Why Confident Solo Travelers Shouldn't Overlook Group Travel

Over the years, I've become a more confident solo traveler. I know how to navigate public transportation in new countries, eat alone without feeling awkward, and plan itineraries without anyone else's input. I've found my way through language barriers, learned to pivot when plans change, and grown increasingly comfortable entertaining myself without someone by my side. Solo travel has given me a level of confidence that has honestly surprised me.

Despite my confidence traveling solo, you might tilt your head in confusion when I say that I'm also one of the biggest fans of group travel. Not because I need to, but because I genuinely love it.

So, why shouldn't you overlook group travel? It's not about trading solo travel; it's about adding something you can't get when doing it on your own. And with the right travel company, it could just be the best getaway of your life. Here's what I mean:

Experiencing freedom while traveling

I've learned that every time I catch myself saying, "I can't wait to travel to (insert dream destination here)," there's another question that follows: "What kind of experience am I actually hoping to have?"

Am I craving the freedom to wander through narrow cobblestone streets, following wherever curiosity takes me? Or am I looking for adventure like hiking volcanic mountain trails in Iceland or remote island-hopping in Palawan? The answer isn't always the same, which is why I've come to appreciate both solo and group travel because they offer different kinds of freedom. 

Solo travel: Total control and flexibility. I do what I want, when I want, and how I want. If I want to wake up early to see the sunrise, then follow it with a leisurely morning sipping a cappuccino at a cafe while people-watching, no one else's plans are affected. 

Group travel: AKA passenger princess goals. 👑 That freedom from decision fatigue = someone else handles the logistics and reservations, leaving more room to be present and enjoy the experience as it unfolds. 

Neither type of freedom is inherently "better," just different. And over time, I've realized there are certain experiences that group travel delivers exceptionally well, even for travelers who are perfectly comfortable exploring the world on their own. A trip I'm forever grateful I experienced with a group? SurfYogaBeer's island-hopping trip through Palawan, Philippines, where it was boat day every day, I fell asleep under the stars in a bamboo beach hut, and barely had cell service. Just shared meals, non-digital conversations, and days that felt completely unplugged.

SurfYogaBeer Philippines travel

The social experience

When I look back on my most memorable travel experiences, it's not the landmarks I saw or the activities I did, but the people I experienced them with. It's also a top reason I keep coming back to group travel with SurfYogaBeer, a company that curates active, social trips and emphasizes building connections beyond just going somewhere new.

In fact, some of the most seasoned travelers are surprised by how much they end up enjoying group travel.

"This trip to Nicaragua with Surf Yoga Beer was unreal. I’ve always been a solo, digital-nomad type traveler, but this completely sold me on group travel. I’m not a great surfer, I hate yoga, and circuit training isn’t my thing, but pushing my comfort zone with people I genuinely liked made it ridiculously fun. Seeking discomfort turned into the best part of the trip." Joey V.'s SurfYogaBeer Google Review.

Solo travel: Connection is possible just about anywhere, but it requires intentional effort. You have to be willing to start conversations, join activities, and sometimes embrace a little uncertainty. When it happens, it feels organic and spontaneous, and when it doesn't, you might spend more time on your own. But hey, that solo "you" time is precious and sometimes is exactly what you need.

Group travel: With the right travel group, there's an instant sense of community with like-minded people from day one. The shared energy of the group, built-in plans, and everyday experiences naturally create space for connection and long-lasting bonds. Before my first SurfYogaBeer trip, I had traveled with several other group travel companies, but my SurfYogaBeer New Year's Eve Nicaragua trip in 2022 still holds the number one spot as the experience that reshaped how I think about group travel.

Group travel doesn't replace the magic of meeting people spontaneously; it just spares the mental energy it takes to figure out how to do so. The sarcastic, "I'm too old for new friends," chatter we've all heard? I want to think whoever said that hasn't experienced group travel, yet. 👀

SurfYogaBeer Nicaragua travel

The experience itself (and how you spend your time)

One of the most underrated differences between solo travel and group travel is how you actually spend your days.

Solo travel: You're basically your own cruise director. You decide the pace, the priorities, and how ambitious (or relaxed) the day looks. Some of my favorite solo travel days have been unstructured ones. Starting and ending my day when I want to, and challenging my step count to find another gelato. But there's also a lot of mental energy that goes into constantly asking, "What should I do next?" 🫠

Group travel: Takes that question off the table in the best way. The itinerary is already thoughtfully built, so you get to experience things you might not have discovered on your own. Instead of playing mental tug-of-war to figure out plans, you just show up! Some of my favorite travel memories happened because someone else planned them. The most epic dinner party with fire dancers and instruments, somewhere in the twists and turns of a medina in Marrakech, or a serene group hang in an off-the-beaten-path geothermal pool in Iceland post-hike. The kind of experiences I either wouldn't have discovered on my own or that wouldn't have felt the same without the people I shared them with.

Read up on Pablo's first SurfYogaBeer trip.

The self-awareness that comes with travel

One of the most interesting parts of travel is how much more aware you become of yourself, not in a big, dramatic way, but in the small moments where you notice how you respond to uncertainty, downtime, structure, and spontaneity.

Solo travel: When you travel alone, that awareness is constant. You're making every decision and navigating each day on your own. That can be incredibly empowering, as it teaches you what you actually enjoy, how you problem-solve, and how comfortable you are in your own company. But it also means always being "on" and having mental check-ins with yourself throughout the day, which can quietly take up more mental space than you realize. 

Group travel: When traveling with a group, there's still self-awareness, but it's less about constant self-direction and more about presence. You're choosing how to engage, when to lean in, when to step back, and how to show up within a shared experience, without carrying the weight of every decision alone.

These experiences tend to highlight different parts of you. Solo travel reveals your independence and self-sufficiency. Group travel reveals how you move within a community, how you connect, how you recharge, and how you experience things when you're not the one having to hold it all together.

Neither version is more "you" than the other. They're just different ways of being in the world.

Nicaragua group travel

So… solo travel or group travel?

For me, it's never been about choosing one over the other. It's about what kind of experience I want in that moment, and knowing there are always options.

If you've only ever traveled solo, it might be worth not overlooking the benefits of group trips and how they can shake things up in the best way. Whatever your travel style, the point is to keep expanding how you experience the world. If you love solo travel for how it widens your perspective, group travel is simply another way to experience it. Curious what that actually looks like? Check out SurfYogaBeer's line-up of epic adventures.

Travel with us. Change your life. 

SurfYogaBeer hiking in Iceland