What feel-good travel story doesn’t include a cast of curious characters to propel the plot along? Coco had his cohort of crazy companions, Cuzco wouldn’t be groovin’ solo, and even Emily realized that most of the Parisian charm comes from its people. Sure, going into the wild solo has its charm, but it’s even better to come back full of love and backpack patches!
Some things are just more fun with other people!
Whether you are traveling to a country where the local signs are unfamiliar scribbles, it’s your first time abroad, or you just want to indulge in all the group giggles, small group travel is the gateway to guaranteed fun.
Especially in the current environment of uncertainty and constantly-changing travel regulations, it’s nice not to have to carry all the travel responsibilities on your shoulders, and instead invest in making the most of your time abroad.
What are the benefits of traveling with a small group?
Small group travel translates to accessibility, convenience, and fun. There’s adventure travel, educational travel, language travel, and multi-location travel that is usually conducted in small groups of 15 people or less. The limited size means more fun, less wasted time, more friends, and less stress.
Here’s a few highlighted benefits of traveling with a small group:
1. Instant friends
Being able to share your travels with others can make the experience even better.
Solo travel allows for all the doors of communication, but cool companions are not always guaranteed. However, small group travel takes away all the awkward pressure to befriend strangers and automatically gifts you with a small circle of like-minded, enthusiastic travel mates to ooh and aah with, take your photos, and share meals with.
Plus, a week of travel with a close group of people automatically translates to family, as there is nothing that bonds people together quite like a 15-hour bus ride or experiencing stomach flus together.
2. Safety in numbers
During small group travel, there’s not enough of you to be embarrassing as you march down the Champs d’Elysee, but there’s enough to feel like you have a support system around you.
Whether you want company, need to break a €20 note, or are inspired to tackle the local mercado, there is someone to back you up. Plus, it’s widely observed that solo travelers are more likely to be the target of theft—don’t be that lonely gazelle!
3. An experienced guide
Should you opt for an organized travel program, there’s going to be a Mama (or Papa) Duck to lead you around and impart valuable knowledge. Not only does this mean infinite cool trivia and funny comments, but it also takes many practical responsibilities off your back.
Having someone to handle emergency situations, local medical knowledge, current events, visas, and updated travel restrictions is one of the major benefits of traveling with a small group.
Let’s face it: Dealing with logistics can be a drag.
Plus, your guide is also probably your translator—and while we always encourage memorizing at least the local vocab for courtesy expressions, it’s nice to know that someone can haggle effectively or understand directions to the closest bathroom.
4. Ease of mind
Small group travel means a fixed itinerary, which means that you can just sit back and enjoy the train ride. There are no hidden costs, so the trip is easy to budget, and there’s no need to spend hours trying to figure out canoe connections in the middle of the jungle.
Small group travel does allow for more free time than large groups, so there’s still plenty of time to explore, sip on zobo, and indulge in the nightlife. Who wouldn’t want to pack a punch of adventures abroad without any of the hassle of logistics?
5. More opportunities for experiences
Solo travel limits access to some places and faces, whereas large groups take a notoriously long time to make sure that everyone gets that perfect photo in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Small group travel is basically the best of both worlds.
Small groups can whizz between those inconveniences with private transportation rented specially for y’all (no waiting around for six hours at the train station until the next carriage leaves west!), and small groups means that everyone gets more hands-on experience in all the activities.
6. Solo time v. party time
Small groups mean flexibility. If you want to wander off to explore a museum alone, go ahead. There’s no pressure to always be together, as couple travel sometimes is, and there’s still enough people to break down into even smaller groups and rotate through them. But when you do want to hit the town to celebrate a birthday, there’s a crew to cheer you on.
7. Minimizing environmental impact
Small groups usually fit into one van, which is a lot better than ten people zooming around on their own sets of wheels. More and more, travel tour companies are focusing on the local experience and minimizing the human footprint, so do some research beforehand to see which organizations, ideologies, and activities your small group travel organization supports.
It’s always nice to know that you are supporting positive aspects of communities and certified travel groups usually know who to steer away from and who to work with.
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How to find a group of people to travel with
Finding the right group to travel with can be a real game changer.
There are all sorts of small groups to travel with, and all sorts of ways to find them. Remember to always do your research, read reviews, and choose the small group style that best aligns with your interests. Everybody’s preferences and trip goals are different, so don’t be shy to be picky!
- Go with a group of friends. You know you like the people, but you’ll need to plan it all yourselves. And remember to step out of your comfort bubble!
- Adopt a new travel family at the hostel. If you’re already somewhere you enjoy and are surrounded by people you like, milk it! Put together a spontaneous cohort to travel with for a while and extend the invitation.
- Ask the school counselor. These programs might be more education-based, but it’s a great way to learn real life abroad and maybe even focus on a field you’re particularly passionate about. Plus, you might even get credit for it back home.
- Check out small group programs on GoAbroad.com. Whether it’s study abroad, volunteering, interning, or more, you can filter by age, program length, location, and activity—and you know that all programs are legit and loved!
- Google it. It helps if you narrow your plans down to which country and activity you’d like to focus on. Remember to stick to verified programs and feel free to email organizations with questions or requests if you don’t see exactly what you’re interested in.
If you’re still unsure of how to find a group of people to travel with, ask others that have had similar experiences or go to a study abroad center. Even if it’s not part of your high school or college, the people working there are full of tips and up-to-date knowledge about where to look. There are few feelings as good as contributing to another’s life-changing experience, so most people will be more than happy to help!
Small group travel can be the best way to see the world
Whether you want to go rafting in Costa Rica or on an ancient art tour of Greece, small group operators are there to make your travel dream come true. The biggest take-away from travel is memories and experiences, so leave the planning in the hands of the pros and join new friends to get the best value out of your time and money.
It takes at least two to make it all the way to El Dorado…so team up, go forth, and discover!
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