Group Travel is Cool
I'm here to change your mind.
Perhaps you’ve scoffed at the big bus pulling into a rest stop and thought…heavens to Murgatroyd, no one will ever catch me on a tour bus with lots of other people I don’t know.
I’m here to change your mind.
Group travel is cool. I’m not suggesting you should always want to travel with a group. Rather, I’m saying that you’re missing a wonderful experience if you don’t try it at least once! You may find you love group travel for one or more of the reasons I’ve listed below.
A Curated Trip
Look for a trip that captures the things you love, whether it’s architecture, food and cooking, art, music, literature, history or sky diving. The people who arrange these tours know more than the average tourist, and have local connections to bring you experiences you could only dream about. You’ll get a chance to get into off-the-radar places not available to individuals, and you’ll meet people who are true experts in the places you visit.
At Oldways, we curate culinary journeys in cities, regions, countries and introduce our attendees to special experiences for food lovers. One of my favorites? In Spain, a visit to a goat cheese producer where we watched cheese being produced, met the 300 goats whose milk becomes the cheese, and enjoyed a simple family-style lunch that was more special than many a lunch in a Michelin star restaurant. Or, in Cyprus a cooking class and lunch at the home of one of Cyprus’ food television stars. Or, in Palermo, a lunch narrated by a beloved food historian/cookbook author that prompted one attendee to write to us, “the lunch with Mary Taylor Simeti was worth the full price of admission.”
In addition to taking you places you’d never get to visit on your own, group trips curated for your passions and interests introduce you to real locals and real experts and save you the time of figuring an itinerary on your own.
Like-minded travelers
On a group trip, your fellow travelers are people who love the same thing you do. Music lovers meet music lovers. Art history buffs meet others who love art just as much. Cooks and food lovers meet fellow travelers who love to cook and want to learn about different cuisines, cultures, ingredients and cooking techniques. These folks are not just potential new friends, but also people to learn from and appreciate. We all love meeting new people, and especially those we find companionable and lovers of some of the same things as we are.
At Oldways, with almost 20 years of Oldways Culinarias behind us, we’ve found that our attendees return with pleasure, and often with plans to attend with travelers they’ve met on previous Culinarias. We’ve seen lifelong friendships form, and we’ve even had two marriages result from our culinary trips!
Solo travelers don’t feel alone…
If you’re traveling alone, and not sure about being alone in a foreign country, group travel is a wonderful option. You’ll be able to experience everything you want to and feel safety as part of a group. Also, you’ll meet like-minded, like-passionate people, who can become lifelong friends.
At Oldways, our groups are often half singles and half couples. No one feels alone, because the group mixes up at meals, sitting with lots of different people.
…But you can have time to yourself, too
If you find yourself in a group and you just need to be alone, or want to have a romantic evening with your partner (without a group watching), it’s always possible to make your own plans, separate from the group.
At Oldways, we’ve arranged special non-group anniversary and birthday dinners for attendees – just explain what you need!
Camaraderie
If you’re like most people, enjoying meals is one of the great pleasures of traveling. You’ve got the option of dining with different people all the time, with new conversations, new things to learn and discuss. Never boring.
At Oldways, we’ve found that big groups are still intimate. Some people make a point to sit with different people at each meal; others find a few people they truly enjoy and make plans to sit together quite often.
If you’re 32, you’re probably not interested in the idea of elder group travel. However, Oldways Culinarias bring together travelers from all generations, because it’s the passion and interest and food that inspire our guests to sign up. We all have a lot to learn from one another—young and old alike.
Cost
While the cost of group travel may look more expensive than planning on your own, it may not be the case. You pay in advance, and almost everything is included.
Consider the value of a travel experience unlike any other. Some things don’t have a price, such as the opportunities Oldways Culinarias have offered to attendees— being invited to have cocktails in the home of Spain’s Julia Child, or having a hands-on cooking class in a cooking school in Verona, Italy, taught by your favorite hometown chefs.
No fuss
Remember that all the arrangements are made for you. You’ve chosen a trip that meets your passions and interests…and the experiences, the meals, the visits are arranged for you. You just have to show up!
At Oldways, we arrange the hotel, the meals, all the producer visits, cooking classes, museum and cultural visits. You only need to arrive, ready to eat, learn and experience.
We hope you will join us for any one of a number of trips we’ve planned over the next two years. They are, what Oldways founder Dun Gifford called, “a trip of a lifetime!”
Comment Below: Have you ever attended a group tour? Why or why not?
Insider Travel Tip: Start with a Walking Tour
Wherever you’re traveling to, it’s well worth it to start with a walking tour of the city. After a long day of flights, connections, and car and train rides to arrive at your destination, you’ll be eager to get moving.
A guided walking tour is a great way to get a lay of the land, learn the history of the place you’re visiting, and be immersed in the sights, sounds, and ambiance. Plus, at the end of the tour, you can ask your guide for their insider recommendations for more activities and places to eat.
Global Recipe: Barley. Pineapple, and Jicama Salad with Avocado
If you’re in the middle of a heat wave, this refreshing, Latin-inspired salad is exactly what you need!
Join us in Costa Rica
June 4-11, 2023
Have you always dreamed of visiting Costa Rica and weren’t sure where to go or how to organize your trip? Join Oldways, Walter Willett, and Hannia Campos for a special week spent exploring different parts of this beautiful country: city, rain forest, and the Pacific coast.
For an easy start to the week, we’ll begin in San Jose, the capital city, introducing you to the cuisine and culture through a market visit, cultural visits to museums and incredibly delicious and healthy meals.
We’ll then drive up into the mountains, into the rain forest and Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, for two days and nights at Senda Monteverde Hotel, a luxury mountain hotel. Our time in Monteverde will include both group activities such as a cooking class/dinner, and discussions with Walter Willett, as well as time for you to choose the activities that most interest you, whether they be hiking, bird watching, zip lining, yoga, and more.
The central Pacific Coast is our final stop, with three nights at the beautiful Villa Caletas, a luxury oceanfront boutique resort. You’ll have time to enjoy Villa Caletas, and from there we’ll take a boat to spend one day on Isla Tortuga. Our final day will include a choice of local experiences (chocolate, butterflies or hiking) and conclude with dinner and dancing on the beach in Jaco.