Hello all. As I try to forge a new way forward, I’ve been researching different types of small group tours. I’ve never been a tour type traveler but I’ve recently been considering it. I know that I do not want a Europe city trip. The thought of doing that without Len is impossible. However, I have developed an appreciation of nature over the last 22 months and am looking for vacation options in that realm. Does anyone have any experience with Road Scholar tours or any other similar type tours? (I wasn’t sure where to post this on Fodors but I chose the Lounge as many of you know my story and I value your feedback). Thanks!

Hi Tom - this thread will probably get moved so I’m posting quickly.

I met a solo woman about our age on my recent cruise from Australia who was traveling for the first time in 5 years - she and her husband were travel partners and it was difficult getting back to travel without him after he died of cancer. She ended up having a really good time. I actually thought of you when she told me her story.

I have not used Road Scholar but have heard positive reviews here on Fodor’s.

if you’re looking for something more active, a few of my friends have enjoyed Backroads tours.

Wishing you the best getting back to travel!

Tom, are you still on FB? Elberko is over there and after she was unexpectedly widowed she started taking a variety of tours of different kinds, both in the Europe and in the US and is a great source of knowledge. She and her husband had previously been independent travelers.

tom42, we are usually independent travelers and wouldn't think of taking an organized tour of Europe. However, we did choose Road Scholar for our tour to Vietnam and Cambodia and were very pleased with our trip. We learned so much and had a compatible group of fellow travelers. Our main guide was terrific and other guides (varying from good to excellent) joined us at various sites. It was wonderful to have an air-conditioned bus greeting us with ice-cold water when we left hot and muggy sites!

We enjoyed that trip so much we then signed up for a RS tour of Israel, Jordon and Egypt (this was at the beginning of 2020.) That trip was also very good with an exceptional guide in Israel, and good guides in Jordan and Egypt.

My husband and I are now planning to go to Costa Rica with RS in January. It would be fun to have you on our trip! Our trip is: The Best of Costa Rica: Exploring Natural Wonders starting January 4.

RS trips do have some variety as far as activity level, the amount of free time, etc. They focus on learning and, while there are opportunities to shop if you want, no shopping excursions are planned. We found both of our tours appealed to well-traveled folks who want to broaden their knowledge, embrace new cultures and have fun. We had a mix of single folks and couples and everyone seemed to enjoy mingling and socializing together.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. It would be great to meet you in Costa Rica!

You mentioned getting into nature. I took a five day Road Scholar fly fishing trip in the Catskills just before the pandemic. Enjoyed it quite a bit. Not sure if they're offering these anymore and yes, not for everyone.

Last year was my big travel year and I took six "big" trips with the goal of trying out different modes/ groups. Basically I learned that I'm not much of a group traveler. I would do independent travel after the group tour and I really enjoyed those days more. I've started using more private drivers as I age.

The one group company I am still interested in is Smithsonian but I'm not sure about their "nature" options.

P_M has taken quite a few trips that may interest you including Antartica and Iceland that were small group tours. She would be a good resource.

I backed out of an Ireland trip this May that was led by friends, both gay pastors in different churches in the NE. The one I was going to take was a Celtic Christianity tour. I plan to take a different tour with them next fall - a Reformation tour so a lot of Germany. I did a Holy Land tour with them two years ago. One I knew well. He actually went to high school & college with my niece and nephew. Loved the guys. Most of the folks on the trip were older folks (our age and older) from their NE churches but a couple of guy couples were a bit younger and went because they knew the guys. That was a great trip but bus centered and I didn't love that part of it. I'll go again because I love the guys and the topics interest me.

I took a small group tour centered on experiences that caters to newbies, people who have never traveled internationally before. It was not a good fit, although I am still in touch with one of our great guides (from NYC). I took a Viking river cruise over Christmas but not sure I would recommend that solo. I've taken two very specialized cooking (& experiences) tours that were pricey but wonderful. I've become close to the owners and my roommate on the first one (Provence). We did the second one together (Italy) and are spending our birthdays together this fall (Palm Springs). We are so different in every way but really bonded. My favorite was a self-planned trip with a friend, returning to Venice and Tuscany.

The best group tour, by far, was one planned by a friend of a friend who is a luxury travel agent. It was a safari with several days first in Capetown. His partner is a flight attendant. They both came down with Covid and didn't go on the trip but it was a perfectly planned trip. Small group, about half gay and half straight. All of us knew one or the other guy. It was an amazing trip. He plans luxury travel for everyone but his group tours are primarily gay/lesbian. Funny enough, the person I've stayed in touch with the most was the husband of the straight couple. We had mother/ gay daughter, two lesbian couples, straight couple, me with a straight roommate. A true mix. Top notch service every step of the way, including conceirge service to and through airports. Truly a perfectly planned trip. I looked at his website and they are on safari right now and upcoming trips include Portugal, Cuba and New Orleans.

I joined a women over 60 FB travel group and booked a trip to Ireland when Covid hit. My friend and I went to Montana/Wyoming instead.

My friend who died a few years ago went on several solo RS trips (domestic locations) and loved them.

I'm supposed to go on another safari this fall with a different group and I know (and love) the guide but won't share until after the trip.

Olivia does a lot of women focused cruises and resorts. I'm not sure about trips for gay men. This is when I wish the Damron guides were still around. It may be worth checking out their website.

The one "nature" small group tour that I definitely want to take is the Churchill Polar Bear tour -
https://www.nathab.com/
I'm not recommending this company. Just pulled it up via a search.

I did an Overseas Adventure Travel trip to Africa by myself. Some of their trips do not require extra fees for solo travels so I had my own accommodations for the trip. It was a great trip, no complaints, trip was a mix of singles and couples. It was a small group- maybe 12 people. Go for it!

Hi Tom! Great to see you posting. My wife and I have taken 16 small group tours: six from Road Scholar, seven from Odysseys Unlimited, two from Backroads, and one from OAT.

With respect to Road Scholar, we enjoyed their trips, although they are a little more spartan than Odyssey. Nevertheless, I would use them again if their itinerary was best.

The only potential downside to Road Scholar, and others, is that they offer a huge number of trips to the same destination. If they do not get the minimum number of travelers for a particular trip, they will cancel it and try to move you to one of the other trips. I have no idea how often that happens, but it is something to be aware of.

As others have said, there are definitely pros and cons to small group travel. My wife and I enjoy them notwithstanding the negatives.

As the saying goes, only one way to find out! Good luck!

I forgot to mention, we did take half of an Odysseys Unlimited trip to Australia and New Zealand. I think the accommodations were more upscale than Road Scholar but I missed the focus RS has on education. Half a trip you ask? I broke my ankle mid-way and had to leave the trip. The getting carted off of a trail at Mt. Cook deserves its own "trip" report.

Tom, good to see you. I have done a number of small group hiking and trekking type tours. If these interest you I can mention some companies. They have all been great.

I have not done a Road Scholar trip, then tend to move too fast for my concept of slow pace, but I have crossed paths with them a few times in National Parks, or places like Monument Valley. I've talked to a couple members of the group and they were all enjoying the trips.

RS has a National Park link on their site that I'll post here. Worth having a look, for ideas at least. It will get you out in fabulous nature.
https://www.roadscholar.org/collections/national-parks/

You can also check out G Adventures, which will have a younger crowd. I have two friends, solo travelers my age (mid-70's), who have recently used them successfully, in India and Peru..
https://www.gadventures.com/

On my treks and hikes I've always opted for the single supplement, so I had my accommodation to myself, even if it was just a tent in the snow.

I've taken two small group tours with art teachers I know. We toured locally most mornings and painted in the afternoons. We had most meals together and it was fun getting to know the others. After both tours I traveled to a city I wanted to explore by myself for a few days.

if you have a hobby or special interest you might be able to find a small group tour. I wanted to go on an antique tractor tour in England but dh didn't want to go. It was advertised in his John Deere magazine.

I have friends who like the tours sponsored by their alumni associations , and they have been to all sorts of destinations . Those tours offer lectures and such in the evenings. I get circulars from both my college and graduate schools, and am sometimes quite tempted.

Can you ride a bike? Do you like walking/hiking?

We have no interest in cities which limits our choice of tours somewhat but there are plenty of small organised bike or walking tours in nature. Some as a group, some self guided. Julies has done a couple of such trips I think.
Sorry, got diverted.
Of course I have no idea how much you want to spend but I was also going to suggest a small group train tour, or even a solo on Hurtigruten/Havila where you will get lots of nature, and people are very friendly.

I rarely post here, but occasionally see what's going on...

Hi Tom!
Happy to see you are looking at traveling, it's what keeps me going these days.
In order of preference, I do tours with:
Rick Steves
Odysseys Unlimited
RoadScholar

RoadScholar is tricky, because they have so many tours, and vary so much depending on the local group that actually runs the tours. They also tend to have participants who need more hand-holding. You need to read the itinerary and other info very closely. They aren't always small group, but that will be noted.
I like them for hiking trips, and the group that runs the various NYC tours Is excellent. I did a theater week with them, for instance.

Happy to answer other questions.
~Liz K
​

Hi Tom, it's great to "see" you here. I think you need to "bite the bullet" and just go. You will not know until then if it's your thing or not, but go with an open mind (which I know you have).

I've never traveled alone overseas even though I'm a widow. I have a travel buddy (my friend since first grade-many years ago) I go on a lot of trips with, but also have traveled with my daughter or another friend. I have taken 7 overseas trips with tour companies, and 5 independently planned trips to Europe. Wow, do I feel fortunate.

I'm a fan of Rick Steves Tours and have taken 6 of them. Those were the Best of Ireland, Best of England, My Way Europe, Berlin-Prague-Vienna, Sicily, and Southern Italy. I have taken 1 Road Scholar Trip and that was to Portugal. I am signed up for Rick Steves Scandinavia for next summer already as his Scandinavia trips sell out fast. I'm going with my travel buddy and my daughter. My daughter is paying for a single supplement. There have been singles on every tour I've taken. My travel friend has had some health issues so we didn't plan anything...yet this year. Since she is now better, we are looking at Rick Steves tours with vacancies for this fall, so I may soon be adding #7 to my tour list. I shall see.

I have had two tours canceled. One was during the pandemic, a Road Scholar trip to Puglia, Italy. The company canceled that one (although I would have if they had not--I played the chicken game to see who canceled first so I got all my money back). The other I canceled this past January. That would have been a small tour through a liberal arts college not far from me, it was to Cuba. Often colleges have trips like this that they open to the public. I was friends with the professors, so was given first dibs on this. I was so excited but it became a worrisome destination. I canceled for political issues and also because of the devastating hurricane Cuba had just had. Travel insurance came through for me with that one so I got all my money back. I canceled 3 weeks before departure.

I could wax poetic on why I love Rick Steves tours so much. They may not be for everyone. We are encouraged to travel light as we often haul our own luggage over cobblestones and up stairs. We walk a lot. Rick hires good tour guides and good local guides, and there is the right mixture of tour time and free time. I like Rick's politics and most people who sign up for these tours do too. My last tour was in October to Southern Italy (beautiful Amalfi Coast) and I truly felt like I'd found my people. I also liked my Road Scholar trip to Portugal, airfare was included in the price of that one so that was nice and uncomplicated. I've been tempted by the National Parks trip with Road Scholar, and that Costa Rica trip that KTtravel is taking sounds perfect for nature lovers.

Hi Tom,

Not a group tour, but since you mentioned nature I thought I'd throw out a guided walk/hike that's on my bucket list. I'm turning 60 next year so I need to get moving on this before my joints totally give out.

https://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/mult.../milford-track

I wanted to add a bit to my post because Road Scholar offers a number of programs which center on one location and may include hiking, bird watching etc. Accommodations were basic but comfortable -- ensuite rooms, singles available. Food was hearty and surprisingly good, You packed a box lunch for excursions. Two couples had previously traveled with RS so were pleased with the standards. Another person was planning a further, art-based stay with them. Tips were not expected (nor tendered). Wine and booze was BYOB. It was a good, friendly bunch of people.

My wife and I encountered a group of women who were on a tour of the national parks out west -- I think it was Arches. They joined us at a picnic table and said they were pleased with the trip.

Thanks for all the information. Very helpful. I’ll take a look at some of the tour companies mentioned here. I am looking for a waking/hiking type trip (no biking or boating). Around 7 days- give or take a day or two. Nothing too lengthy or exotic. This is all very new to me so I want to just dip my toes in the water so to speak rather than a deep dive.

(KTtravel- I looked up your Costa Rica trip but it’s sold out!).

Hi tom - you might consider the Camino then… or Backroads for something more upscale.

I chose to walk solo. You can also do a guided walk.

Caminoways.com