There are a number of reasons why many people choose to travel with a group trip and these continue to be a popular choice for travellers around the world. Along with the convenience of having everything already arranged and the ability to see highlights of each place with a knowledgeable tour guide, many travellers enjoy the social aspect and meeting new, like-minded people while on vacation.
Group trips are particularly helpful for destinations which are a little more complicated to travel, and are popular with single travellers- particularly women travelling solo. They’re also good for travellers who like to know how much money they’ll be spending while away, since the cost of the trip will typically cover transportation, tours in some popular attractions, some meals and other inclusions.
Whether you’ve chosen your next destination or you’re still figuring out where to go, here are some tips for picking a group trip:
Match the trip to your comfort and style
It’s important to recognise that not all group trips are created equal. Someone who may sneer at the idea of a bus tour through Europe may love a group tour through the Middle East with a company like G Adventures, and someone who has limited time but dreams of seeing Europe may love a whirlwind tour through places like Paris, Rome and Venice.
Some group trips are activity based, while others focus on gastronomy, culture, or even luxury accommodation.
The level of flexibility you’re comfortable with is also an important consideration. Some group trips will have a fixed itinerary which includes planned activities throughout the day, while others like those from Insight, Geckos and G Adventures will typically have an activity for half the day and allow you to explore on your own for the rest of the time.
Consider the number of people
Group trips shouldn’t have more than 14-16 people, since everything will take longer with more people, including meals, hotel check-in and more. Larger groups will also need to be transported via bus, meaning they’ll be too big to get into many small towns and city centres- particularly in Europe.
However for those who price-focused, a larger group tour will often be less expensive.
Pick your target audience
If you’re hoping to travel with people around your age, you’ll need to pick the tour company accordingly. Older travellers will usually go with Globus, or Insight Vacations, while those who are on the more adventurous side will use Intrepid, G adventures or Geckos, and young travellers often choose Contiki and Top Deck.
If you want to know who the target audience is for each tour company, ask your travel agent for advice or check out the target demographics on the company’s “About” page.
Check the reputation
Before deciding on a group trip, be sure to check the reputation of the company concerned. Have other travellers enjoyed the trip? look at message boards, online reviews and travel blogs to see the reputation of the company, and consider the fact that many people will only review when something goes wrong so take these with a grain of salt.
