A few years ago, a couple told me over dinner that the tour we were on in Nice, France, had too much shopping time. That wasn’t the case. The tour had more free time for travelers to create experiences than this couple was accustomed to. During the afternoon they were at loose ends, I bought a local bus pass and visited both the Matisse Museum and the Marc Chagall Museum, before walking several blocks through historic neighborhoods back to our hotel.
Trends happen quickly in group travel, and there are several you are probably acting upon for 2025 — or should be. Even travelers in their 70s and 80s are seeking these emerging characteristics for their trips:
• Smaller groups: My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Finland that had 22 travelers in the group. The trip was more personal and more energetic and encountered fewer delays due to our group’s size.
• Longer stays in fewer hotels: It has been a while since we’ve had to pack and unpack luggage several times on one trip. It’s not hard to avoid itineraries that require multiple check-ins and waste valuable time.
• Use of knowledgeable local guides: Good local guides point out places that today’s travelers return to on their own time. The best guides inspire decisions that alter your plans in some way.
• Free time on tours: Travelers today are independent; they welcome mornings or afternoons of free time in cities, especially if their hotel allows easy walking options. If a local guide has made a place irresistible, even better!
