artsfan

We are a family with two grown kids, planning to visit Japan, although maybe only one of them will join us. We are looking at a small group adventure company, Oxalis, which seems to have very appealing tours. The only thing is that the groups range in size from 5 to 12 people. We have taken a tour for 40 before and appreciate that the smaller group can go places a larger one can't. But we are wondering what a group so small will be like. Part of our goal in traveling as a family is to connect with one another. We enjoy other people very much, but we don't want to feel obligated to spend the whole trip conversing with them. Has anyone taken a small group tour? Can you tell me whether it's possible to have an ebb and flow in terms of time spent connecting, dining together etc?

Femi

My last trip to Turkey was the smallest group I've ever been on: 3. Myself and a father/daughter team. Although I was filled with trepidation at first (could have been a nightmare), it actually turned out to be one of my best trips ever. A great sense of humor goes a loooong way.

We ended up spending most of the time together. I worried that they might want time to themselves, and that was solved by my choosing to opt out of certain activities for which I had no interest.

In the end I suppose it comes down to pure luck when it comes to travelling companions.

jlaughs

I took my daughter to Thailand with a tour group of 12 (or was it 13?). It was great. The group was small enough that we could gather and talk with others over meals or while sightseeing, but it was big enough that everyone could splinter off into their own groups if they wished. It was very comfortable to ask another couple if they wanted to go to a night market with us and then later each decide that we would go our own way and see each other the next day. No awkwardness. No pressure.

I think a lot also depends on how much "free" time you have. It was very easy to stay with the group during the group touring time because we had quite a bit of free time as well when we could be together and do our own thing.

Have fun! I loved Japan!!

artsfan

Very helpful; thank you. We like people, we really do lol. But these chances to reconnect are really precious once kids are out of the house...

W9London

artsfan,

Are there any specific reasons why you're using a tour group? It is quite easy to organising your own trips, as there are enough information available. Especially with places like Kyoto, I think rather there would be an advantage for NOT being in a group. In my view, Japan hardly fits into the category of "adventure travel" that would require specialist travel company.

artsfan

Well, I guess we are figuring that since we don't speak the language or even read the alphabet, that's one reason to take a tour. Also, we took a tour in Eastern Europe and found it to be an amazing bargain vs. what we could have done on our own. We actually found that we interacted with local people more than we would have on our own, because our guide spoke the local languages and was eager to introduce us. Also, we could get into museums, etc., with group tix, which meant low costs and no line (queue). This trip goes not only to Kyoto but to various mountain villages and includes stays in ryokan, etc., using public transportation, so it seems like a good way to get off the beaten path without being all on our own doing so.