Who are group tours for?
Group tours are for people who want someone else with the knowledge and expertise in a particular area to do the logistical work and administrative details that go into planning a trip.
They work well for people who are not interested in traveling alone.
When traveling with a group, it might be better to hire someone to run the tour to relieve a person in the group the responsibility and duties of running a tour.
Group tours can save money in terms of the proper tour operator getting discounted rates and sharing expenses, such as a tour guide, among the group. It will also save money in that the individual traveler, who does not know the ins-and-outs of the country they are in, in terms of getting discounts and making mistakes. For instance when The Traveling Professor takes small groups to Peru, we take a little-known train route that saves much time.
What makes a good group tour?
Small groups. A good size group is about 12 travelers. Avoid the large groups (over 20) like the plague.
Clearly defined expectations. Know what the tour will cost. Know the itinerary. Know what to expect in terms of hotels, packing, money, customs, physical demands.
Make sure the group is for you. Is the age and demographic background what you want? If you are 65 years old for example, you might not want to be on a trip that includes kids.
For more information on The Traveling Professor tours, see www.travelingprofessor.com