Topping for a new poster with the same questions.

Great research, boldygosolo- liked the website. You may have seen my more recent thread - tired of single supplements! Everyone who replied to your question is right - all tours charge more than if you were to do the same trip on your own, and of course you end up paying a supplement of sorts when you book a room rather than sharing the costs (I recently looked into hotels in Malaysia - Im a big fan of luxurious hotels, and they were cheap for two, but a bit pricey for one. I dont earn much money!)

For me, the main reason for joining a group is the 'safety in numbers' philosophy. As a woman on her own, I feel more comfortable travelling in a group to a country such as Mexico or Cambodia - either due to general dangers (maybe not more than at home, but Im not familiar with them) or the lack of infrastructure that makes travelling more difficult. I find the USA and Europe v easy to go alone and I think the 'do it yourself' argument is valid there.
I also like the company - its nice to share some of ones experiences with fellow travellers - even if you never see them again. Also on free evenings, one might join another single person or couple from the group - more difficult to do when youre on your own, or if youre a little shy.
What I dont like about tours is being one of a huge group, of, say, 30 or 40 people!

Hi traveller - I'm a solo (and older,lol) female traveler, and I have to say, I feel just as safe in SE Asia as in Europe, and it's a lot cheaper there too!

And I feel as safe in Mexico (the particular places I choose) as Europe. That's a generalization that I haven't found true at all.