Group travel can get a bit of a bad press.
Horror stories abound of being forced to spend your trip with a tedious bunch of randoms, having to share a room with a snoring stranger, spending hours on a bus being waffled at by a bored guide, or being dragged round crowded attractions that don’t interest you without the freedom to set your own pace or do your own thing.
But while these are certainly rational fears, and group holidays do have their downsides, there also plenty of advantages of group travel.
In fact, I think they’re one of the best ways to travel, especially if you’re a solo traveller.
The advantages of group travel if you’re single or a solo traveller
As a single woman and a busy freelancer I’ve often found it hard to get people to come on holiday with me.
And no, it’s not because I’m awful – at least, I hope not!
Nope, the problem is that more often than not my friends want to travel with their other halves, or we can’t make the dates work.
Which is why I’ve turned to group travel as an excellent alternative, and not just when I’m on my own either; I’ve joined group holidays with a friend or boyfriend too.
How I know about the advantages of group travel
I’ve been a solo traveller most of my life. I’ve travelled independently round at least a dozen countries, most notably spending 3 months solo travelling in Guatemala, as well as independent trips to Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand and more.
I’ve also taken many group tours and group holidays, with a wide range of different group travel tour operators.
Here are just some of the group holidays I’ve done:
- Walking in Mallorca with Explore (my first group tour, all the way back in 2007)
- A tour of Cuba with G Adventures in 2013 (find posts from Cuba here)
- Best of Myanmar with Intrepid in 2015 (find posts from Myanmar here)
- Climbing Kilimanjaro with Exodus in 2016 (find posts from Kilimanjaro here)
- Southern India with Intrepid in 2016 (find posts from India here)
- Highlights of Morocco with Flash Pack in 2018 (find posts from Morocco here)
- Costa Rica Adventure with G Adventures in 2022 (read my review of my Costa Rica trip here)
These days there are literally hundreds of companies offering every style of group travel to every destination on the planet. From climbing mountains to going on safari, from groups for 18-30s, over 50s, singles, LGBTQ+, party animals or culture vultures, there are group holidays for absolutely everyone.
So if you’ve been thinking about booking one, and maybe you’re wondering ‘Should I go on a group trip?’ or ‘Is group travel worth it?’, here are my top 10 advantages of group travel!
1/ You don’t have to do any work
Unless you’re going to book an all-inclusive hotel and sit on a beach for a week, planning an active holiday involves an awful lot of research.
You’ve got to investigate flights, accommodation, visas, health and safety, on-the-ground transport, top things to see and do in your destination, where to eat, and loads more.
Of course some people enjoy this stuff, but if you’re too busy, or you’d rather just get to your destination and relax on your holiday, why not just sit back and let someone else plan it all for you?
For me, one of the biggest advantages of group travel is that I can just go ‘I want to go here!’, and then click and book. The group tour company will send me everything I need to know and all I need to do is book flights, pack, and get myself to the starting point. Easy peasy!
2/ You’ll get taken to the best places
No need to scour travel blogs or guidebooks trying to work out what to see and what you can skip.
On group holidays the company you travel with will have already done all the research, spoken to the experts, kept their eye on the latest openings and closures, and will have listened to feedback from previous travellers to perfect their itinerary.
So another of the great advantages of group travel is that there’ll be no wondering where to go, no turning up somewhere to find that it’s closed or the blogger made stuff up without even going there, and no FOMO that you’re missing something great.
3/ Local experts with insider knowledge will guide you
Another of the major benefits of group travel is that tours are led by a qualified guides who are truly passionate and knowledgeable about their country.
As we all know, guidebooks and blogs go out of date, (some) bloggers regurgitate facts without checking them (not me, obviously!), and some online articles were written by people who hadn’t even been to the country!
Travelling on your own, it’s inevitable that you’ll fall foul of incorrect information at some point.
But not if you travel with a group. On group tours, you’re in very safe hands, spending every day in the company of a local expert who has done that route many times and knows the country like the back of their hand.
Yes, you could wander around by yourself with Google or the Lonely Planet, but what better way to see a country than in the company of someone who actually knows the place and can answer all your questions?
4/ Group travel is smooth and efficient
If you travel on your own, you’ll invariably end up wasting a lot of time.
Maybe your hotel is a long way from the bus station. Maybe there are only two trains a day. Maybe the bus is super slow and stops everywhere. Maybe you turn up at the temple to find it’s closed for prayers.
But another of the advantages of group travel is that you avoid all of that. On a group tour, your private bus, tuktuk or 4WD jeep will pick you up outside your hotel and drop you right at your destination. The itinerary will have been worked out to fit in as much as possible, and the tour leader will make sure that everything runs on time.
If you only have a small amount of vacation time, traveling in groups is absolutely the best way to see as much of a destination as possible with the minimum amount of faffing and time wasted.
5/ Group tours provide safety and support
Many people can find solo travel scary, and safety is of particular concern for solo female travellers.
But another of the benefits of guided tours is that they take away that fear.
On a group holiday you’re never alone unless you want to be, you never have to turn up late and check into a hotel in the dead of night by yourself, you never have to walk alone down a dark street or hand your camera to a stranger to ask for a photo and wonder if you’ll get it back.
What’s more, if you’re visiting a country where things don’t always run smoothly, having a local guide with local contacts can be priceless. He or she will be able to deal with issues as they arise, ease your passage through checkpoints and past officials, and if anything does go wrong, sort it out for you.
Whereas if you travel on your own and disaster strikes, well, you really are on your own.
6/ Group travel is surprisingly cost effective
You might think group holidays are super expensive, but they can actually be exceptional value for money.
Group tour operators often negotiate group discounts that you’d never be able to get on your own, plus when you factor in the time efficiency that I’ve just mentioned, that means you’ll be able to see more of a country in less time, saving you food and accommodation costs.
What’s more, if you’re a solo traveller you’ll be able to share a room with someone else from your group, which is much cheaper than if you were travelling alone and had to pay for a private room by yourself.
When I priced up my Costa Rica trip, I found that taking a group tour with G Adventures was much cheaper than paying for buses and hotels by myself.
And don’t think that group holidays are all about roughing it either – there are levels of group tour to suit all budgets, from the more basic, camping-style ones to much more upmarket trips where you get to stay in fancy hotels for a much better rate than you’d get if you booked it by yourself.
So another of the advantages of group travel is that it can actually save you money!
7/ Group holidays allow you to keep control of your spending
If you travel alone, you quite often have no idea how much it’ll end up costing, and sometimes you can get caught out by unexpected nasty surprise charges. Group travel solves that problem.
For me, another of the great advantages of group travel is that apart from some meals and tips, on group trips the price tag you see listed is usually what you’ll pay, allowing you to keep an eye of your finances.
Even better, you pay up front, meaning that when you return from your holiday it’s already been paid for, and you’re not left looking at a hefty credit card bill to add to those back-to-work blues.
8/ You can go on your own, but not be alone
I’m a sociable person, and I like sharing experiences with people.
But I also like my own space, and when travelling with a friend I’ve sometimes found it can get a bit intense being in each other’s company 24/7.
That’s why group trips are so perfect.
You have plenty of company to talk to at mealtimes or whenever you’re feeling sociable, but you can also distance yourself from the group or wander off to do your own thing when you’re not.
Group trips have a fixed itinerary but you’re free to opt out of activities, excursions and meals whenever you want. Most also include some free time during the trip for you to go off and do your own thing.
So another advantage of group travel is that you can take time out whenever you like, while still having the security and company of the group when you’re ready to be sociable again.
9/ Group travel helps you make new friends
The sorts of people who book group holidays will be just like you and me: outgoing, adventurous types who want to see the world.
Yes, you might not click with everyone, but unless you’re really annoying yourself it’s highly likely that you’ll meet at least a few people you get on well with.
On my Myanmar trip in 2015 I met a woman called Sarah from New Zealand – and we became such good friends that we climbed Kilimanjaro together in 2016.
My Morocco group in 2018 was also a brilliant bunch, several of whom I’m still in touch with. So if you’re lucky you won’t just get a few pleasant travel buddies, but some friends for life.
And as an added benefit of group travel, you’ll always have someone on hand to take your photo for Instagram and Facebook!
9/ Go with your friend or partner for argument-free travel
Did you know that traveling with a tour group isn’t just for singles and solo travellers? Yes there are some dedicated singles holidays companies, and others that cater more to solo travellers, but plenty of group tours are open to couples and friends too.
As I’ve just mentioned, when I climbed Kilimanjaro I went with my friend Sarah. In 2013 I did a group trip to Cuba with my then-boyfriend.
Friends and couples often do group trips too – it’s a great way to avoid any arguments over planning, and also to dilute that intensity of having to spend a week or more with just one person and discovering you’ve run out of things to say to each other after day three.
10/ Group travel gives you unique experiences and special access
Another one of the advantages of group holidays is that travelling with a local guide can often get you access to things and places you’d never manage on your own.
Sometimes you can skip queues or get in through the secret back entrance. Sometimes you can get in early before the masses arrive.
When I went to Israel with a friend for my 40th birthday, our West Bank tour guide took us to have lunch with his family, and we had a fascinating experience learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In Myanmar we were woken up before dawn to climb a temple and watch the sunrise, something I very much doubt I would have been brave or motivated enough to do if I’d been there on my own.
What are the disadvantages of group travel?
So now you’ve heard my top 10 advantages of group travel – and maybe you’re convinced!
But of course group travel isn’t perfect, and there are some disadvantages too. Here are my top five:
- Limited flexibility and spontaneity: Traveling with a group means following a set itinerary. While some flexibility may be possible, it can be challenging to deviate from the plan to accommodate individual interests or spontaneous discoveries. For me as a travel photographer this is where I do struggle with group holidays, as I often want to wait for the right light or the perfect shot, but I can’t because the itinerary won’t allow it.
- You have to compromise: Group travel inevitably involves compromise. Whether it’s choosing destinations, activities, or even restaurants, travelers may need to concede their preferences to accommodate the interests of the group.
- Some people may be annoying: Traveling with random strangers may of course mean there are people in your group who you don’t get on with. And being in close quarters with challenging personalities can lead to clashes or disagreements. While some groups gel well, conflicting preferences, communication styles, and expectations can cause problems and detract from the enjoyment of the trip.
- You get less personal space and privacy: Group travel often involves sharing hotel rooms and activities, which means less personal space and privacy compared to solo travel. This can be challenging for individuals who value solitude and time to recharge.
- Slower pace and limited control over activities: Traveling with a group can sometimes involve a slower pace compared to solo travel. Waiting for others to get ready, coordinating logistics, and catering to different interests can add time to activities and limit individual control over the pace of the trip.
Is group travel worth it?
Yes group holidays can have their downsides. You may well have to put up with someone annoying, and you won’t have as much freedom to do what you want, when you want.
But for me, the advantages of travelling with a group massively outweigh the disadvantages. I won’t always book group trips – sometimes you just want to be free to do your own thing.
But for big adventures that are complicated to plan, or where I want security, company and the invaluable input of a guide, I think group holidays are absolutely worth it, and that’s why I plan to continue doing them for as long as my travelling days continue.
Did you find this post useful? Have questions? Come follow me on Instagram, Threads or Twitter (X) and share your thoughts!
Read more group holidays posts
Here are some awesome posts about places I went on a group tour:
- The Beautiful Leg-Rowing Inle Lake Fishermen, Myanmar
- Glamping at Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp in the Morocco Desert
- Cuban Cars: A Living Classic Car Museum in Cuba
- A Night on The Sleeper Train In India
- Climbing The 8 Days Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro
- A Neilson Activity Holidays Review – Messini Beach Club in Greece
- A Review of G Adventures’ Costa Rica 16-Day Tour
Bella is a multi-award-winning travel writer, wildlife photographer and science and history documentary director from London. Among many awards and nominations she won Blogger of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2023 and Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020. Her work has been published by National Geographic, Wanderlust, and BBC Travel among others. Her films have been shown around the world including on the BBC, Discovery and PBS.