Joining a group tour as a single person

I have been on eight of the Rick Steves tours and the folks who are singles are included in all the activities and are invited to be included in free time activities as much as they wanted. In fact, all the groups have been easy to make friends with and seem to share a common interest in travel. I would not hesitate to to be a single on any of the tours, you'll have a great experience and make friends that will last for several years!

Hi, bookjoy1! I was single when I took a RS tour of Ireland in October many years ago. There were 3 other single young women on our tour--one was paired with me as my roommate, and the other two were friends who had signed up together. We ended up spending most of the free time and meals together. Otherwise, I recall a father-daughter pair and a number of married couples, several of whom were related (3 sisters + husbands). Everyone was very friendly, and I think I would have felt comfortable asking if I could join some of them if I hadn't connected with the other singles. That would be my one question on your previous experience--they didn't invite you, but maybe they just didn't think to do that. (or were the other 6 all together?) Are you comfortable inviting yourself? Also, our tour guide was great and some of us hung out with him for some of the meals, pub visits, etc.

If you have some flexibility with dates, you might try calling the RS office to ask if any other singles have signed up on the tour dates you're interested in.

I've been on a number of group tours solo, including one RS, and I've never felt left out during 'free time'. That's not to say I was always proactively invited to join with others, but if I wanted to tag along or dine with others, when I ask to join/tag along/dine with others, I've always felt very welcomed. Ask for what you need, and you should be fine.

I have been on 8 R Steves' tours as a solo and have found each tour has a different dynamic. However, most folks are very friendly and are pleased to be asked if you can join them for a dinner, etc. not on the tour. One thing that works for me is to get to know my 'buddy' and suggest we do things together occasionally. The buddy system is how they make sure the group is all together before you start out to a new destination. At the orientation meeting, everyone will choose a buddy not traveling with them and before you start out the guide will say 'buddy check' and you check to make sure your buddy is present. It is true though that most of time couples or small groups traveling together will not proactively ask you to join them, you have to be a little proactive and just ask if you can join them.

Last year on my second RS tour (South of France), my first solo tour, there were 6 solos and a couple friends traveling together. Some of us hung out together during free times, other times we went our own ways. For meals we either joined couples or other singles. Some ate alone by choice. Everyone was very inclusive.

I’m going to Germany in May taking another RS tour solo and independent travel. My suggestion is plan what you want to see during your free time and have a idea which restaurants you want to eat at. Be flexible. Ask people to join you. And don’t be afraid to ask if you can join others, couples or singles.

Go on the tour. You will love it.

Hi, Bookjoy.

I have only been on one RS tour, doing so as a solo traveler. Last year, to wonderful Bulgaria.

First, I should note I am something of an introvert and that I like my private time and space. Definitely a single-room person. There are times I like being along and times I like being with a group. On the tour I always felt welcomed by the others and never once felt “left out”. I agree with what others have said above, at non-group meals, you might have to initiate joining with others. I never felt excluded, but that couples just naturally made their own plans. Whenever I suggested joining with somebody, the response was always affirmative and genuine. You will not be left out on your own! But again, you might need to show some initiative. On the other side, I never felt anybody was offended when I opted to be alone either.

Go on the tour. Wherever it is, I have no doubt, you will have a great time.

Another solo traveler weighing in...I've done 13 Rick tours - 9 of them solo plus 13 Road Scholar tours all as a solo. I agree that you should do your research to see what you want to do in your free time as well as perhaps have some restaurants in mind. I think the dynamic where you invite others to join you may be more successful.

TBH, I travel solo because I like to travel solo, lol. I've had other solos join me at times on various tours but frankly I do not want to be someone's tour guide. I want input and ideas, I don't want to have to think for another person. I'm totally not implying that this would be the way you travel....I just want to throw that out there for others who may be lurking.

The group dynamics are hard to predict. Speaking as someone who does RS tours non-solo, I'd suggest that you take the initiative in reaching out to couples that are open to you spending free time together. I'm not a natural socializer, so its not easy for me to guess whether a solo person wants to be alone or not, and there's the whole male/female thing that can make it awkward to open up to strangers. I'll admit the first couple of tours we took, it never occurred to me that a solo would be be interested in hanging out with a couple, especially if there were other solos on the tour.

Breakfasts are a good time to scope out potential friends, since a lot of table-sharing is often the case. I'd also suggest paying close attention to the introductions that happen at the initial meet-up, and listen for people that have similar backgrounds or interests that might make them approachable. Sometimes couples will want a day apart, especially if one of them have interests that coincide with yours. And be open with your tour leader, who is usually paying close attention to the people and has an idea of what people are doing in free time.

Hi, these threads might give you some context for the solo traveler experience on a RS tour.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/solo-travel-on-tours

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/question-for-solo-travelers-on-rs-tours

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/solo-female-traveler-rs-tour-a-good-idea-d350596f-2a1a-4586-b60f-a710a3455084

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/ireland/single-traveler-9e88038f-e10f-4737-9fce-517c145ffeb6

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/new-to-a-tour

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/solo-traveler-on-rick-steves-tour-4022e91a-a722-4b48-bd56-14f9a34ca992

My own 2 cents is to ask yourself this question: “how comfortable would I be spending free time/eating on my own if everyone else has other plans?”

Now, I don’t think it’s very likely that this will happen, because tour members are generally friendly and inviting, but IF it were to happen on a particular day, is that OK with you? If spending free tIme solo would be a big problem for you, then maybe re-consider. I say this as a strong (but sociable) introvert who enjoys group time on RS tours but has learned through experience that I need to spend the daily free time on my own in order to recharge my batteries for the next group activity. Sometimes solo tour members sort of expect to pair up with the other solo travelers for all free time activities (I’m not saying this is your expectation) but everybody has a different rhythm energetically and they might not be up for that. I’d say be proactive in expressing an interest in a meal or free time activity together and also be proactive in case you end up on your own that particular day.

You can also call the RS tour office to ask about the composition of the tour group for the various tours and dates you are considering. They should be able to tell you how many solos have signed up for example.

I’m going to respond as someone who has been on multiple tours, but only with my husband. Our first tour we had 7 or 8 single women—some with a friend and some traveling with alone. When we got to Seville, most of the women wanted to go to the Arab baths, but very few men. We ditched the husbands and went as a group. Breakfasts and bus time there was lots of mingling. Since then we have never had that many singles, but I have never felt that anyone was left out. If the tour includes a group within the group, they tend not to mingle as much—going out to dinner as their own group—but the rest will do things together depending on interests.
Enjoy your tour

I’ve been on four Rick Steves Tours as a solo traveler. Each group is different and the dynamics are different. One thing has been very consistent. The participants have always been friendly.

I learned on my first tour that if I wanted to do things/meals with others, I simply needed to speak up and say so. “ I’m looking for company for dinner tonight” or “I’m thinking of going to (fill in the blank), is anyone else interested?” I’ve always received good responses and had an opportunity to get to know some wonderful people.

It is very important that you are open to doing things by yourself or eating a meal by yourself. While other tour members will be friendly, it is not their “job” to provide constant companionship to you. Sometimes they will have plans that are just for themselves and that is fine.

So, do some planning and have ideas, and then speak up about what you are interested in doing with others. I think you will find that you will enjoy yourself immensely.

As usual, Carol not retired has a great response. Being part of a couple and having been on group tours(not RS), we have sometimes had singles join us at dinner and are happy to spend time with new people. But if one person attached herself/himself to us all the time, we would have a problem with that.

Thanks to all of you for your speedy and VERY helpful replies. I love getting to know people, but also feel perfectly comfortable on my own for dinner or whatever, just not for the ENTIRE trip, day after day. I see that there were a couple of factors in my previous trip that I can correct: it was just 7 of us, and they were all in couples who wanted to do things on their own and didn't share my interests---and this RS tour is much bigger; I need to be more proactive and do some research on what I want to see or where I want to eat (easy, since I'm a librarian and love research!) and then ask if anyone would like the same; I'll vary who I ask; and I did call, as one helpful person suggested, to see if other singles are on the trip. It's a fall tour, though, so I'm awaiting a response depending on whether others have signed up yet. I also didn't know about the "buddy" system. So if you have more of these helpful tips, please keep them coming, but I've just booked the tour and I'm really excited for my first RS experience!

Also, thanks to Accidental Southener for the links for further answers, and for this statement: "I say this as a strong (but sociable) introvert who enjoys group time on RS tours but has learned through experience that I need to spend the daily free time on my own in order to recharge my batteries for the next group activity." This definitely describes me!

Oh, I meant to say something about small group tours. I honestly have been a little reluctant to do a very small group because of what you experienced and because if you have one person who is a pill as my Mama would have said there are not enough others to dilute them down. I've done 4 Road Scholar programs that were pretty small - about 10-12 but they were activity based, 2 birding and 2 genealogy so there was a different basis there as we all had one focus. I'm doing a smaller group tour in May with a former RS guide so I will see how the small tour groups works out for me.

The "buddy" system is where on the 1st night everyone picks a "buddy" so that when the group meets for a group activity or at the bus the guide calls out "buddy check" and you look for your buddy and actually lay eyes on them to make sure everyone is accounted for. It's actually not supposed to be someone that you will hang with because then if you are "both" missing that can be a problem. One thing that works well if there is another solo person is for the 2 of you to team up with a couple. I've noticed that couples tend to look for their buddy and their spouse's buddy as well so that gives you "double coverage", lol.

Bottom line is that I think you'd enjoy an RS tour. There will likely be 24-28 people on it so plenty of opportunity to meet people. I often will try to sit with different folks at breakfast although when I eat breakfast I want to be there when it opens. It's generally the same early birds who form a breakfast band, lol.

Which France tour are you thinking about taking?

Glad to help, bookjoy, and I think you’ll have a great time!

Love that you are a librarian— on the Basque tour, I actually spent my free afternoon in Pamplona at the public library for some much-needed peace and quiet; on the Helsinki/St. Petersburg/Tallinn trip we toured the new central public library in Helsinki, so interesting both architecturally and as a community gathering space.

I'm going on the Paris and the Heart of France 11-day tour in October. Also, I appreciate the "librarian" shout-out-----those who do appreciate us know that we're all for love of literature and access to authoritative information (I taught that word "authoritative" to my third graders, and the teachers found it important as well!) I went to Paris 8 years ago with my grown sons (one is a sommelier and cocktail artist, the other is a "foodie') and we had an amazing time, but the only other place we visited in France was Reims ("Mom, your favorite drink is champagne, we have to go there!") The history, the beauty, the food! art and culture of Paris and Reims was fantastic---I can't wait to go back. I have some friends who are dithering about whether to go on this tour or a cruise or to another location, but I got tired of waiting and just decided that THIS is the tour I want to do. And everyone on this thread has really helped me feel confident about it, since I haven't travelled very much. By the way, the British Library---not British Museum---in London is a must-see, with originals of the Magna Carta, Jane Austen's writing desk, George Harrison's handwritten lyrics to a very early Beatles song, and so much more!

"I have some friends who are dithering about whether to go on this tour or a cruise or to another location, but I got tired of waiting and just decided that THIS is the tour I want to do."

THIS is perfect! No better reason to sign up for a tour.

I've done this tour as a solo and there is not a ton of free time. You'll have afternoons in Paris but you may want to go see particular museums. The afternoon in Amboise the guide walked those that wanted to go, up to Clos Luce. Except for Paris the smaller towns where you have free time you'll not have any problems finding your way around if that is of concern to you.

To me this tour had such a wonderful variety of things - medieval to WWII. Artists, religious sites, wine, chateaux. You can't go wrong!

Bookjoy1,
Thank you for starting this great thread. I've been on 4 Rick Steves tours: 2 with friends and 2 solo. I agree with others that the dynamics of each group are different. Although I'm an introvert and don't mind doing things on my own, I do enjoy joining others in the tour group sometimes if I'm traveling solo. One thing I do is to jot down notes about each tour member at the welcome meeting, follow up on those notes in later conversations, and make a real effort to learn names (which doesn't come easily to me). I'm heading on Best of Portugal solo in late May...then Best of Switzerland with a friend in August. I hope you have a GREAT trip!!!

We've been on many Steves' trips and all of them had single people in the group. If every case they were made to feel welcome and were included by others in many activities, meals, and etc. Go and enjoy, you apprehension is understandable, but not warranted. You'll fit right in.

Looking at these responses show that a lot of responders have traveled multiple times on RS Tours. I have traveled 13 times to Europe often alone and have joined 2 RS tours. There are many non-RS Tours, believe it or not. I appreciate my experiences, but have been to Europe numerous times more economically (some cheaper, but that's not necessarily how I travel).

Beyond that, as a confident single, individual traveler I have given zero thoughts as to whether others will accept or invite me. As an individual, I travel for me to experience where I am in the moment with those living where I am lucky enough to be. I go with my missions of experiencing people, place, Renaissance and other fine art museums and Holocaust/Genocide memorials (I am an educator specialist in both).

But, as a real person, one of the nicest ever to meet, any other tour participants who would like to extend an invitation deserve my consideration. Often fellow travelers & I have had the pleasure of my participation. While associated with tours, I have enjoyed single trains, museums, city walks, people, life elsewhere experiences Have confidence in oneself and do not worry about being "alone." If "alone" is an overriding concern to your trip pleasure, change attitude, get a partner, or stay home. ab

I can relate to many of the previous responses. My personal experiences on Rick Steves' Tours have varied according to the make up of the group. On one tour I met a couple in the breakfast room the day before the tour started and they were so friendly. They said they were going to visit a particular site and invited me along. I thought that was very nice of them. We had a wonderful day and maybe because of the camaraderie of being part of the Rick Steves' group and our personalities meshing I didn't feel like I was with strangers. During the tour they invited me to have a meal with them several times. On other occasions there just happened to be a group of single women or women friends traveling together where we would naturally congregate and sometimes share meals during free time. I felt more comfortable in those groups at times asking what they were doing for dinner or whether they were going to a site suggested by the tour guide and if I could join them or share a cab ride together. I didn't do that all the time. The key is that I came on the trip with plans for my free time activities and expected to see those sites alone or grab a meal by myself. I never expected to always join others.

Someone mentioned the Guide being in tuned with what people were up to on their free time. Personally, I did not experience that. Although the guides usually wrote down some helpful suggested activities for our free time on the daily posted schedule. For my tours, the guides would say you have the afternoon free and I'll see you at the next tour activity. I do wish I had been a little more proactive asking the guide for a few dinner restaurant suggestions though. Some other tour members dined at places the guide suggested and seemed to have had some better meals than I did a couple of times. But in other cities I had researched either in the Rick Steves' book or other sources and had some suggestions ahead of time for restaurants.