you arrange your schedule according to your interests and pace, staying longer at places you like.
But in big cities like Miami, I strongly recommend the 5.5-hour city half-day tour plus boat combination. Miami's attractions are spread out, and many worth seeing are only accessible by boat. If you only choose land tours, you'll miss the chance to see Miami's skyline from the sea and the full view of the mansion districts.
In Los Angeles, I chose a full-day city tour. LA is just too big - from Hollywood to Beverly Hills, from Santa Monica to Venice Beach - you'll miss many amazing places if you don't have enough time. Plus, LA's traffic is complicated, and joining a tour helps avoid unnecessary troubles.
City tours are getting more distinctive! They're no longer simple sightseeing trips but are designed around different interests.
In New York, I joined a food and nightlife tour. The guide took us to local food spots, where we tried authentic New York pizza, Broadway area specialties, and visited several stylish bars. This experience really showed me New York's nightlife culture.
In Boston, I chose a historical culture tour. The guide not only showed us the famous Freedom Trail but also shared many stories from the American Revolution era. Walking among these historic buildings felt like traveling back over 200 years.
In Seattle, I joined an eco-tour. The guide took us to many parks and nature reserves loved by locals, showing how the city coexists harmoniously with nature. At Discovery Park, we even saw wildlife - something you'd never experience on regular tours.
In San Diego, I followed a photography-themed tour. The guide was a professional photographer who took us to the best photo spots. From sunrise to sunset, we captured the city's most beautiful moments. The guide also taught us many useful photography tips.
In Chicago, the architectural art tour was eye-opening. The guide, an architecture professional, explained in detail the design concepts and features of each building. Through his explanation, I truly understood why Chicago is called the birthplace of modern architecture.
If your budget allows, I especially recommend trying private custom tours. Though more expensive than regular tours, the experience is definitely worth it!
I tried a private custom tour in San Francisco. Since I love photography, the guide designed a route perfect for taking photos. We left at 4 AM to reach the Golden Gate Bridge before sunrise, capturing beautiful morning light. Then we visited many spots only local photographers know about, getting some unique angles.
In Portland, because I'm particularly interested in coffee culture, the guide took me to many boutique coffee shops. Each shop had its own unique story and characteristics, giving me deep insight into Portland's coffee culture. This kind of experience is impossible to get on regular tours.
Another advantage of private custom tours is time flexibility. If you particularly like a place, you can stay longer; if you're not interested, you can move on. The guide adjusts the itinerary and commentary based on your interests.
Through this American trip, I've summarized some tips for choosing city tours that might help those planning to visit America.
First, consider the city's size. For big cities like New York and Los Angeles, choose longer tours to truly experience the city's essence. Plus, big cities often have complicated transportation, and tours can save a lot of trouble.
Seasonal factors are also important. New York summers are very humid and it's easy to get heat exhaustion walking around. If possible, I suggest visiting in spring or fall. The temperature is moderate then, and there are fewer tourists, making for a better experience.
Choose special theme tours based on your interests. If you're interested in history, choose historical cultural tours; if you like food, choose food tours. This makes travel more meaningful.
Timing arrangement is also key. Don't pack your schedule too full - give yourself some free time. This allows for both rest and exploring places that interest you.
For budget planning, plan ahead. Though tour prices might seem expensive, when you factor in transportation, admission fees, etc., they're actually very economical. Plus, the guide's professional commentary is valuable.
With technological development and people's increasing demands for travel experiences, I believe city tours will become even more diverse and colorful.
AR guided tours might become a new trend. Wearing AR glasses, you could see buildings' historical changes or learn more interesting details. This technological experience will surely make sightseeing more interesting.
Late-night adventure tours also have potential. Many cities have completely different faces at night, and some places are actually better for visiting at night when they're less crowded.
Cross-city themed connection tours are worth looking forward to. For example, designing a modern American architecture tour connecting Chicago, New York, Seattle, and other cities, allowing tourists to systematically understand American modern architectural development.
Overall, city tours are becoming more professional and personalized. More innovative ways to travel will surely appear in the future, making our travels even more exciting!
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