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18 Great Trips to Take With a Group

From Mykonos to Aspen, these are unforgettable group trips for every type of traveler.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

The chance to explore an exciting new destination, or revisit a favorite spot, with your pals is one of the great joys of travel. Virtually any place has the potential to be great for a vacation with friends. (You just might have to get a bit creative in some cases.) That being said, some spots are just inherently better suited for a fabulous group trip. And that can take many forms. It might mean lively nightlife, stellar restaurants with space to accommodate your entire crew, loads of activities, or wide, sandy beaches for everyone to sprawl out in the sunshine.

In need of group trip ideas? Our list includes 18 awesome options, whether your ideal getaway is an action-packed city break or a relaxing island escape .

Tokyo, Japan

At once futuristic and deeply rooted in the past, Tokyo showcases glimmering skyscrapers alongside ancient pagodas, giant megamalls, and tiny artisan shops that honor centuries-old traditions. Book an omakase experience (depending on the size of the restaurant, you might have the whole place to yourself) and then hit the pint-size drinking dens in Golden Gai. Splurge on a traditional luxury ryokan stay with an on-site onsen in the middle of the city at Aman Tokyo .

Ibiza, Spain

Many people consider Ibiza to be the ultimate group trip. That's because this Balearic island paradise is famed for its nightlife. Of course, it's not all about bar hopping and beach clubs. Pals who prefer to relax instead of party can visit secluded coves, traipse around the chiller villages, browse the artisan shops, or just make the Six Senses Ibiza vacation HQ. Ibiza also brims with natural beauty and hosts many yoga retreats throughout the year.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Searching for the perfect place to surf, do yoga, and chill with your pals? Santa Teresa is a laid-back beach town on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula with beautiful beaches, great food, and a relaxed pace. It has an international dining scene with cuisine to please any palette, spirited bars right on the sand to watch the stunning sunsets, and lovely local boutiques to pick up souvenirs. And ATV excursions, hiking, and zip-lining offer plenty of opportunities for adventure.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Scottsdale is quickly gaining steam as a go-to destination for group trips thanks to its broad variety of activities, restaurants, and accommodations. Love high-flying fun? Sunrise hot air balloon rides over the desert await. Craving a little R&R? Book a rejuvenating massage at one of the many destination spas . After a group dinner at FnB Restaurant , snooze at ADERO Scottsdale , the only Autograph Collection property in a certified Dark Sky Community.

Capri, Italy

An upscale coastal Italian getaway with glamorous hotels such as Capri Palace Jumeirah and villa rentals, fresh-caught seafood, chartered boat tours, scenic hikes, a chairlift to the highest point on the island , sun-drenched afternoons at La Fontelina , and aperitivo at the iconic Grand Hotel Quisisana , Capri is a dreamy trip to take with friends. Just be sure to book all your reservations well in advance as things fill up quickly during high season — especially for larger groups.

Cartagena, Colombia

Perched on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena turns on the charm and makes for a sizzling group getaway. Within its 16th-century stone walls sits a warren of cobbled corridors, preserved Spanish colonial buildings, bougainvillea-clad balconies, striking churches like Catedral de San Pedro Claver, and bustling plazas where groups can sit and sip cocktails while watching local performers. It's also a popular beach destination and provides access to the palm-fringed shores of Isla de Barú and the Islas del Rosario.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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A charming and energetic city with a little bit of everything for everyone, Amsterdam looks like a postcard with colorful old houses, canals, flower-clad bridges, and bike paths. There are many excellent restaurants, fascinating museums, cool neighborhoods, and glorious green spaces such as the famous Vondelpark. And with everything from dance clubs and dive bars to upscale cocktail bars and underground speakeasies, Amsterdam very much deserves its reputation as a party capital of Europe.

The cosmopolitan gateway to the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is easily accessible with direct flights from most major East Coast airport hubs (which makes things much easier if you have travel buddies flying in from all over). This popular Caribbean vacation destination also wows with its beautiful beaches, incredible snorkeling, interesting cultural sights, and duty-free shopping in the capital of Charlotte Amalie.

New Orleans, Louisiana

A soulful and spirited city on the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a non-stop good time with bars and live music venues around every corner. Need a break from the more raucous side of things? Chow down on flavorful Creole cuisine, go for a ride on the historic St. Charles streetcar, and (provided you're all feeling brave) book an after-dark ghost tour. Then recharge at one of the many design-forward boutique hotels such as The Chloe and Hotel Saint Vincent .

Aspen, Colorado

World-class slopes, swanky lodgings like Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection , and a convivial apres ski scene make Aspen the it destination for the jetset crowd come winter. But this legendary Colorado locale also shines during the other seasons. Wildflowers bloom in the spring, summer brings sunny conditions for trekking and cycling, and fall is prime for leaf peeping. We guarantee everyone in your crew will shout out hiking the Maroon Bells as a highlight of the trip.

Bali, Indonesia

There's a reason why everyone who visits Bali falls in love. The Island of the Gods is a magical place with an irresistible mix of nature, culture, wellness, and nightlife. Beautiful beaches, lush rice terraces, yoga, clifftop temples, fishing villages, flavorful cuisine, spa rituals, and jaw-dropping sunsets are just a few of the highlights. And a trip to this Indonesian paradise won't drain your bank account. Groups can split a huge serviced Balinese villa with a pool and ocean views.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A renowned brewery culture remains one of the biggest reasons to take a trip to Milwaukee . For groups, that translates to good times and sprawling spaces to sip microbrews. In between pints, crews can do a tour to learn about the history of the city's beer industry. A prime perch on Lake Michigan's western shore means access to all sorts of fun waterfront activities, from kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to jet skiing and sightseeing boat cruises.

Marrakech, Morocco

Hypnotic and at times dizzying, Marrakech is an intoxicating mix of maze-like alleyways, vibrant souks, Moorish architecture, grand palaces, manicured gardens, and ornate mosques. Moments of peace and refreshing mint tea can be found at El Fenn's rooftop refuge above the madness of the medina. Down to splurge on a serene, next-level luxurious stay with your closest friends? The Grand Riad at Royal Mansour Marrakech has a cinema, library, hammam, gym, and two swimming pools.

Da Nang, Vietnam

Does your crew love trying local delicacies? The central Vietnam city of Da Nang is a culinary powerhouse with an array of palate-pleasing delights. The night market stalls overflow with fresh-hauled seafood, and the fragrant aroma of bún chả cá fills the air outside the cafes. Besides mouth-watering food, there are sandy beaches, the Marble Mountains, the Ba Na Hills, and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort for a swish group stay.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

For some groups, the stress of planning a holiday overshadows the excitement of actually escaping somewhere awesome. That's when a luxury all-inclusive resort comes into play. If you'd rather hit "book" and let the rest unfold in easy, breezy vacation style, consider jetting off to Punta Cana for a few days of oceanfront bliss, great food, and fun with your buddies at the top-rated Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana on beautiful Juanillo Beach.

London, United Kingdom

Love sightseeing, shopping, and theater? London is the perfect place to indulge those passions with your pals. It's home to Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and countless other recognizable landmarks, plus posh shops such as Harrods and Dover Street Market as well as the treasure trove of vintage stores in East London. Of course, no trip would be complete without afternoon tea, taking in a show at Shakespeare's Globe, and shacking up at a five-star London legend like Claridge's .

Vancouver, Canada

Movie and television buffs will jump at the chance to visit Vancouver . Beyond serving as the filming location for countless motion pictures and shows, this dynamic British Columbia seaport dishes up diverse cuisine, live music, art galleries and museums, and outdoor adventure. Want to stay in the heart of the action? Groups will love the 1,492-square-foot Rosewood Suite at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia , which features two bedrooms and a rooftop garden terrace with a plunge pool.

Mykonos, Greece

When a group trip means devouring whole grilled octopus, poppin' bottles, and dancing on tables, it's got to be Mykonos. Greece's unofficial party island has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and tons of bars and beach clubs where world-famous DJs spin tunes. It also boasts five-star hotels with impeccable service and amenities to help you recover from a big night out. Because everyone knows the best hangover cure is a dip in your private plunge pool followed by an in-room massage.

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The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

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For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see? 

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well off-the-beaten path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Travels to a friend). 

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari. 

Exodus Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 

Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

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Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave communities and places where they operate tours better than they found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route . 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers as well, as most trips don’t have a single-supplement. You can choose to share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler, or pay extra to have your own space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

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Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours . EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers, and feature unique educational experiences. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers , where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification for companies doing good. 

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

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Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences, while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. 

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure. 

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour . 

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination.

For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

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Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll love For the Love of Travel . All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.

Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure —no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 different countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises .

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families , and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip , already booking dates into 2024.

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Immersive guided tours, all around the globe

Explore with a friend, the whole family, or solo. However—and wherever—you want to go, our expert-planned group travel experiences make it easy to see the world.

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We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

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Few travellers make it to this icy continent, but the lucky ones who do get to explore a frozen Eden ruled by the elements and teeming with wildlife.

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Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

The Geluxe Collection

Our new line of premium active adventures is officially here. With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations and elevated dining, this is adventure at its finest.

National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

National Geographic Family Journeys

Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

Jane Goodall Collection

Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

Roamies by Hostelworld

The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

Why choose us

As the leader in small group travel for 30 years, we know how to do it right: flexible itineraries, freedom to roam, safety, peace of mind, and locally based guides.

Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

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Leave your destination even greener than you found it! For every day on tour, we’ll plant a tree in your honour and ensure that our forests get to live their best lives.

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We’re the leader in small group adventure travel for more than 30 years. How’d we get here? By redefining the way travellers see the world. Check out how we’re creating the future of travel.

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Join a small group of like-minded travellers that, like you, are eager to safely and confidently experience all the things that make our world worth exploring.

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Pack those bags and don't break a sweat because we guarantee every single one of our departures. As long as it's safe, you're going!

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We have always created our tours by building meaningful relationships with local communities, directly benefiting the people and places we visit.

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No matter the Travel Style, our tours balance well-planned itineraries with the flexibility to do your own thing and make the experience your own.

When you travel with us, you experience first-hand our commitment to making travel a force for good is in everything we do.

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Expertly Designed

We get it. You’re not the homebody type. We aren’t either. Your passion, needs, and desires have shaped our business. Destination experts hand-craft transformative experiences designed specifically with you – our fellow traveler – at heart. We wouldn't trust your experience with anyone else.

Guided Touring Reimagined

We know you want to explore and also dive in. We’re curious travelers, just like you, so rest assured, you’ll experience must-sees and connect with the people and culture that define the destination. You’ll eat in locals’ homes, take cooking classes, travel by trains and tuk tuks, explore cities with food tours, and stay in igloos, castles, and chateaus.

Value Beyond Price

Your time is one of your most precious commodities, so you should spend more of it in the destination, not driving between places. We design tours that spend the fewest hours on the coach. One-night stays are a rarity. This is your trip, and you shouldn’t feel rushed. With choice, flexibility, and free time, take it all in – this is your tour.

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Travel with trust. Because this is your trip - something you've planned for and dreamed about. You should feel confident in your journey every step of the way.

Industry-Leading Travel Protection

Cancel for any reason (bad hair day applies) up to 24 hours before your tour leaves and get a full money-back refund. Collette issued a record-breaking $185 million cash back to travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Our team is on the pulse of world events and protocols, so you are kept fully aware and feel well-prepared for your trip.

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Why Guided Travel

You're a traveler with places to go. We'll take care of the details. You embrace the journey.

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Meet a group of people who share your love of travel. Learn from locals. Forge friendships in the coolest places.

Independence

There's plenty of time built into our itineraries, plus optional tours, Choice on Tour excursions, and more. It's your trip, your way.

Expertly Planned

You know what you want to see and do - let a team of experts handle all the details from the must-sees to centrally-located accommodations and local lessons.

The Best Pacing

Don’t rush – this is your time to see the world. Get more time in the destination, and enjoy an ideal balance of included excursions and free time.

Our Best Moments

When you go, capture all those incredible moments, and use the hashtag #GoCollette so that we can share your joy!

Featured Tours

Collette travelers choose from 160 tours across all 7 continents, as well as 5 travel styles including small group touring and destination spotlights. Check out some trending tours for inspiration on your next adventure.

Explorations

African Safari: Kenya and Tanzania

Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside featuring Italy's Charming Hill Towns

Alaska's Northern Lights

Winter in Croatia featuring Plitvice Lakes and the Adriatic Coast

$4,949 pp* $5,399 pp.

Icelandic Adventure

Costa Rica: A World of Nature featuring Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano & Manuel Antonio National Park

Mediterranean Coastal Journey Spain, France & Italy

The Best of Ireland featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana

$3,299 pp* $3,699 pp, historical greenbrier featuring washington d.c. & williamsburg, $2,299 pp* $2,499 pp, spotlight on northern italy featuring venice, verona & the dolomites.

Spain's Costa del Sol & Madrid

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Save up to $999

Best of Italy

15 Locations

2 Countries

13-Day Italy Sightseeing Tour of Rome, Lake Como and Sorrento

Save up to $600

Spanish Wonder

9 Locations

9 Day Spain Tour of Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona

Save up to $843

Best of Ireland and Scotland

21 Locations

3 Countries

15 Day Ireland and Scotland Tour from Dublin to Edinburgh

Save up to $400

Best of Egypt

7 Locations

9 Day Egypt Tour with Nile Cruise

Internal flights included

Save up to $450

Imperial Europe

8 Locations

5 Countries

10 Day Europe Tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria

Save up to $472

Best of Scotland

7 Day Scotland Tour from Edinburgh to Glasgow

Save up to $476

Best of Ireland

10 Day Ireland Tour of Dublin, Ring of Kerry and Galway

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Small Group Adventures

Find Your Trip

Travel with like-minded adventurers.

A great journey is made even better when shared with great travel companions. Join us solo, with a partner, or with friends, and enjoy the camaraderie of traveling with a group of kindred spirits. On our scheduled Small Group Adventures you can expect world-class Trip Leaders, small groups—no more than 16—and fascinating itineraries that range from immersive cultural adventures to invigorating bucket-list treks.

What Makes Our Small Group Adventures Special?

• With over 150 journeys worldwide, we offer an unmatched range of experiences with tours designed for every interest and ability
• Our average group size is just 10—and never more than 16—the perfect size to keep things intimate, personalized, and flexible
• Our Trip Leaders are the best in the industry, and we often have two per trip, giving you plenty of 1:1 time
• We pre-set our departures for the best time to be at each destination, and handle all the details—all you have to do is relax and enjoy your vacation

Choose Your Activity Type

Browse our scheduled Small Group Adventures based on your specific interests. Whether you are looking for hiking and trekking adventures, snorkeling excursions, in-depth cultural encounters, or more, we have the trip for you.

Featured Small Group Adventures

Small Group Adventure

Hiking the Haute Route

France, Switzerland

From $5,595

Snorkeling Expedition to Wakatobi

From $7,495

Wild Zimbabwe

From $7,795

Nepal: Trek the Sacred Gokyo Lakes & Beyond

From $8,795

Pilgrim’s Way: El Camino de Santiago

From $5,195

Tour du Mont Blanc

France, Italy, Switzerland

From $5,795

England Coast to Coast

From $6,895

Hiker’s Journey to Bhutan

From $7,095

Namibia Expedition

From $9,195

Hiking in Norway’s Fjord Country

From $7,195

Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites

From $5,295

Pyramids to Petra

Egypt, Jordan

From $11,395

Spirit of Ireland

From $6,495

Everest Lodge to Lodge

From $4,695

Morocco: Camels to Casbahs

Snorkeling Raja Ampat

Galapagos Adventure aboard the Passion

From $8,995

Costa Rica Wildlife

From $6,195

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

From $5,995

Ultimate Patagonia

Argentina, Chile

From $11,595

Tanzania: The Great Migration Safari

From $10,195

In the Wake of Cleopatra

From $8,595

Southern Spain to Morocco

Morocco, Spain

Botswana Wildlife Safari

Botswana, Zimbabwe

From $9,895

Wildlife Adventures in Borneo

Borneo, Malaysia

Hiking Amalfi and Capri

From $6,395

Botswana: Kalahari Explorer

Botswana: Okavango Explorer

Climb Kilimanjaro!

Treasures of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos

Hiking Italy’s Volcano Trails

Hiking the Yorkshire Dales Way

From $5,495

Tribal Ghana, Togo, and Benin

Benin, Ghana, Togo

From $7,995

Wild Tasmania

From $8,195

Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path

Magical Madagascar

From $6,795

Mountain Gorilla Safari

From $7,895

Namibia: Giraffe Conservation Safari

From $9,595

Namibia: Green Season Safari

From $9,795

The Ultimate Uganda Safari

From $8,895

Ultimate Namibia and Botswana

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia

Zambia Walking Safari

Zimbabwe: Green Season Safari

Call for Pricing

South Africa: From Sea to Savanna

South Africa

From $11,995

Southern Tanzania: Off the Beaten Path

A Northern Arc Across Ireland

From $6,995

Great Hikes and Cuisine of Northern Italy

Hiker’s Journey to Portugal

Hiking in the Greek Isles

Norway: Hiking Alesund and the Sunnmore Alps

Hiking the Cotswold Way and Wales

Wales, England

Great Elephant Migration Safari

From $9,295

Southern Iceland Expedition

Hiking the Faroe Islands

Hiking the Fjords of Greenland and Iceland

Denmark, Iceland, Greenland

From $9,995

Lapland Adventures

From $10,595

Hiking Montenegro and the Adriatic Coast

Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro

Scotland’s Orkney Islands and Wild North Coast

From $7,395

The Turquoise Coast

Hiking the French Pyrenees

Hiking the Isle of Madeira

From $4,895

Western Greenland Expedition

Greenland, Denmark

Winter Adventures in Iceland

Ultimate Haute Route

Switzerland, France

Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees

From $6,295

Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean

Northern Iceland: Off the Beaten Path

Pagan Festivals of Sardinia

Treasures of Ireland’s West Coast

From $6,595

Treasures of the Dolomites

Hiking Tuscany and the Cinque Terre

From $6,695

Ultimate Dolomites

Central Asia Explorer

Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Central India: In the Realm of the Tiger

From $7,295

Everest Base Camp

In the Realm of Genghis Khan

From $5,695

Kyrgyzstan: Hiking in the Celestial Mountains

Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival

From $8,495

Royal Rajasthan and Villages of India

From $9,695

Shinto Shrines, Pearl Divers, and Pilgrim Trails

Searching for Snow Leopards in India

From $7,595

Temples, Treasures, and Teahouses

The Great Game

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, China

From $15,695

Treasures of South India

Ultimate Everest

Nepal: Lodge to Lodge Hiking in Upper Mustang

The Silk Road

From $12,495

Ultimate Uzbekistan

Wildlife of Eastern India: From Red Pandas to Rhinos

From $7,695

Tonga: Swimming with Humpback Whales

New Zealand: Ultimate South Island

New Zealand

Hiker’s Journey to New Zealand

From $8,295

Ultimate Galapagos aboard the Passion: Eastern and Western Islands

From $14,995

Glacier National Park and Blackfeet Powwow

Yellowstone & Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure

Trekking the Cordillera Blanca

From $4,995

Trekking the Cordillera Huayhuash

Hiker’s Journey to Machu Picchu

Treasures of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Brazil: Jaguars and Wildlife of the Pantanal

Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia

Patagonia: Tracking Pumas and Cruising the Fjords

From $13,295

Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Cenderawasih Bay

Desert Kingdom of Oman

Lost Worlds of Ethiopia

Hiking in Slovenia

From $6,095

Hiking in the Azores

Hiking Bergamo to Innsbruck

Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein

Hiker’s Journey to Morocco

Hiking Corsica and Sardinia

France, Italy

Croatia: Istria and the Dalmatian Coast

Slovenia, Croatia

From Bratislava to Prague

Czech Republic, Slovakia

From $5,395

Hiking in Sicily

Hiking Norway’s Lofoten Islands and Beyond

Hiking Puglia and Matera

Hiking the Heart of Switzerland

Switzerland

Prehistoric Caves and Great Cuisine of France

Highlands and Islands of Scotland

Walking England’s Jurassic Coast and Channel Islands

From France to Spain: Hiking in the Basque Country

Spain, France

Morocco: The High Atlas Trek

From $4,795

Normandy and Brittany

Hiking Switzerland’s Via Alpina

Hidden Villages of Northern Greece

From $4,395

Palau Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking

Hiking in Cornwall

Hiker’s Journey to the Caucasus

From $5,095

Japan: Snow Monkeys and Winter Cranes

New Zealand: Hidden Treasures of the Far North

Iran: In the Footsteps of Kings and Conquerors

Hiking the Alpe Adria: Salzburg to Trieste

Austria, Slovenia, Italy

Galapagos Adventure aboard the Coral II

Tour de Monte Rosa

Italy, Switzerland

Treasures of Mont Blanc

Switzerland, Italy, France

Hiking Australia’s Northern Territory

From $11,795

Pakistan: Hiking the Hunza Valley

Hiking Cape Verde

Cape Verde Islands

Hiking the Heart of the Balkans

From $4,595

India’s Kumbh Mela Festival

Adventures in Senegal, Gambia & Guinea-Bissau

Medieval France: The Lot Valley

Namibia: Desert Lion Conservation Safari

REVIEWS FROM OUR CLIENTS

An incredible variety of activities was packed into the trip, yet we never felt rushed. It would be impossible to do what we did in the same period of time without the expertise of WT guides.

We can depend on WT to offer exceptional trips and great attention to detail, and the quality of the Trip Leaders is unsurpassed.

This was without a doubt one of the best trips I’ve taken in my entire life. The professionalism and thoughtfulness that was demonstrated time and time again by the crew and the staff was superlative. An outstanding experience for me and my kids!

You could not have designed a better itinerary. Every day, every lodge, every meal, every experience was (unbelievably) better than the day before. Thank you for making this a phenomenal travel experience that I’ll remember for a lifetime.

The trip design was brilliant. Each day we thought we had captured “the prize” but the next day was even better. How did you do this?

Impeccable itinerary and outstanding implementation. Every day delivered a new ‘oh my’ because of the variety of the scenery and experiences. Thanks, Wilderness Travel!

This was a truly exceptional trip where we felt that we were able to fully experience the Patagonian wilderness but from the relative comfort of some wonderful small hotels and estancias.

Met my hopes and then some. It was an “experience” – –more than a vacation. We learned a tremendous amount about the culture, Inca history and, of course, the country is beautiful and people are so very nice!

The small number of participants with Wilderness Travel makes a much more intimate interaction with the areas visited. It was wonderful being in a small group of ten. Our guide’s ability to spot things in the bush was pretty incredible—he found leopards for us (with their kills), lions we would never have seen, and every bird everywhere. Great personality, too!

Because of our Trek Leader’s vast experience in the area, we used several trails that aren’t known to many trekkers and we were invited into Sherpa homes, which was wonderful. I had been dreaming of this trip for 30 years and now those dreams are fulfilled.

I have dreamed of taking this trip for years. Truly this journey exceeded my expectations on all fronts. The wildlife, terrain, people, staff and fellow trip mates made it an adventure to always treasure. I feel blessed and fortunate. Thank you Wilderness Travel. You have my complete confidence.

Talk to an Expert

Our Area Specialists know every detail about our Small Group Adventures. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

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Group Travel Vacation Guide

Use Hotwire to help plan your next group travel vacation. Whether you're looking for an all-inclusive group vacation package or last-minute, small group trip, we have the latest information and hottest deals on popular group travel destinations. Traveling with a group is not only fun, but a great way to stretch your vacation dollar. Many resorts offer terrific group discounts for lodging, activities, and more. We realize that planning an exciting group vacation can be a tricky thing; maybe some of you want a beach vacation, while others may want to be in a big city for lots of urban exploration. And then there's the challenge of finding a place that's fitting for your particular group event — whether it's a bachelor party, a girls' getaway, a family reunion, a business retreat, or holiday gathering. Hotwire has lots of ideas for group travel from relaxing in beach towns to going aboard all-inclusive cruises to getting away to popular outdoor destinations. Whether you want to splurge or save (there are plenty of discount group rates to be had out there), we've got information on how you can make the most out of traveling with a group, large or small. So don't wait: take a look at a list of our popular group travel destinations and get a few great ideas.

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Last Minute Beach Hotel Deals in San Diego

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Featured Group Vacation Beach Hotels in San Diego

Estimated price for 1 night/2 adults

Per night/room

May 29 - May 30

May 19 - May 20

Beach (San Diego, CA, Newport, RI, Virginia Beach, VA)

Group travel of any kind is more fun at the beach! There's something for everyone — swimming, snorkeling, going on day trips, walking on the sand at sunrise or sunset, or kicking back with a frosted drink on a beach towel. How do palm trees and surf, margaritas on the rocks, and mariachi music sound to you? Check out San Diego, California, with its perpetually balmy climate and 70 miles of beaches. Explore the funky hamlet of Ocean Beach, with its surfers and fun shops, or just a jicama's toss away is La Jolla, where you can end the day watching an amazing sunset while you feast on sweet and flaky fish tacos.

If you're on the east coast, Virginia Beach, Virginia is a popular resort destination with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels and restaurants along its oceanfront. Engage in water sports, world-class golf, or stroll along the boardwalk. For the more adventurous in your group, try a surf lesson; if there are several surf enthusiasts, ask if there is a group discount. Or take your group to a classic maritime city — Newport, Rhode Island - for a huge variety of water-based recreational activities. Newport is the largest city on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. The island is home to many beautiful beaches. First Beach is Newport's largest public beach, while Second Beach in neighboring Middletown is a great beach for waves. Sail, kayak, windsurf, and more in this historic town.

Explore more San Diego hotel deals .

Featured Caribbean Group Hotel Deals

Cruise (Caribbean)

To get the most out of group travel, go with friends and family on a cruise to the Caribbean. Cruises began as an outgrowth of trans-Atlantic travel, but it's now often a destination in and of itself. There's great food on cruise ships and more to do than just play a game of shuffleboard. These days, you can surf, rock climb, even ice skate onboard. It's a great way to take a large group to see the Caribbean; with more than 30 major islands to choose from, a cruise can give you an instant itinerary and possibly, a great discount group rate.

For family group vacations, you might want to choose a cruise with Aruba on its course. The island has many kid-friendly attractions such as a butterfly farm and kids' scuba tours. If your group is most interested in eating well and adventurously on your trip, make sure to find a cruise that has Anguilla as a stop. A chic and serene destination, you'll find imaginative twists on local bounty at popular restaurants such as Blanchards or Tasty's. For a splurge, go to Malliouhana Restaurant, where you can dine on exquisite French food in an open-sided pavilion on a rocky promontory over the sea. There's just so much to do on a cruise - from hiking in nature to exploring exotic ports to getting a hot stone massage in your cabin. You can stay in your group or go your separate ways with all your options.

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Featured Group Deals in Lake Tahoe

May 27 - May 28

May 22 - May 23

Ski (Lake Tahoe, CA, Denver, CO, Killington, VT)

Ski resorts seem to exist for group travel. Resorts offer activities for skiing and non-skiing folks alike, and group discount package deals abound. Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, California offers thousands of acres of open bowl skiing - there are 33 lifts to choose from! Or skip the slopes one day and go ice skating on the Olympic size rink with its amazing views of Lake Tahoe.

Colorado is blessed with no fewer than 18 ski resorts. Vail is America's largest and most famous ski mountain. And with 193 trails to choose from, it offers a run for everyone. While many of the runs are great for intermediate skiers, experts can brave the famous Back Bowls. Snowboarders will be happy too, with four terrain parks to choose from. If your group getaway members are into a boisterous ski party scene as well as great skiing and snowboarding, Killington, Vermont is the place to go. It is New England's largest resort; there are seven distinct peaks to explore — experts love Bear Mountain, Skye Peak, and The Canyon. The resort is famous for attracting ski clubs, and the numerous bars along the access road keep things hot through the icy Vermont winters.

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Featured Group Hotels Along the Oregon Coast

Outdoor (Oregon Trail, OR)

Exploring the great outdoors is a wonderful idea for a group travel event such as a girlfriends' getaway or a business retreat. Beautiful to see and educational to boot, the Oregon National Historic Trail recognizes diverse facets of history such as prominent past routes of trade, migration, military action, missionary work, and more. You can visit interpretive sites with your group, or go hiking, biking or horseback riding on different trail segments.

Depending on which segment you explore, there are also visiting museums, such as the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, and Auto Tour Route Interpretive Guides are being developed for each state that the historic trail passes through. The guides provide descriptions of locations where visitors will find remnants of the trail with either interpretive services or media that add insight to the experiences and history of the Oregon Trail. For a more active group travel experience, the Oregon Trail is the way to go.

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Featured Group Hotels in Hawaii

May 20 - May 21

May 30 - May 31

Special Occasion (Hawaii)

You can't go wrong with group travel in idyllic Hawaii. Everyone can have fun in relaxing Honolulu. Oahu's largest city and the state capital, Honolulu is home to many top attractions: sample a great dim-sum lunch in vibrant Chinatown or check out Aloha Tower, the city's landmark harbor-side clock tower surrounded by a marketplace brimming with shops and popular restaurants. Honolulu is also home to famed Waikiki Beach, located between the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and Diamond Head.

Waikiki's Beach's white sand runs along a 2-mile stretch of coast, flanked by dozens of high-rise hotels. The area is popular for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, body-boarding, picnicking, and outrigger canoeing - you'll will never be lacking for things to do! At the end of the beach is Diamond Head, one of the world's most famous volcanic rings. Although no diamonds were ever found here, the calcite crystals in the lava rock sparkle in the bright Hawaiian sunshine.

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LOVE TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS? MEET TROUPE

PLAN GROUP TRIPS WITHOUT THE HEADACHE.

Say goodbye to long email threads and group texts. Troupe is your one stop shop to plan a group trip everyone will love .

Invite friends to vote on important details like when to go, where to stay, and what to do. Now that’s group travel untangled.

Say goodbye to long email threads and group texts. Troupe is your one stop shop to plan a group trip everyone will love.

What is Troupe?

Your one-stop shop for group trip planning.

 With Troupe, you can invite your friends to participate in polls to decide essential details such as travel dates, accommodation options, and exciting activities. With Troupe, you can now plan your trip through our innovative AI-powered search features that will help you find the perfect accommodations that suit everyone in your group. Group travel becomes effortless and enjoyable, untangling the complexities along the way.

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How Troupe Works

Get your first trip up and running in 4 easy steps, create a tripsite and invite friends.

Create a custom tripsite that’s sure to get your group excited. Write out fun text, add GIFs, and upload images. Then, when you’re ready, invite friends via email or text. It’s that easy to get started!

Suggest Things and Vote on Your Favorites

Decide on key trip details by suggesting and voting on dates, destinations, stays, and activities. Once votes are cast, Troupe identifies the group favorites, so you can pick the options that work best for everyone. 

Poll Your Group and Share Notes

Get the input you need to make better decisions faster. Create custom polls to ask travelers about budget, trip length, or anything in between. Want to sort out contact info, packing lists, or menus? Create shared notes to organize all your information, all in one place.ﾠ

Decide on Activities and Build an Itinerary

Figure out what to do at your destination by using our activities feature to suggest and vote on things like restaurants, tours, museums, and more. Then, easily add the group’s favorite activities to an itinerary so you can plan out what to do each day.

Simplify Your Trip Planning

Our collaborative planning features are designed to drive easy decision making.

Manage RSVPs

Collect RSVPs from your group so you know who’s in, who’s out, and who’s on the fence. 

Vote & Suggest

Make choices confidently by suggesting and voting on important details. We’ll show you the faves.

Poll Your Group

Have questions for your group? Use polls to get answers from travel time to budget and beyond.

Build an Itinerary

Easily build your itinerary with your group by adding activities and organizing them by day.

Send Broadcasts

Send announcements to the whole group with the click of a button. Share deadlines, deals, and more!

Get Notified

Customize your notifications so you can stay on top of your group’s decisions, votes, and more.

Download the Troupe App for iOS  

Want to create and manage your trip directly from your phone? Download the Troupe app.

(Android friends, you’re next!)

WHY USERS LOVE TROUPE

Tired of planning alone? Users love the ability to suggest and vote alongside their friends, so they can make decisions everyone can get on board with.

“The entire family is onboard, it’s one central place to put everything and get out of group text chains…”

Columbus, OH

“When I sent this app to people, they felt more confident and onboard with the trip because Troupe was so organized.”

Los Angeles, CA

“We’ve gotten more done in the last 2-3 days with Troupe than we have since March trying to plan this on our own.”

Reading, PA

Want more info? Stay in touch.

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The Complete Guide to Group Travel

By Stephanie Wu

The paella was a breaking point. I was in the middle of the most complicated group trip I’d ever planned—13 people, flying in from six different cities, all gathering in a seven-bedroom villa in Andalucia . We were there, ostensibly, on a joint 30th-birthday trip, a group vacation we’d been planning for years . As high school classmates, some of us had known each other for decades, and the group had grown to include significant others and even a not-yet-announced pregnancy.

It would have been an ambitious trip no matter how many people were attending. We had chosen Spain as a middle ground between North America and East Asia, where my friends and I had scattered after college graduation. We were basing ourselves in Ronda, but rented several cars and planned day trips to see the bigger cities—Seville, Granada, Cordoba. But, inevitably, the dreamy idea of bringing us together for a milestone trip took on a life of its own: destination suggestions ranged from Croatia to Marrakech , and a total of 26 people were invited at some point. And I was wrangling it all— finding a villa , planning activities, making restaurant reservations, confirming the rental cars , and generally making sure it all went smoothly. Thankfully, I had some help: a villa specialist , plus a subset of friends I could count on for strong opinions and quick decisions. I took on this role naturally—and my friends were great about checking in to see if I needed any organizational help whatsoever. But generally, it was up to me to shape the flow of the trip while accommodating every travel personality, from super-planner to totally blasé.

Like every group vacation I’ve ever been on, our Spain trip had its ups and downs. On the first night, my head spinning while trying to keep track of a group text chain that had lost all sense of reason, I found myself struggling to keep my eyes open. Even though I was seeing my friends for the first time in a while, enjoying a home-cooked, multi-course meal as we shared exciting news (A new job! An international move! That pregnancy!), all I wanted to do was lie down after a very long travel day of planes, trains, and cars. On day two, I came downstairs to a breakfast spread of eggs, cheese, meats, and bread (there’s nothing like traveling with someone who likes to wake up early and prepare breakfast), and proceeded to try and block out the morning noise—questions about what to wear, what to bring, where the chargers were—way too much before I'd had my morning caffeine.

I hung back a bit that day during the group tour, scanning the crowd to make sure all my friends were having fun. Did they like the tour guide we had booked? Were they tired and jet lagged? Was the lunch reservation at an appropriate time? That night at dinner, a random spot we found within walking distance of our villa, I was happy to let someone else take the lead in ordering for the group, since the menu was only printed in Spanish. And then, the next night, we were so excited when our paella was delivered. It was in a massive pan the size of my wingspan, and took two people to carry. The saffron-infused aroma was coming through the aluminum sheets, and we were all crowded around the stove, awaiting the big reveal—until we uncovered the aluminum and realized they hadn’t seen my note about dietary restrictions, and my friends with shellfish sensitivities would be eating leftovers instead.

At its best, travel has a way of making every daily anxiety feel absolutely insignificant. And at its worst, even the tiniest mishaps, like the wrong ingredients in the paella, feel like the end of the world. This is even more the case on group trips, when you’re dealing with people of different ages, needs, and activity levels, or traveling with a group of friends of friends, where you’re close with some and not quite as comfortable with others. When you’re trying to accommodate everyone’s travel wishes, but somehow end up pleasing nobody. And of course, that moment when you realize you’re going to need a vacation to recover from this vacation.

That’s not to say that I didn’t have a great time in Spain. When I look back, I think about the one night we picked to be our joint birthday dinner. We were all gathered around restaurant table, 13 of us trying to blow the candles out together, each dissolving into giggles at different times. And of the one day we smartly split up into smaller groups—one group exploring the town, the other hanging by the pool—and then gathered together at night to share the highlights of our day. And how our long car rides led to long conversations, which was a way for me to really get to know my friend’s significant other—something that would have been nearly impossible otherwise, as they live in Toronto and we only see them a few times a year.

It always takes a few days for me to settle into vacation mode, but this time around, I had the added stress of worrying about everything that could go wrong, when a group of people who became friends at 18 meet again to travel together a dozen years later. I needed those moments of joy, of spontaneous laughter, of lounging around in silence, to be reminded of why we were all together in the first place—and why a few years earlier, we had known that we needed to prioritize setting aside time in our schedules to find a week that worked for all of us.

I think about how, during the vacation, we fantasized about what the next reunion would look like. Would we alternate continents? Would we take a cruise? Would we bring partners and kids along for our 40th birthday trip? At one point, someone brought up making it an annual trip —but the panicked look on my face might have nipped that suggestion in the bud immediately.

Matt Ortile

Scott Laird

Siobhan Reid

Meaghan Kenny

Group travel requires a herculean amount of coordination and compromise. But there’s something about having a group of people in the same place at the same time that can give every trip that once-in-a-lifetime feeling—an adrenaline rush that I only get when I’m traveling. I got to see a new side of my friends, who I haven’t lived in the same city as since I was 18—how some woke up early to check in at the office, how others were unflappable through hours of traffic and confusing driving directions, and how the parents-to-be soaked up the last few months before they became a family of three. That’s the magic of a group trip—you get to see your travel companions out of their daily element, in their vacation selves. And, if you can manage to stay calm throughout the planning process, the truth is, that’s often our best selves.

Why we built this guide

Group trips don’t all have to be stressful before they get good. If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you’ve been tasked to be the planner, at least in some part, for an upcoming trip. Here at Condé Nast Traveler , we embrace group travel in all forms, from big family vacations to a core group of friends that always travels together to traveling alone in a larger group. And we put this package together to help you take care of the big things—from where to stay and how to save money with points and miles —to the little ones, like how one app can change the group travel game.

We’re also letting you in on our best-kept secret, for when it’s time to throw your hands up and let the travel gods take over: Book a cruise . It’s what I did for my recent bachelorette party, where we paid just over $300 per person for 3 nights in the Caribbean, unlimited food and drinks, and endless entertainment. Okay, there was still a little planning, but it was limited to where we’d eat lunch on port day and whether we had brought enough sunscreen for our kayaking trip. As the de facto planner, I never had to think about signing a bill , or making sure everybody was entertained. I simply soaked it all in as my friends congregated in various combinations and got to know each other in vacation mode. It was the best gift I could have given myself—second to this guide, of course.

Four golden rules for every group trip

If you’re dealing with noncommittal guests, make everyone pay a deposit.

Don’t overschedule: plan the days as loosely as possible.

Come together for at least one meal a day.

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Frequently asked questions (faq).

Choose a destination, decide who’s coming with you, and use travel planning tools like SquadTrip to streamline your group travel planning from beginning to end.

Gather booking details, arrange payment schedules, and send email updates to your travelers—all for FREE!

Our user-friendly platform simplifies the group travel planning process, enabling you to concentrate on delivering the trip of a lifetime for your travelers.

Using spreadsheets and multiple payment platforms to collect money for a group trip is time consuming and inefficient.

When you use SquadTrip to manage your group trip, you can offer travelers two payment options: paying in full or paying in installments. Payment options include paying in full via credit card or Apple Pay, or paying in installments through Klarna, AfterPay, or autobilled monthly payments with their credit card.

Your guests also get access to a personalized travel portal so they can make additional purchases, manage their payment plan, and review the trip itinerary at anytime.

Yes! There are a number of group tours, small group travel experiences, and large group getaways solo travelers can join. Check out our recommended travel groups or explore these upcoming trips to get started.

Explore upcoming group trips to join like-minded travelers on your next adventure, or check out these top travel groups to find your ideal travel squad.

Traveling through Europe with friends leads to a rich tapestry of experiences, from wandering the historic streets of Rome in Italy to soaking up the vibrant lifestyles in Spain and Portugal and being awed by the stunning landscapes of Greece, Iceland, and Croatia.

Heading to south east Asia and Africa promises transformative adventures; imagine unraveling the mysteries of ancient temples in Thailand and Japan, haggling in the lively markets of Morocco and Vietnam, and encountering the wild heart of Africa on a safari.

Need a mix of relaxation and excitement? Bali's beaches, Australia's outback, and Costa Rica's rainforests are ideal for unforgettable group getaways.

Feeling inspired? Take the hassle out of group trip planning and create your trip for free with SquadTrip's all-in-one marketing, booking, and payment collection platform.

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Here's who paid for Iowa AG Brenna Bird's trip to NYC for Donald Trump's hush money trial

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird's trip to New York City on Monday to attend Donald Trump's trial was at the invitation of the Republican Attorneys General Association .

A spokesperson for Bird's campaign told the Des Moines Register that the group invited attorneys general, including Bird, "to go to Manhattan and show support for President Trump." The group also covered the trip's expenses.

On Monday, Bird was seen entering the courthouse behind Trump along with a gaggle of his supporters. Her office confirmed she attended, and a spokesperson said no taxpayer money had been used to fund her travel.

Bird repeated that sentiment Tuesday at a press conference in Ankeny, where she announced a lawsuit against California-based electric truck requirements. She did not give details on how the trip was funded or if she was invited — details later provided by a spokesperson.

"No taxpayer funds were used, and I went to New York to show my support for President Trump and to witness what was going on there, in that courtroom in Manhattan," Bird told reporters.

In a news conference outside the courthouse Monday, Bird said she traveled from Iowa to represent the state's support for the former president as he stands trial in a hush money case.

"We need him back as our president leading our country again," Bird said. "My background is as a prosecutor, and what I saw in that courtroom today is a travesty. Politics has no place in a court of law.

"They try to charge him with all these ridiculous things that include a star witness who is a perjurer, disbarred, convicted of lying," Bird added. "It tells us the state we are in this country right now."

The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, Rita Hart, criticized the appearance, saying "Iowans deserve an attorney general that's focused on serving her constituents — not her political ambitions."

In his January victory speech for the Iowa caucuses, Trump said of Bird, "she's going to be your governor someday."

The Republican Attorneys General Association has been embroiled in political controversy in the past.

Before the Jan. 6, 2020, insurrection in Washington, D.C., the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fundraising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association, sent a robocall inviting people to march to the U.S. Capitol .

The robocall said: "The march to save America is tomorrow in Washington, D.C. … At (1 p.m.) we will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal. We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue the fight to protect the integrity of our election."

Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed reporting.

Galen Bacharier covers the Statehouse & politics for the Register. Reach him at  [email protected] m   or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter  @galenbacharier .

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• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
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• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. The Central Air Force Museum

2. Church of St. George

Complaint: Tennessee Education Chief's travel reimbursements allegedly violate ethics code

An ethics complaint filed Tuesday against Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds alleges she accepted travel reimbursements paid for by a group that also lobbies the legislature, in violation of state law and executive branch standards.

Reynolds attended two out-of-state events last year with expenses paid by her former employer , ExcelinEd, a national advocacy group that works to expand education choice policies. ExcelinEd also employs a lobbyist in Tennessee, Miranda Williams, who lobbied for Gov. Bill Lee’s universal school choice proposal this year — which Reynolds also championed in the legislature. 

A complaint filed Tuesday by Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville, to the Tennessee Ethics Commission alleges that Reynolds’ out-of-state travel to conferences in October and November 2023 were paid for by ExcelinEd. The transaction amounts to a violation of state laws governing gifts to executive branch employees by lobbying organizations, Hemmer argues. He added that the governor's chief ethics attorney disagreed with him.

“Commissioner Reynolds has shown a troubling pattern of being ill-informed about the official responsibilities of her role and an outright inability to follow Tennessee law,” Hemmer told The Tennessean. “I raised this issue with Governor Lee’s Chief Ethics Counsel, who promptly dismissed my concerns. Therefore, I’ve had no option but to file an official ethics complaint with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.”

The Tennessee Department of Education and Lee's office did not respond to a request for comment from The Tennessean. Previously, Lee has emphasized support for Reynolds to continue in her role.

Related content: New records detail Tennessee education chief's meetings, push for voucher bill

State law prohibits members of the executive branch; lawmakers; and political candidates and their immediate families from soliciting or accepting gifts — directly or indirectly. The law makes exceptions for out-of-state travel when reimbursed by a recognized organization of elected or appointed state government officials or their staff, or their umbrella organizations. 

“ExcelinEd is an employer of a lobbyist in Tennessee and, therefore, not allowed to pay or reimburse for out-of-state travel of an executive branch employee,” Hemmer wrote in the complaint, adding that the travel “does not meet any statutory exceptions.”

If accepting gifts that are not prohibited, state law requires executive branch officials to report gifts within seven days of the event. In her 2024 statement of interest , filed with the Ethics Commission last month, Reynolds disclosed legislative expenses related to her attendance at ExcelinEd’s LAUNCH event and summit last year.

Executive Order 2 , signed by Lee in 2019, prohibits executive employees from accepting lodging, transportation, food or anything of monetary value from any entity that “has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s official duties.” 

It also directs executive branch employees to avoid actions that could give the appearance of “giving preferential treatment to any person” or “losing complete independence or impartiality,” which Hemmer alleges Reynolds is guilty of doing.

Tuition waiver: Tennessee education chief got tuition waiver before required six-month employment period

Prior to submitting the complaint, Hemmer emailed Lee’s Chief Ethics Officer Erin Merrick sharing “serious concerns” on whether Lee’s executive order allows the commissioner to receive travel reimbursements from ExcelinEd, an employer of a lobbyist.

“I do not provide interpretations of Executive Order No. 2 to those who are not members of the executive branch,” Merrick responded via email on May 10, according to a copy of the correspondence obtained by The Tennessean.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for Reynolds to resign in recent months following a report by The Tennessean that she repeatedly signed forms misrepresenting her tenure with the state to obtain a taxpayer-funded tuition waiver . They have questioned her qualifications to continue leading the state agency.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

AAA Newsroom

Automotive, Travel, and Traffic Safety Information

Nearly 44 Million Travelers Leaving Town for Unofficial Start of Summer

Second highest memorial day holiday travel forecast since aaa began tracking in 2000.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 13, 2024) – AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.  

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”   

Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides. AAA car rental partner Hertz says Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand , with the busiest pick-up days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.  

This Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57.  Pump prices rose this spring but have held somewhat steady in recent weeks. Prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.  

Airports are bracing for a spike in travelers. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019. This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11. This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors play into how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class. For example, passengers who book nonstop flights with seat selection and carry-on bags included will likely pay more than those who select basic economy with a layover.  

  Nearly two million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. AAA projects 1.9 million people will take these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year. “This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.”  

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro 

INRIX , a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.   

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.  

Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.   

For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT

Source: INRIX   

Source: INRIX  

Top Destinations 

This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed. European cities dominate the international list. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.  

Travel Trends   

As travelers make plans for summer and beyond, AAA Travel has identified the following trends:  

• Bucket Lists : Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips  
• Milestones : Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips  
• Asia : More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan   
• Solo Trips : More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves  
• Luxury Vacations : More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours  
• Trains : Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada, and Europe  
• Adventure in Nature : Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa, and South Pacific  

  Travel Agent Survey  

A recent survey of AAA travel agents highlights topics travelers are frequently discussing when booking trips:  

• Travel Insurance : 51 % of agents say more travelers are interested in protecting their trips  
• 77% of agents say ocean cruises  
• 70% of agents say all-inclusive vacations  
• 67% of agents say river cruises  

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology   

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.   

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM . The PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.  

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 15, 2024.   

*Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period   

For this forecast, the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27, 2024.   

AAA Travel Agent Survey Methodology 

AAA clubs distributed surveys to a random sample of their travel agents between March 18 and March 29, 2024 to understand recent traveler trends over the past 60 days. 186 AAA agent responses were collected from 13 AAA clubs (representing 97% of AAA membership overall as of February 2024).  

About AAA    

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.   

About S&P Global   S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit  www.spglobal.com .   

About DKSA    

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.   

About INRIX     

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.   

Google Follows ChatGPT With New AI-Powered Trip-Planning Tools

Rashaad Jorden , Skift

May 15th, 2024 at 3:54 AM EDT

Today's podcast looks at Google's new AI tool, Ariane Gorin's new plans for Expedia Group, and Qantas' change in routes to China.

Rashaad Jorden

Skift Daily Briefing Podcast

Listen to the day’s top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, May 15. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

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Episode Notes

Google is going deeper into the AI-powered trip planning world . The tech giant is adding itinerary-building capabilities on Gemini Advanced, its paid generative AI chatbot, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.

Google Vice President Sissie Hsiao said Gemini Advanced can create a personalized vacation plan using multiple sources of information. The trip-planning capability is coming to Gemini Advanced this summer. In addition, Google is also boosting trip-planning options for AI Overviews, the AI feature it released earlier this year. 

Next, Ariane Gorin took over as CEO of Expedia Group this week. She explained what she’s looking to accomplish during an interview with Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.

Gorin said that organic growth is one of her priorities, having recently completed a tech migration that brought together several of its brands onto one platform. She added Expedia is focused on growing internationally, but will take a measured approach in doing so. 

Gorin added Expedia needs to make improvements to its vacation-rental brand Vrbo. Expedia recently trimmed its 2024 outlook growth mainly due to Vrbo’s slower-than-anticipated recovery. 

Finally, Qantas is pulling out of mainland China as it increasingly faces fierce competition from local carriers, writes Airlines Reporter Gordon Smith.

Australia’s flag carrier is citing “low demand” as the reason it will no longer fly from Sydney to Shanghai starting on July 28. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said flights between the two cities have often been half full since the company relaunched service following the pandemic. Meanwhile, Chinese carriers operate 102 flights weekly between mainland China and Australia’s three largest cities. 

Presenter/Producer: Jane Alexander

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Tags: artificial intelligence , australia , china , expedia , gemini , google , skift podcast , the prompt

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Why Did the Hotel Chain Hire a Marine Biologist?

Megan Morikawa of the Iberostar Group is applying science — and scale — to eliminate food waste, save coral and collaborate across the travel industry to cut carbon.

Megan Morikawa went from getting her Ph.D. at Stanford to working for the Spanish hotel group as director of sustainability. Credit... Iberostar

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By Elisabeth Goodridge

• May 15, 2024

Carbon neutrality, zero waste and serving seafood solely from responsible suppliers: Many boutique eco-tourism destinations — particularly those catering to small numbers of luxury travelers — can reach or come close to sustainability goals such as these, but what about a decades-old resort company operating 97 properties across 14 countries?

As the global director of sustainability at Iberostar Group , Megan Morikawa is striving to prove that large travel operators can be better stewards of the planet. The Stanford-educated marine biologist is applying science to achieve these goals and more, such as helping the privately held hospitality company build coral research labs and use A.I.-powered trash cans to reduce kitchen waste.

In a nearly two-hour video conversation, Dr. Morikawa talked about her career pivot from academia to hospitality, the importance of collaboration across the travel industry and her new role for the Travel Foundation , a nonprofit providing destinations with sustainable-tourism research, strategy and training.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What led you to research coral reef die-offs for your doctorate?

Basically, the theme of my technical background is how we can use the technology of genetics and genomics to better conserve species on the planet.

My Ph.D. adviser, Stephen Palumbi, was focused on genetics, genomics and coral reefs. His whole proposition was: Could we find the world’s toughest corals, learn what makes them tough and use that to help predict winners and losers of climate change, so that managers could better understand how to restore reefs?

How did you end up in travel?

It was at the end of my Ph.D. when at Stanford I met Gloria Fluxá Thienemann, Iberostar’s vice chairman and chief sustainability officer. My adviser and I were scratching our heads asking, “What does a Spanish hotel owner have in terms of interest in our research?”

Our initial conversation showed that she was genuinely interested in the science. Gloria’s passion for the science of the oceans has facilitated so much of what we now do.

I moved from academia to Iberostar because really passionate people want to use the private sector to scale solutions for critical ecosystems, like coral reefs.

Iberostar now has three coral labs and seven underwater nurseries in three countries. How did that start?

The first year that I joined, we constructed our first coral lab at a property in the Dominican Republic. It would have taken us four or five years if we were doing this from an academic standpoint.

The coral lab is three things in one. It’s an outreach center, where guests and others can pop in and stumble upon seeing — for many of them — coral for the first time. But it’s also a genetic bank: Corals in the Caribbean are experiencing a lot of challenges, like widespread disease and bleaching events. Having a genetic bank is an important asset saving for genetic diversity. Our third objective is to recreate coral bleaching: The lab has a sophisticated system that recreates heating waves with small tanks so that we can stress individual corals, and predict winners and losers, just like I did for my Ph.D.

Iberostar has taken hotels off fossil fuels, partnered to create a waste-management system in Brazil and more. How is it making these changes?

The question is always around how you scale sustainability. Scaling is an interesting combination of being able to speak in a high-level strategy voice about say, business objectives, and then being able to translate that down to the actual actions that a hotel director needs to take.

Because it’s not just our executive leadership. From our operations to our procurement team to our head of human resources, we all recognize the risk climate change poses to our business. So the passion and enthusiasm to do something about it is there and was not what needed to be sparked.

Tell me about these trash cans.

We do a lot of work on our food waste — we serve around 45 million meals a year.

With our partnership with Winnow , an A.I. waste management company, we have placed devices in our kitchens that have an A.I.-assisted camera and scale that allows for chefs to spend the first month or so training the model on what the camera is seeing. Through time, the system automatically registers what is being wasted.

With that data, we can get feedback on those economic losses as well as carbon footprint losses. And finally, what is it that we are throwing away? And how can that help us to inform how we produce food the next day?

What are the top challenges to Iberostar’s sustainability goals?

Travel is made up of a bunch of different businesses in different sectors. And how that all joins together can be really difficult to understand — particularly in the role we all play in protecting natural resources. Because we are a beachfront resort company, when we see erosion and other impacts on those areas, it’s really clear and evident. But one of our excursion providers might not be thinking about it as much in their day-to-day.

As a scientist, I recognize that a lot of discovery of how to do things that have never been done before requires quick absorption of new materials and being able to speak multiple languages. And by that, I don’t mean linguistic languages; I mean speaking from a research standpoint to a government standpoint to a business standpoint. A lot of the barrier to collaboration was not being able to communicate effectively with each other.

Are any of these changes something a guest would see?

We somewhat boldly said we are demonstrating that a luxury hospitality experience does not require single-use plastics. What I like to say is that when you see a room that is free of single-use plastics, it’s kind of hard to unsee it. A lot of times it can be thought of — initially — as needing to remove items. But I think our operations team thought critically about ways to elegantly offer an experience that was a better product. So that’s probably the most tangible way that we can see that.

What is the purpose of the Travel Foundation?

The Travel Foundation is a U.K.-based NGO, providing research, strategy and support in their aim for tourism to provide the greatest benefits for every destination around the world, so local communities and environments can thrive. The role I’ve taken is chair of the board of trustees.

A recent research piece they published was looking at how to model pathways to reach net zero emissions, looking at aviation, transport and hotels. The Travel Foundation also supports destinations in producing management plans. For Lake Tahoe, in California, they’ve been doing great work to help the area think through its new boom in tourism and how residents can have a voice.

When it comes to changing human impact on the environment, what are steps that travelers could take?

One of the best things that tourists can do is to inject mindfulness into their decisions. I know it sounds really silly, but the more meaning that we draw from the choices that we make in our consumption, the more likely we’re able to maximize the value that comes from it and make them memorable experiences.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Elisabeth is the deputy editor for the Travel Desk at The New York Times. More about Elisabeth Goodridge

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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Prepare to journey deep into the heart of Middle-earth with the unveiling of the spectacular LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Barad-Dûr set! With its imposing 5,471 pieces, this awe-inspiring masterpiece brings to life the dark tower of Mordor in stunning detail, packed with thrilling features and beloved characters from the timeless trilogy. The journey through the dark tower continues with the throne room – which includes a compartment that opens to reveal a map, and a ladder on the top floor of the tower that can be moved left and right.

At the summit lies the Eye of Sauron that rotates in various directions and features a light brick to make the eye glow. There are also 10 minifigures, including Sauron™, Mouth of Sauron™, Orc™, Frodo, Sam, Gollum™ and Gothmog.

In addition, purchases made between 1-7 June will receive a free LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings™: Fell Beast™ set, which features posable wings and joints and a Nazgul minifigure.

The build is split into four main sections, with the tower section being fully modular. LEGO fans with more than one copy of the set will be able to stack this section to build a taller tower.

The LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings: Barad-Dûr set are available for LEGO Insiders from 1st June 2024 at www.LEGO.com/LOTR and LEGO Stores for all from 4th June priced at €459.99 / £399.99/ $459.99. When purchasing the set between 1-7th June, fans will also get a free LEGO The Lord of the Rings Fell Beast set.

Notes to Editors

Product Information: Age: 18+ RRP: 459.99€ / 459.99$ / 399.99£ Pieces: 5471 pieces Product No.: 10333 Dimensions: Measures over 32 in. (83 cm) high, 11 in. (30 cm) wide and 17 in. (45 cm) long Available: LEGO Insiders: 1st June 2024 All: 4th June 2024 Link: www.LEGO.com/LOTR

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