Benefits of Group Travel

Travel is sacred to me. I’ve been traveling solo or with a friend or partner for years, never having dipped my toes into group travel. With the abundance of social mediums, I discovered a group trip host that I followed for quite some time. She seemed (from social) to be down to earth, likable, and had a good vibe overall. I’d been watching her organized group travel trips she would lead all over the world and decided it may be time for me to try my own unique experiences in a group setting. When she announced a European Christmas Market tour, I jumped on the opportunity. I put my deposit for the trip down almost a year in advance, which was both nice and scary, and then I waited. My experience on this trip was like none other I’ve been on, and I’ll tell you why I loved it. I’m not giving up solo travel, but this group thing gave me more to think about for many reasons.

A lot of people simply won't travel at all if they have no one to travel with. Not everyone is obsessed with their own company like I am, and I understand that. I find that the benefits of group trips give people an opportunity to see the world and travel with like-minded individuals in a stress-free setting. If it weren't for group trips, I don't think a lot of people would go to most of these exotic places that are available unless it were with excellent group leaders. It just gives peace of mind that you're supported through your travels.

I'm a huge advocate for group trips, and I look forward to going on another one in the future. There are so many benefits of group travel, so I'll highlight them for you here in case you're poking around at the idea of going on one yourself. And yes, you definitely should if it's swirling in your mind. It's a game-changer!

At a Castle I Would Never Have Gone to without the Group Trip

For a person who spends countless hours on itinerary and activity planning, group travel was very different for me. My trips are not rigid and overflowing with nonstop things to do, but I map out options for myself. When I say I didn’t look at a single thing before the trip started, I’m not lying. Part of that was because I’d been to two of the three cities in the past decade, so I wasn’t totally unfamiliar. But I loved having things planned that I most certainly wouldn’t have planned myself. It took the guesswork and hours of research out of it, and that was quite fun, if I’m being honest. Vacation time was actually vacation time, and I could spend time relaxing and letting someone else's plans unfold. Some of the activities didn’t interest me so I skipped, but I was impressed with the ones that I opted to do.

Lindsay and Me on the Final Night

This was one of the most anxiety-driving factors for me regarding group travel. Not only am I an introvert, I generally dislike being around groups of people. I have rarely joined a group voluntarily, so this was going to be interesting for me. As the trip got closer, I wondered what on earth I could’ve been thinking when I signed up for this. After meeting the group, though, I could breathe. Everyone seemed pretty normal, quite nice, and similarly aged. During the group tour, little micro groups naturally formed, which was nice (especially for the solo travelers). When you’re with a solid guide who has a solid group trip following, it makes it more assuring that other great people will attend will be appealing. That was accurate in this case, and I’m so glad I did my research with our guide, Lindsay. She is 10/10.

Krampus and Me, Before I Got Whipped

I don’t know exactly how the trip companies pair guides up, but they did a bang up job with Lindsay and our local guide, Vanessa. Their practicality and professionalism were really awesome as they worked together, adding to the awesomeness of our travel experiences as a group. The group's and my personal connection with Vanessa was also phenomenal. She shared about local language, culture, foods, and traditions.

An unforgettable thing was her having scoop on an intimate classical music concert at a venue in Vienna. That was something I doubt I would've done on my own, and it was my second-favorite thing we did as a group. The first was the Krampus run in Salzburg that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to top. I have so much gratitude for the way the trip companies set up this partnership. Even if it was pure luck, I consider myself a very lucky lady.  This is group travel at its best!

Drinking Glühwein at a Market 

My comfort zone is relying on myself for so much. I’ve never been great or comfortable at letting others take the reign, so group travel was hard for me to embrace. Yes, I was paying these people to plan my trip, but it still felt weird. The minute we walked into the hotel from a long day of travel, Lindsay met us with her big, beautiful smile. She made us feel like we were all old friends meeting up for a good time. It helped that we followed each other on socials for about a year before meeting in person, but apprehension is always there until it’s not.

The whole trip was out of my comfort zone, and now I look forward to the next one. When I wrote about it in my newsletter, a single friend reached out and said it sounds like something she would like. None of her friends can/want to travel abroad, but why should that stop her? Guess what? She is booked for her first group travel trip! Book the trip and don't look back.

Finally Some Time Alone to Snap Photos!

You don’t have to do all the things they plan for you. That was key for me, as some days or times of the day I want to go off with my camera and just walk. They made it crystal clear from the start that doing your own thing was perfectly acceptable, and I took advantage of it. My guess is that I did around 65% of the activities they planned, but the rest of the time I wanted to fly solo. If you’re a bit of an introvert, or you just don’t like something, then you want flexibility. I also wanted to continue to build my photo collections, so it was important to me to have solo time. Group travel can provide that if you’re on the right trip.

There will naturally be delays or issues that pop up throughout the trip, so flexibility all around is a key component to group travel. Don’t be afraid to take space while traveling in a group. Wanted to do a cooking class instead of a castle tour? Go do it! Just let the guide know so they don’t send the national guard to find you.

Christmas Markets Galore

Since this was my first rodeo with group travel, I really don't claim to be an expert. This is my one and only experience thus far, but I am very pleased with it. I am a hard nut to crack when it comes to relinquishing control. This, however, exceeded my expectations. I took stock of how I felt throughout the whole trip, whether it was something I liked or didn’t like. This group trip has definitely sold me on future travels, and I know now that if I want to go to a particular destination and no one I know does as well, Lindsay is always going to be there for me. Until she decides she is sick of leading us goofballs around, that is. If you’re considering a group trip, I say go for it. Choose your guide and/or company carefully, and things will fall into place. I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. If not, don’t come at me!

If you liked this blog, you might also like the one I wrote about the benefits of solo travel.

Subscribe to my amusing, informational, and fun newsletter that comes out every other Friday by clicking here.

Some of the links may go to my affiliate account. If you purchase from one, you're helping me grow my business and I will make a small commission. Thank you!