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How to travel with strangers, and love it
How to travel with strangers, and love it.
Over the past ten years, I have led a number of small group travels in Morocco, Egypt, and India. I am still in contact with some of the wonderful folks I met on each of the incredible trips.
Africa is best experienced on a small group safari, especially if you don’t have a lot of free time.
If you’re considering the benefits and drawbacks of traveling in a group, consider the following advice:
When selecting a group tour, start with a quick excursion to determine whether it’s right for you. Booking an 8-week overland journey of Africa for their first group vacation is a courageous move! Try a seven- to ten-day tour initially if you’re unsure about your ability to travel with strangers. You’ll have more time to enjoy the views, sounds, and experiences as someone else will be taking care of the transportation, lodging, and activity planning.
Select a provider that allows for small group sizes. Numerous safaris that we provide have a maximum capacity of 15 participants. A group this small can be more adaptable because there are fewer people to manage and it’s simpler to decide whether to alter the schedule if you want to get deeper into something. Areas, accommodations, and activities that are impractical for bigger parties are frequently accessible to smaller groups. If there are fewer of you, you’ll also spend less time waiting for latecomers and stragglers!
Select a theme or travel itinerary that really interests you. People that share similar interests are drawn to food, culture, wildlife, photography, adventure sports, and unique locations. You and the other people on the tour will already have something in common.
If you want to stay away from the party animals and younger gap-year population, spend a little more for a slightly more upscale vacation. Or, if that’s your goal, choose the least expensive excursions available!
Choose a tour operator that will match you with a roommate of the same gender if you’re traveling alone and want to avoid single supplements. A stranger can become a friend by sharing a room with you! However, invest in your own room if, like me, you require privacy and space. Since I was the only woman on a tour and no one else was available to share, I was able to have my own room for free. It’s a bit of a lottery, but you might be lucky. If you don’t want to take the chance, you can generally switch to the “my own room” option very close before departure.
Tour Travel Advice:
Adopt the proper mindset. “Arrive with only one expectation: Expect the unexpected!” advises Jessica, a seasoned traveler and former tour operator. It all comes down to attitude; you will receive back what you give the group. Seize any chance for adventure that presents itself. The stronger the link, the more the group experiences together!
Another guide and frequent traveler, Raj, always advises his groups to have “low expectations.” After that, he constantly goes above and above and gives his clients amazing tours. Additionally, he advises “playing a drinking game, having a big smile on your face, accepting that everyone is different, and keeping an open mind.”
Be thoughtful, understanding, and adaptable. Adopt a calm and upbeat mindset. Pay attention to the locations you visit and show interest in other travelers. Let go of the minor irritations.
Maintain proper personal hygiene. Nobody wants to drive behind someone who hasn’t had a shower, has foul breath, or is wearing clothes or shoes that might use some cleaning.
If you need time and space to recharge, make it a priority. If necessary, it’s acceptable to skip morning or afternoon group activities. After a hot air balloon ride at 4 a.m. on the first day of my twelve-day vacation to Egypt, we visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings.
I was exhausted by the time we arrived in Luxor and simply couldn’t bear to spend two hours exploring the abandoned temples (I was also rather exhausted by then). FOMO fought against the urge for a break, and the latter prevailed. I felt rejuvenated and invigorated when I reconnected with the group for supper. And to view those temples, I’ll just need to return to Luxor at some point.
Speak up (politely) if there is something you do or don’t want to do. A lovely stepwell in India was a short diversion from our path, according to what friends had told me. After discussing it with the other three tour participants and asking our tour leader about it, we made the decision to go have a look. Well worth the effort. Similarly, on other occasions, we bypassed something on the itinerary because nobody seemed interested in it. That kind of flexibility is possible for small group tours.
Avoid becoming involved in any controversy and avoid taking sides. I’ve had good luck with other travelers, but one buddy I made in New Zealand has encountered some difficult circumstances: “Avoid getting caught up in the drama of some of the relationships that can develop on the trip.” You’re there to explore your personal development and have fun. Create genuine connections rather than ones that are overly dramatic or unpleasant.
Have an open mind. My cousin, who has only gone on one group tour and met her husband there, is the source of this advice. Just keep in mind that if you’re up for a romantic holiday affair, consider how much time you still have to spend with everyone in a small area in the event that things go nasty.
Take advantage of opportunities. The majority of excursions provide a wide variety of extra, optional activities. Be mindful of your spending, but don’t allow that prevent you from experiencing some incredible adventures. Don’t regret allowing a small amount of money prevent you from taking action since you might never go back there. While they weren’t within my means, heli-hiking on a New Zealand glacier and spending a few days in Bora Bora are among my favorite vacation experiences.
Become close to your group. This will be facilitated early in the journey by a competent tour guide. It frequently entails an exciting journey or a great night out. Together, take part in an exciting activity that will strengthen your bonds. A stroll through an insanely crowded metropolis where it’s an extreme sport to cross the street. A drinking game that twists your tongue. A competition to see who can come up with the tackiest souvenir. The group dynamic benefits greatly from these kinds of experiences.
Do it in style and wait until you’re a little older and wealthier. Save money for a time and do the more upscale, “Out of Africa” version later if you don’t like sleeping in tents and traveling overland in a truck.​
Last but not least, according to Ophelia, an Egyptian tour companion, “Everything I ever learned about how to survive traveling with a group of strangers, I learned in kindergarten: Be kind, share, stick together, look both ways before crossing the street, wash your hands before eating, always wear clean underwear, no one likes a bully or whiner.” Most significantly, you may make lifelong friends after the first day, even though everyone is just as anxious and anxious as you are!