When I was a little girl, I would scour my grandparents’ travel pictures, souvenirs, and the coins they would bring me. They were big into group travel, where they would ride by bus from tourists spot to tourist spot with a guide and about nine to fourteen other couples. I remember thinking, but is that fun? Is it traveling? Can they branch out on their own? I was young and didn’t want to conform to rules.
It was safe for my grandparents to travel this way, and they didn’t have to think about anything. It’s like visiting a roving, all-inclusive resort. Everything, all the way down the meals, was taken care of. It wasn’t until I was much older that I took a trip to India with my mom, and we too traveled this way. I have to say, it was incredible! We just had to show up in the hotel lobby at the designated time, and off we went to the preplanned adventure for the day. The trip was built to our interests, so there wasn’t a day that felt like a letdown.
I have traveled around the world solo several times, and while that’s a different sort of great, group travel is the next level. You meet so many new people who share your ideas and ways of thinking, depending on the kind of travel you are doing. You don’t have to think about how to navigate, where to go next, finding a place to eat, etc. It’s all thought out for you and comes with a translator, depending on where you are going. Not saying you shouldn’t learn a few words and phrases in the respective country. What are your thoughts on group travel? Think you would ever give it a shot?
I’ve rounded up a few trips that look incredible if you are interested in approaching travel in this new way. So go solo, grab a friend, or take the whole family and set out on a new adventure.
Head to Paris with one of the most incredible design-minded authors, Eva Jorgensen. She is the author of Paris by Design and has a keen pulse on what is happening, things to see, and people to meet. She lived in Paris previously and speaks French.
Sailing Collective is travel by sailboat to places like Galapagos Islands and Sardina. Saving my pennies for a trip via SC.
Black & Abroad is a travel group for Black travelers. They explore primarily African countries, Europe, and South America. I found them through this fantastic round-up.
Quartier Collective’s Family Gatherings is like world schooling as a group. You still travel as a family, planning your own adventures, but meeting up with other traveling families for some meals, two outings a week, and to explore some local spots. They guide you on where to find certain things, like lodging and transportation, but you book everything yourself.
Aspiring Kennedy is another place to look when you want to travel to Europe and don’t know where to start. She offers female-only adventures to places like Spain and Switzerland. She’s recently changed her business name to Open Invite Trips, but you can still inquire via her website.
I’d love to one day lead a Family Field Trip, planning out all the places to go and see with other like-minded families, discovering and exploring together. Teaching our kids all about art, design, nature, culture, history, and more together as a community. Would you be interested in that? Please let me know, and I’ll approach the idea more in-depth.
In the meantime, I might start offering travel consulting and itinerary planning for families looking to get out and explore but aren’t sure where to start. Feel free to email me if that’s something that you’d be interested in, and we can get started on the planning! - Erin
PS… I finally have a new website! You can visit me here, see my work, and read more about what I do. Thanks for being here. So thankful that you are. Have a great day!
Thanks for this