{"id":13756,"date":"2018-05-22T11:10:53","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T10:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/?p=13756"},"modified":"2019-04-11T13:05:49","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T12:05:49","slug":"introverts-guide-group-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/introverts-guide-group-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"An Introvert’s Guide to Group Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m a huge fan of group tours. Literally, I can\u2019t get enough of them and have already ticked off 8 or 9 in my short lifespan. But recently, as the number of candles on my birthday cake slowly increases, I\u2019ve started to realise the anticipation and nerves before joining a group tour have also started to grow. <\/span><\/p>\n

With my next group tour just around the corner (Best of Canada with Geckos Adventures<\/a>, thanks for asking), I\u2019ve realised that I\u2019m probably not alone and that there must be plenty of introverts out there that might also be concerned that maybe a group tour isn\u2019t for them. Or maybe, there are an increasing number of extroverted travellers out there who are becoming more introverted like myself. In tours past, I\u2019d rock up on day one without any doubts or nerves but now I can\u2019t help but fret over the small things and ask myself what will the group be like or will I make any friends among other crazy thoughts that run through my mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing: group tours are for everyone regardless whether you are a self-proclaimed introverted traveller, extroverted adventurer or somewhere in between. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re worried about travelling with a group of strangers and nervous with anticipation, I\u2019ve rounded up a few tips to create an introvert’s guide to group travel with insights from fellow introverts, ex-tour guides and a few bonus tips from yours truly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Prepare for the first day\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s start from the very beginning \u2013 you\u2019re about to explore a whole new part of the world or maybe even revisit your favourite destination on a group tour. Above anything else, as long as you can contain that excitement and keep that at the front of your mind then you\u2019re off to a great start to reduce any nerves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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See Also: <\/em>Everything Your Tour Guide Wants You to Know Before You Travel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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Try to channel your apprehension and convert those uneasy feelings into excitement. To make the start of your journey easier, consider packing a few items that remind you of home. Having something familiar to rely on can be comforting when or if you begin to feel overwhelmed by the disruption to your routine. Consider carrying a journal to write down your thoughts and take the time to reflect on everything that is going on around you. Books and headphones are both handy items to keep nearby so that you can enjoy some alone time. After all, talking with your tour mates can get as exhausting as it is rewarding so don’t be afraid to take a break as needed and bury your nose in a book.<\/p>\n

To help better prepare you for the first day of your tour, it might be worth arriving the day before and booking a private room in a hostel or hotel. This will help make the day you meet everyone less overwhelming as you can settle into a new city at your own pace and in your own time.<\/p>\n

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It doesn't get any\u00a0better than this \ud83d\ude0d \ud83d\udcf8 from @john_broadbean #gotouring<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by TourRadar<\/a> (@tourradar) on