Here’s Why Group Travel Is Not Only for Older People
When I was younger, joining a group trip only seemed fit for people in their fifties or older. Riding around in a bus filled with seniors did not sound like my dream-vacay, so I never really considered booking a group travel trip. My view on group trips changed this year when I spontaneously decided to join a group trip around Australia. There are many companies that offer group travel for people under 30.
During the two weeks I spent with around 30 people my age I collected some reasons why you should try group travelling too.
1. Meeting New People
The number one reason why I wanted to do a group trip was the opportunity to meet like-minded people. Being a solo traveller can be fun but sometimes it’s also nice to travel with people. I personally don’t really struggle with meeting new people when travelling solo (especially when staying in hostels), it’s really nice to be able to travel with the same people for a while, without having to reintroduce yourself constantly. When joining a group journey, you are going to meet many new people, spend a lot of time with them and make the memories of a lifetime. Even if you’re a bit shy, you will spend so much time with your new travel family that they will soon feel like you’ve known them for years.
Before I started my trip in Australia, I spent two months in Seoul, South Korea, where I constantly met new people. It was fun but also exhausting at some point. Constantly having to reintroduce yourself takes a lot of energy. Of course, you have to meet new people on a group trip. But only the first one or two days are exhausting in that sense. You will have to reintroduce yourself constantly, have the same conversations over and over again and at some point you might just feel socially a bit tired. BUT after you’ve gone through that period you really get to know each other and at the end, it feels like you’ve known them for years.
2. Planned Activities
Another reason to join a group trip is that you don’t have to worry about organizing anything. This was definitely also a big reason why I chose to try group travelling. Group tours often come with a planned itinerary or free time suggestions. I like planning my own trips and have been doing so for years. I also enjoy the freedom of solo travelling but for once in a while, it’s awesome to just lean back and not have to think about anything but still be able to experience the country.
With group trips, you can also benefit from the expertise of the trip organizers. You don’t have to invest a lot of time doing research on a country or area because the trip organizers will have the expertise and knowledge of what you should do and see.
3. Learn About New Cultures
When joining a group travel for young people you will usually end up meeting people from many different countries. It’s amazing because you don’t only get to know the country and culture you’re travelling to but you also get to learn from your other group members. This can lead to some fun stories but also sometimes to challenges and misunderstandings. During my trip, however, we didn’t have any problems.
Our trip consisted mostly of British People, Aussies, but also a few Europeans and North Americans (plus one South American and a girl from Hongkong). I remember one night in Airlie Beach, we had a discussion about how different people count with their fingers or order beer (like that one scene from Glorious Bastards). This is a conversation some of my Californian friends brought up once a few years ago and I always find it funny to see what other people say about it. It was so interesting (and also a bit ridiculous) to see how different the people in our group did something so trivial like counting with their fingers.
4. You’re Never Alone
This might be a con for some people and a pro for others. Although I generally like being surrounded by other people, from time to time I need some space to myself. On a group trip, you are never really alone. From sharing a room in a hostel to travelling in a coach, train or plane there will always be a familiar face around. This does not mean that you’re constantly suffocated by other people though. Group trips often allow free time where you can do whatever you want. So if you need some solitude – go for it.
After travelling with my new travel family for almost two weeks in Australia I definitely needed some time to myself and went on a walk on a beach on Magnetic Island. A walk that was supposed to be like 10 minutes turned into more than an hour and it allowed me to think and process the last days. It was great, but I was still excited to reunite with my friends and head to dinner together.
5. Don’t Have To Worry About Safety
One thing as a female traveller I constantly consider is my safety. Especially, when travelling alone it is important to be aware of your surroundings and to know what areas to rather avoid. Also, some countries might be safer than others. When I went to South Korea I knew that it was considered a rather safe place to visit alone and since I was not travelling to many places but rather attended a language school, I felt safe going on my own. I like to occasionally go out and have a drink and this is definitely something I don’t really do when travelling alone. In Seoul, I quickly met other people and was able to explore or go out with them.
When visiting Australia I was not so sure how safe it would be to be on my own (after visiting I know it would’ve been fine). But the safety aspect of travelling in a group combined with the fact that I would be able to meet new people and wouldn’t have to organise most of the trip, led to my decision to book a group trip.
6. Getting Pushed Out Of Your Comfort Zone
When a lot of people come together there’s one thing that can occur – peer pressure. Not often positive but when travelling it can be beneficial. Sometimes trying new things can be really terrifying and intimidating. Having people by your side that go through the same emotions can be really helpful and make you not feel alone. It also pushed you to try new things and to get out of your comfort zone.
Since I’m not the best swimmer, everything related to swimming terrifies me a little. In Australia, I still wanted to try snorkelling or scuba diving, but I was really nervous about it. Luckily there were other people in my group that felt the same way and we encouraged each other to do it and I’m so glad I tried both!
7. Having a Tour Guide
Another plus of doing group travel is the tour guide/trip manager. They are fantastic at planning, know a lot about the places you will visit (sometimes they even have great connections with local vendors) and will help you out if something goes wrong like lost luggage or medical emergencies. (Luckily we did not have anything bad happening). Even more important is how they keep everyone engaged, and happy and go above and beyond.
During my trip to Australia, I had the best tour guide ever. (Shoutout to Cassie). She was super funny and always brought so much energy and joy even when we had to get up super early in the morning. On one of the last days she was able to pull some strings and get all thirty of us on a party bus that usually would’ve been sold out.
Will You Do a Group Travel?
I’m sure if you try group travel you will find other reasons why it is fun. And if this list has not convinced you then maybe give slow solo travel a go!
Angela
Angela, the mastermind behind theslowtravelista, is a passionate traveler who embraces slow travel's essence. With a knack for immersing herself in diverse cultures, she treasures connections formed across the globe. Beyond her adventures, Angela's vibrant personality shines through her love for spontaneous hair changes, hitchhiking escapades, and culinary delights. Join her for travel insights, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.
