5 steps to choosing a reputable yellowstone tour company

When we go on vacation, we always book with a tour company so we can have that “once in a lifetime” experience.  When I’m selecting a tour company to make or break our vacation, I often wonder how someone who is not familiar with the industry can make an educated decision.  Consequently, I thought I’d write an article about it.  Specifically, the 5 steps that make a good decision on booking with the right tour company.

Step 1: Private vs Public Tour

These are very different experiences.  A public tour sells an itinerary to a group of people who don’t know each other.  Typically, this will be the most economical tour, but it is also the least flexible.  The guide must stick to the sold itinerary to avoid upsetting a customer (and receiving a bad review) because the guide decided to skip something on the itinerary.  Private tours or more flexible and can be customized to the clients’ needs and wants.  Private tours are more comfortable because you are not crammed into a large van with 15 strangers.  If you want to watch wolves feeding on a carcass for an hour, or hang at the falls for 30 minutes, we can do that with a private tour.

Step 2: Who Can You Trust

This winter I read a couple of books, ‘Death in Yellowstone’ and ‘Dangerous Beauty, Stories from the Wilds of Yellowstone’, after 10 years of guiding I learned quite a bit more about the dangers of Yellowstone.  YOU NEED A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST, lots can go wrong!  Trustworthy companies will list their permits to operate on public lands.  Why wouldn’t you advertise your permit?  Most public agencies require the permit number to be stated on websites.  When I don’t see these permits listed it’s a huge RED FLAG and what other corners are they cutting (vehicle maintenance, guide training, insurance, first aid training).  I’ve seen customers left stranded after the “guide” was escorted out of the park while his vehicle was being towed.  Not exactly the best experience for your once in a lifetime Yellowstone tour.

Step 3: Avoid Bait and Switch

Bait and switch is a classic fraudulent marketing strategy that is illegal in several states.  A seller advertises a tour at an appealing price but does not intend to sell it.  The initial offer is called the “bait”, and the seller then switches the customer to buying a tour at a higher price.  This is called the switch.  I know of a local tour company offering private tours to Yellowstone for $150-$375, which is the bait.  When you get into purchasing you find out the $150 is for a child to go along, the actual tour is going to be more like $900, this is the switch.  If you find yourself in this situation just move on.  We believe in posting all of our prices online on our website.

Step 4: If it Doesn’t Feel Right, Don’t Book

After marrying into this small community, you learn a lot about the comings and goings of this small town that outsiders aren’t privy to.  There was an individual who offered tours into the park, but didn’t have permits, insurance, or the proper training.  After getting caught, he started riding in the back seat of his customers’ cars to avoid detection.  This is pretty sketchy behavior, so if it doesn’t feel right, just move on.  There are plenty of other honest, trustworthy, and reliable companies to choose from.

Step 5: Guides

If you have good guides, you are proud of them, so you brag about them on your website.  On the flip side, if your company burns through guides, they are not local, or the tour company is not proud of them, they will not appear on a website.  Plus, each guide has their own specialty, so it’s beneficial for customers to see and select the guide that best fits their interests.  It’s always a bit scary when we’ve booked with companies and you have no idea who is picking you up.

I hope this article provides potential customers with the tools they need to help choose a reputable tour company to make your hard-earned vacation a memorable one, for all the right reasons.  If there are any questions or concerns you may have, or we can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Are you wondering what the best time of year to visit Yellowstone National Park is? Check out our article: WHAT’S THE BEST MONTH TO VISIT YNP?