Do you prefer individual trips or group tours? Why?

I prefer individual trips ... or trips with a small group of friends and/or family ... versus a group tour. I have done both, and you are right that the group tour is "easier", because all the details have been decided for you. However, I also found that some of the destinations did not interest me in the least. I still went, though, because it was a group activity and already paid for in advance with the cost of the trip. Similarly, there were things along the way that I saw and would have liked to explore more but could not as we had to stay with the group.

I have tried both and group travel is better for me. I want to just sit on the bus, enjoy the view and listen to all of the good stories. Individual travel brings a lot of problems if you don't understand the language, you don't know the land and you don't know where the most interesting places are.

I prefer travelling on my own or with people I know, if we have about the same interests. Travelling with a group can be OK if it's well organized etc., but you might be hard put finding an organized trip where you want to do everything that's planned might be difficult.

My husband and I take cruises. That way we are taken well care of on the ship. If we don't want to do an excursion(tour) we still get off the boat and do something by ourselves. Since we just come back from a cruise over a week ago I will share what happened on our Excursion in Belize. When you go on an excursion off the ship you are given one or two tour guides that take care of you while on your tour. I wanted to get as many pics as possible as my baby granddaughter's father is from Belize. Our tour was supposed to start at 9:15 by the time we got on the bus it was 11:00am. Once on the bus we got our city tour on the bus. (I thought we would get off somewhere to let us buy souveniers.) By the time we got to their Zoo our two tour guides broke us up into two groups. One group had 26 the other 27. I went with the tour guide that I felt would give me the best presentation. His name was Johnny and he was awesome! When you decided on which tour you were taking, you could read and ask the cruise ship questions before putting your money on a tour. But we had several people that got short tempered because they were walking to much (really??? it said WALKING) So while I made it fun for myself and the tour guide I really feel for people in different countries trying to help you learn about their country and keep everything upbeat and there is always a few that makes the trip a little downer. So Unless I am going to a foreign land like overseas, I tend to like to do things on my own. That way you can get up when you want and eat and do what you want to without all the frantic of having to wait for a group and listening to all the reasons that you feel that certain people should not take some tours. Trying to keep a group together is like herding cattle for these tour guides. They certainly earn their money! When we got back to the snack and souvenir shop, not one person offered our tour guide (who had talked all through the tour) a drink. So after getting my husband a coke each, I went and found our tour guide and asked him if he would like something to drink. I brought him inside the shop and told him to pick out what he wanted. I think the poor guy was in shock. He looked like no one had ever offered him anything like that before. But I figure if he is taking care of us the least we can do is give in return. When I am on vacation I don't want to spend it being on a clock. I feel maybe one day to do a tour but the rest of the time I did what I wanted when I wanted. It was a lot more leisurely which is what I wanted for a vacation. I go on cruises to just be on the ocean its so blue and beautiful that I love just sitting on a balcony and would be happy to never reach land!

When I went to Egypt, I went through a company that had groups of no more than 8 for each thing. We worked with the company to plan the trip. My husband and i were one on one with a tour guide for most of the trip. Even when we had a small group, it was not overwhelming, nor did I feel that we were rushed, or dallied in one area too long. We opted in on some additional items that were planned, and they had "days at your leisure" built in for shopping or doing something off the beaten path. We are planning a trip to Italy...just getting an idea of cost and what we need to do to save up for it. I started the account, but it currently only has $100 in it. Hoping to get some Christmas money and put my husbands "extra" paycheck (he is paid every two weeks, so two months out of the year he receives a third pay check.) into the account. The ultimate goal is to have the money saved and set aside by this time in two years, so we can pay for the trip to travel the following summer.

Although I haven't really been on tours and trips of my own, I would love to. You see, recently, my Granddad fell extremely ill and so we had to cut our schedule to check him out. He recovered. But the point is, I felt amazing having gone on an unplanned holiday (Although it was just for 3 days, but still). While returning, I had the opportunity of travelling back alone, my dad had to stay. I felt even more amazing and confident. I would love to do that again if time permits. I think it would be hard to not plan an international trip. But yes, an unplanned one, with loads of surprises is something else . . .

Hi! Whenever we make a plan to visit any place. We go alone rather than in groups. However, we prefer to take along with us another couple (among our friends) as it helps in enjoying the tour. If two couples are there I could spend my time talking to my friend and my better half could spend time talking to his wife and our children could enjoy the company of my friend's children.

I am an independent traveler and all I book is my flight. Then I make my own choices of a route, places, accommodation and sights. I don't choose a group tour unless it is essential. Like I had to for Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It didn't have public transport and I wanted to see sights out of the town. I took a day trip in a group up the 90 Mile Beach in New Zealand. Again there wasn't any public transport and a four wheel drive was essential for safety reasons. In Colombia I took a day trip which was boring and dangerous. I left it and came back to the city by bus, taxi and ferry. It was one very adventurous and exciting evening. I use travel guide books to find accommodation. Good luck planning your travel plans to Asia.

I perfer individual trips to group tours. There is a lot of benefit to group tours, it's safer and the guide takes you to all the important destinations in the area. Still I like the freedom of being in control of everything in my vacation. Last time I went on vacation, I went on a group tour and I felt rushed knowing that I have to meet back with the group at a certain time everytime we went to do an event.

Hi Porcospino Never been to a different country but there have been many offers of group travel - kind of holiday packages for groups here that do allow cheaper travel, boarding and also food. But I never prefer these. I always prefer to be a free bird. Traveling in groups is good and fun too but the only issue is the timings pre-set. I mean say if I am at a place that I would love to spend some more time, I cannot, just because I am traveling in a group and they all have set time slots... Similarly, I cannot leave a place early if I dont like it... Also the accommodation is not that great many times forget the food. Being a free bird, gives me much more space and much more enjoyment

Hi Porcospino.... I personally prefer personal tours because I can arrange where I wanna go and what I want to eat. I don't think traveling alone will be more expensive if you traveling the way backpacker did. Eat where local people not fancy restaurant for tourist. I think you and I now the most expensive part in vacation will be plane ticket and hotel than local transportation and eating. I think if we can find cheap flight and cheap hotel every thing will be cheaper than traveling with group.

I never try individual trip. I prefer group trip and i really dont like to travel myself. I dont like the lonely feeling and that why i dont like to travel alone. Besides, i like to share with other when i saw something interesting or try some nice food.

I have never traveled and I will never travel abroad. I know I can't afford of travelling somewhere. I think to travel with a group is a lot more fun and relaxing. I have ever been on school tour two three time where there were hundreds of student and I was one of them. The street were full of our bus and many yell from happy student who have holiday, was exciting and entertaining. If I can afford of travelling to an unfamiliar country, I would choose some of my closely friends or relatives. I also travel here in Indonesia and most of travelling time is done only by myself and I was happy to travel inside my country as well.

I haven't traveled out of the country before, and had only been to few places here. But if I were to travel, I don't think I'd be doing it alone. Being with someone I know on an unfamiliar place would make me a lot at ease and eventually enjoy the whole trip. And of course some group tour package are a lot nicer than individual ones :D

group travel can be a lot of fun, you get to meet new people and the fun can head into many different directions within a group..