I’ve often found myself asking a familiar question many travellers wrestle with: is it better to travel solo or in a group?
If my recent trip to Thailand taught me anything, it’s this — group travel is equal parts adventurous, challenging, emotional, and deeply transformative. It stretches you in ways solo travel rarely does. And sometimes, the biggest lessons have very little to do with the destination itself.
Solo or Group Travel — Which One Wins?
Having travelled solo for many years, independence had become my default setting. Planning flights, curating itineraries, managing budgets, choosing outfits — it was second nature. Solo travel gave me freedom, control, and clarity.
So when a few friends convinced me to join them on a group trip to Thailand, I didn’t fully appreciate what I was signing up for. What I underestimated wasn’t the logistics — it was the emotional negotiation required when different personalities, preferences, priorities, and financial realities collide.
Travelling with two friends who are completely different from me proved to be a mammoth task. Somewhere between planning and departure, things spiralled. A major disagreement erupted — bringing unnecessary stress, disappointment, and heartbreak right before we boarded a long-haul flight.
Ironically, at the time, I was reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* — a book that felt far too confrontational for the emotional state I was in. Yet, perhaps that was the universe’s timing. The discomfort forced me to reflect: what was this experience trying to teach me?
What exactly was this trip meant to teach me?
What exactly was this trip meant to teach me?
What Thailand Taught Me About Group Travel (and Life)
This experience left me with lessons I’ll carry for years. For this reflection, I want to focus on three that matter most — not just for travel, but for life, money, and relationships.
1. It’s Not Always About You
This was the hardest lesson to swallow.
When you travel in a group, the experience no longer revolves around your preferences alone. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing.
I spent part of a 10-hour flight sulking — feeling justified in my emotions — only to later realise how small it all was in the bigger picture. We had saved for 10 months to make this trip happen. Letting ego overshadow the experience was childish and unnecessary.
Group travel also revealed something powerful: shared strengths.
- One friend was an exceptional negotiator — we saved money on transport and activities.
- Another was highly organised — check-ins, schedules, logistics ran smoothly.
- The third was calm and grounded — a much-needed anchor when emotions ran high.
Had it remained “all about me,” none of this would have been possible.
Sometimes travel reminds us that community is a resource, not a compromise.
2. Honest Money Conversations Matter
Travel has a way of exposing our relationship with money — especially in group settings.
From the beginning, I was transparent about my travel budget. That honesty mattered. Over time, bills pile up, someone covers costs, and eventually someone runs low on cash. Being able to reconcile expenses openly — though uncomfortable — removed tension and resentment.
Even more important was learning to say no.
No to activities I couldn’t afford.
No to meals outside my budget.
No to keeping up appearances at the expense of financial peace.
Switching to a more affordable option didn’t diminish the experience — it protected it.
Travel, much like life, becomes lighter when money conversations are clear, honest, and shame-free.
3. Appreciate Your Friends — Flaws and All
No one is perfect. And travel makes that painfully clear.
This trip taught me to appreciate my friends not despite their flaws — but because of them. The laughter, the lateness, the disagreements, the random moments — all of it became part of the story.
We argued. We disagreed. But we also grew.
We challenged each other. We dreamed out loud. We held one another accountable. And in doing so, we strengthened our bond.
As Ralph Marston beautifully puts it:
“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without expectation of anything in return.”
Travel reveals people — and if you’re open, it also reveals yourself.
Would I Travel in a Group Again?
Absolutely.
Group travel isn’t always easy — but it offers moments solo travel simply can’t. Shared memories. Inside jokes. Photos you didn’t have to ask strangers to take. Experiences that feel richer because they’re shared.
Thailand reminded me that growth rarely comes from comfort.
And just like money, life, and business — travel is better when approached with intention, honesty, and openness.
Until the next escape, here’s to love, perspective, and creating meaningful travel memories — together.
About Escapes with TKay
Escapes with TKay explores the intersection of finance, travel, and becoming — offering practical money insights, honest travel storytelling, and reflections on designing a life of intention, freedom, and sustainability.
For more travel reflections, money insights, and intentional living stories:
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