{"id":6522,"date":"2020-07-28T16:37:49","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T22:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/?p=6522"},"modified":"2025-08-11T17:33:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T23:33:30","slug":"how-to-select-a-small-group-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/how-to-select-a-small-group-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Select a Small Group Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6522\" class=\"elementor elementor-6522\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8a91fef elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8a91fef\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-492828f\" data-id=\"492828f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c7bc71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c7bc71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>TRAVEL PLANNING&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4389c48 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4389c48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84777b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"84777b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The right group tour allows you to leave the details to someone else and just enjoy your holiday<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c878bc7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c878bc7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7082edb\" data-id=\"7082edb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcf625a elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dcf625a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>O<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nce upon a time, I was an independent traveller who thought I preferred planning my own holidays over joining a group tour. You might have heard the saying: <em>When you know better, you do better<\/em>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now I know better: there are many reasons that a small group tour is ideal for me at this stage, for certain destinations and circumstances. And I believe they can be a fabulous option for other women who want to see the world, with some guidance and new friends.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">There are a long list of pros: Organized group tours offer an efficient itinerary, expert guides and the opportunity to get to know fellow travelers.\u00a0But the most important reason for me, is the mental freedom that an organized tour allows.\u00a0Having someone else take care of the logistics allows me to immerse myself in the travel experience fully, and travel immersion is a marvelous thing for midlife women. It\u2019s my favorite way to feel more alive and inspired.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">When you are ready to look at specific tours, I&#8217;ve curated a list of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/womens-tours\/\"><span class=\"s1\">Group Tours for Women<\/span><\/a> <\/span>in some of my favorite destinations around the world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f9af6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2f9af6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/small-group-tours.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6524\" alt=\"Coming up with a list of dream destinations, while sidelined from travel in the summer of 2020\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/small-group-tours.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/small-group-tours-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/small-group-tours-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">There are many small group tours to choose from and a little research goes a long way<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce031d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce031d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are considering joining a group tour, there are the obvious details to weigh such as the destination, trip length and cost. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And there are the less obvious ones. And a little extra research before you book will save you headaches later, and ensure your trip is as delightful as you deserve it to be. Here are some things I&#8217;ve learned through my own group travels, in talking to other women and with lots of research.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e23624 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e23624\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tips for Selecting a Small Group Tour <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-691ed6a elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"691ed6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52605fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"52605fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Group Size<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16cc82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e16cc82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I prefer groups of 16 or less and think around 12 is ideal. The smaller size allows for staying at more interesting accommodation types, rather than huge hotels, and you will be able to get to know everyone in the group. <\/span>Trips in this size range have become very popular, so there are lots to choose from.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19df1b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"19df1b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Demographics of the Travellers<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61227ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61227ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve heard some women say they hesitate to book group tours because they think most of the participants will be younger than they are.\u00a0 The tours I\u2019ve been on included travellers from their late twenties to almost 90!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9bfef6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c9bfef6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/older-women-travellers-small-group-tours.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6572\" alt=\"An older woman traveller on a small group tour of India\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/older-women-travellers-small-group-tours.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/older-women-travellers-small-group-tours-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/older-women-travellers-small-group-tours-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">I love the chance to meet travellers of all ages on a small group tour. Betty turned 89 in India<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a42dabc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a42dabc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One lovely South African woman named Betty (photo above) turned 89 on our trip to India. It was an absolute delight getting to know her over fifteen days together. I think a broad age range is more fun and interesting than travelling with only people who are similar to my age.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>If you prefer a group of midlife travelers, typically the more expensive group tours will attract older guests, but not always. Information about clientele is usually available on company websites and if you are unsure, ask.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve called the tour company and asked about the age range of the people who had already booked the tour I was considering, and they were happy to give me an idea.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3353288 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3353288\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-traveling-together.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6603\" alt=\"Women toast a friend&#039;s 50th birthday on a boat cruise in South Carolina\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-traveling-together.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-traveling-together-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-traveling-together-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Every trip I've taken with women has been special<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9e55a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9e55a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is it a Women-Only Tour<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7400e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7400e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I do think there is something wonderful about traveling with only women: I\u2019ve done big overseas trips and weekend breaks. They are always special.\u00a0 Tour groups offering trips for women are becoming more common. If this interests you, I&#8217;ve created a curated list of tours for women that range from 3-days to two plus weeks. Explore options here: <a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/womens-tours\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Women&#8217;s Tours Around the World.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf4b3d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cf4b3d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"978\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Croatia-womens-trip-838x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-43623\" alt=\"A group of women stand in front of a misty waterfall and green foliage at Krka National Park, Croatia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Croatia-womens-trip-838x1024.jpg 838w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Croatia-womens-trip-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Croatia-womens-trip-768x939.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Croatia-womens-trip.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef30c5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ef30c5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Geographic Diversity of the Group<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fc0c68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fc0c68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Whether you choose a tour for women or everyone, part of the fun of group travel is the chance to get to know people from around the world. One of my small group tours with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gadventures.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">G Adventures<\/a><\/span>, had participants from six different countries (Canada, the U.S., Germany, the U.K., South Africa, Colombia and India.)<\/p><p>But not all tour operators attract a geographically diverse clientele. An American friend of mine joined a two-week tour of Eastern Europe with high-end tour operator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tauck.com\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Tauck<\/span><\/a>, and was surprised to arrive and find that every other traveller in the group was also American.<\/p><p>Think about whether you would rather travel with an international crowd, and pick your tour operator with that in mind.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b127576 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b127576\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-travel-cambodia.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6573\" alt=\"Midlife women travel together in Siem Reap Cambodia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-travel-cambodia.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-travel-cambodia-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/women-travel-cambodia-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Clemencia and I got to know each other as roommates on a small group tour of India. That led us to travel together again, in Cambodia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-866e0ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"866e0ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Private Rooms &amp; Single Supplements<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8071fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8071fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some companies will promote the fact that they do not charge a single supplement for solo travelers. While that may be true, it does not necessarily guarantee you a private room. It usually means if there is another solo woman on the trip, you will share a room.\u00a0 If not, you will get your own room for no extra charge.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be an adventure rooming with someone you don&#8217;t know. I had only met my roommate Clemencia twice, years earlier, before we shared a room in India. Having a roommate was fun; it made me feel like I was back in university. And I made a dear friend and travel companion in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want the guarantee of your own room you may have to pay a supplement.\u00a0 Some policies are changing because of Covid-19, and an increased demand for private rooms. Be sure you are clear on what\u2019s guaranteed and what isn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b274eb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b274eb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Small-group-tour-india-map.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6582\" alt=\"small group tour india g adventures map\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Small-group-tour-india-map.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Small-group-tour-india-map-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Small-group-tour-india-map-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A 15-day G Adventures tour of India. Each of those dots represents a different hotel stay - and having to unpack and pack again<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d870db9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d870db9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pace of a Group Tour<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d024b1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d024b1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most organized tours move at a fast pace in order to maximize what you see and experience. On a group tour of India, I stayed in nine hotels in 15 days. It was an incredible trip and we saw many fascinating places, but I got tired of unpacking and packing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I would have happily skipped one of the destinations on our itinerary, in favour of a couple of extra nights to stay put. But that\u2019s me: I love travel but hate packing.<\/span><\/p><p>Think about whether you are content to move quickly, or prefer a tour with fewer stops and more time in each place. When I plan my own trips, I try to stay at least two nights and ideally three, in each place. Even though it means seeing a little less, I find it more enjoyable and relaxing. And I am not spending as much time in transit.\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3517c89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3517c89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/airplane-view-rocky-mountains.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6608\" alt=\"view over the rocky mountains from an airplane\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/airplane-view-rocky-mountains.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/airplane-view-rocky-mountains-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/airplane-view-rocky-mountains-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Every small group tour will include some transportation. But it may be on a train, not a plane<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-824eff5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"824eff5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transit Days<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93cf64a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93cf64a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recommend you read the detailed daily itinerary of the trip you are considering, before you book.\u00a0 It gives you details about accommodation and included activities. And it also tells you what your travel days will look like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you mind spending 10 hours on a bus travelling from Marrakech to a Sahara desert camp?\u00a0 You might enjoy a single long drive through a beautiful country, but several days in a row might feel like you\u2019ve joined the Partridge Family tour bus. (A 1970\u2019s reference for my midlife cohorts. I so wanted to be on that tour bus: One-part crush on David Cassiday and one-part burgeoning wanderlust.)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d68fd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7d68fd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Modes of Transport<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9377296 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9377296\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Related to the above is the type of transportation between destinations. Will you be on a private coach or an overnight train? Some group tours include domestic flights. Companies are also changing policies to adapt to coronavirus. Private coaches with designated seat assignments are replacing other modes of transport, to allow for safer distancing and cleaning protocols. For Africa safaris, there is a big difference between flying between camps and going overland &#8211; both in price and experience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cad3a21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cad3a21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3460\" alt=\"small group tour guides in India\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b32e02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b32e02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tour Guides<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b15571 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b15571\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your tour leader will check train schedules, buy tickets and confirm dinner reservations, so you can relax in the garden, sipping a gin &amp; tonic and watching the peacocks. Exactly as it should be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">For me, one of the best part of travel with a group is the dedicated guide who remains with you throughout the trip, showing you their country, acting as translator and managing all the logistics. Sometimes the guide is from the country you are visiting, which gives you the unique opportunity to learn about the culture, history and customs from a local. I\u2019ve heard many people say it was their guide that made the trip exceptional. That has also been my experience.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many tour companies use guides from a western country and then have local guides join the group for individual parts of the tour. Be sure to ask about this, so you know what to expect.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67fb3b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67fb3b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/delicate-arch-lookout-hike.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2777\" alt=\"susan practicing her photography in utah\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/delicate-arch-lookout-hike.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/delicate-arch-lookout-hike-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/delicate-arch-lookout-hike-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">If you want to improve your travel photography as I do, look for a small group tour with a pro photographer along<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8252d40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8252d40\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Subject Experts<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b44811b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b44811b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the primary guides, some group tours (typically the more expensive ones) will include other experts: archeologists, astronomers or professional photographers, for example. National Geographic and Smithsonian are tour operators which do this in some cases. Inquire, if you have a particular interest you would like to pursue while you travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ef8d73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6ef8d73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23938\" alt=\"Susan Heinrich with an e-bike on the Greek island of Poros, a town on a hill in the distance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/biking-poros-island-greece-96x96.jpg 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">I rode an e-bike around the hilly island of Poros. The perfect activity for me!<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcbd9a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dcbd9a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Activity Level<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aef06fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aef06fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check that the activity level on the tour is what you are looking for. A Uganda adventure to see the mountain gorillas can involve hours of strenuous hiking through dense jungle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p2\">(Please comment below if you&#8217;ve seen the mountain gorillas\u2026 that experience is high on my bucket list!)\u00a0\u00a0Conversely, some people are disappointed when a tour with a focus on historic monuments does not include any hiking.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f480d75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f480d75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Local Culture<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fa717d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fa717d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look at what the itinerary includes, beyond visits to typical attractions. More group tours are including opportunities to interact with local people in a meaningful way. That could be attending a cooking class in someone\u2019s home for example. These are always among my most memorable experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27816e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"27816e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23936\" alt=\"Susan sits with a cup of coffee on a sailboat in the Saronic Greek island. Only her legs are visible, with sailboats in the distance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sailing-greek-islands-morning-coffee-96x96.jpg 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A leisurely morning on a group sailing trip around the Greek islands<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e85c0b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e85c0b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Free Time<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-020c195 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"020c195\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some guided tours will have you almost fully scheduled and others will build in time for exploring on your own. Knowing what you prefer is helpful, and it\u2019s another reason to read the itinerary, before you book. My feeling on this is, if I am paying for an organized\u00a0 tour I am happy to have most of the time scheduled for me. If I ever feel like I need down time, I can just tell the guide I am skipping the afternoon outing to read a book by the pool.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e18905 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1e18905\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Festivals<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f42db22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f42db22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to experience a particular festival, check if it is a part of your itinerary. In most cases the tour company will list this on the detailed itinerary, but not always. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Festival del D\u00eda de Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico takes place over a couple of weeks with different cities holding festivities at different times, so you can\u2019t just assume your tour will include it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abc49ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"abc49ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/aarti-ritual-varanasi.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4007\" alt=\"lighting the aarti on the ganges in varanasi\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/aarti-ritual-varanasi.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/aarti-ritual-varanasi-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/aarti-ritual-varanasi-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95807c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"95807c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or you may want to avoid a festival because of crowds, higher prices, or even pollution. In northern India during and just after Diwali in the fall, the air quality is the worst of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3237f93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3237f93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Cancellation Policy<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ca493c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ca493c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p2\">The cancellation policy is something you should think about before you ever book anything. \u00a0Group tours can be a significant financial investment, often starting at around $3000 and many are significantly more. Cancellation policies vary by company. But unlike a hotel booking, group tours aren&#8217;t typically refundable when it&#8217;s close to the departure date. Sometimes they will give you a credit for future travel, if you can&#8217;t travel. This is where insurance is especially important.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; font-size: 1rem;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1891805 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1891805\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/greek-island-poros-bougainvillea.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23953\" alt=\"On a greek island sailing trip, pink bougainvillea stretch in front of a blue window on a white-washed building\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/greek-island-poros-bougainvillea.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/greek-island-poros-bougainvillea-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/greek-island-poros-bougainvillea-768x597.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/greek-island-poros-bougainvillea-150x117.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d11f542 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d11f542\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Still Unsure About Group Travel? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-830c680 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"830c680\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you are interested in group tours, and would like to learn more, I&#8217;ve interviewed two women who run group tour companies. <a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/adventures-in-good-company\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Kelly Kimple, of Adventures in Good Company<\/span><\/a>, talks about what to look for in a tour, and what to do if you are nervous about booking your first trip. And Ashley Blake talks about the ways that group travel is unique and special in my profile of <a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/traverse-journeys-group-travel\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Traverse Journeys<\/span><\/a>. I traveled with them to Greece in the spring of 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14a3e50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"14a3e50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adventure-women-womens-travel.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-43744\" alt=\"Fifteen middle-aged women stand on front of the turquoise sea. A few of them are holding a flag that says &quot;Adventure Women, The Destination is Just the Beginning&quot;.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adventure-women-womens-travel.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adventure-women-womens-travel-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adventure-women-womens-travel-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adventure-women-womens-travel-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A group trip to Croatia. Photo courtesy of AdventureWomen<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-261030a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"261030a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Beyond the Group Tour<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fe6f84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7fe6f84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are having trouble finding\u00a0 a small group tour that meets your criteria, ask a tour operator if they will plan a bespoke tour for you.\u00a0 Most will customize one of their itineraries for your family or group. You pick the dates and they&#8217;ll take make all of the arrangements.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, a travel agent can customize a trip to your exact requirements or direct you to an in-country outfitter who can do that (more on that option coming soon).<\/span><\/p><p>Remember that even with thoughtful planning there will be surprises. Hooray for that, because surprises are a part of the thrill of travel.\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46b0014c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46b0014c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d49d963\" data-id=\"6d49d963\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e798609 content-align-cta-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-cta-box\" data-id=\"7e798609\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-cta-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eael-call-to-action cta-basic bg-lite cta-preset-1\">\n        <h3 class=\"title eael-cta-heading\">Join Midlife Globetrotter<\/h3><p>If you found this story useful, please subscribe. You'll receive my curated recommendations, hotel reviews, packing tips and more!\u00a0<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/susanheinrich.substack.com\/\" class=\"cta-button cta-preset-1  \">Subscribe<\/a>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TRAVEL PLANNING&nbsp; The right group tour allows you to leave the details to someone else and just enjoy your holiday Once upon a time, I was an independent traveller who thought I preferred planning my own holidays over joining a group tour. You might have heard the saying: When you know better, you do better. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[194,123,102,196,164,195,162],"class_list":["post-6522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-planning","tag-group-tour","tag-group-travel","tag-guided-tour","tag-how-to-travel","tag-small-group-tours","tag-tour-group","tag-tours-for-women"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/group-tour-india-g-adventures.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}