Group travel
Posted by RSVP on
Today group travel is adventure packed with plenty of choice on offer and not a yellow flag in sight. In fact group travel varies from adventure hikes to Machu Picchu, a luxurious relaxing week in the islands of the South Pacific or a winery walkabout in New Zealand. Far from generic, group travel is as varied as the travel experiences available and while the options are limitless, the cost and experience doesn't need to be...Group travel can be cheaper than solo travel
Sure when you pay everything up front it seems like you have blown your budget in one fowl swoop but when you actually embark on the journey it is very pleasing to know that all your travel and accommodation costs have already been paid as well as some meals and tours within the trip. In doing this it allows you to better budget for those little extras you really must have/do such as a climb up the Eiffel Tower steps or that gorgeous handbag the man outside the Colosseum is selling (ok, I have done this once... much to my travel buddy's horror!).
And if you're a single you would normally pay a single supplement; with group travel this is eliminated as most reputable group travel providers will pair you with a room mate to avoid the single supplement.
Authenticity goes with the territory
Group travel always involves a local guide and far from not being able to experience the authenticity of the local culture, the local guide ensures that you get the best of it. Having travelled through Russia and Siberia I can attest to the fact that, had it not been for our local guide, we would not only have been completely lost with the language and road system but we would have been thoroughly ripped off in the process. In actual fact the group we were with had home stay in a remote location near Lake Baikal as part of the deal, something we would have found very difficult to undertake as solo travellers.
So, go with the right group and not only will you get the authentic experience but in most cases you'll be guided by a local and learn more than you would going solo. In fact I think that this adds to your travel, making the whole experience richer.
You can still go it alone
All good group travel experiences have the option of free time where you can go off and do your own thing. Depending on the duration of the trip, this can range from a few hours to a few days. In this time you can make the most of the local culture and do a trip of your own or you can simply soak up the atmosphere at a local café. Whatever your choice you are certainly not restricted to sticking with the group and often this time encourages travellers to take their chances a little more than an entirely solo trip might, safe in the knowledge that you have someone looking out for you on return.
Indeed on one my group travel experiences to Morocco my travel buddy and I took a few days off to get on a local bus across the Sahara to Essaouria. It was a fantastic trip where we really got to experience the true Morocco with the comfort that after the few days were up our travel arrangements to get home were already taken care of.
So, next time you fancy a holiday why not consider group travel. It means someone else does the dirty work of the organising and you can simply relax and enjoy the experience.
RSVP offers a wide range of age matched and hosted singles holidays to choose from, one of them will surely take your fancy!