Briefcase to Backpack - Travel Advice for Career Breaks or Sabbaticals » Adventure http://b2b.meetplango.com Travel Advice and Guidance for Taking Cultural Career Breaks Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 What to Do: Small Group Tours http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/06/what-to-do-small-group-tours/ http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/06/what-to-do-small-group-tours/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:00:51 +0000 MeetPlanGo http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4536 Recently, Sherry Ott and I gave a presentation on the “Benefits of Small Group Tours for the Solo Traveler” at the GAP Adventure Concept Store in New York City. Both Sherry and I have incorporated small group tours into our various travels and for various reasons. Here are highlights from our presentation. Maybe you’ll be inspired to incorporate small group tours into your travels as well!

Machu Picchu, Peru STEPPING STONE

  • Good for the novice traveler
  • Group leader to translate and answer questions
  • Experience all the new things within the ‘safety’ of a group
  • Used it as a ‘test run’ for extended travel

Vietnam SAFETY

  • Comfort level varies for different countries
  • Unsure of safety as a woman traveling alone
  • Language barriers also vary country to country
  • Transportation issues

Morocco BREAK UP EXTENDED TRAVEL

  • Variety – solo, travel with friends & group tours
  • Travel is work!
  • Nice break from booking transportation & lodging
  • Offered a ‘vacation’ type experience
  • Also offers a level of independence
  • May provide future travel partners

Galapagos Islands CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

  • Access to cultural activities you may not have on your own
  • Experience life like the locals, including transportation and staying with families
  • If you want to understand a country and it’s people, ride with them
  • You aren’t on the outside looking in
  • Times when you have to have a guide (ie, Galapagos)

American Southwest NO TRAVEL PARTNERS

  • Some experiences you don’t want to do on your own
  • Even if you don’t have a travel partner doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the experience
  • Make new friends
  • Have cultural experiences within your own group

TIPS

  • When booking, think about what you want to get out of the experience
  • Comfort level/Age range
  • If you are solo, try to arrange an airport transfer when possible
  • While on trip, be patient with new cultures
  • Also be patient with your group members

Some of the destinations we’ve used small group tours include
Peru | Galapagos Islands | Morocco | Brazil | Cambodia | Vietnam | Egypt

Recommended Tour Operator

Travel Solo But Never Alone

]]> http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/06/what-to-do-small-group-tours/feed/ 3 Costa Rica: Surf Camp http://b2b.meetplango.com/2009/02/costa-rica-surf-camp/ http://b2b.meetplango.com/2009/02/costa-rica-surf-camp/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:09:22 +0000 MeetPlanGo http://briefcase2backpack.com/?p=1441 We had an amazing time going to Surf Camp in Costa Rica. Here’s a sneak peak of our experience:

 

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