NOTE: Though this post was originally written several years ago, the most common misconceptions certainly still ring true!
Zephyr Adventures has been in the group travel business for over 15 years, so we understand that like most people who join us for the first time, you might feel a bit uneasy about the “group tour” experience. Let’s talk about the three most common misconceptions about group travel and put your mind at ease.
1. I will be the only solo traveler in the group
Unlikely! Most of our trips include a mix of couples, friends and solos, with solo travelers making up a good portion of our travelers. In fact, on most tours, 40 to 60% of participants are solo travelers. Some tours have an even higher rate. For example, this year’s Minnesota Skating Adventure, is currently made up of 70% solo travelers, and the upcoming Kilimanjaro Trek and Safari, is 100% solo travelers. So pack your bags and come along!
We also think you should know that as a solo traveler with Zephyr Adventures you are never required to pay a single supplement. You have the choice to share a room with another solo traveler we pair you with, or – if you’d prefer your own room – you can pay the optional single supplement, which varies by trip.
2. I will be the oldest one (or youngest one) on the trip
Most tours enjoy a fun mix of people from diverse backgrounds and a range of ages. Generally, our clients are people from their 30s to 60s and average somewhere in their early 50s. If you are interested in the average age or age range of a certain trip – just ask – we have stats on each trip that we are happy to share with you to help you choose the trip that you’ll feel most comfortable with. -And ensuring your good time is what we’re all about.
3. I’m not in good enough shape
While some of our tours are more challenging than others, most are designed to accommodate participants with a wide variety of ability levels. This makes traveling with a partner of differing ability or interest level easy.
Here’s how we do it. We have multiple route options for varying distances on most days of our tours, allowing you to choose where you want to fall on the exercise-relax seesaw for that day. And we also have a support van available to give you a lift when needed. Each trip is assigned a general ability rating, and we encourage you to use this rating as a guide when selecting your ideal tour. You can read more about these ratings at the Ability Level page, or ask us for the daily route distances for a specific trip- we’re more than happy to help!
We hope we’ve addressed your concerns about group travel and empowered you to take part in a Zephyr Adventures soon. If you have any questions about group tours, please leave a comment or contact us; that’s what we are here for.
We leave you with our motto: Life’s short… prioritize adventure! We hope to be sharing an adventure with you in the near future.
I am glad to see that you have put some of the most common misconceptions to rest about Group Travel