SBMA’s “Value Tours” are well-designed itineraries with an educational component at a lower price than our other tours. They usually do not include visits to private collections or the special access that some of our other tours offer. The carefully chosen and well-located hotels are usually 4-star hotels. The group size is often slightly larger to keep the cost down as well, however they are still "small group tours" with the maximum number of participants for land tours set at either 28 or 36 (often there are less.) Cruises are always on small ships. Unlike our “Customized” Tours, “Value Tours” are not customized for the SBMA traveler, but they are carefully selected and matched to the interest of our travelers. 

Many of the arrangements and communications go through a trusted tour operator. There is no tour-related donation to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art as part of creating a more affordable tour and because the SBMA staff is slightly less involved. We do however take reservations at SBMA, hold pre-tour gatherings, and as long as we reach a specified minimum number of participants, an SBMA staff representative accompanies the trip. 

“Value Tours” are distinguished so that our members have an understanding of what their travel experience will be. We do, of course, hold all of our tours up to SBMA standards and feel that our Value Tours offer an art-oriented educational travel experience with wonderful lecturers, guides, and sites to see at a "good value".