When I started my business, I purposely decided not to use the word “tour” in my business name. The word has a lot of misconceptions, so instead, I selected the word “adventures” because I believe what I offer is a fun adventure. The reality is that the words “tour,” “adventure,” and “retreat” are all very similar. That said, I understand entirely that tours aren’t for everyone, and some people shy away from joining tours for one reason or another. And that is OK! We all have varying travel styles and scopes when we travel, and I understand that what I offer and what some travelers are looking for don’t always align. With that in mind, I wanted to list the advantages and disadvantages of joining any group tour.

Advantages

No Planning 

Let someone else (me!) do all the research, all the planning, and all the bookings for you. If you have ever planned a trip to an unknown international destination, you know the level of research involved. Finding the best guides, instructors, drivers, and accommodations takes hundreds of hours and months of planning. When you join a tour, all that work is done for you. All you have to do is plan what to bring. Hint: It’s usually less than you think you’ll need.

Making New Friends

If you’ve ever traveled solo or with a friend, you know it can sometimes feel lonely. You’re in a new environment, perhaps in a country where you don’t speak the language. You have questions, you are lost, or you don’t know where to turn if you’re on your own. When you join a tour, it automatically comes with new friends! As long as you join a tour that aligns with what you are looking for, you can almost be assured that you will make new friends. For example, my tours always attract foodies, Italophiles, and folks who appreciate small groups over large, run-of-the-mill itineraries. You already have much in common with other participants without even realizing it.

An Emergency is Not Your Problem

The bus is late or doesn’t show up at all. The ferry is canceled due to bad weather. The road is closed due to a landslide or accident. The hotel lost your reservation. Guess what? None of these instances are your problems. When you join a group adventure, they become your tour leader’s problem to deal with. And if you have ever tried to navigate a logistical problem in a country you have never visited before, you know it’s not the easiest thing to do.

Safety

As my mother still says to me today: “There’s safety in numbers.” Safety is one of my most important criteria when organizing our tours. From making sure the hotels are in an ideal location, to seeking trusted local guides and drivers, and to assuring we’re never far from a pharmacy or local clinic, safety is always top of mind for me. Putting myself in my clients’ shoes, I recognize that visiting a new country, particularly one in which language can be a barrier, can be intimidating. Joining a group means you’ll have access to a guide at all times and can help navigate any unforeseen circumstances.

Curated Experiences 

I can’t tell you the number of times I hear my guests say: “We never would have found this on our own!” As tour providers and operators, we must seek hard-to-find, small, unique experiences. The type of experiences which, frankly, you can’t find on your own. It’s our job to research and vet all of the suppliers. So you don’t have to spend time doing so.

A Perfect Blend of Guided Time and Time on Your Own

An expertly created adventure will have a balance of guided time and some time on your own. Have you ever planned a trip and realized, once you got there, that you tried to squeeze too much into it? Or the opposite, you didn’t plan enough and are now wondering what to do in your free time? Over the years of running my tours, I have learned that guests enjoy time alone. We are typically “on the road” during the day, but purposely include some time on your own in the late afternoons and evenings. 

It’s For Everyone

Group travel is for everyone, from solo travelers to groups of friends, from couples to mother/daughter, from entire families to multi-generations. In the eight years since the inception of my business, there has never been an instance in which someone felt like they didn’t belong. Groups always gel incredibly well. You’re enjoying Italy’s beautiful sites, delicious food, and delectable wine! How could you all not get along? 

The Disadvantages 

Let’s be realistic, there are some disadvantages to joining a tour. Tours aren’t for every personality, so here are some downsides to joining not just a Lazy Italian Culinary Adventure tour, but any tour.

A Pre-Set Itinerary

Even though I mentioned that the perfect tour should have a perfect blend of guided time and time on your own, a tour, by definition, will have a set itinerary. We include as much as we can in one week, but there could be a city or activity in a particular region you want to visit that the tour doesn’t include. This is when I recommend arriving a few days before the start of the tour or staying a few days after.

Set Dates

We book hotels and excursions a year to 18 months in advance, so we have set departure dates. If the set dates don’t work for you, and a private tour isn’t within your budget, than a tour might not work for you.

A Tour is Not a Vacation 

A tour isn’t a vacation in the traditional sense. It’s an educational experience. Sure, perhaps you’re using “vacation time” from your job, but when you’re on a culinary tour, or any tour, you are out and about every day. You are touring sites, participating in cooking classes, visiting providers such as wineries and olive oil producers, and learning in some form every day. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, catching some waves and rays, a tour is not for you.    

Cost

There is not doubt about it, joining a tour could be more costly than planning a trip on your own. If you’re pricing everything out yourself and thinking a tour is too costly, than chances are it’s not for you. If you’re wondering why, it’s because you’re not just paying for the accommodations, transportation, and activities. You are also paying for the security of having an expert host the entire duration of the trip, 24 hours a day. As a participant, you are paying for the extensive time it took to plan the tour and the time it took to seek out and hire the best guides, drivers, instructors, and hard-to-find providers. You are paying for a host that is fluent in the language, and can help you navigate any personal glitches, like a visit to a local pharmacy, or a medical emergency, or an accident you didn’t plan on. Because, who plans for an emergency while traveling?

In Conclusion

“Travel isn’t a reward for working, it’s an education for living.” – Anthony Bourdain.

Joining a group is convenient, allowing you to explore another part of the world without the hassle of planning, reserving and vetting all the vendors and suppliers yourself. Joining a tour can be advantageous and offers a wonderful stress-free way of seeing and immersing yourself in this great big world.