Affordable private tours were my white whale for years. Like, I’d stare at those $800/day quotes for Tuscany and just close the laptop and eat instant ramen in silence. Then I figured out the system, and now I’m spilling all the tea while sitting here in my Ohio apartment eating leftover Skyline Chili straight from the container at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday. Judge me, I dare you.
Why I’m Obsessed with Affordable Private Tours (Even Though I’m Cheap)
Group tours give me hives. Last time I did one in Peru (remember the 5 a.m. alpaca farm visit because Susan from Toronto really wanted baby alpaca selfies?), I almost yeeted myself into Machu Picchu. Private tours = freedom. But private tours also used to = me eating saltines for a month after. Not anymore.
My Dumb Mistakes So You Don’t Repeat Them
- Mistake #1: Booking directly on the first time → paid $5,400 for 8 days in Vietnam
- Same exact itinerary two years later using my hacks → $2,100. I’m still mad about the $3,300 I lit on fire.
The Actual Hacks I Use (Tested in 9 Countries)
1. Book the “Group Tour” Then Upgrade to Private (The Single Best Trick)
Most companies (looking at you Intrepid, G Adventures, TourRadar) let you take their group itinerary and make it private for 30-60% more. That’s still half the price of booking private from scratch. → I just did this for Morocco. Group price $1,600 → private upgrade fee $900 → total $2,500 for two people. Normal private quote? $5,800. Cry-laughed when I saw the savings.
2. Use Local Agencies, Not the Big Fancy Brands
Abercrombie & Kent is sexy but will charge you $1,000/day. Meanwhile, the guide who actually lives in Marrakech will do the same thing for $200/day. My go-tos:
- KimKim.com (connect direct with local planners)
- ToursByLocals.com (filter by budget)
- Facebook groups like “Morocco Travel Community” or “Vietnam Backpackers” – yeah the ones with 400k members and weird crypto ads, just scroll past those.
3. Travel Off-Peak or Shoulder Season (Duh, But Actually Do It)
I booked a private tour of Rome → Amalfi in late October. Same company quoted my friend $6,200 for July. I paid $2,800 in October. Same driver, same hotels, same everything except 200% fewer influencers.
4. Split With Another Couple (But Not Strangers)
Find your travel twins. My husband and I now have a running group chat called “Who Wants to Split Private Tours 2026” with two other couples. We just booked Jordan for $1,900 each instead of $4,500. We like them enough to share a van but not enough to share a bathroom. Perfect.
5. Ask for the “Pay Local” Rate Affordable Private Tours
This one feels illegal but isn’t. When you’re talking to a local operator, say: “What’s the price if we pay the guide and driver directly in cash on the last day?” They knock off the 20-30% platform fee. I’ve saved $600 doing this in Thailand.
6. Use Credit Card Points for Flights, Then Splurge on the Tour
I fly for $87 using points → suddenly $3,000 private tour feels affordable. Mind trick, but it works.
My Current Shortlist of Companies That Won’t Rob You
- Odynovo (Asia & South America) – they literally have a “budget private” filter
- JayWay Travel (Europe) – insane customization, surprisingly normal prices
- Realistic Asia – $120-180/day full private in Vietnam/Cambodia
- Sakara Tours (Morocco) – $150-220/day for two people, insane riads included
Real Numbers From My Last Three Affordable Private Tours
| Destination | Year | Days | Total Cost (2 ppl) | Cost per day | How I did it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam + Cambodia | 2024 | 12 | $4,200 | $175 | KimKim + local pay |
| Morocco | 2025 | 9 | $3,100 | $172 | ToursByLocals shoulder season |
| Greece (Athens + islands) | 2023 | 10 | $5,200 | $260 | JayWay + points flight |
The One Time It Backfired Affordable Private Tours
Booked a “private” tour in Egypt for $1,200. Turned out to be me, my husband, and 16 German retirees in a van. Driver kept calling it “private group.” I drank an entire bottle of duty-free gin that night. Lesson learned: always ask “how many people MAX?”
Anyway I’m rambling. Moral of the story: affordable private tours are real you just gotta be willing to send 47 emails, join sketchy Facebook groups, and haggle like your Nonna at a flea market.
If you want my dumb Google Sheet with all my contacts and price comparisons, DM me on Instagram @brokebutbougie travel or whatever. I’ll send it no cap.
Now go book something before I change my mind and gatekeep it all.
Which country are you trying to do on a budget? Drop it below I need new ideas for 2026
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