Why Small-Group Travel Beats Big Tour Buses

Ask anyone who has done both, and they'll usually tell you the same thing: the size of the group changes the entire shape of a trip, often more than the destination itself.

Fewer People, More Flexibility

A forty-seat bus runs on a fixed schedule because it has to — coordinating that many people means the itinerary is locked well before anyone leaves home. A group of six or eight can linger at a viewpoint an extra twenty minutes, swap out a stop that isn't working, or start the day an hour later without derailing anyone else's plans.

You Actually Get to Know the Place

Big tour groups tend to interact with a destination through a bus window and a handful of designated photo stops. Smaller groups end up eating at the same small places locals do, striking up conversations that wouldn't happen with forty people crowding a doorway, and generally moving at a pace that leaves room to notice things. The trip becomes about the place, not just checking it off.

The Trade-Offs Worth Knowing

• Per-person costs are often a little higher, since fixed costs split fewer ways

• Departure dates are less frequent than large-bus tours

• Seats can fill up faster, especially in peak season

None of that outweighs what you get back in flexibility and pace. If this sounds like your kind of trip, take a look at our small-group tour packages to see what's currently running.