Intrepid Travel
Varies by trip
4.4/5 · ~2,540 reviews on TrustpilotChecked 14 Nov 2026
- Melbourne-founded small-group tour operator
- Local leaders and small groups
- Trips across all continents
Browse Intrepid trips →
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- 🧭 Small-group tours
- 🏨 Stays
- 🛡️ Smartraveller tips
✅ Trustpilot ratings shown, good and bad
🏛️ Safety advice from Smartraveller
🧮 Budget tool
Tour or DIY?
Both work. It depends on your time, confidence and travel style.
Small-group tours
A leader, transport and many activities are sorted. Great for first-timers, solo travellers and tricky destinations.
DIY
Full flexibility and often cheaper, but you handle every booking and problem.
Insurance
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Fees & currency
Watch for foreign transaction fees on cards.
Read cancellation terms
Especially for prepaid stays and tours.
Our picks, by who they suit best
Ratings are from Trustpilot. We show weak ones too, because knowing where customer service struggles matters when plans go wrong.
Booking.com
Varies per night
1.4/5 · 130,518 reviews on TrustpilotChecked 14 Nov 2026
- Huge range of hotels and apartments
- Many free-cancellation options
- Read each property's own reviews
Search stays →
Affiliate link. Low Trustpilot score, mostly about customer service. Keep confirmations and contact the property directly.
Expedia
Varies bundles
- Flights, hotels and packages in one place
- Bundling can sometimes save money
- Compare against booking direct
Search Expedia →
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Side-by-side comparison
The numbers that matter, with sources. Prices change often, so treat them as a guide and confirm at checkout.
| Intrepid | Booking.com | Expedia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What | Small-group tours | Accommodation (also flights, cars) | Flights, hotels, packages |
| Trustpilot | 4.4 (~2,540) | 1.4 (130,518) | Not checked |
| Best for | Hassle-free adventures | Choosing stays | Bundles |
Honest pros and cons
Including the stuff the ads leave out, taken from owner reviews and our research.
Small-group tours (e.g. Intrepid)
👍 What we like
- Logistics handled
- Local leaders
- Good for solo travellers
👎 Watch out for
- Less flexibility
- Group pace
- Single supplements on some trips
DIY bookings (Booking.com, Expedia)
👍 What we like
- Total flexibility
- Huge choice
- Often cheaper
👎 Watch out for
- You fix every problem yourself
- Booking.com rates 1.4 on Trustpilot
- Cancellation terms vary by property
Free tool
Trip budget calculator
Nights, travellers, flights, tours and daily spend give you a total, per-person and per-day cost.
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Budget first
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Quick answers
Are small-group tours worth it?
For first-time visitors, solo travellers or complex destinations, many people find the logistics and local leaders worth the price.
Is Booking.com safe to use?
It's widely used, but its Trustpilot score is low (1.4/5), mostly about customer service. Keep confirmations and contact properties directly if needed.
Do I need travel insurance?
Smartraveller strongly recommends it. We don't give insurance advice, so compare policies and read the PDS.
How do I budget per day?
Daily spend covers food, local transport and activities. Use our calculator with your own figures.
Sources & how we checked
We checked prices, ratings and rules on 14 Nov 2026 using the sources below. We summarise reviews; we never write or edit them.