GrownUps New Zealand

The Beauty of Small Group Tours

Travelling with a group on a tour is a great way to see the highlights of a region or country. We surveyed GrownUps members on why they choose to go touring in a group, be it by plane, train, bus or boat and these are the top reasons:

Group tours are run by experts who know locals and all the ‘must see’ spots. They take you to all the best places and can give you little secrets about the area that you are unlikely to uncover on your own. On a tour, you don’t need to wait in line to buy tickets and there are often benefits such as not waiting for admission at all.

When you travel with a partner, inevitably one person is more interested in some aspects of the area than others. On a group tour, you can select day trip that suits you, as can your travel partner, and have lots of things to talk about when you reconvene later in the day. If you are travelling alone, you can enjoy the safety in numbers.

This is equally attractive whether you are travelling alone or as a couple. From the beginning, the entire group has at least one thing in common – the destination, and everyone has come in anticipation of a good time. Whether you make life-long friends or just enjoy the company of new people for the duration of the trip, you start off at a social advantage.

You may find yourself encouraged into trying something you never knew you would love or were capable of – you may be able to walk much further than you thought, or delight in a new dish you would never have ordered or find a new passion in an experience you would never normally have chosen. Being lead slightly away from your comfort zone can be a great thing!

Travelling can be a bit like renovating a home – you start out with an idea and a budget, only to watch the ‘budget’ double and double again. Not so on a group tour – you pay up front and know exactly what is included (including the cost of day trips or any optional extras), so it is easy to save and budget for.

From buying tickets ahead of time, to avoiding queues and transporting luggage, tour leaders have all the details planned and covered. They make sure that everything works in a timely fashion and have the contacts to deal with unforeseen circumstances. It’s ‘all care and no responsibility’ for those on the tour, which makes it a far more relaxing experience.

Is it time you considered a group tour for your next holiday? Click here for more information.