How to choose the right group travel company for your style
- Justin Meneguzzi
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Choosing the right group travel company can make or break your trip. From small, family-run specialists to global tour companies, it can sometimes feel overwhelming deciding who to trust with your holiday plans.
The good news is that when you know your travel style, preferences, and what to look for, finding the right fit becomes easier.
Once you know your preferences, our expert travel advisors can narrow down the list of group tour companies and itineraries to those that suit you. Then when you’re ready, we can book the tour along with any extras like flights, transfers and insurance.
Know your travel style first
Before diving into brochures or clicking through endless websites, ask yourself a few questions:
Do you prefer luxury or budget-friendly travel?
Are you after a fast-paced itinerary covering all the sites, or something more relaxed with free time to explore on your own?
Are you happy to mingle with strangers or would you prefer to travel with a private group of family or friends?
Would you rather city-hop or visit multiple countries in the same trip, or spend time in fewer places with deeper cultural immersion?
Different group travel tours cater to different personalities and interests, so clarifying your travel style is key.
Popular travel styles to consider include:
Adventure and activity-based holidays: Great for those who love hiking, biking, or other outdoor experiences. Intrepid Travel and Adventure World are standouts here.
Food and wine: Perfect for culinary explorers, companies like Collette and World Journeys offer itineraries featuring local food experiences, wine tastings, and farm visits.
Cultural and historical: If museums, temples, and storytelling light you up, look to Wendy Wu Tours or Bunnik Tours for enriching journeys.
Premium slow travel: Think river cruises and luxury safaris, Abercrombie & Kent, Tauck, and Forth & Wonder excel when it comes to exclusive experiences with personalised service.
The best group tours are those that really match your interests and mean you'll be travelling with like-minded people. Knowing your travel style helps narrow the field to companies that “get” you.
Consider group size and age range
Not all group travel tours are created equal when it comes to group size and age demographics.
Small groups
Typically have 10–16 people
Offer more intimate experiences
Easier logistics because there are fewer people
Greater access to boutique accommodations and restaurants
Better for connecting with fellow travellers
Large groups
Typically have 30 or more people.
Larger scale operations mean they are often more affordable
Good for socialising or meeting a wider range of people
May follow a tighter schedule
Age range matters too. Some travel tour companies offer specific experiences for younger crowds, like Intrepid Travel’s 18 to 35s range of tours. Others cater to mature travellers (50+), such as Collette or Bunnik Tours, or design their itineraries to match the needs of families, like Tauck's Bridges family tours range.
Ask us about the typical demographic of a tour before you book. The right group vibe makes all the difference.
Look at the company’s destination expertise
If you're heading somewhere special, choose a company that specialises in that region. A generalist may tick the boxes, but a local expert can unlock authentic experiences.
For example, if you’re planning a trip to Scandinavia, 50 Degrees North focuses solely on the Nordics and Arctic, offering insider access and immersive cultural moments. Similarly, Wide Eyed Tours & Travel and Wendy Wu Tours specialises in China, Vietnam, Thailand and beyond, with decades of on-the-ground knowledge.
Dreaming of a luxury African safari? Forth & Wonder curates high-end, bespoke trips across East and Southern Africa with attention to detail.
Destination-specific group travel companies often have stronger local partnerships, better guides, and unique access to experiences off the typical tourist trail.
Compare what’s included
Not all group travel tours offer the same level of inclusions. Some are all-inclusive, others have a lower upfront cost with less inclusions and more flexibility around which optional activities to do and others only include the basics.
Key inclusions to check include:
The standard and location of accommodation
Types of transport (e.g., private coach, domestic flights, scenic trains, local transport)
Number and types of meals included
Entrance fees, activities, and guided tours
Tipping and gratuities
Be cautious with super-cheap tours. They often come with optional extras that add up quickly. Paying a little more upfront for your tour can save time, stress, and surprise expenses later.
If you’re budgeting for your holiday, all-inclusive options also make it easier to plan and avoid hidden costs.
Read reviews and ratings
One of the easiest ways to assess group travel companies is through independent reviews. Start with platforms like Google Reviews, TrustPilot, Facebook, and ask us about feedback we’ve received from past travellers.
What to look for:
Guide quality: Are they knowledgeable, friendly, and organised?
Tour pacing: Is the itinerary too rushed or too slow?
Accommodation standards: Did it meet travellers’ expectations?
Group atmosphere: Did the group gel well?
Red flags to avoid:
Poor communication before or during the trip
Frequent mentions of “hidden costs”
Complaints about being herded or rushed through attractions
Taking the time to read honest feedback from past travellers is one of the best ways to find the best group tours for your needs.
Check the company’s values and vibe
Beyond logistics, every travel company has a distinct “vibe.” Take the time to understand who they’re speaking to and whether the brand aligns with your values.
Some companies are driven by ethical values. Intrepid Travel is a certified B Corporation known for responsible tourism, carbon offsetting, and support for local communities. World Journeys and Adventure World often include culturally sensitive, immersive experiences.
Others may cater to a larger crowd or prioritise fast sightseeing over depth. That might be perfect for some but frustrating for others.
Visit a company’s social media pages, read their blog posts, and check the tone of their brochures or website. Do they feel thoughtful, fun, polished, adventurous? You’ll often get a sense of whether it’s the right cultural match for your trip.
Want to travel as a group, but after something more intimate?
If you want to travel as a group of families, multiple generations of the same family travelling together, a social club, or group of friends, another great option is to ask us to organise a private group departure.
Options include:
Choosing an existing itinerary and we'll organise a departure date just for you and your group
Tweaking an existing itinerary to suit your group’s needs
Our team can build an entirely new itinerary to suit any particular needs or interests your group might have
Most of our clients are surprised how common and easy this option is, just ask us for more information.
We’re here to help
You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
At FBI Travel, we work with a handpicked network of trusted group travel companies, from luxury African safaris to adventurous cultural expeditions, and can recommend the right tour for your travel style, personality, and budget.
Let us take the guesswork out of group travel. Get in touch with one of our Professional Travel Advisors and we’ll arrange your group tour, flights, pre and post tour hotels, travel insurance and more.
