Tom Brodbeck – Winnipeg Free Press
Best And Worst Escorted Tour Providers 2023
There's so much more to package holidays than fly and flop beach breaks. With a good escorted tour provider you could climb Kilimanjaro, cycle across Sri Lanka or go wildlife spotting in the Shetlands, with a group of like-minded travellers and the full financial protection that packages afford.
You might think escorted tour providers are much of a muchness, but our survey of more than 8,000 holidaymakers found big differences between the best and worst companies. The UK's top-scoring providers, Ramblers Walking Holidays and HF Holidays, are both hiking specialists offering great customer service and exceptional value for money. And both are Which? Recommended Providers (WRP), too. Exodus is also a WRP and offers a wider range of holidays, from culture and art led city tours to rafting, canyoning and zip-lining.
At the bottom of our table sit rail and coach specialists, Great Rail Journeys and Leger Holidays, and over-50s holiday provider, Saga. Its escorted holidays, from monkey treks in Borneo to street food tours of Vietnam, sound appealing, but one reason Saga fell flat is its three-star customer service rating. One in three Saga customers told us that they'd had a problem that was Saga's fault.
You can compare customer scores and prices in the table below and, for extra peace of mind, all the companies have our WRP status guarantee that they won't apply surcharges in 2023 – so the price won't go up after you book.
For more independent travel advice and recommendations, subscribe to Which? Travel
Best and worst escorted tour providers 2023Using the table Star ratings are based on one to five stars. The more stars the better. Click on the 'i' symbol to see sample sizes. N/a indicates that we didn't receive enough responses to report on a company in that category. Average price Based on the median price per person per day of holidays taken by survey respondents, in all categories, with the company named. Short-haul destinations are defined as anywhere less than a five-hour flight from London. Customer score Based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the company.
What are escorted tours and how do they work?Escorted tours are great if you want someone else to manage the logistics of a complex sightseeing or activity holiday and you can enjoy the company of fellow travellers. Many firms specialise in certain types of holiday, or specific destinations.
You'll usually travel in a group, follow a fixed itinerary and be led by an experienced guide who arranges all of your transport and activities. Tour leaders also offer destination insight and resolve any problems along the way.
Most escorted tours are offered as all-inclusive packages, so the price includes flights, hotels, meals, activities and any entrance fees.
The best escorted tour companies offer a hassle-free experience, knowledgeable tour leaders and seamless itineraries, as well as top-notch customer service when things go wrong.
If group trips aren't for you, explore at your own pace with the best and worst self-guided tour operators for 2023.
Which escorted tour companies does Which? Recommend? Ramblers Walking Holidays, 88%The top rated escorted tour operator. Ramblers Walking Holidays offers more than 200 small-group walking holidays in the UK, Europe and around the world, hosted by expert tour leaders.
Customers appreciated Ramblers' 'superb guides' and the good organisation of its itineraries.
Which? Verdict An excellent option for walking holidays, with great customer service and five-star value for money.
Read the full Ramblers Walking Holidays review or visit the Ramblers Walking Holidays website.
HF Holidays, 87%HF Holidays offers guided walking and activity holidays in Europe and throughout the UK. It also owns and manages many of the UK properties that feature on its tours.
Travellers were impressed by its excellent guides and value for money.
Which? Verdict Offering five-star value for money, HF Holidays is the cheapest WRP for escorted tours.
Read the full HF Holidays review or visit the HF Holidays website.
Exodus, 86%Exodus is an escorted tour provider that specialises in adventure and activity holidays, promising sustainable travel in small groups.
It was praised for its passionate guides, good-value itineraries and low-carbon options.
Which? Verdict Whether you're heading for jungle, mountain or glacier, the knowledgeable advisors at Exodus will make sure your adventure goes off without a hitch.
Read the full Exodus review or visit the Exodus website.
How we researched holiday companiesIn August 2022, we asked 8,361 Which? Connect panel members and the public to complete an online survey about their experiences of booking and going on holiday in the past two years. We only reported on companies where we received at least 30 responses.
10 Best Tour Companies That Will Make Your Next Vacation A Breeze
As a rule, I consider myself an independent traveler. I love to explore new places and take my family on adventures around the globe. Sometimes, however, I just want to leave the proverbial driving—and organizing—to someone else. Which is how I discovered the joys of the best tour companies that have helped me find the best places to travel. I've been able to circle Ireland, explore national parks and hop around Italy, all with someone else at the wheel and a few dozen other friendly people along for the ride, and it's been a dream.
Think of group tours like the best all-inclusive resorts; there's one-and-done pricing that lets you know exactly what your vacation will cost, in advance, making it easier for you to keep to your vacation budget. Depending on which tour you choose, you can still have plenty of time to explore on your own, but during the day someone else will be in charge of figuring out all the logistics, including lodging, transportation, meals and activities. Of course, like resorts, tour companies have different personalities: Some run small, boutique-style group tours with just a handful of people, while others have multiple tour buses with every seat filled. Many companies cater to specific interests and age groups, some offer private access to top attractions and others include special classes and experiences. Basically, there's something for every type of vacation style and interest.
How we chose the best tour companiesTo come up with the list of the best tour companies, we reached out to travel planners and other travel experts for their top picks. We also used our personal travel experience and checked in with travelers who have vacationed with these tour companies to get their first-hand reviews. Finally, we cross-checked our research with Tripadvisor's star ratings to make sure we've picked the best of the best so that you can have the best group tour all-inclusive vacation no matter where you want to go.
Best for history buffs
For curious travelers who love to explore history, culture and archeology, National Geographic Expeditions is tops in its field. Highly trained NatGeo experts accompany trips and share their insights and insider knowledge with small groups of equally curious travelers. One recent traveler called the 10-day guided Human History trip to Spain and France to see paleolithic art and cave paintings "among the best trips of our lives," also noting that the adults-only itinerary also felt like a romantic getaway.
Pros:
Con:
The Best Tablets In 2023
Editor's Note: Google unveiled its new Google Pixel Tablet at Google I/O 2023. This 11-inch Android tablet starts at $499, making it priced to compete with Apple's base iPad. Stay tuned for our full review to see if it rates among the best tablets on the market!
The best tablet for your needs can be tricky to find, whether you're looking to outfit the kids with cheap, durable tablets for school or just want a beautiful second screen to keep near the couch.
We can help you find the right tablet because we review the best from all the major manufacturers every year. We put these devices to the test, both in our lab and the real world, and we've come to a few key conclusions about the best tablets out there.
Amazon tablets are generally great for kids and anyone on a tight budget, for example, while Apple's iPads are best for students and creative pros. That's especially true now that an M2 chip powers Apple's latest iPad Pro.
Based on years of hands-on testing and reviews, we recommend these slates as the best tablets you can buy right now. To find a great deal, check out our guide to the best tablet sales!
Prime Day Deals Written by Written byAlex Wawro
Senior EditorAlex Wawro is a lifelong journalist who's spent over a decade covering tech, games and entertainment. He oversees the computing department at Tom's Guide, which includes managing tablet coverage and reviewing many himself every year.
The quick listIn a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the tablets on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever tablet catches your eye.
Best overall
Best tablet overall
Apple's 2022 iPad Air is the first Air to get an M1 chip, and it powers this $599 tablet to new heights. With a great display and plenty of power, it's the best tablet for most.
Read more below
Best Android option
The best Android tablet overall
The OnePlus Pad ($479) is an Android tablet worth getting excited about. With a vivid 11.6-inch 144Hz display, a huge 13MP rear camera, curved edges and great battery life, OnePlus' first slate stands out from the competition.
Read more below
Best under $100
The best budget tablet
If you just need a tablet for not a lot of money, the $59 Amazon Fire 7 is a solid choice. This no-frills tablet is weak, hobbled by Amazon's FireOS and has a grainy sub-1080p display, but you can't beat it at this price.
Read more below
Biggest Android tablet
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
The biggest Android tablet
If you absolutely must have the biggest tablet possible, you want the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Its 14.6 inch Super AMOLED 120Hz display is large and luscious,
Read more below
Biggest iPad
5. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch
The biggest iPad
When you want the biggest, best iPad on the block, splurge for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This is the biggest iPad around, and the only one with a gorgeous mini-LED display. Factor in the power of the latest Apple silicon, and you've got an impressive slate.
Read more below
Best Windows slate
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The best Windows tablet
Windows 11 is the most touch-friendly version of Windows yet, and if you want to use it on a tablet we recommend Microsoft's Surface Pro 9. It's a solid tablet that works well enough for getting things done if you pay for the detachable keyboard.
Read more below
The best tablets you can buy The best tablet overall
The best tablet for everyone
SpecificationsCPU: M1
Camera Resolution: 12MP wide (f/1.8) (front and rear)
Display: 10.9-inch (2360 x 1640 pixels) Liquid Retina
Storage: 64GB, 256GB
Ports: 1 USB-C
Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.24 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Reasons to buy +Thin and elegant design
+Sharp, colorful display
+Speedy M1-powered performance
+Long battery life
+Solid 12MP cameras
Reasons to avoid -Peripherals are expensive
As great as the iPad Air 4 had been, the iPad Air 5 that replaced it hits a sweet spot between portability and power. The iPad Air 2022 is ideal for consuming and creating content, and its $599 starting price is within reach for many people.
Thanks to the addition of M1, the iPad Air 2022 is almost on par with the iPad Pro. That isn't to say the Air is now a Pro replacement, but the gap in power is considerably smaller. This, along with the iPad Air's relatively affordable starting price, could make this model more compelling than the iPad Pro for budget-minded shoppers who still want the best iPad their money can buy.
Overall, the latest iPad Air is an almost perfect tablet. While there's still some room for improvement, it's hard to put this sleek, powerful slate down. This is arguably the best tablet for most people, and one of the best iPads to boot.
See our full iPad Air (2022) review.
The best Android tablet
The best Android tablet overall
SpecificationsCPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9000
Display: 11.6 inches (2800 x 2000) 7:5 aspect ratio, 144Hz
Storage: 128GB
Memory: 8GB
Ports: 1x USB-C
Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Reasons to buy +Incredible battery life
+Comfortable curved edges
+Sharp front and rear cameras
+Fast performance
Reasons to avoid -Mediocre speaker quality
The OnePlus Pad ($479) is an Android tablet worth getting excited about. With a huge 13MP rear camera, curved edges and a unique 7:5 aspect ratio, OnePlus' first slate stands out from the competition.
This tablet has plenty going for it besides its distinctive design. Videos and ebooks look great on its vivid 11.6-inch 144Hz display, and thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 9000 CPU and Android 13 OS, apps and games run smooth and fast. The lightweight OnePlus Pad also has exceptional battery life, lasting over 13 hours in our testing.
If you're looking for an excellent Android tablet for under $500, you can't go wrong with the OnePlus Pad.
Read our full OnePlus Pad review.
The best regular iPad in years
SpecificationsCPU: A14 Bionic
Camera Resolution: 12MP (rear), 12MP with 122-degree FOV (front)
Display: 10.9-inch (2360 x 1640) Liquid Retina
Storage: 64GB, 256GB
Ports: USB-C
Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches
Weight: 1.05 pounds
Reasons to buy +Sleeker design with slimmer bezels
+Fast A14 Bionic processor
+Long battery life
+Comfy Magic Keyboard with touchpad
+Cellular upgraded to 5G
Reasons to avoid -More expensive that previous model
-Apple Pencil awkward to charge
-Just 64GB of storage
-Doesn't support Stage Manager in iPadOS 16
The iPad 2022 is a tablet that looks and feels new, and that's a welcome change over the last few iterations. We appreciate the sleeker design and bigger display, though some may miss the headphone jack from the 9th gen iPad. We also like the Touch ID-enabled power button, repositioned front camera and USB-C charging, as well as the upgraded A14 Bionic chip and 5G connectivity.
However, $449 is a lot of money to spend on this tablet. Yes, Apple is keeping the $329 iPad 9th gen around, but it still stings to see a $120 jump from one generation to the next. Our bigger issue is with the Apple Pencil situation; it's just way too awkward to charge this thing, and there's nowhere to store the stylus when not in use.
Do we think the iPad 2022 is worth the splurge over last year's model? Mostly, as this is a more future-proof tablet. Overall, the iPad 10th gen is one of the best tablets, but we can't unequivocally say that it's the best tablet for most people because of the higher price and Apple Pencil blunder.
Read our full iPad 2022 review.
The best premium Android tablet
SpecificationsCPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Display: 11-inch (2560 x 1600) 120Hz LCD display
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Memory: 8GB RAM
Ports: USB-C, microSD
Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Reasons to buy +Bright, beautiful display
+Excellent battery life
+Great sound quality
+Surprisingly good cameras
+Decent laptop replacement
Reasons to avoid -Underwhelming performance vs. IPads
-Camera quality degrades at extremes
-Book Cover keyboard feels small, cramped
The Galaxy Tab S8 is good at a lot of things, but it's best at being a premium Android tablet. You can use it to get work done in a pinch, but in my experience it's best enjoyed as a speedy all-purpose device for making work and play a bit more enjoyable. On the couch its great for gaming or reading comics, and at work it's nice to have as a note-keeping device or secondary display, especially if you go to the trouble of investing in the Galaxy ecosystem and making your workspace DeX-friendly.
If you absolutely must have the biggest, baddest Android slate possible you probably want the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, but if you just need a great premium Android tablet the Galaxy Tab S8 delivers — and in the process, sets a new standard for what we should expect from the category.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 review.
The best budget tablet
The best tablet for those on a budget
SpecificationsCPU: Quad-Core 1.3 GHz processor
Camera Resolution: 2MP (rear), 2MP (front)
Display: 7 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Storage: 16GB, 32GB
Memory: 1GB
Ports: headphone jack. MicroUSB, microSD,
Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 0.6 pounds (10.1 ounces)
Reasons to buy +Fast for its price
+Hyper affordable
+Finally, hands-free Alexa
Reasons to avoid -Lots of Amazon ads
-Low-res display
For a lot of customers, price makes the big difference, so Amazon could have coasted when it comes to the $50 Fire 7 tablet. Fortunately, the most recent iteration of the company's cheapest slate packs a snappy quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, which helps you navigate apps and browse the web faster than you'd expect from a tablet this cheap. And while previous Fire tablets made you tap to activate Alexa — which made no sense, it's meant to be summoned with your voice — the Fire 7 finally added voice triggers for the digital assistant.
Just don't expect any frills that come with more expensive tablets. The Fire 7 tablet's sub-HD screen is not sharp enough for anyone used to an iPad, and its lock screen is filled with ads unless you pay extra. Still, it's a great pick for kids looking for a media consumption device.
Read our full Amazon Fire 7 review.
The best mid-range Android tablet
SpecificationsCPU: Qualcomm SM6115
Display: 10.4-inch, 2000x1200-pixel
Storage: 32GB
Memory: 3GB
Ports: USB-C, microSD
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Reasons to buy +Excellent battery life
+Facial recognition
+USB-C charging
Reasons to avoid -Screen is a little dim
-Underwhelming performance
Android fans can point to a true iPad competitor, at a much more affordable price. Retailing for $229 (and on sale often for much less) the Galaxy Tab A7 is a great 10.4-inch tablet for consuming content. Whether you're browsing the web or streaming movies, you get to focus on your content more, thanks to its super-thin bezels that are thinner than what you get with Apple's $329 iPad. Oh, and it's got endurance to spare, lasting 13 hours and 13 minutes on the Tom's Guide battery test. Oh, and it's also got an iPad Pro feature that Apple makes you pay a lot for: facial recognition to unlock the device.
And just like Apple's pricier tablets, the Galaxy Tab A7 charges over USB-C, so you can continue to cut non-reversible microUSB cables out of your life. And while it's not as fast as the iPad and its screen isn't as bright, neither is a serious problem at this price. Especially when Samsung gives you true Android with the Google Play app store, and not the watered-down Amazon Fire tablet experience.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 review.
The best tablet for Windows 10
SpecificationsCPU: Pentium Gold, 8th Gen Intel Core m3
Camera Resolution: 8MP (rear), 5MP (front)
Display: 10.5 inches, 1920 x 1280 pixels
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Memory: 4GB, 8GB
Ports: headphone jack, USB-C, microSD, Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover Port
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 1.22 pounds (1.75 pounds with type cover)
Reasons to buy +Lengthy battery life
+Bright, vivid screen
+Great webcam
Reasons to avoid -Unimpressive performance
-Type Cover requires adjustments
Sometimes, it takes a second try to make a thing go right. The Surface Go 2 takes aim at all the flaws of the predecessor and knocks them all down. First of all, thinner bezels make way for a bigger screen, arguably the most important part of a tablet. The Surface Go 2 has a 10.5-inch display, compared to 10 inches for the previous model.
The biggest upgrade is the Surface Go 2's 11 hours and 39 minutes of battery life, which is over 5 hours longer than the original Surface Go.. Microsoft also answered my prayers for a laptop with a great webcam. The 5-megapixel 1080p camera in its top bezel is great for the era of online video calls, and its second front camera sensor adds Windows Hello biometric login. Finally, get the Surface Go 2 with the 8th Gen Intel Core m3 upgrade, it's a little pricier at $629, but it's definitely the model for multitaskers.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Go 2 review.
The best big-screen Android tablet
The best Android tablet when you absolutely need the biggest screen possible
SpecificationsCPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 octa-core CPU
Camera Resolution: 12MP + 12MP UW (front), 13MP AF + 6MP UW (back)
Display: 14.6-inch, 2960 x 1848-pixel
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Ports: 1x USB-C, microSD
Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds
Reasons to buy +Big, beautiful OLED display
+Svelte design
+Snappy Android interface
Reasons to avoid -May be too large for some
-More expensive than better laptops
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra ($1,099) is the first tablet that casts a literal shadow over the iPad Pro. With its ginormous 14.6-inch OLED display, this Android slate makes the 12.9-inch iPad Pro seem cute by comparison. And with the optional keyboard attachment and improved multi-window mode, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra could potentially replace a laptop.
Samsung is clearly targeting hybrid and at-home workers with the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, as it packs dual front cameras with support to up to 4K resolution for video calls as well as auto framing for keeping you in the frame as you move around. Plus, there's advanced noise reduction to make sure you come through loud and clear.
Other highlights of the Tab S8 Ultra include a fast Snapdragon 8 Gen-1 chip, a low-latency S Pen experience, 45W fast charging and improved integration with Galaxy S series phones.
At $1,099, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra commands a heck of a premium. But it delivers an intoxicating blend of size, speed and versatility that makes it one of the best Android tablets on the market.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review.
The best ultra-portable tablet
SpecificationsCPU: A15 Bionic
Camera Resolution: 12MP (front and rear)
Display: 8.3-inch (2266 x 1488 pixels) Liquid Retina
Storage: 64GB, 256GB
Ports: USB-C
Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 0.7 pound
Reasons to buy +Super-portable, light design
+Speedy A15 Bionic processor
+Sharp and bright display
Reasons to avoid -No Magic Keyboard or headphone jack
-Pricey
Take almost everything we know and love about the iPad Air, but shrink it down to a size and weight that's super-easy to use with just one hand and you have the iPad mini 6 (2021), which may be the iPad you've been waiting for. It has the Apple Pencil 2 support with the flat-edged design, the much-smaller bezels and nearly everything else we love about an iPad. Currently, Amazon has the market cornered on sub-10-inch tablets with the pricing of its Fire slates, but the new iPad mini gives quality-focused folks an alternative worth investing in.
On top of that, you've got the super-fast A15 Bionic system-on-chip, which outpaces the iPad Air and every non-
Comments
Post a Comment