Find Your Trip Style
October 7, 2021
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Our Trip Styles
There’s an incredible number of different types of trips and tours to explore on Travelstride- from exhilarating group climbs up Mt. Kilimanjaro to luxury private safaris across the plains of South Africa, there’s something for every type of traveler. But the vast selection can also be daunting. That’s why we’ve made it easy to search, filter and compare trips based on everything from physical level to travel theme.
Besides destination, one of the first considerations any traveler should make when planning is choosing their ideal “trip style”. The trip style is how tour operators identify the type of tour they’re offering. There are six primary styles: group tours, small group tours, private guided tours, self-guided tours, river cruises, and small cruises.
We’ve made it easy to find the trip style of each tour listed on our site by highlighting it on every trip-related page. You can also see which trip styles a tour operator offers by looking at their profile. And of course, you can filter lists of trips and tour operators by your preferred trip style.
Group tour
Group tours are the most common of all guided trips featured on Travelstride. A typical group tour accommodates between 25 and 60 travelers, which may seem like a lot. However, there are usually many opportunities to split off and enjoy meals and excursions in smaller groups or with your travel buddies. It’s often the most economical way to travel as individuals can save up to 40% versus booking the same itinerary themselves.
Best for travelers who are…
- Less experienced in international travel
- Interested in meeting new people
- On a budget
- Solo or single
Explore group tours:
Small group tour
Small group tours are very similar to standard group tours, minus the size. They generally accommodate between 10 and 24 travelers and sometimes less, depending on the company and amount of bookings for an individual trip. Like larger group tours, travelers can save money by accompanying others on their trip instead of going it alone- although you will pay a premium for the more intimate group size. One benefit of small group tours is that service is more personalized and included activities and excursions are less crowded.
Best for travelers who are…
- Wanting more intimate and personalized experiences
- Focused on maximizing their activities
- Interested in more niche/themed activities
- In a couple or solo
Explore small group tours:
Popular small group tour trips
Private guided tour
Private guided tours are for just you and your companions. There are no other travelers accompanying you on your trip so you’ll have the full undivided attention of your personal guide(s) and the option to make special requests. Private tours may also give you access to sites and experiences not available to larger groups and some flexibility in your itinerary. All of these perks will come with a higher price tag than group tours, which is still often less than if you had planned and booked the same itinerary on your own.
Best for travelers who are…
- Wanting more flexibility in their itinerary
- Looking to personalize their experience
- In need of special assistance or accommodations
- Traveling as a family, couple, or small friend group
Explore private guided tours:
Top private guided tour brands
Popular private guided tour trips
Self-guided tour
Self-guided tours are pre-planned itineraries that don’t include a tour guide. They are often single destination trips or road trips, and include all the essentials like route maps, attraction tickets, accommodation bookings and more. These types of trips offer the security and ease of a guided tour without the extra cost of a personal guide or inflexibility of traveling with a group of other travelers. They offer the added benefit of saving on the overall cost of the trip as you’re purchasing it as a package deal.
Best for travelers who are…
- Wanting to travel completely independently
- Looking for an expertly planned itinerary
- Somewhat experienced in international travel
- Part of a couple or family
Explore self-guided tours:
Popular self-guided tour trips
River cruise
River cruises are pretty self-explanatory: they’re small vessels that travel to a variety of destinations along popular rivers. They’re much smaller than typical ocean cruise ships, and passenger counts may vary. The big draw for river cruises is that they offer an all-inclusive experience onboard with a variety of exciting inland shore excursions to attractions like local villages or natural wonders. They offer a relaxed way to see a variety of cities, countries, and attractions spread across one general area- you only need to unpack once but will still get to see lots of different sights.
Best for travelers who are…
- Looking for a really unique experience
- Focused on comfort and ease of travel
- Wanting to do more cultural activities
- Traveling to Europe or other areas packed with major rivers
Explore river cruises:
Small ship & expedition cruise
Small ship cruises usually have a max passenger count of 500 and offer an all-inclusive journey to local ports for guided tours or independent exploring. Expedition cruises also fall into this category, which visit adventurous and isolated destinations like the Galapagos or Antarctica. The big draw of this style of travel is that it offers a comfortable and easy way to see several different sights and attractions without having to change hotels or catch a flight. Unlike bigger commercial cruises, this type of cruise is more focused on land excursions versus onboard activities. And cabins can vary from budget to luxury, so there’s a price point for all types of travelers.
Best for travelers who are…
- Wanting to visit islands or exotic locations
- Happy with a slower pace of travel
- More interested in land excursions rather than onboard entertainment
- Looking to do some wildlife watching or other nature-focused activities
Explore small cruises:
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