Beautiful & Unique Group Travels

Not your Grandma's bus tour...

Hi Friends,

For better, or worse, there are a lot of options for travel today. Most of what I see being offered is for the better even though the over-tourism of special beautiful places is a problem I would love to see solved sooner rather than later (looking at you my beloved Florence). However, this post isn’t about that particular topic but one that is much much better. 

My favorite options for intimate, unique “group” travel. 

For people my age (over 50), I still feel like when they hear “group travel” they have traumatic images of giant bus tours or horrible cruise ships; sleeping in mid-rate hotels, being “herded” to tourist spots while following a flag and eating in places where the focus is more on the ability to hold large groups rather than exceptional food and experience. 

Ahhh - the group travel I’m talking about is quite the opposite of what I’ve described above. 

Picture this: traveling with a group of 6-8 other like-minded travelers with a host who has painstakingly curated your trip to be so special and unique and includes bespoke accommodations, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and access to people, places, things you could not do on your own. You have a delightful itinerary that is balanced with activities and experiences, delicious meals, and alone time to relax or explore on your own. 

Sounds pretty dreamy, right? 

I began to learn a bit about these kinds of travel offerings over the last decade, beginning with Instagram clueing me into travel retreats with photographers or artists, which sounded pretty great but not exactly what I was dreaming of. 

But between Instagram friends in the travel sector and my own travel experiences over the last 5 years,  I began collecting information on hosts and boutique travel companies who are offering incredible small group travels as described above. 

I wrote in my January post, Ins & Outs & Trends 2024, one of my intentions for this substack is to serve the 45-70-year-old female traveler who may be considering solo exploring for the first time. While everyone is welcome to my substack, I feel like being 55 and embarking on this travel life at 50, I have a unique point of view for this particular age group. Another point in that Ins & Outs & Trends post was sharing good intel on intimate group travel and how these two entities intersect. 

These kinds of travel groups can be an excellent way to kick off your (semi) solo travel life and potentially create a generous community around your travel interests. 

Over the last 5 months, I have interviewed and chatted with several folks who have created these kinds of travel excursions. I have had so much fun getting to know them and very much appreciate their time and generosity in hopping on a Zoom call with me or emailing back and forth. For every single one featured, I hope to get to take a trip with them myself one of these days. 

I’m delighted to share all of these with you today as well as my personal experience as a host and notes on a different kind of group travel.

My Own Experience As A Host: 

I’ve hosted small groups and curated travel experiences as part of my roles in the wine business in the United States and it is one of my favorite parts of the jobs I’ve held with wineries in the past. Creating something so personal and special that surprises and delights even jaded luxury travelers is something I took great pride in. It is no small feat to accomplish these kinds of experiences. 

My First Travel Group Experience: 

When I stepped out on my first multi-country adventure in 2019, living in a different country for a month at a time, I traveled with an organization called Remote Year. Remote Year is a different model than what I am focusing on today but if you would like to learn more about Remote Year, and my experiences with them, tune in (or subscribe if you haven’t) to my audio journals, Life Off-Script, as I will be going into great details there.

So, Why Group Travel in 2024 (and beyond): 

Why intimate travel groups? For me, “intimate” means less than 12 people but ideally 6-8 people. From my perspective and experiences both personally and professionally I think these size groups are manageable and enjoyable in a way that lends to ease and camaraderie during time spent traveling. Travels can be stressful, and these days more often or not 

For the new solo traveler, these groups can be an excellent toe in the water for going alone but not being alone. 

For singles/friends/couples, the appeal to intimate group travel can be having a knowledgeable person who has a passion and extensive knowledge for the destinations/regions; access; expert experiences in logistics; and community, and letting someone else handle all the details. 

My Short List

These hosts and guides I’ve singled out below are PASSIONATE about what they do and sharing what they know so you have an incredible experience 

The following featured retreats/travel groups offer the following: 

Accommodations

Uniquely Curated Excursions

Inclusive of meals; drinks; etc except where otherwise noted as “on own” 

Transportation during the retreat 

Take careful note of what you are responsible for and what is required. All of these groups are unique in the details of what they offer. 

Untold Italy - Italy - Katy Clarke, founder - I chatted with Katy for the first time in December 2023, during my 3rd annual winter in Italy, and I so enjoyed getting to know her and her passion for Italy and these unique travel tours that Untold Italy offers. In addition to their intimate group travels Untold Italy also has a robust Italy Travel Planning Community on Facebook (130k) and an Untold Italy podcast. They specialize in “access” to local makers and authentic experiences. 

At Untold Italy they visit 8 unique regions of Italy with small groups of 10 guests or fewer and are thrilled to share with them their favorite untold spots across Italy – with more destinations to come. 

Sudden Journeys - UK and this year introducing Florence, Italy - Kyle Campbell, founder& travel specialist

After bookmarking many of Kyle’s gorgeous photos on Instagram @suddenjourneys I dove into her itineraries for her bespoke travel groups to the UK. I finally reached out to get acquainted earlier this year and so enjoyed getting to know her story and history with traveling and exploring.  After a 15-year career with several travel agencies as a destination specialist, tour director, and travel guide across Europe, Kyle launched Sudden Journeys in 2018.

During our Zoom, Kyle spoke about her passion and commitment to her guests and easing any anxieties they have about traveling while exceeding their expectations in every facet of her trips. Sudden Journeys has some of my favorite itineraries and I hope to join one sometime soon myself.  Kyle is expanding beyond the UK and has many new itineraries coming up for 2025 and beyond. Sign up for her email list to learn more. 

Mèlisses - Greece - I discovered these retreats through reading Yolanda Edwards excellent newsletter Yolo Journal. I have Mèlisses bookmarked high on my list of experiences I would like to partake in. I’ve never been to Greece and I feel like this experience might be a good introduction to a remote area of Greece that could potentially kick off a longer stay in that country. I am currently looking at 2025 options for myself. 

Elizabeth & Sophie Minchilli - Italy - Elizabeth, one of my first Italy instagram crushes, is a cookbook author and an incredible resource for all things delicious in Italy. She and her daughter, Sophie, lead food tours throughout the year. To learn more visit her website: elizabethminchilli.com sign up to Elizabeth’s newsletter for the most up-to-date offerings and you can email minchillitours@gmail.com for details on specific itineraries. Currently, they have several tours that seem to have space. 

The Awaiting Table Experince - Lecce Italy

I had one of my best experiences in Lecce, Italy, at The Awaiting Table cookery school and only knew about it because Elizabeth talked about it on Instagram during the summer of 2021. I was able to book a full day experience with them on a trip to Lecce in early November 2021 and it was one of the most wonderful days I’ve ever had anywhere. Highly recommend. 

Manger - Mimi & Odd Thorisson - Italy - I started following the stunning Mimi Thorisson on Instagram in 2013. Mimi, a cookbook author and tastemaker (my words) and her husband, Odd, and their gorgeous children and dogs lived in a chateau in Médoc, France, and made wonderful food, had glorious dinner parties, and hosted workshop retreats that made me long to join them. Recently, they have been spending most of their time in Turin, Italy, and hosting workshops there. I was very close to booking a workshop/retreat they sent out on offer late last year for Venice in October 2024. It sounded like my dream retreat but alas the timing was off. The best way to access their offerings is by emailing them at mangerworkshop@gmail.com - I just saw this month that they will be releasing more workshops to include Scotland as well as Italy for 2025. Very exciting! I will share here that they are on the higher end in pricing with the offerings I have listed. 

One of the things that appeals to me most is that these groups are supporting local makers in their regions and contributing to the economies of the people and places that are so very special. This is the kind of travel impact I wish to make myself. 

I hope this list inspires you to investigate a beautiful travel experience for yourself. 

Throwing it to you: what appeals to you about these experiences? What would make you hesitate to join one? Send me an email and let me know. 

Here’s to more prosperous and abundant travels that are regenerative and supportive of beautiful travel destinations worldwide. 

Thanks so much for reading.

Until next time.