{"id":2964,"date":"2017-08-07T09:42:55","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T14:42:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:wp.stolaf.edu\/travel\/?page_id=2964"},"modified":"2023-06-07T08:40:07","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:40:07","slug":"how-to-be-an-independent-group-traveler","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/travel\/how-to-be-an-independent-group-traveler\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be an Independent Group Traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Olaf Alumni & Family Travel programs offer you group support along with opportunities to use your free time in independent ways. With a little pre-departure planning, you can enhance your Study Travel experience and set yourself up for more enjoyable adventures. Here\u2019s what to expect in terms of St. Olaf\u2019s role and your responsibilities.<\/p>\n

First, What to Expect from Group Travel<\/h6>\n

Adapted from the Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler<\/em> magazine, October 2007 issue.<\/p>\n

Advance Work
\n<\/u>For each program, Travel staff may conduct hundreds of transactions, such as buying tickets, planning meals, and arranging for special access. If minutiae make your head spin, you\u2019ll love that most of your responsibility is just showing up. \u201cGroup travel is well suited for people who enjoy just going and the element of surprise,\u201d says Brian Harrington, a veteran of the travel industry. You\u2019re putting choices about what to include in any given day in the hands of someone else, and will need to use your free time to pursue other interests you may have.<\/p>\n

Price Point
\n<\/u>Package travel can save you 10 to 40 percent over going solo, according to the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA). That\u2019s because we build relationships. Rooms at the Hotel Claude Bernard in Paris\u2019 Latin Quarter, for example, costs us less than if you booked it on your own. However, we\u2019re choosing the hotels and restaurants for you and they may have fewer stars than you might normally choose for yourself, or be smaller and have fewer amenities than you would typically seek out. Participants consistently tell us that program fees are a good value.<\/p>\n

Sociability Factor
\n<\/u>Our programs are based, however loosely, on special interests. So chances are you\u2019ll have plenty to talk about with your travel mates. In fact, it\u2019s not uncommon for lifelong friendships to develop on a program. Keep in mind that you may also end up sharing time and space with a high-maintenance type.<\/p>\n

The Role of Program Leaders
\n<\/span>If what you\u2019re hoping for is a personal concierge or one-on-one tour guide, you\u2019ll be disappointed. Travel leaders are responsible for the educational content and leadership of the entire group, and cannot spend time on individual itineraries and requests.\u00a0Some programs have a tour manager or national guide who travels with the group from start to finish, and some do not. Remember that this person \u2013 like the program leader \u2013 is present to enhance the overall group experience and is not along to make personal free-time reservations for each participant.<\/p>\n

Time Constraints
\n<\/u>You\u2019ve dreamed of seeing the Taj Mahal since you were a tyke, but maybe two hours isn\u2019t going to cut it for you. \u201cDepending on the tour, the biggest compromise can be keeping up with the schedule,\u201d says USTOA president Bob Whitley. If you\u2019d prefer to lollygag at certain sites, build in time post-trip to double back to your favorite spots. In the same vein, there may be many days that start earlier than you\u2019re used to; with group travel there\u2019s less time for lingering over morning coffee. Likewise, group meals are social experiences and will take longer than you may anticipate.\u00a0We deliberately include some group meals to spend time together, but we also deliberately leave some meals on your own. Group meals are going to provide more food than you would normally eat at home. They\u2019re often three courses, with a larger entr\u00e9e than you might make for a typical dinner for yourself every night. It also takes more time to get through these meals; be prepared to embrace the social aspect of breaking bread together.<\/p>\n

Keeping Pace
\n<\/span>Physical requirements are clearly posted for each program and participants must reflect on their own ability to partake in the program. We are not allowed to screen passengers for physical ability or to require a doctor\u2019s note for participation. If one participant seems to slow down the group, leaders must devote their time to nurturing the entire group.<\/p>\n

And Now, How to be an Independent Group Traveler<\/strong><\/h6>\n

One of St. Olaf Travel\u2019s core values is the deliberate carving out of free time in each custom-designed itinerary. We encourage you during free time to see sights that interest you, reflect on what you are learning, and to decompress. Time to process new ideas is integral to grasping the accuracy and implications of those ideas. Simply savoring the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feel of another culture can deepen your learning experience. Unlike individual travel, there\u2019s no adjusting the itinerary if a particular day has worn you out. You\u2019ll need to be proactive about using your free time to rest, because the following days will continue as planned.<\/p>\n

So what can you do to get the most from your free time?<\/p>\n

Locate resources to orient yourself to your destination prior to arrival.
\n<\/u>As we mention in the Resource List, we strongly recommend obtaining maps and a guide book. Get a feel for the lay of the land and the locations of major markers. Before departure we will share the name and address of each hotel. We suggest locating the hotel on a map and the closest subway stop. A guide book will go a long way in answering many of your general questions about what things to do and where to eat when you\u2019re not with the group. It will also typically provide a few words and phrases in the local language, sometimes a tip on pronunciation, and other useful things such as tipping guidelines, how best to obtain money, and at least rudimentary maps.<\/p>\n

Consider, prior to departure, two or three things you might want to do or see.
\n<\/u>Locate these activities on your map, note the subway stops, and opening times. Consider on which day these activities might best fit, given the site\u2019s location relative to group activities, or the amount of time you want to spend at the site. As Rick Steves says, \u201cIt\u2019s the classic paradox of good travel: structure rewards a traveler with freedom, and \u2018winging it\u2019 becomes a ball-and-chain of too many decisions, too little information … and precious little time to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plan to break from the group once in a while.
\n<\/u>Experiences shared with like-minded individuals (like your fellow travelers) can often be more meaningful and help you work through new feelings and attitudes. Doing your own thing can be equally rewarding. On your own you may have the chance for more intimate encounters. Also, when you disengage from the group and do your own thing, you have the chance to share something new with your fellow travelers \u2013 and they with you \u2013 the next time you meet up. \u00a0For example, I recall an afternoon spent with Carol and Marladene in Paris, searching out the bar where Princess Diana had a drink before her tragic car crash \u2013 an excursion Carol knew she wanted to make before she even left home. We had a minor adventure involving a surly door man and purloined napkins to share with the group at the next morning\u2019s seminar.<\/p>\n

Research on your own the logistics that are important to you.
\n<\/u>We\u2019ll arm you with a lot of information so that you can do your own research. For example, hotel names and web sites will be listed in itineraries as we get closer to departure so that you can go online to find out whether the hotel offers amenities such as hair dryers or laundry service. As mentioned above, you can find everything you need online or in your guide book in terms of the kind of electrical socket your destination uses, what the monetary unit is, what the tipping guidelines are in a particular country, and much more.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Other Tips for a good experience<\/h6>\n