Traveling with a Group – 7 reasons why you should do so

You do not have to be slumped with hours of research

Let us face it. It is HARD work planning a trip to a new country that you know absolutely nothing about. It takes hours of researching, planning, and logistics to be able to sort out your perfect trip.

Traveling with a group tour is the most convenient way of traveling and you can be sure that you will get to see all the famous tourist sites as well as have a set and packed itinerary so that you know exactly what to expect.

The Young Globetrotters

Photograph by Dani De Leo

Convenience is key and your time is valuable

The main reason many people go on vacation in the first place is to relax and escape from their everyday life. People who just want to relax and enjoy their time, whether than worrying about how to get from point A to Point B and which are the best places to visit in the country. Sit back, relax, and let your trip unfold.

You can visit some off-the-beaten-path places

The worst part about traveling solo and not having the funds to rent your own car, is knowing that you are missing out on certain things within the country, mainly because you have no way to get to that place in a budget friendly way.

A great thing about a group tour is that the tour guides are experts and already know all the must-see destinations and hidden gems. With most group tours, transport is usually included already.

A great way to meet friends 

I think my absolute favorite thing about joining a group tour is the new people that you meet and the lifelong friends that you make. Honestly, this is a deal breaker for me. I am a confident enough traveler, after having been to 64 countries mostly solo, to know that I can easily do most trips by myself for A LOT cheaper than if I were to go with a tour company.

But there is something about being stuck in a multi-day tour group with a bunch of strangers from all over the world that makes you bond and form new friendships immediately. My first group tour to New Zealand and Australia was more than four years ago and I still occasionally keep in contact with the friends I had made, as well as having visited at least 10 of them in their home countries while I was traveling Europe solo.

I do love traveling solo, and it does have its own perks, but the best feeling is being able to share an amazing travel moment with someone and being able to reminisce about it years later. Do not get me wrong, I still meet tons of people in my hostels and on day trips while traveling solo that I also talk to sometimes and follow-on social media.

However, most of these friends are people that I have spent an evening with, a day with, or maybe a few days with, rather than a full 2- or 3-week tour. These kinds of bonding experiences cannot be replaced and are very special memories.

If you are a first-time traveler who is lacking confidence, an introvert struggling to make friends, or just looking for some new besties, I would highly recommend joining a group tour.

You learn a lot of new information

One thing that I regret not doing in a lot of countries is learning all the history, unique facts, and back story of the country or historical site that I am visiting. When I go to a museum or touristic site, I rely on there being information available on plaques and pamphlets.

This is different from a tour guide though and can get quite boring and confusing to read everything yourself. Having a professional and licensed tour guide who explains everything important you actually need to know is the best way to experience a new country, especially those whom are rich with centuries of history

Good for inexperienced and new travelers

Do you want to finally start traveling the world but you do not know where to begin? Are you nervous to travel alone and lack the initial confidence it takes to figure everything out while you are traveling? If you need to gain some confidence and want to start off easy,

I would recommend signing up for a group tour. You will get to experience the basic thrills of traveling as well as having the time of your life while feeling more comfortable and reassured. Group tours are also a smart idea for exploring countries that lack security and safety for solo travelers, particularly female solo travelers.

I was so thankful that on my first solo trip to Asia when I was 19, I decided to do a two-week tour in North India. I had already explored New Delhi on my own for two days before my tour started, and honestly, did not feel comfortable being by myself the whole time.