Solo Activity Vs Group Activity – How to Choose!
Solo travelling is such a fun and exhilarating adventure. An adventure that fills you with confidence and the excitement of the unknown – walking through streets you have never walked on, meeting strangers, hiking on new trails, eating delicious meals, and trying new things – the list goes on and on.
My goal for solo travel is to enjoy different parts of the planet and just wander – no time restriction, no location restriction.
Sometimes I go to the beach and walk. Sometimes I just lay on the sand.
Other times, I beach hop, and other times I scramble rocks on a magnificent coastal front. Some days I wander in the middle of a busy city for as long as possible, grab a chair and have dinner.
As much as I love solo activities, I also join group tours for some of my activities.
If you ask me which option I prefer, I will say that – I do both and I enjoy both. For me, mixing solo activities and group tours is a perfect blend.
Research and Ask Questions
My first step is to always do my research, and I will recommend you start with a simple google search to get some ideas on different activities.
What kind of activities are you interested in? Are you able to complete this activity solo or do you have to join a tour group? Is it safe to do this activity solo or will you need a guide? Will you enjoy this activity solo or would you prefer it in a group setting?
Once you have a few activities in mind, hop on over to sites like Trip Advisor and search for activities at your travel destination. Reading reviews here will give you an idea of what other travelers’ experiences have been.
Travel blogs: I have found travel blogs to be very informative. I used Earth Trekkers travel blog to plan my Seven Hidden Valleys hike in Portugal.
They also have an amazing detailed blog about how to hike the Monserrat in Spain. They go as far as showing pictures of some landmarks that will make it easier for you to find the trailhead – you cannot beat that.
Tip: Always read blog comments. I always find a hidden gem in comments.
Travel facebook groups are also one of my favorite places to do my research. I recommend you join a few groups. Search facebook for your destination name and you will come up with a few groups. Before my trip to Portugal, I joined Travel Portugal group, and it helped tremendously with my planning.
Some of my other favorite facebook travel groups are:
Travel Youtubers: I love watching travel Youtube videos for fun. Some youtubers are very detailed in sharing their travel experiences. Type in your destination in youtube search and you will find a ton of great videos for ideas.
Tip: Always read comments. I always find a hidden gem in comments.
Other sites that I have used and found useful are: Viator, AirbnbExperience, Get Your Guide, Trip Advisor, Devour Tours, and Guru Walk. Enter your destination name on the site, and you will get a long list of activities. Descriptions of the activities and traveler’s reviews will give you a good idea whether the activity will be good as a solo activity or a group activity.
For example, in Portugal, my goal was an active vacation, so I searched for activities that will keep me active, like the walking tour of Lisbon, Tastes and Traditions of Lisbon walking food tour, the fun Photowalk in Old Lisbon, and hiking the Seven Hidden Valleys trail. I then read tons of reviews to come up with a plan.
Deciding Factors
Safety. Some activities are safe to do on your own and others are better in a group or with a guide. Be sure to assess the activity by following the tips above. Please remember, safety first.
For example, I prefer group hikes both in my home state and when travelling for obvious reasons. However, I was able to hike the Seven Hidden Valleys trail in Portugal by myself after doing a lot of research and asking questions. My research was right, the trail had tons of people hiking it or simply walking around for photo op, and that is what I feel comfortable with. If for whatever reason it didn’t turn out that way, I would have walked away and found something else to do that day.
Transportation Can you use public transportation, take a taxi or walk to your destination? In Lisbon, it was easy to use the Bolt app to request a ride to various solo activities or simply walk.
In St. John Virgin Island, it was difficult to get a taxi to one of the trail heads from the ferry port.
Depending on the activity, transportation might not be easily accessible. Booking a group tour might be easier in such cases, since some tour companies will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back at your hotel after your tour.
Be sure to keep this in mind when planning your trip.
Cost. Consider the cost of the activity. In Portugal, I cancelled a hiking tour to Algarve when the meet up time was unrealistic since I was staying in Lisbon. I also considered the cost of the group hike, and realized I will save more money by hiking solo.
Type of Activity. The type of activity also lends itself to whether I make it a solo activity or a group activity.
For example, I love to learn about the history and culture of the places I visit. I have found the best way to accomplish this, is to join a group walking tour of the city. Imagine my excitement when I found out about the Guru Walking app. The app provides you with free walking tours in many places around the world.
If the city you are visiting does not have a tour on the guru app, you can also find paid historical and cultural tours on Viator.
One thing I love to do is to wander around a new place. I prefer to do this solo. I always reserve a day on my trip for this.
I usually start at the city center, and simply wander around. I also strike up conversations with taxi drivers and store owners who always share wonderful places to visit. I eat delicious meals, and just have a wonderful day.
I hope you find these tips useful when you are planning your trip. One thing I would love to share with you – do not restrict yourself, always make the best out of any type of activity. Every experience will leave you with lasting memories.
If one thing doesn’t work out, move on to the next and have the best time of your life.
I always add an extra activity or two for just in case, or I simply switch things around and make the best out of each day.
I hope you always choose open roads to a new adventure.
~Eliza
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Sonia
These are great safety tips for how to decide on solo vs Group Tours.