Gayle Lawrence runs Journeys of Discovery, and I really enjoyed this piece in her latest newsletter:

Seven Ways to Benefit from Group Travel

Is your idea of travel bliss quiet walks through secluded spots or do you thrive in the centre of a busy crowd? Whether you consider yourself more introverted or extroverted in nature, group travel can be the perfect travel experience for you. In this blog post, we share 7 tips and tricks for everyone to make the most out of group travel.

Choosing the right travel package

It may sound obvious, but with all the choices available to us these days, it’s not always easy to choose the package that will best suit our needs. Be really honest with yourself about what you’re looking for, and try to push fear and apprehension aside so you can hone in on what you really need from a package.

Travelling with like-minded people

Making new friends and travelling with like-minded people is one of the many tangible benefits of group travel. While we can never know for sure with whom we’ll be travelling and whether we’ll become lifelong friends, there are ways to help find the group that’s right for us. When reviewing packages, study the pictures to get a sense of the destination. The tour description usually also includes information about the target audience so you can see if it’s a right fit for you. If in doubt, contacting the organizer can be a good way to appease any doubts and give you a greater sense of confidence in your choice.

Learning from your guide

Travelling with an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide is one of the very best ways to fully appreciate a country and its culture. Tour guides all have their own individual style and way of sharing knowledge, so doing some research on your group leader and guide before committing to a travel package is always a good idea. A good group leader will be able to offer activities that appeal to all participants; from journaling to dinner outings, meditation to hiking, depending on the journey.

Being open to new experiences & ideas

Openness and curiosity can really enhance any group travel experience for all personality types. Letting go of judgments, for example, can have powerful effects on our sense of self and our travel experience – reframing a fear such as “I’m terrified of giving snorkeling a go – what if I mess up, I’ve never snorkeled before. Be open with curiosity – “wow, I’ve always wanted to try snorkeling. I wonder how it will be” – allows us to try new things and most likely make new friends in the process. You may find snorkeling really isn’t your thing, and that’s ok, or you may find you love it! You never know until you give it a try!

Fully participating

On a group travel experience participation can take many forms, and fully participating doesn’t always mean going to every optional activity or group event. You know your own comfort level and when you need to recharge by spending time alone or having a night out with the group. The most important thing is to be fully in the moment when you are with the group. For introverts this might mean ducking out of some of the optional extras to spend time alone, while extroverts might want to take that free afternoon and organize an extra small group outing. Fully participating also means being respectful of other people, honoring differences, and adhering to any requirements such as getting back to the bus on time after a morning’s excursion.

Deepening your knowledge or skill set

Some group travel adventures are quite general in nature while others have a particular focus – be it an activity (writing, journaling, drawing) or places visited (sacred sites, pilgrimages). When you choose a group journey with a specific focus, you’re more likely to meet like-minded fellow travellers and have a satisfying travel experience. If your goal is to visit Machu Picchu in the most authentic way possible, for example, be sure to look for packages led by an experienced guide and wisdom keeper, and ones that include enough time at the site to truly appreciate it. Similarly, if you’re investing in a writer’s retreat you’ll want to know it’s being led by a published author who also has workshop or teaching experience, and is preferably in an inspirational setting.

Making a lasting contribution

The best group travel experiences leave a lasting impact, and also inspire travelers to fully contribute to their families and communities on their return. Choosing the right package, especially one with a specific focus, can also help ensure the experience has a lasting and inspirational impact on you.

At Journeys of Discovery our carefully crafted itineraries provide an excellent balance of activities and excursions to ensure all personality types can benefit from group travel. Our detailed tour descriptions and photos give a true flavor of what you can expect on the travel adventure experience of your dreams.