Mythbusters: Why You Should Try Group Travel

Group travel can get a bad rap – some of it’s deserved if you’re thinking about those rigid, impersonal bus tours from decades past.

But if you’re someone who loves travel (but hates the planning!), values authentic experiences over tourist traps, and would enjoy having some incredible company along the way – it’s time to bust some myths! Modern group travel might just surprise you.

MYTH: It’s Going to Be Like Those Old-School Bus Tours

Not even close! Forget everything you think you know about group travel: cramped buses, rushed schedules, and tourist-trap restaurants – those are all relics of the past.

Modern group travel prioritizes quality over quantity and deep cultural experiences over surface-level visits. Instead of checking destinations off a list, you’ll have time to actually absorb where you are.

Learning to make pad thai, unravelling the secrets of cheese-making in Italy – you’ll get the chance to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and step away to say “I’ve done that!” rather than just, “I’ve been there.“

REALITY: Modern Group Travel with Approach Tours is Comfortable and Exciting

• Spacious coaches with extra seats booked for comfort (with no assigned seating!)
• Handpicked authentic experiences, not tourist assembly lines
• Flexible schedules with built-in free time
• High-quality, comfortable accommodations
• Small groups (30 travellers maximum) instead of faceless crowds whose names you’ll never learn

MYTH: You’ll Get Stuck with People You Can’t Stand

Here’s the thing – you all chose the same adventure for the same reasons. That shared sense of wanderlust creates natural chemistry from day one.

Group travel draws like-minded individuals together. That adventurous spirit fosters conversations over meals and shared discoveries. Picture bonding over the shared awe of seeing Victoria Falls for the first time – these moments create instant connections. And if you really want to break away from the group, you can!

REALITY: Like-Minded Approach Adventurers Become Travel Family

• Natural bonds form through shared experiences
• Almost everyone’s Canadian, so shared cultural references help
• No forced friendships – connections happen organically
• Many travellers end up planning future group trips with their new companions (and even road trips to visit each other back home!)

MYTH: Group Tours Aren’t Needed for Independent Travellers

Sure, you don’t need one, but you might discover you want one. Experienced independent travellers often make the best group travellers because they appreciate well planned itineraries and good logistics (that they won’t have to take care of)!

Maybe you take pride in your self-sufficiency and independent travel. But your skills at navigating foreign cultures don’t disappear – they actually get enhanced by the expertise that’s built into the group-tour format. Intimidated by the street-food chicken satay skewers in Thailand? Your guide knows which vendor to try and which food stalls to avoid. Looking for that perfect handcrafted souvenir in Morocco? They’ll use their unique connection to local culture to point you in the right direction. You’ll still get to experience moments of discovery, but with added ease and professional support.

Let’s not forget, too – collective discoveries amplify the joy of travel! That moment when the entire group witnesses an incredible sunset together or erupts into thunderous laughter creates shared memories that independent travel can’t match.

REALITY: You Gain without Losing Independence

• Professional logistics handling the tedious stuff
• Local insider access you can’t get solo – like taking a day trip to fly out to the Abu Simbel temples while cruising the Nile in Egypt
• Backup support if things go sideways
• You still have the freedom to explore independently during built-in free time

MYTH: Group Travel is More Expensive than Solo Travel

Often it’s actually the opposite! Inherent to purchasing a group tour, you get better rates on hotels, exclusive access to experiences, and you eliminate costly mistakes that solo travellers often make.

When you factor in the value – professional guides, seamless logistics, quality accommodations, all meals, and exclusive experiences – group travel often delivers much more for far less.

REALITY: Approach Tours is the only radically all-inclusive way to tour

Here are the PERKS included on all of our tours:

• Private car service to and from your home airport
• International and domestic economy flights (with included baggage)
• All meals on tour, including lunches and specialty dining
• All excursions, even the optional ones
• Tips for all staff and service providers
• Group Guru, available 24/7 to keep you happy on tour
• Emergency medical travel insurance with Manulife
• All relevant taxes and fees, even hotel and airport taxes

The average value of these Approach Tours perks is $3,484 per person! Everything’s included, nothing sold on the side – no upsells, no pressure, just the pure adventure you signed up for! When independent travellers try to recreate this level of service and inclusion, the costs add up quickly – private transfers alone can cost hundreds, quality guided experiences are expensive, and unexpected costs (tips, taxes, emergency insurance) catch many off-guard.

MYTH: There’s No Flexibility in the Day’s Schedule

A healthy mix of free time and chances for independent exploration are built into our itineraries. A typical day starts with excitement and anticipation for the day’s activities –  bonus: you don’t have to worry about logistics! You’ll have no need to double-check flights, call ahead, plot next stops, grapple with language barriers, or handle restaurant selections. Everything’s coordinated before you finish your first cup of coffee, so you can spend more time enjoying your trip!

REALITY: Choice, Independence, & Flexibility Are Built Into Every Approach Tour

Here’s what a typical day looks like:

• Breakfast served 7–9am (plenty of time to fuel up)
• Comfortable travel from stop to stop
• Guides bringing destinations to life with insider knowledge at museums, special sites, cultural spaces
• Included lunch at local spots featuring regional specialties
• Free time built in for personal exploration or relaxation
• Group dinners at handpicked restaurants (with your food restrictions handled!)
• Weather tips, packing advice, meeting times all coordinated for you
• Next day’s activities shared with you the night before at dinner and via group chat

Your support team:

• Group Guru: Your main coordinator and link to head office
• National Guide: English-speaking local expert for the entire country visit
• Local Guides: Specialists who make each destination fascinating

Watch our ‘A Day in the Life on Tour‘ video to learn more.

MYTH: All Group Tours are the Same (If You’ve Had a Bad Experience)

We get it! Past disappointments with rushed itineraries, poor guides, or incompatible group dynamics are exactly why modern group travel has evolved. Thankfully, today’s operators have learned from those mistakes.

REALITY: Modern Group Travel Has Evolved

• Quality over quantity approach
• Professional guide training and certifications
• Smaller group sizes for better dynamics
• Flexible participation options
• Focus on authentic experiences like learning about religious significance at Angkor Wat with expert guides
• Better accommodation standards

The industry recognized that travellers want depth, not breadth – time to absorb experiences rather than checking destinations off lists.

MYTH: Group Tours Mean Rooming with Strangers

If you’ve booked with a travel buddy or your partner, you get your own private room to yourselves! For solo travellers, there are never any forced roommate situations – though roommate pairing programs are available for those who prefer company, want to meet a new friend, and to share costs.

REALITY: Private Rooms for Everyone on Tour with Approach

• High-quality hotels with character
• Private rooms for all travellers (unless requesting to share)
• Free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desks
• Laundry service available on longer tours
• CPAP machines and special needs can be accommodated