11 reasons why your next adventure should be a group trip

If you’re on the fence about whether a group trip is right for you, let me put your mind at ease — group trips truly are for everyone! With tours catering to all travel styles, ages, fitness levels, and interests, the hardest part is trying to pick just one.

Still unsure? Trust me, the benefits of group travel are so rewarding that I’m confident you won’t regret it. Curious to know why? Keep reading for 11 compelling reasons why your next adventure should be a group trip.

Amazing advantages of joining a group trip

1. Planning done for you

The first advtange of group travell is obvious. When you join a group trip, the itinerary is already planned, the logistics are sorted, and everything is booked in one handy-dandy package. 

Some of us love planning, others hate it, but either way, you can't deny that somebody else taking care of everything is a huge benefit. It means that once you've decided to go, you can get excited because there's nothing else on the to-do list: no stress, no pressure, no worries. 

If you're a planner at heart, you can still research the trip in more depth to find out exactly where you'll be going, what you'll be doing and what you need to pack (don’t worry, Stay Wild Travel provides you with this too if in doubt). But this is all fun research because there's no time pressure to book, decisions to be made, or others to please. It’s all covered.

2. An expert in hidden gems

Following on from the fact that somebody else has created the itinerary, this somebody is a true expert on the destination. They already know the best spots, including hidden gems you might not find even if you scoured a hundred blog posts. 

They know the interesting stops to break up the journeys between the highlights. They know the back alley bistro completely hidden from the main road but serves the BEST version of the local dish. Honestly, the person who fits this many hidden gems into one awesome itinerary (while also ticking off all the must-dos) is a gem in themselves.

This has to be one of the biggest group travel benefits!

3. No expectations are the best expectations

This may be controversial, but I love surprises! Group trips often give you an overview of where you'll go and what's included, but they leave a lot to the imagination. 

While it’s easy to get caught up in picturing yourself at the beautiful sites and doing the amazing activities, there’s nothing like being there and doing it for real, so I promise you’ll still be blown away when it finally happens. 

And because you haven’t had to focus on the nitty-gritty of the planning, an advantage of group tours is that you’re not bogged down with transport timings or the exact tour inclusions; your mind is free from analysing how it should be and gets to truly appreciate how it is. 

Add in those hidden gems, and you’re in for epic surprises. Not knowing everything in advance makes the experience so much better than you ever thought it could be. 

4. Value for money

This one might surprise you, as group tours often aren’t the cheapest way of travelling, but the number of inclusions you get means affordable group travel can actually be a thing!

You’ll have private transport customised to your schedule, so you get the chauffeur experience without the price tag. Rather than having to figure out how to get from the bus station to your hotel, door-to-door taxi service is a luxury you never realised you needed but suddenly won’t want to travel without. 

And you’re not just saving money, you’re saving time: you’ll skip the queue at sites and never have to wait for a table at a restaurant. You may even have private dinner seatings at exclusive local venues not available to independent travellers. These unique local experiences are the most valuable of all. 

5. Hello, immediate group of friends

Ever wanted to take a trip with friends, but no one you know has the time or the money to join you? Or perhaps you have made the trip with friends, and it turns out your home group doesn’t mesh so well in a different environment. 

Group trips are full of people with the same attitudes and goals: seizing opportunities, exploring our amazing planet, pushing limits, learning about and connecting with new people and cultures. 

These kinds of people are the best to surround yourself with while travelling. You’re all excited about the same destination, experiencing things together for the first time and seeing each other at your best (and possibly worst) in a very short period of time. At the end of it all, you’ll be bonded for life!

6. Help before you go

When you sign up for a group trip, you’ll be sent a lot of information before you travel to ensure you’re as prepared as possible. You’ll have packing lists, cultural insights, and maybe a quick language guide. 

There may be a group chat with other travellers to get to know each other a little before you go. You might even find others taking the same flight as you, and you can meet them at the airport. 

All of this takes the stress out of arriving in a new place for the first time and ensures you’re taken care of right from the point of booking, not just once you’re there in person.

7. Embrace your inner passenger princess

The planning assistance doesn't just cover the itinerary and bookings. It extends all the way through the trip itself. You'll never have to figure out directions or find the correct bus. 

Let your inner passenger princess out and trust the trip. You'll be taken exactly where you need to go and given all the information when needed. You might be in charge of the playlist, but other than that, your only job is to have a good time.

8. Travel to more difficult countries

There are a few destinations around the world that seem relatively inaccessible for independent travellers. Whether due to safety concerns, prohibitively high costs, or simply lack of information and booking assistance as a foreigner, many areas of the world are not as well travelled as others. 

Group tours make some of these bucket list destinations accessible for those who would never otherwise get the opportunity to visit. This is particularly true for female solo travellers, and group tours are perfect for exploring unknown areas safely and comfortably.

This is one of the main reason why Stay WIld Travel exists. We wanted to create budget-friendly trips that go beyond your typical destinations, reducing the barriers for women to go on crazy adventures, safely.

9. Instant customer service

No one wants to think about things going wrong on their holiday, but honestly, stuff happens. It is a concern, and I don't want just to sweep it under the rug. 

Group tours can't change the weather, prevent flat tyres, or foresee randomly cancelled trains. But what they will do, if anything happens, is take care of you. You don't have to stress about finding an alternative route, a new place to stay last minute, or how to fight for a refund. 

The guide and the company will handle everything on the ground and behind the scenes to fix any issue without you even having to notify them. While you may need to remain flexible, this is the most that will be asked of you, making an unexpected situation as close to stress-free as possible.

10. Local guides are the heroes of group trips

Your guide will become your best friend. I promise you this one and Stay Wild works with the best guides out there.

They're the local experts, offering insights into fascinating cultural differences, relating history in personal ways, and showing you the depth and many facets of a destination, not just the glossy guidebook description. 

Through them, you can immerse yourself in local traditions and customs. They're your translator, local food guru, haggling coach, and conduit for forming a real connection with everyone you meet. 

They transform you from a mere tourist into a true traveler. Think of them as your personal encyclopedia for local restaurants, souvenirs, and authentic experiences, ensuring you maximize every moment — even beyond the itinerary.

But they’re far more than just guides; they become your cultural bridge, storyteller, and trusted companion. For me, they’re the heart of every group trip, and once you’ve experienced the magic of exploring with a guide-best friend, you’ll never want to travel without one again.

11. Community when you come back

Those friends you immediately made on joining your trip – they’ll still be there when you come back.

Learned a new cool fact about a place you visited together? Call them. 

Missing a certain fantastic food? Text them. 

Wanting to do it all over again? Plan the next trip with them. 

A group trip isn’t just the days you’re away. Travel shapes you, and keeping those connections alive for a long time afterwards is invaluable. It’s a huge benefit of small group travel, and will keep you coming back for more. 

Maybe even with the same people! Or your next trip will be to visit those people. People take group trips from all over the world, so your new community is likely full of multiple nationalities and cultures. 

Reuniting with friends in their home, years after meeting on the other side of the world, is an indescribable feeling. It’s an incredible community, and I can’t wait for you to join it. 

How to join a group trip as a solo female traveller

Stay Wild is exactly what you’re looking for. We run group trips for women looking to go beyond typical destinations, balancing exploration, comfort, and affordability.

Joining a group trip is as simple as picking your bucket list destination, checking out the itinerary and signing up to your dream trip.