About group tours

Benefits

• Group trips can be a lot of fun!
• Easy, comfortable, fixed departure dates
• Preselected hotels and destinations
• Expert guides, good transport
• Fixed price, a lot included, sometimes a kitty for daily expenses, no big financial surprises
• Meet other like-minded travelers
• You can participate together or as an individual / single person
• You see a lot in relatively little time
• You can sometimes go to places where individual travelers cannot go, for example on a safari or a cruise
• Your guide / tour operator will help you if something goes wrong (e.g. illness, accident, theft)
• Tour operators offer insurance and booking guarantees, in case of unplanned cancellations

Disadvantages

• Little flexibility in a full schedule
• Fix itinerary, little chance to do anything "different"
• Group behavior (e.g. scheduled toilet, food stops and hotel check-in)
• A full program and therefore a little more difficult to meet the locals

Organized group tours are recommended for:

• People who don't want to travel alone
• People who do not speak English or the language of the destination (in South America, Japan, Korea and China, English may not even be sufficient)
• People who are new to foreign cultures
• People who have limited time, but like to see a lot
• People who do not want to organize all the transport, accommodation and activities themselves
• People who cannot travel independently, for example due to age, disability or illness
• Single women visiting countries/regions like India and North Africa
• Young people (m/f), who like to meet other young people to have a great time together

Remarks

• A group trip can be cheaper than an individual trip: traveling by bus is cheaper than hiring a taxi; Hotel rooms for a group are cheaper than individual bookings; Sailing yachts and cruises for one person are also not ideal ...

Benefits

• Similar benefits compared to organized group travel
• You can adjust the itinerary, choose the date and select hotels (categories with 3-4-5 stars) yourself
• More flexibility, during planning and during the tour

Disadvantages

• More expensive
• You may not make many new friends because you travel with your own group

Customizable, individual tours are recommended for:

• People who prefer to travel organized, but not in a large group
• People who cannot travel in a group, for example because of a family member in a wheelchair
• People who have a specific itinerary or wish list
• People who speak English and can communicate with a local driver/guide
• People who have traveled before
• People who can afford it

Remarks

• People on private tours, can meet other private travelers in beautiful locations such as comfortable luxury lodges in Africa.
• It's easy to be alone, without a driver/guide and spend time with locals.

Benefits

• All the flexibility you like
• Travel with backpack or suitcase
• Meet locals and other independent travelers
• You can choose luxurious or really cheap overnight stays
• This can sometimes be cheaper than an organized tour

Disadvantages

• Requires more preparation and time
• Requires computer time and internet access during the trip which takes away from vacation time
• Organize overnight stays and transport as necessary, takes time (not seeing things)
• Locals may try to cheat you
• You stand on your own for every small and big problem, including health, theft and accidents

Independent trips are recommended for:

• People who have traveled before
• People who speak good English or the local language(s)
• People who are flexible
• People who have time to prepare and travel
• People who are healthy and have energy
• People who can find their way using the World Wide Web or travel guide (book)

Remarks

• Good public transport is not available everywhere.
• Car rental is not cheap, has risks especially abroad and is not possible everywhere from the age of 65. Not everyone can drive a car.
• In some countries, such as Bhutan or Iran, independent travel is very limited by law and may even depend on your nationality. Solo travelers / backpackers are not welcome everywhere.