Posted on Monday, 9 January 2023

Travellers are often divided into two distinct tribes: those who prefer to travel solo, and those who enjoy exploring as part of a guided tour or group. 

Of course, there is no “best way” to travel - only the way that suits you. 

In this article we'll look at the benefits of travelling as part of a group. 
 

Group travel offers shared experiences with like-minded travellers 

A key advantage of group travel is that you'll meet new people - many of whom you'll have a lot in common with (after all, you're holidaying in the same place). 

Since you'll be spending multiple days together, you'll have ample opportunity to socialise and you may well make lasting friendships. 

Humans are social animals. Sharing the sunrise over the Angkor Wat temple, or the sun set over Rome, can be all the more special when enjoyed as part of a group. 

A group adventure might also be ideal if you're less socially outgoing; you won’t have to 'make friends' all the time, in the way a solo traveller or lone backpacker might. 

You'll travel, eat and explore together, allowing you to discuss the many amazing sights and experiences you've had. 

Solo travellers, however, are far more susceptible to loneliness than those in a group. Even if a single person makes friends in one destination, they may well find themselves alone at their next destination.

As a group, human company is always at your fingertips. 

 

Group tours offer local expertise 

Group tours are invariably staffed by people who know the local area geographically and culturally. 

You'll always have someone on hand to answer your questions - whether they relate to historical sites, food or cultural practices. 

Solo travellers only have themselves to rely on to find out about their destinations - which can be a lot of work. A tour guide, on the other hand, has distilled all the key information for you, and, hopefully, will relate it in an engaging and entertaining way. 

A guide will also be able to take you off the beaten track - safely.

They may also know some local secrets - such as beauty spots or where to find the best or cheapest food. 

Save time planning 

Planning is essential if you're going to get the most out of your trip. But with a group tour, almost everything is done for you - from transport to accommodation to some (or all) meals.  

And of course, all your excursions are planned ahead, so you won't have to worry about hiring drivers, boats, guides, or buying tickets to museums, national parks and other attractions. 

Easier logistics 

Backpackers and solo travellers are forever having to find out times for buses, trains and ferries - and then wonder if their transport will appear on time. 

Similarly, they may have to deal with being overcharged for transport or coming up against corrupt officials - for example when crossing borders. This kind of stress is far less likely in a group - since organising tickets and visa paperwork will be done (or overseen) by the tour company.  

In the case of border crossings, the guide may collect the group's passports and forms and deal with the immigration officials personally (including handling any unofficial "payments"), while the group waits.  

Another advantage of group travel is that you'll (probably) never get ripped off by taxi or tuk-tuk drivers, since you'll either not need them or your guide will ensure the price is right. 

As part of a group, you'll never need to worry about arriving alone in a strange town, being surrounded by a gang of overeager tuk drivers! 
 

Safety 

One of the biggest downsides to travelling solo is the potential lack of safety. 

On your own, you may wander into the wrong part of town and get mugged or pickpocketed.  

But with a guide at your side, you're far less likely to run into trouble. They’ll know where is safe, and where is not. They'll also be able to pinpoint potential issues ahead of time (suspicious behaviour or scams). 

There's also safety in numbers: thieves and pickpockets (and those with even more malign intentions) will be put off by a group of travellers.  

Since your guide will know the people and language, they should also be able to smooth out any issues with locals - such as misunderstandings over prices. 

Women in particular may feel safer as part of a group, not least because the guide will know where they are pretty much all of the time. 

Guided travel might save you money 

It's a commonly held belief that guided travel is more expensive than solo travel. But that's not always the case: tour companies have long standing relationships with hotels and attractions, so can often get better rates than “walk-ups” or solo travellers. 

Tour companies also work to economies of scale, which means they can find other ways to reduce costs. For example, hiring a minivan is much cheaper than, say, eight individuals booking their own taxis. 

Additionally, solo travellers sometimes find themselves in tricky situations that cost money - many of which relate to a lack of planning.

Being scammed or overcharged are not uncommon in some countries; a lack of Wi-Fi, for example, might mean a traveller doesn't know where their hotel is, leaving them at the mercy of local taxi drivers! 

What are the downsides of group travel? 

Lack of freedom 

If the bus to watch a temple sunrise departs at 7am, you have to be up early or miss the action. You won't be able to wander off and spend the afternoon by yourself (although many tours will have free time set aside).

Some participants may feel they are at school again, being told where to be and at what time. 

Interpersonal drama 

Few travel groups don’t experience some sort of friction at some point. Personality clashes and misunderstandings do happen, but in most cases they can be resolved amicably.

The fact that a group is running to a prearranged schedule should eliminate many sources of disagreement; you shouldn’t need to argue about what to do and when!  
 

Less privacy 

Since you are part of a group tour, everything you do may be observed by the others. This can be heightened if you're booked into a dormitory or shared accommodation together. However, many tour firms allow you to pay a little extra for a private room.  

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