Travel is all about discovering new experiences and creating once-in-a-lifetime memories. While solo travel has its perks, traveling as a group can offer a number of benefits that are guaranteed to make your trip even more memorable. From having a knowledgeable leader guiding you to ensuring no missed dollar or opportunity costs, traveling with others is often the best way to explore a new destination. Here are some of the top reasons why we think group travel is the best kind of travel!
Safety & Security
Traveling to a new location can feel intimidating. You may be unsure of the local customs, overwhelmed by directions and maps, and worried about your safety in new surroundings. Calm those fears by traveling with a like-minded group of people on a thoughtfully planned and curated group tour.
Safety is one of the top concerns for people planning a trip. Group travel means you’re not alone in the event of an accident, illness, or other unexpected event. It also helps to reduce travel-related anxiety. Being around others reduces anxiety by increasing security and comfort.
Group travel reduces many common concerns of travel such as getting lost, language barriers, pickpockets, and walking alone at night. If you find yourself in an unfamiliar situation, your travel companions and group travel leader are there to help. Remember, you’re all in this experience together!
For 40 years, Journeys by Van Dyke has specialized in worry-free travel. Our knowledgeable journey managers know the best – and the safest – routes to take at every destination. They’re here to help with any safety or physical accessibility needs you may have.
Qualified Journey Managers
Whether it’s an Exploration of Egypt or an Adventure through Patagonia, you’ll want to ensure you’re making the most of your travel experience. You may have a list of well-known tourist spots that you wish to see, but an experienced tour leader and local connections can give you the inside scoop and show you how the locals live at every stop on the tour.
Our professional journey managers are the best in the industry, offering guidance through our curated itineraries and one-of-a-kind adventures. You’ll spend lots of time with your Journeys by Van Dyke tour manager who is available to you 24/7 and can address all of your questions and needs. This adds a personal touch to your trip that just can’t be found when traveling solo.
The perfect trip also requires a lot of logistics from planning schedules, making reservations, budgeting and more. A journey manager can take this work off of your plate so you can relax and enjoy your trip. They also handle extra details like visa processing for international travelers, and private home pickup to and from the airport.
Tour managers understand the secrets of a destination that you can’t find on Google, like the best restaurant to try a local cuisine or a secret trail that leads to a breathtaking view of your destination. They are in touch with our local connections at each location and are constantly on the lookout for unforgettable experiences that they can share with you.
No Missed Opportunity or Surprise Costs
Money is important to everyone, and often one of the main considerations when planning a trip. Traveling as a group is a great way to optimize your dollars spent and ensure there are no unwelcome surprise expenses. This allows you to spend any extra funds on what you really want, like splurging on an expensive bottle of wine or buying that perfect souvenir.
Our Journey managers prepare every detail of travel, which includes those hidden expenses that you may not have factored into your budget. Some examples are service gratuities, calculating exchange rates, or baggage-handling fees. Beyond this, we’re ensuring that you can take advantage of every moment abroad and never miss out on an important aspect of your Journey. We ensure that there’s no surprise costs but ultimately, and most valuably, no missed opportunity costs.
By saving on the big things, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters on your trip – making unforgettable memories.
Companionship
Whether you’re traveling with old friends or hoping to make new ones, group travel strengthens new and existing relationships. It’s natural to bond over memorable experiences and you’ll be traveling with like-minded people who share your interest in the planned destination. A love of travel makes for the perfect conversation starter!
Visiting a major landmark like Mount Fuji imprints core memories in your mind, and the people you share the experience with are part of those lasting memories. Traveling with others allows you to ask questions about a locale, take in other people’s reactions, and discuss the experience afterward. This can lead to stronger memories and a better experience overall. If you value your private time, there are always some solo activities scheduled into a group tour.
At Journeys by Van Dyke, our trips are kept to a smaller group so the experience is intimate and every traveler receives personal care. However, we believe this also allows our guests to form connections and make lasting relationships that continue when the journey is over!
There’s a world of possibilities waiting for you, and we’re excited to guide you every step of the way. Why wait? Speak to one of our travel experts today and discover why traveling with our Canadian groups is the best way to explore the world. Call us at 1-800-265-8174 to learn more!
