The 10 best group travel companies
Whether you’re an individual looking for your next group travel adventure or a travel manager booking a company retreat, the intricacies involved in booking and organizing group travel can feel daunting.With so many people involved, how do you make sure that everyone’s needs are accounted for? How can you be sure that everyone’s submitted their information correctly? How can you make sure that the trip goes ahead with as few bumps in the road as possible?Luckily, many group travel companies specialize in organizing group travel and help to eliminate the stresses involved in organizing a trip for multiple people—especially first-time group travelers.Whether you’re traveling to New Zealand, South America, or Morocco, we’ve put together this guide for individual travelers and businesses looking to book their next group trip or retreat. We cover:- The common challenges involved in booking group travel
- What services group tour companies offer
- A review of 10 of the best small group travel companies
What are the common challenges involved in booking trips for large groups of people?
For individual travelers and businesses alike, there are certain challenges when it comes to choosing the best group tours, booking group travel, and organizing travel insurance.Gathering all of the necessary group travel information
For travel managers especially, gathering business traveler information can be a huge challenge -- especially when you don’t have a centralized platform to store and modify their information.From recording names, birth dates, passport numbers, and dietary requirements to preferred seat type, loyalty program affiliation, and emergency contact numbers, manual methods just won’t cut it. A travel management solution that allows travelers to enter their own information, and enables travel managers to access it is vital when it comes to booking group travel.Multiple moving parts are difficult to manage
As well as managing multiple people, travel managers also need to keep an eye on the best airline fares and accommodation deals. Maybe you found a great deal on group airline tickets, but one person can’t fly that day which means you need to revisit the travel itinerary from scratch.People often have different plansGroup travel can often be tricky when different people want to do and see different things. Plus, when groups travel for business, they’ll also likely have meetings and conferences at different times. Sometimes, travel itineraries can be rigid and not allow for much deviation which can lead to disappointment for some travelers.What are group travel companies and what services do they typically offer?
Group travel companies curate trips, adventures, and itineraries, and manage the booking of transport options, accommodation on behalf of a group.Many group travel companies have their niche. While some cater to certain age ranges (18-35 groups and “senior” groups), others cater to the type of trip, for example, overseas adventure travel, cycling vacations, and mountain trekking.Via their group travel websites, group travel companies will:Design travel itineraries according to client needs
One of the key benefits of using group travel companies is that everything is taken care of on behalf of the traveler. Whether you’re traveling throughout North America, Asia, or Antarctica, every detail can be taken care of.Group travel companies take care of finding and booking accommodation (they often have established relationships with hotels and other accommodation types and have access to negotiated deals), arranging all necessary transportation, booking restaurants or hotel-provided meals, and organizing activities.While some group travel companies have set trip itineraries that travelers can choose from, many also offer travelers the option of customizing their trip to their own wants and needs.Provide accessible assistance for travelersMany group travel companies will also provide support for travelers while they’re on vacation and find themselves in need of emergency assistance. Many group travel itineraries will also have a group leader who is in charge of the welfare of all travelers in the event of an accident or emergency.Offer locally based guides
Some group travel companies offer locally-based guides who are either from the area or currently live in the area. This means that travelers get the most authentic experiences from locals who know the area like the back of their hands.10 of the best group travel companies
The best tour company for you will depend on your budget, the travel style you’re interested in, or your business’s needs. Luckily, there is a wide range of group travel companies that offer different group-booking services for every type of traveler's needs.Here’s our pick of the top ten group travel companies for your next great trip.7. For the Love of Travel (FTLO)
For the Love of Travel (FTLO) is a group travel company aimed at ages 25-39. The company asks travelers to fill out a travel profile so that they can curate the best tour itineraries possible and match similar travelers on the same trips.With headquarters in Los Angeles, FTLO takes care of all of the logistics needed to create a group travel trip. The company claims to offer trips that “aren’t luxury, but aren’t budget either”, giving travelers a great middle-ground for their group adventures.FTLO’s main offerings include:- Weekend trips
- International trips
- A commitment to being a climate-neutral brand, supporting local economies, and only working with vendors that align with their values
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