Looking for a travel group

TrophyWife

TrophyWife

Recycles dryer sheets
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Feb 23, 2016
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We are in our early 50's and looking for a travel group for tours in Europe and wherever. We like the flexibility of exploring on our own. Any thoughts on travel/tour groups. We would like to be with other like minded couples. My husband is semi-retired and being our age, most traveling couples tend towards late 60's. While we don't mind being with people who are older, we also would enjoy being with couples in our same stage of life.
 
My parents were fortunate to have been taken in by a group of 23 world travelers. Half were about 70 years old at the time, and the rest were in their early 50's. Six ladies usually went and left their husbands home to tend to the cattle. Adult children were allowed to come--but otherwise it was a closed group. They went all over the world, and were an extremely vivacious bunch. And money was never an issue for any of them.

Such groups are hard to find. It's almost like you have to assemble a group of very well to do people that are willing to go anywhere on a few weeks' notice. And it's nice to have a group president that can really find the good travel bargains and is extremely well traveled already.
 
Is there any chance your alma mater has a travel association? I found out mine did years ago, but I’ve been busy toiling and letting my best years slip past. I figure I’ll take advantage once I semi-FIRE. I’ll likely be the youngest grad in the the group, but it should be huge fun at least once.

You might also search around on Facebook. Facebook used to be really good for that stuff 10 years ago, but it’s become unnavigable for me.
 
Perhaps other social groups already have a subgroup for travel.
My Mom used to travel with both her University group, and her Church group.

Besides the age restriction, there is also the $$ restriction, and the interests restrictions all of which will limit travel.
 
I recently reconnected with a former college roommate, and she encouraged me to join her on a small group tour organized by our university alumni association. Judging by the active itinerary, I’m pretty sure there will be at least a few who are in their 50’s like us. About 30 days prior to departure, we will be sent brief biographies with a photo of all participants who sent one in. Should be a good experience.
 
This describes us (late 50's), although we usually travel alone. My sister runs a custom travel co that you might look at - EuroTravelCoach.com.
 
DW and I are turning 58 this year and thinking the same. Spending a month in the Mediterranean beginning 10 October. Origins began with an alumni sponsored trip, then we realized we could save a bundle a DIY. Getting a kick out of planning our first European vacation. :dance:
 
1) Get an Atlas.

2) Find somewhere you think might be interesting.

3) Go there.

4) Come home afterward.
 
Browse on over to Collette or Globus website. We've been on several of their trips. Everyone was 'retirement-aged'. Most were fun people. Still in contact with a British couple we met a while back.
Pick a destination and go.
 
We prefer to plan and travel by ourselves. I am surprised as young as you are that you want a tour.
 
OP - There is a conflict of goals as you like the flexibility of travel on your own, but being in a group means you lose that to varying degrees.

Actual tours have little flexibility as they have a schedule to follow.
 
OP: DH and I have traveled a lot, as a couple making all our own arrangements, with another couple of friends, with a bigger group of friends, and most recently on a Globus tour to Greece in March, because we just didn’t want to deal with making a ton of arrangements for a country where we can’t even read the street signs :LOL: and there is sooooo much to see (DH had just done extensive planning for a trip to Spain six months previous). We did not know anyone on the tour with us.

There were 39 people on our bus with a dedicated degreed guide the entire time who was just amazing. Ten of us were in our sixties; the rest were from 23 years old up to mid-fifties. One single traveler, mostly couples, two groups of four. As much interaction as we wanted—we usually sat with a different couple at every dinner, by ourselves for breakfast, in a group for lunch. Everyone was very nice and friendly, lots of laughing, no weirdness at all. No slowpokes or mobility issues at all either—there was so much walking that perhaps we self-selected, but we were all on or off that bus in two to three minutes (I timed it); and the driver and hotel people took care of all the luggage. We could and did peel off from the group whenever we wanted, and although we shared email addresses with the other people, I doubt we’ll stay in touch.

You might look into something like that. DH picked the trip and it didn’t hurt that the price was right. I was surprised, honestly, at how much I enjoyed it!
 
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Check with your alma mater's alumni association. I get brochures frequently about travel/tours they are doing and obviously everyone has a connection.

You can also check Adventures by Disney - I would gather it attracts a younger crowd. From what I've read they are very good. I'd imagine it is a little pricier as well.

https://www.adventuresbydisney.com
 
In 2018 DW & I sat on a park bench, had lunch, (an apple & a banana each), and chatted with an elderly, (even older than me), Israeli lady in Sighisoara, Romania.

She was with a tour, and complained that the other members of her group only wanted to eat..."They're over there in the restaurant right now" she said.

From her perspective they no sooner got on the bus after breakfast and they were talking about lunch......not a happy tourer.
 
Moemg said:
My friend who is a perpetual traveler raves about overseas adventure travel.
Click to expand...

I have two (separate) acquaintances who each love OAT tours as well. They say they are bit pricey, but the groups are small with great guides, they offer tours to off-the-beaten path places, and the pricing seems to attract a 'certain' (well-heeled and educated) crowd. They also offer discounts for returning guests. The way the tours are timed, there's also the option to string several tours together, which is what each of these people have done.

omni
 
donheff said:
I have heard good things about Road Scholar. My wife and I take a bike tour with VBT at least once a year. We love them.
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I just returned home from a trip to Costa Rica with Road Scholar, I was pretty impressed. The last group travel I did was to China with my UC Berkeley Alumni travel. Road Scholar was significantly less expensive and every bit as educational.

There were 16 of us youngest 52, oldest 80 average age probably 68 or 69. Ours was active tour (kayaking, hiking, white water rafting, ziplining). Our guide was mid-30s very professional and extremely knowledgable about the birds and animals of the regions. Accomodations were adequate to good. My only complaint was the food which was pretty monotonous. But the group camaraderie made up for the food.

I haven't ridden a not stationary bicycle in years, but I'm interested VBT, do nonbikers go on their trips? how strenuous are they?
 
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Check out the 'flex' programs offered by RoadScholar.org They also offer a lot of other trips to Europe, but their 'flex' programs give you more time on your own.
 
Meetup often has travel groups. However some of them seem tobe formed for the originator to get a free trip. That put me off. Have traveled to over 50 countries since retiring in 07.
 
omni550 said:
I have two (separate) acquaintances who each love OAT tours as well. They say they are bit pricey, but the groups are small with great guides, they offer tours to off-the-beaten path places, and the pricing seems to attract a 'certain' (well-heeled and educated) crowd. They also offer discounts for returning guests. The way the tours are timed, there's also the option to string several tours together, which is what each of these people have done.

omni
Click to expand...



I have a few friends who love OAT also. They do seem to have very cool experiences. However it is still a tour. We prefer independent travel, and to hire a local guide in certain areas where we feel it would enhance our experiences.
 
Helios said:
Meetup often has travel groups. However some of them seem tobe formed for the originator to get a free trip. That put me off. Have traveled to over 50 countries since retiring in 07.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was going to mention Meetup.

In my area, the travel Meetup groups are mostly for socializing and telling travel stories.

Some have some group trips organized and others are basically started by people who package tours and use the Meetup.com group to market their services.

I've not tried any of these tours but am kind of tempted. I've mostly researched and planned on my own.

And I went to Greece, not knowing how to read the Greek alphabet at all.
 
Bestwifeever said:
You should have seen us in Japan.... :LOL:
Click to expand...
Couple years back, at Toronto airport, we chatted with a 70 something lady travelling alone.....told us about going to South Korea.

Not a word of Korean, didn't understand the writing.......some minor misadventures....all worked out.

You have to pluck up the courage to step off the curb.
 
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