Day Tours
 

What is your experience with being a solo traveler and taking a day-tour. I've done a lot of solo travel and usually just do my own thing. But I'd like to go to see the wine region near Barcelona, and don't really want to drive around by myself. The problem is that the organized tours are all for groups of two or more.

Not specifically referring to Barcelona, but what is your experience with day-tour companies accommodating a solo traveller. Would they be likely to as a small group if they can add an additional person? Or should I look for large tours if I am not willing to pay for a personal tour guide?

I've had good luck. Being solo hasn't ever been a problem whether it was a small group or large.

I like to use tours to supplement my own wanderings.

I've never had any problem with taking tours solo. As long as they have a minimum number of guests for that trip, they usually don't care if you're solo or not.

I've had mostly good luck, only one or two bad experiences (well, relatively speaking, they weren't horrid) I can think of.

I've found them a great way to meet other travelers. In places where few speak English (like when I was in Slovakia), it was one of the rare times I heard English spoken! I particularly enjoy short 2-3 hour walking tours. Often I'll break off with someone I've met on the tour afterwards.

Here are the two 'bad' experiences I had:

1. I was on a tour where there were about half a dozen people who all knew each other, and me. They were cliquish, since they were family together, and I felt awkward the whole time.

2. Once I went on a tour in Mexico where I was the English speaking person. On the plus side, I got to practice some of my Spanish. The negative side is that my Spanish is very, very limited, so I pretty much couldn't participate in the conversations during the day. When I'd signed up there was supposed to be another American couple, but one had gotten sick so they didn't attend.

I love solo travel. I've taken lots of tours and have had very good luck. Once in a great while someone will think you are rude or aloof that you spend most of your time away from the group. I don't know why but they take it personal. They don't seem to realize that I'm alone because I WANT to be alone. I just tell people at the first meeting that I wander off alone and most likely won't be at the (usually awful) included hotel dinners.