The best number of travel mate in a group to travel Europe

How many people in a group should we travel to Europe together with? There is no definite answer to this. It depends on your planning and interest. Some might prefer solo travel while others would love to travel in a group. Either of them can leave you an unforgettable travel experience. It’s up to you to decide. Having said that, I’m listing down here the pro’s and con’s of the size of your travel group that may affect your planning in each of the 5 main travel elements in one way or another.

1. Transportation. For flights, international or domestic, number of travel companions would not affect the price or comfort basically. Neither is train travel, except your group mates are traveling at night and prefer to sleep together in a couchette, or when you purchase travel passes like the Swiss Pass where it would be cheaper if purchased in groups of at least 2 persons. However, if you plan to rent a car on your Europe tour, the most cost effective number of people traveling together would be 4 or 2 couples. The same would apply to those hiring a taxi or cab in the city.
2. Accommodation. For any number of travelers in a group, you can choose your best accommodation based on my guidelines. If you don’t mind sleeping with unknown people and love to mix around with other travelers in Bed and Breakfast, solo travel is off course the cheapest. If you prefer to have some privacy or rooms to leave all your valuables, travel with your partner or other couples can let you choose private double rooms or hotel rooms. However, if you wish to experience the spacious environment and cook your own dinner, staying in apartments in a travel group of 5 or more people could be the best option. City base apartments are normally cheaper than hotel rooms with the same capacity and equivalent standard with an extra living room, which is best to stay in a group of at 4.
3. Eating out. The best number of travel mate in a group to be able to save in food spending would be 2 as a couple, where both of you and your partner can share and try as many foods as you like but with half the cost! Off course, traveling with your partner tends to eat better and more than a solo traveler. However, there are times when eating out in a group of 5 to 10 travel mates can be the cheapest option to try various local foods especially in a Chinese restaurant with a big round table for 10!
4. Sight-seeing. Sight-seeing with a group of friends are normally enjoyable where experiences and joys can be shared together, especially when your group of friends is of the same interest. You can even have a great round of drinks together at night in pubs or square! Having said that, if you are an avid travel photographer, solo travel is otherwise your best option as no partner will climb up the hill or tower, sit for hours on beach, or walk round and round a landmark together with you just to capture the perfect scene or sun setting!
5. Shopping. It depends on personal preference. On one hand, if your group of friends are buying the same stuffs as you, you can bargain for a great discount buying in group. On the other hand, if your wife is shopping for hours on something not in your travel mates’ interest, at the end of the day, you could be blamed by your wife and cursed by your friends traveling together!

Conclusion? By knowing all these advantages and disadvantages of traveling in solo or in groups, planning your Europe travel should be much easier now, or has become more confusing? 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide to Europe

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.