Why Travel with a Group?
Small group travel is a great way to meet new people with similar interests, to foster new friendships, and to enjoy the special companionship shared by people who discover new adventures together.
Those who aren’t familiar with group travel often have questions about various aspects of travel groups, and the most common questions are answered below. If you have a question we have not covered here, please contact us<, or call 800-615-1238 or 615-810-8511.
What are the benefits of small group travel?
Who will be in my travel group—men, women, children?
How large are your travel groups?
Will I be compatible with others in my travel group?
How much interaction must I have with the group?
If I’m traveling alone, must I have a roommate?
Who leads the journeys? Do you accompany every group?
How long does each trip last?
How far in advance do you recommend people book with you?
What about passports and visas?
How will I know what to pack?
What are the benefits of small group travel?
When you travel with a group, you forge deep, lasting friendships with others who share your passion for travel. Often, group members continue to travel together and enjoy the world. Many of our travelers feel safer traveling in a group, and they enjoy the camaraderie of others who are exploring the same regions and cultures.
Who will be in my travel group—men, women, children?
Our groups consist of men and women who are solo travelers, couples, and friends traveling together. We are happy to accommodate travelers under 21 within multigenerational family groups of 8 or more on one of our custom journeys.
How large are your travel groups?
To provide quality trips with personal service, we keep our group limits low. We design trips for intimate groups of 8–10 and for larger groups of 16–18. We prefer to limit our groups to 10–16 people.
Will I be compatible with others in my travel group?
We strive to create groups of people with similar ages, backgrounds, and interests and to make them feel special with unique, stylish adventures. If compatibility is a concern for you, please let us know, or feel free to form your own travel group and have us design a trip just for you!
How much interaction must I have with the group?
As much or as little as you wish. There is no requirement that you interact with the group, but you will be spending time with them while transferring to different destinations within a region, during included group meals—though you are welcome to eat elsewhere on your own—and during included sightseeing, to name a few.
If I’m traveling alone, must I have a roommate?
If you prefer not to have a hotel or cruise ship roommate, you have the option of a single room. Call us at 800-615-1238 or 615-810-8511 for more details, prices, or with concerns.
Who leads the journeys? Do you accompany every group?
We travel on most of the journeys we arrange. However, for those times we cannot join the group, we make sure you are taken care of with guides who are experts in the country you’re visiting.
How long does each trip last?
Journeys vary in length. We’ve found that most people are happy with 7–14 days, and most of our distinctive journeys fall within that time frame. However, custom journeys can be as long or as short as you desire.
How far in advance do you recommend people book with you?
For customized group tours, it is best to book as soon as you know you want to go. We recommend booking at least 9–12 months in advance. Although 6–8 months is usually adequate lead time, we cannot promise space will be available. Monthly journeys tend to sell out quickly, and we accept only a limited number of travelers.
While we suggest booking at least 6–8 months in advance, we cannot make any predictions on availability, so please book as early as possible. Feel free to call us at 800-615-1238 or 615-810-8511 if you have concerns about booking times.
What about passports and visas?
When you book your journey, we will let you know if you need a visitor visa for the countries you are visiting, and for your convenience, we work with a company that provides travel documents. If you need a passport or visa, we recommend you start that process as soon as possible, as it can take time to receive the documents.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the proper paperwork before leaving the United States. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after your scheduled return date.
We have more passport and visa information on the travel tips page.
How will I know what to pack?
We will guide you in your packing with information about likely weather conditions in the regions you will visit. We recommend you have at least two pairs of comfortable footwear and a jacket and sweater for chilly days and nights. Many travelers find that dressing in layers is most comfortable. We will also let you know what the airlines are currently accepting as far as travel toiletries. We recommend you pack medications in your carry-on baggage.
If you have any concerns about what to pack, call us at 800-615-1238 or 615-810-8511, and we’ll be happy to make suggestions.
Would you rather enjoy a custom journey or join us for one of our distinctive monthly journeys?
