{"id":18373,"date":"2023-05-16T12:15:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T12:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/16\/why-you-should-take-a-group-tour\/"},"modified":"2023-05-16T12:15:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T12:15:08","slug":"why-you-should-take-a-group-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/16\/why-you-should-take-a-group-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Take a Group Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Posted<\/strong>: 5\/16\/23 | May 16th, 2023<\/p>\n

My first trip overseas was on an organized group tour. Back then, I didn\u2019t know the first thing about traveling. I hadn\u2019t been anywhere on my own, and my family weren\u2019t big travelers. My travel experience consisted of a cruise, and spring break in Montreal during college. I was as green as they come. So, at 23, a tour seemed like the best way to get around.<\/p>\n

When I headed to Costa Rica<\/a> for my first real grown-up trip, I was glad I had signed up for a tour<\/a>. I didn\u2019t speak Spanish, I didn\u2019t know how to navigate a foreign country, and I had no idea how to figure out what to do or how to organize my time.<\/p>\n

I was scared, unsure, and needed a lot of hand-holding.<\/p>\n

Our guide really helped me learn how to \u201cswim.\u201d That tour gave me the confidence to travel on my own. By the end, I felt like I had \u201cgotten it\u201d enough that I was able to find my way around and meet people.<\/p>\n

After I came home, I started planning my next trip: a non-tour journey to Thailand<\/a>, and after that experience, I ended up backpacking around the world. The rest is history, as they say.<\/p>\n

Over 15 years later, I still love (and use) group tours. They are right for certain people, certain destinations, and certain activities for a variety of reasons.<\/p>\n

I think tours are disparaged by too many travelers, because they are thinking of those giant, big-bus groups of seniors being herded around for photo ops before being put back on the bus to be driven to the next tourist site.<\/p>\n

And while those tours still exist, not all tours are like that. Many companies offer really unique and interesting experiences in small-group settings. Tour companies come in all specialties and sizes now. You just need to know how to pick the right tour for you.<\/a><\/p>\n

I think tours are good for a number of reasons:<\/p>\n

First, they are great for people who are new to travel or just don\u2019t feel comfortable traveling solo<\/strong>. I\u2019ve written before that the hardest part about travel is not the act itself but finding the courage to go<\/a>. It\u2019s not easy to just step out the door on your own. No matter where you are from, we all fear the \u201cunknown.\u201d When you don\u2019t speak the language, or don\u2019t have much experience, or are just worried about safety in a new place, you aren\u2019t always willing to just grab your backpack and go.<\/p>\n

Tours allow you to get your feet wet and conquer that fear.<\/p>\n

Also, some travelers prefer tours when exploring a new region for the first time. Sure, you might have made your way through Europe or Australia, but the thought of doing the same in Central America or the Middle East might feel a little too far out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

Second, tours are good if you\u2019re a solo traveler looking for company<\/strong>. People always ask me if I get lonely as a solo traveler, or what I do if I don\u2019t meet anyone. Luckily, I\u2019ve learned to meet people on the road.<\/p>\n

But, as a natural introvert, it took me a long time to learn how to strike up conversations with strangers. It does take effort and quite a bit of courage to put yourself out there and make friends over and over.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re on a tour, though, you have automatic travel friends. Tours are designed so you have a group of people to talk to, explore with, eat with, and spend time with. You won\u2019t be alone, which takes a lot of the pressure off.<\/p>\n

More often than not, you\u2019ll create stronger bonds than you\u2019d ever expect with your tour mates because of all of your shared travel experiences.<\/p>\n

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Third, tours are good if you don\u2019t have a lot of time<\/strong>. Could I have seen Jordan<\/a>, Morocco<\/a>, or Madagascar my own? Yeah, sure, but I didn\u2019t have a lot of time, and I wanted to see a lot rather quickly. That\u2019s why I visited those destinations on a tour.<\/p>\n

When you are limited in your travel time, tours are the perfect way to easily take in the highlights. They have unique experiences baked right in, so no matter how quick the tour is, you\u2019ll feel like you saw something aside from the must-see attractions (at least on a good one).<\/p>\n

Fourth, tours are great for busy people<\/strong>. It seems like these days, so many are juggling a million things to do, so planning out all the logistics of a trip to a foreign country might not hit the top of the priority list. And if this is your life, I\u2019m guessing you need a vacation. After all, everyone needs a vacation every once in a while.<\/p>\n

Joining a group tour is a great way to have a satisfying experience without having to lift a finger to plan. It\u2019s very convenient. Just show up and participate. Let someone else handle the research, planning\u2026 and improvising when something goes wrong.<\/p>\n

Fifth, some destinations are logistically challenging and best visited on a tour<\/strong>. Just try going to the Gal\u00e1pagos, on safari<\/a>, around India, or through a few African countries on your own. Sure, you can do it, but it\u2019s not always easy and most people don\u2019t have the time or energy to put that kind of trip together. Multi-day hikes up Mount Kilimanjaro or around Patagonia are easier and safer with a group. The same goes for trips through deserts, rain forests, jungles, and other areas that are not as easy to navigate on your own.<\/p>\n

Finally, tours can give you access to experiences you couldn\u2019t access on your own<\/strong>. This is especially true of smaller, boutique tour companies (like us!<\/a>). By leveraging their insider knowledge and connections, you can get access to people, places, and activities you wouldn\u2019t otherwise have. <\/p>\n

For example, on our Oaxaca tour, we go to my buddy\u2019s mezcaler\u00eda<\/a>, and he gives us a private tasting and talks about his family\u2019s history making the spirit. <\/p>\n

In Romania, we get special permission to hang out in a Roma village<\/a>, thanks to our guide\u2019s long friendship with residents there. <\/p>\n

In Jordan, we sleep over in our Bedouin friend\u2019s village<\/a> right next to Petra. <\/p>\n

These are experiences are hard to replicate on your own and can contribute to greater understanding and depth and a more satisfying travel experience.<\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

Are tours for everyone? No. But they aren\u2019t necessarily the big bus groups of the past, and I think they can offer travelers of today really unique experiences you won\u2019t find elsewhere. Even if you\u2019re an independent traveler, be sure to consider them.<\/p>\n

And, if you are looking for a tour, consider taking one through our company, The Nomadic Network<\/strong><\/a>. We offer incredible small-group tours to destinations including Tanzania<\/a>, Cuba<\/a>, Oaxaca<\/a>, Mexico City<\/a>, Romania<\/a>, Costa Rica<\/a>, the Yucatan peninsula<\/a>, Jordan<\/a>, and more. We use our personal travel experiences to create unique itineraries you won\u2019t see elsewhere. We hang out with locals, get off the beaten path, connect with expert guides, participate in unique activities, and take you to tourist-free restaurants, bars, walking tours, swimming holes, backyard BBQs, and more!<\/p>\n

Click here to check out our fall 2023 offerings and join us on the road!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It\u2019s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It\u2019s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I\u2019ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n

Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong>
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n

Ready to Book Your Trip?<\/strong>
Check out my resource page<\/a> for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can\u2019t go wrong using them on your trip.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Posted: 5\/16\/23 | May 16th, 2023 My first trip overseas was on an organized group tour. Back then, I didn\u2019t know the first thing about traveling. I hadn\u2019t been anywhere on my own, and my family weren\u2019t big travelers. My travel experience consisted of a cruise, and spring break in Montreal during college. I was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18373","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18373\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}