Are you thinking about whether to book a planned tour or not? Whether you are traveling solo, with your family, or with friends, group tours might be a good idea. Of course, they are not for everyone. We will discuss their advantages, disadvantages, and maybe help you decide whether tours are good for you.
Advantages of group tours
Planning. It is usually the number one reason people go for group tours. You don’t have to think about where to stay and how much time to spend at some place: you just follow a schedule. With a good tour, you can see and experience the best sights in the area, both famous attractions and local gems. For this reason, they are also perfect for those with little time. Of course, this can also be a disadvantage. It means that you have little freedom.
Safety. Almost every city has some shady areas it is best to avoid. When exploring cities by yourself, you can easily stumble upon those. But a guide will know such places well and will not lead you to danger. Even if you manage to get into trouble, they will help you solve any arising problems.
Socializing. Sharing experiences is a very human thing that often brings us lots of happiness. If you are traveling solo, it might become lonely with no one near with whom to share all the marvelous things you experience. Joining a group tour even for half a day is an opportunity to share experiences. You will be together with like-minded people, experiencing the same things you can then discuss. Of course, this can turn into a disadvantage, especially for introverts. If the tour is long, that one obnoxious tourist or the one who is always late can really start getting on your nerves, making you wish you were traveling independently.
What people enjoy group tours the most?
It will probably come as a no-brainer that group tours are better for extroverts. If you hate being alone just for a day, traveling solo for a week or more might become quite unpleasant. Joining a group tour once or twice might bring back extroverts some energy. On the other hand, if you are an introvert, tours might suck out all the fun. If you are an introvert but still want a tour, try to find small group tours with more free time or for a shorter time period.
They are also great for worriers and anxious people. Everything is planned in a group tour and taken care of for you, from accommodation to transportation. You will hardly have to worry about missing or confusing the bus, getting lost or language barriers. There will be a guide to help you out whatever happens. You will be able to relax and focus on sights and experiences.
If you are traveling solo, tours might also be cheaper. When traveling solo, both transportation and accommodation can become quite expensive as you pay for everything yourself. On the other hand, tours usually book at discounts because they book for many people. Of course, it depends: some are expensive while others have very reasonable prices.
Final tips for finding the perfect tour
Today group tours rarely follow the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy. There are many of them, and they are designed for different people. So if you do not like the tour, it was probably never meant for you. One of the most important things is to research everything as much as possible before booking.
First, look at people in the advertisements for the tour. If they look older, the group tour is probably for older people. If there are families, it might not be fun for a young single person. Check out FAQ or reviews: you might find out what kind of people the tour is recommended for or what kind of people book it. Also, try to find how many people will be there approximately because it can affect the experience very much.
Moreover, check out the list of experiences. Try to make out the pace of the tour. The right pacing is essential because the trip being too slow for you will make you impatient. And if it’s too fast, you will become exhausted.
Did we help you decide whether group tours are for you? Perhaps you thought that no, independent travel is better. Or maybe you are interested in a middle option: self-drive tours? Check out our article about them!