Collette offered its first guided travel tour in 1918, a three-week trip aboard a jitney bus from Boston to Florida that cost just $68.50. Today the third-generation family-owned business leads more than 170 tours in a variety of styles to all seven continents.
The longest-running tour operator in North America, Collette is known for its comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships in the travel space.
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A sense of social responsibility guides the company’s actions in everything from tour planning to operations on the ground. Through the nonprofit Collette Foundation, it supports hunger and education initiatives around the world, and employees volunteer more than 4,500 hours of their time each year.
TourScoop Takeaways
- Destinations: More than 170 tours on all seven continents
- Tour Size Average: The average group size for a Classic tour is 32 travelers; for Small Group Explorations, the group size averages 16.
- Tour Type: Small-group tours and cruises
How to Book
Travelers can book through Collette’s website, by calling 800-340-5158, or through a travel agent.
Credibility Check
Collette received golds in two categories (Best Escorted Tour Operator, US; and Best Escorted Tour Operator, Canada) at the 2023 Travvy Awards and won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award in 2023. It was also named Best Tour Operator for Domestic Escorted Tours and Best Tour Operator for Canadian Tours by Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards in 2022. Collette has a 4.7/5 rating on TravelStride based on more than 4,100 reviews.
Tour Destinations
Collette tours travel to all seven continents. The company has itineraries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia. Africa, and Antarctica.
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Tour Types
Collette offers tours in five different travel styles. Classic tours, the company’s original group-tour style, take in the sights and explore the cultures of destinations around the world, with an average of 32 people and maximum of 44 travelers. Small Group Explorations immerse travelers even further into a destination and travel with an average of 16 guests.
Spotlights tours feature a single hotel stay and itineraries that help travelers explore a city like a local. Faith tours travel to some of the world’s most historic religious sites and regions, and Cruising tours travel waterways like the Danube, Yangtze, and Nile Rivers. Private tours are also available for groups of 10 or more.
Tour descriptions include activity level rankings, ranging from 1 for leisurely paced experiences to 4 for highly active trips.
Tour Guides
Collette’s Tour Managers tend to make an impression on travelers. The highly trained local experts, some of whom have been with the company for more than 20 years, bring a destination’s history and culture to life and add their own insights and favorite spots to the experience for a more personal touch.
What’s Included
Collette’s tour pricing includes accommodations, itinerary activities, and the majority of meals during a tour.
What’s Not Included
Optional excursions, pre- or post-tour extensions, and airfare are not included in the tour price. However, travelers have the option to add those extras when booking a tour. Land prices also do not include transfers, visas, and gratuities.
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Typical Travelers
Collette says its travelers are “typically experienced, yet curious travelers. They’re interested in getting beneath the surface and digging deeper into what a destination has to offer.” Children over the age of five may travel on Collette tours as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Communication
Collette Tour Managers reach out and introduce themselves to travelers prior to each departure and also provide a means of contact for travelers while they are on tour. A representative from Collette contacts travelers if there are any issues or changes with the departure. Guests can also log in to the Collette mobile app up to 45 days before departure.
Loyalty Program
The Collette Passport Club rewards travelers for every trip they take. After completing one or two tours with the company, travelers receive a 5% Loyalty Credit on their next Collette tour when completed within 12 months of their most recent tour departure date. After three or more completed tours, travelers also get a $100 credit toward the purchase of optional tour components on their next trip.
Sustainability Efforts
All of Collette’s Small Group Explorations tours are carbon neutral and include an “Impact Moment” where travelers might visit a local social enterprise, nonprofit, or cultural or environmental conservation group. Responsible travel is a priority, and Collette ensures its tours take things like animal welfare and the preservation of local communities into consideration.
Health and Safety Practices
Collette’s website provides travelers with information on travel alerts and travel requirements, and has a travel protection plan available for purchase.
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