The 7 Benefits of Group Travel
Trying to decide on the right vacation can be challenging for a wide variety of reasons. With so many incredible destinations to explore and so many options for exploring them, deciding can feel overwhelming. One of the major first decisions to be made is whether you’d prefer to travel solo, or as part of a group. While there are certainly benefits to both, group travel offers a unique set of benefits that we’re excited to chat about. Group travel is perfect for newer travelers and is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore a new destination while also building social connections.
Addressing Concerns About Group Travel
It may seem counterintuitive to begin a blog about the benefits of group travel by discussing common concerns. However, we wanted to tackle these early and address your concerns prior to telling you all the incredible benefits you’ll experience traveling with a group.
For most, there are two primary concerns when it comes to traveling with a group- especially if you don’t know your travel companions beforehand. The first concern is meshing well with other members of the group. While we can’t guarantee success in this arena, most people find that the common interest in travel, along with the destination is a great catalyst for new friendships. Obviously, you’ll connect better with some than others, but many people find that these trips bring them lifelong friendships and travel buddies for future adventures.
The second concern we frequently hear about is the reduced flexibility and opportunity for spontaneity. It’s true that these trips have an itinerary planned, but most good tour companies- especially the ones we recommend, offer opportunities for free time and availability to opt out of activities if you’re uninterested or would like to take the opportunity to hang back and relax. Think of your itinerary as a guide instead of an overbearing list of must dos.
Group Travel Benefit 1: Connecting with New People
Group travel is an amazing way to connect with new people and spark up unlikely friendships. In our socially connected but often lonely world, a chance to join a group trip is an opportunity to forge new connections. One of the many benefits to group trips is that participants already have something in common- their desire to travel, and their interest in the destination they’re visiting. This commonality reduces the need for awkward small talk and can act as a catalyst for conversation.
The Commodity of Time
Group trips offer a commodity many find lacking in their daily lives-time. In the daily hustle and bustle of life, it can feel challenging to create time to build relationships. However, on a group trip, time and space for interesting conversations is abundant. Whether you’re traveling to the next destination, or enjoying a sumptuous meal with your group, it seems like the opportunity to connect is around every corner.
Shared Experiences
While common interests may forge new connections, shared experiences have the potential to transform new connections into lifelong friends. Traveling creates opportunities to encounter new people, places, and cultures. When you travel with others, you get to enjoy these encounters together. These shared experiences have a unique way of strengthening bonds and connections that’s difficult to replicate in day-to-day life.
Finally, if you’ve ever traveled solo, you’ve likely had that experience where you feel a bit stuck asking a stranger to snap your photo in front of the iconic sights. This isn’t a concern in the slightest when traveling with a group. You can always ask your tour guide or a fellow traveler to grab the iconic shot. Guides will likely also have quite a bit of practice snapping these photos, so they may have unique insights about where and how to stand to get the best shot.
Group Travel Benefit 2: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
Travel in general is a great way to step outside your comfort zone. This benefit is amplified when you embark on a group trip. The simple act of joining a group of unknown travelers may be at the edge of your comfort zone already. However, stepping out of your comfort zone hardly ends here on a group adventure.
Stepping outside your comfort zone may look like trying new and unique foods, or participating in an activity or event that stretches you a bit. Often, your group leader and fellow travelers will provide encouragement and support if you feel apprehensive about an experience. Not only does this support encourage you to try new things, but it also boosts confidence and reinforces positive connections with those who encouraged and supported you.
Getting out of your comfort zone can do wonders for building your confidence. As you explore, you’ll find that you’re more willing to step even further outside of your comfort zone to try something that interests you. You’ll also find that your comfort zone will expand and include new things over time. New places, experiences, and friendships all can provide a dramatic confidence boost and you’ll find all three on a group trip.
Group Travel Benefit 3: Adventurous Itineraries at Your Fingertips
For newer travelers, joining a group trip removes the need to complete extensive research to create an itinerary. For busy adults with overwhelming schedules, joining a group trip can offer a simpler alternative to solo travel. Furthermore, in countries where English isn’t the native language , traveling with a group- accompanied by a translator or someone who speaks English breaks down the challenge of a language barrier. Oftentimes, these itineraries also include quite a few meals. This simplifies budgeting and can drastically reduce your overall sense of overwhelm.
Traveling with a group is a completely different experience than planning your own itinerary. Traveling on your own offers the opportunity to curate an itinerary that caters to your specific desires and interests. Traveling as part of a group means the itinerary is developed by tour operators. While group travel requires a more laid back attitude from travelers, it does have tremendous benefits. Group travel may encourage you to try something that you hadn’t considered and subsequently discover a new interest.
A fixed itinerary also provides peace of mind and makes it easier to relax and enjoy your vacation. With a knowledgeable leader in charge, you’ll spend far less time trying to find your way around. Not only that, but it also means you won’t be responsible for things like driving from one place to the next and can use this time to more fully immerse yourself in the experience.
If you enjoy traveling with family and friends, but find you spend a decent amount of time trying to decide what’s next, a group trip is a fantastic option. A pre-determined itinerary removes the guess work. Instead of having to constantly be making decisions, you can decide which itinerary fits best and embark on the trip of your choice.
Group Travel Benefit 4: No Waiting for Transportation!
If you’ve traveled solo, you’ve likely experienced the challenge of waiting for transportation. While waiting once or twice may not be a big deal, it can eat up a lot of time over the course of your trip. When traveling with a group, they often have dedicated transportation at their beck and call. This means less time is wasted waiting, so more time can be spent doing.
Group Travel Benefit 5: Local Guides Experience and Knowledge
Another tremendous benefit to group travel is the experience of local guides. An in-depth knowledge of local culture, practices and tradition is invaluable when it comes to experiencing local culture authentically. Local guides can provide unique insights when it comes to history, culture, customs, and traditions.
A deep familiarity with the region translates to a more immersive experience for you that goes beyond seeing iconic sights. Local knowledge and connections often equates to unique activity offerings that are inaccessible to individual travelers. These offerings are often off the beaten path and provide a truly unique perspective into local culture. Many of these opportunities give travelers a birds-eye view into local daily life. Often, travelers share that this was their trip’s highlight.
Group Travel Benefit 6: Safety
We’ve all heard that there’s safety in numbers. This is certainly applicable when traveling to a new area. It’s always crucial to be aware of your surroundings when visiting a new place. This is often easier when someone like a trusted tour guide can provide reminders and insights about what to be aware of. Getting lost is also less likely in a group than when traveling alone.
Group Travel Benefit 7: Stretching Your Budget
Often, traveling with a group allows you to stretch your dollars. Group trips often secure things like tours and experiences at a lower rate than the public because there’s a guarantee of more people participating. Additionally, expenditures like transportation are shared between a group of people which equates to your individual cost being lower. This makes group travel a fantastic option for the traveler looking for maximum experience while being budget conscious.
Still wondering if a group trip might be a good fit for you, or do the benefits have you itching to start planning? Whatever position you find yourself in, we’d love to help! Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns or drop a comment below and we’ll reach out with an answer!
