Solo group travel, sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Maybe it was at one time, but not anymore. It also isn’t like the one-size-fits-all jeans in the, “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” either. Today’s solo group travel is every bit as individualist, eclectic and exciting as the women who participate in it. Here is a bit more information:
Solo Group Travel’s Roots
I remember when the idea of solo group travel itineraries first made its way onto the hospitality industry’s stage. I was working in the travel industry at the time and attended a seminar on it. At first blush the concept was simple. Put a bunch of single women inside a bus and schedule stops at outlet shopping malls. I recollect thinking at the time, “Yeah right,” like that was going to work for all women.
Eventually tour operators started to realize the same thing and the itineraries started to change. Nowadays, women’s solo trips include activities such as flying over Kenai Fjords on the way to bond with Alaskan bears, trekking through the Annapurna foothills of Nepal and enjoying the Hagen SingSing with the natives of Papua New Guinea. Of course, shopping trips are also still an option. There are even solo trips for men.
What is Solo Group Travel?
For those of you that have never heard of solo group travel, it is essentially a way for individuals overcome by wanderlust to travel safely, together, to assorted locales. The benefits include lower room rates, reduced air fare, pre-arranged transportation and the security that comes with being associated with a group.
Why it Rocks
Worried about having to share a room or a dinner table with a stranger? Don’t be. Today’s solo group traveler has the option of having their own room and their own dinner table, should they so choose to do so. Some tour operators even provide a few variations on itineraries at each tour stop. That way, if you want to spend your time at the hotel pool instead of traipsing around the rainforest, you can.
Over the years, I have taken several solo group travel trips both alone and with my friends. I’ve gone on motorcoach trips to watch whales in Nantucket as well as attend Broadway plays, sporting events and concerts. In my opinion, the trips gave me an opportunity to do things that I might not have been able to afford otherwise. For example, the trip to see a Broadway play cost me $20 at the time. It included a round trip bus ride to New York City and admission to the show. If I had gone alone, I would have had to pay $80 for the ticket, plus transportation expenses. There was even time built into the day that allowed me to eat where I wanted and visit other spots in the city before having to rejoin the group for the bus ride back home.
Traveler Beware
Granted, solo group travel is not all peaches and sweet tea. There are tour operators out there that market themselves to solo travelers but yet charge exorbitant surcharges if that traveler wants their own room. Therefore, it pays to do your research. There are several reputable organizations that can help you learn more about solo group travel providers. One of them is the Better Business Bureau.
Killeen Gonzalez spent many years working in the hospitality industry and traveling extensively. She has since retired from the industry and lives with her family in the south.
More from this contributor:
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Top 5 Tips for Planning Summer Camping Trips with Your Dog
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