What You Need to Know About Group Travel
I’m not picky when it comes to travel. I can travel solo, with a family and even as a group. I went on an amazing adventure to Costa Rica. I did this with a company called WHOA (Women High On Adventure). They are a women’s travel group that organizes and arranges travel to several different locations around the world. There were 12 women from different parts of the U.S on this adventure together. This was my first experience traveling with a group of strangers. The experience helped me appreciate group travel and all that it has to offer.
They Do All The Work, You Have All The Fun
Everyone knows that the hardest part of any travel experience is planning. Where do we stay? What activities should we schedule? What transportation arrangements do I need to make ahead of time? These are all the headaches we have to contend with before we ever reach our destination. In fact, all this pre-planning can be stressful. When you travel with a group all of the planning is left up to someone else. You get to just show up and have fun (seriously how smart is that?!).
Now, if you’re like me with an A-type personality who also may or may not be a bit of a control freak, this whole arrangement can be intimidating, to say the least. However, I’m happy to report that it was a refreshing change. Letting go feels great and part of the fun when traveling is embracing the adventure!
You’ll Know the Price Tag Ahead of Time
The great thing about group travel is that normally it comes with one price that covers everything. This can be extremely helpful when knowing how to budget for your upcoming adventure. The best part is that since you are doing things as a group you are automatically getting better savings then if you were traveling alone.
Normally, the travel company that you’ll be traveling will have the cost of the trip and any optional activities laid out for you. Of course, you should always carry extra funds in case of an unexpected expense or emergency.
You’re Going to Make Friends
Nothing is better than being on a new adventure and making new friends. It’s amazing how people bond over experiences whether it be motherhood, tragedy or in this case travel. When traveling as part of a group you have the opportunity to meet amazing unique people that have a similar wandering spirit like you.
Now, another reality is you might also run across personalities that mix with yours about as well as oil and water for this reason I recommend booking group travel with private rooming arrangments. You might want some time away from the group at the end of the day.
Be Prepared to Be Patient
This is something you must-do if you are going to enjoy yourself. You may wait longer than normal because now not only do you have to take a restroom break but so do 20 other people. The truth is things might not always work out as planned, which is understandable in every travel situations but especially when traveling with a large group. Just know ahead of time that if you have the right attitude you can really enjoy the benefits of group travel.
In most cases, Group Leaders have already been to the locations, tried out all the activities and arranged for you to enjoy the best of what they’ve discovered. Since they have “been there, done that” they know how to answer any questions you have ahead of time. There are other benefits such as feeling safer in a group and having others in your group who are fluent in different languages. Overall I had a great experience and would do it again!
Have you ever traveled with a group? If so what was your experience?
