Which Type of Travel is Right for You?

There is no right way!

However, if you were looking for a more detailed answer than that to work out what is the right form of traveling for you, read on.

There are 3 options that people choose from to travel the world. These are through Tours, going it Solo, or traveling in Groups.

Tours

Tours are by far the easiest, most convenient, and stress-free way to travel. Tour groups such as Contiki, plan itineraries tailored to you which include activities, transport, accommodation, and often meals.

Everything can be packed into the time frame that you need, but trying to squeeze everything in when organizing it yourself, can be rather stressful.

You also have a tour leader who you can go to if you have any questions. They can educate you on the history and culture of a country, will keep you safe, and be able to speak the local lingo.

Before I started traveling I was so eager to go, but none of my friends were interested. Tour groups are a fantastic opportunity to travel if you don’t have the confidence to travel alone or don’t know what to expect.

My first traveling experience was with a Gap360. I had no idea how to go about organizing traveling and was nervous about going it alone. Tour groups gave me the confidence and the skills so that when I next decided to travel I was able to do it solo. Now I am traveling the world indefinitely by myself. Something I may never have been able to do without the confidence and insight that group tours gave me.

Tour groups are full of other people in the same boat that you are. They can be very social and you can make lifelong friends. However, sometimes people tend to split into their own little social groups.

Pros

Cons

Solo

Solo travel is by far much cheaper than group tours. You plan everything yourself from scratch and whilst it may seem like a lot of work you can plan your travels using guide books such as Lonely Planet.

These allow you to travel within your budget and tell you how to plan your idealistic route.

With solo travel, you have the freedom to do what YOU want to do. There are no compromises. If you want to go white water rafting in the Himalayas but your travel buddy wants to travel south to Goa to chill on the beaches you have to meet somewhere in the middle. But if you go it alone, the Himalayas, here you come!
It gives you the freedom to change your mind at the drop of a hat. You could be in India one minute, meet some people, and be off to Vietnam the next.

Solo travel can be slightly riskier. You don’t have someone to watch your belongings if you need to visit the loo. No one to look after you if you fall sick. No one to back you up if you do happen to run into some trouble. Take precautions, buy safety equipment, read up on common scams, and most of all, use your common sense.

It can sometimes get lonely on the road for solo travelers. Top tip. Hostels. Hostels will be your best friend if you are traveling solo. Not only are they cheap, but they are full of other lonely travelers itching to meet and hang out with you.

Pros

• The most freedom and flexibility.
• A lot cheaper than tours.
• Gain confidence.
• Easier to meet new people.

Cons

• More risks.
• Can get a little lonely.

Groups 

If you have managed to find some friends or siblings to come along with you, YAY! Perfect. This is by far the cheapest way to travel. Whilst solo is cheap cheap cheap. Group travel is cheap and cheaper! This is because there are often more deals on accommodation for those traveling in 2s, 3s, or 4s.

Group travel allows you to plan your own itineraries with your fellow travelers. Work out where you all want to go and you are set. However, you may realize that your friends have different ideas and interests in what they want to do and see. There are often a lot of compromises needed.

Another thing to point out, in everyday life, these people may be your best friends, siblings, boyfriend, or girlfriend. But in the traveling world, it can be a whole different scenario. Bad habits can surface. People will become tired and ill which results more often than not in moaning and whining. Someone may overspend and run out of money. They could be very messy and you could find yourself being left to do all the organizing. Just be prepared for this. Split jobs between you, and have rules and expectations set before heading off.

Pros

• The cheapest way to travel.
• More offers are available.

Cons

• Potential to clash with friends on the road.
• You may have to compromise on activities and destinations.