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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go on an escorted/guided tour holiday age 43

80 replies

Mummiepig · 03/01/2020 19:35

I want to travel the world and see the big sights, think African safari, tour of India, the americas etc
But I have a SEVERE lack of confidence, I’ve seen guided tours where they take you everywhere but DH says they will be full of elderly people and I should wait 20 years
But I want to go now!
Has anyone been on one of these? Am I too young in my 40’s
Please don’t say it’s easy to do it yourself because it’s not for me, I won’t even go to the toilet on my own in a place I’ve never been before!

OP posts:

billybagpuss · 03/01/2020 19:59

We did Kuoni safari to Africa for my 50th, there was a young couple who were awesome, us and another single 50 yo a lady in her mid 60s and the best was a lovely lady in her 80s and it was her first trip abroad.

Unless you’re looking for a club 18/30 experience, age is irrelevant you get awesome people of all ages, similarly I guess you get assholes’ of all ages but we didn’t have any of those.

thanksamillion · 03/01/2020 19:59

My parents have done lots with Newmarket. They always say it's a mixed age group but more skewed towards retired people.
Does it matter? They're all there for the experience too and you can make as much or little effort with the others on the trip as you want. You don't have to stick together all the time.

katy1213 · 03/01/2020 20:00

Journeys Latin America also very good.

wintertime6 · 03/01/2020 20:01

I did quite a few of this type of holiday in my 30's and loved it. I went with companies like exodus or something explore. It'd say there was a range of ages from 20's to 40's or sometimes 50's so that might suit you better. They organise everything, and you can book airport transfers etc with them to make things even easier.

Definitelysometime · 03/01/2020 20:03

Explore worldwide are very good

Original poster

Mummiepig · 03/01/2020 20:03

I want DH to come with me, but he wants a lie on the beach type holiday (he’s not confident either) but I’m bored of those holidays I want to see stuff but have someone else show me the way!

OP posts:

Yellowbutterfly1 · 03/01/2020 20:04

My sister and bil went on a couple, they are mid 40’s and we’re by far the youngest on the tour but had a great time mixing with the others.

elmosducks · 03/01/2020 20:05

I did a couple of foreign hiking holidays in my 20's and they were full of people aged 30-50.

I had a blast!

Have fun...

makingmammaries · 03/01/2020 20:07

I went on one aged 19, to a destination that didn’t admit solo travellers. Never regretted it. There will be some irritating people on the tour, but remember why you are there.

FairyBunnyAgain · 03/01/2020 20:08

Another vote for intrepid, we have used them for India, African Safari and South America.

India was a family tour so all 40 somethings and D.C.
Other 2 were adult tours with ages from 20 to 50s

Wearywithteens · 03/01/2020 20:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

MackerzNZ · 03/01/2020 20:11

Have you looked at GAP Adventures?

I went to India with them when I was 35. It was great and I felt safe.

Don’t go for one of their budget trips - they’ll be full of 25 year olds. Go for one of the slightly more expensive options - people in their 30s and 40s.

Wingedharpy · 03/01/2020 20:15

Elderly people are just young people who've lived a bit longer OP.
Go for it.
Your DH is wrong - you may not be here in 20 years time - none of us know how long we've got.

APurpleSquirrel · 03/01/2020 20:15

I went on several of these with my mum, when I was in my 20s. I was always the youngest but that just meant I could leg it to the coach & nab the best seats!
Being younger also meant, if you're confident, that the guide would let us go off on our own as they knew we'd make it back to the coach on our own.
They're a great way to see places without the hassle of sorting transfers & travel. You don't have to socialise if you don't want & not all trips will be mandatory.
Go for it.

Lordamighty · 03/01/2020 20:16

I’ve done quite a few of these because I love sightseeing holidays, mostly with Riviera. There is usually an older average age but people on the trips I’ve done have been very fit & active.

Selfsettling3 · 03/01/2020 20:17

My friends went on a saga holiday in there early 20s. It was cheap and they wanted to go sight seeing.

PurpleCrowbar · 03/01/2020 20:25

Another vote for Intrepid.

Kizziebel · 03/01/2020 20:25

I have been on both Intrepid and Exodus holidays, can't fault them, a real mix of ages with group between 10-15 people and a mixture of couples, friends and singles. You get to see all the major sights and some of the off the beaten track things too with the local guides. You also get a certain amount of free time which we either went off with others from the group, had a lazy afternoon and a snooze or went solo for a few hours. I'm off on my next adventure in April and I can't wait!

milliefiori · 03/01/2020 20:28

DH and I went on an Explore holiday to Africa when we first got married. There were loads of people in their thirties, a family with teens and one older couple who were lovely and who we stayed friends with for several years.

Look for companies like Exodus or Explore that have a mix of people and go to some more out of the way places. Avoid coach tours. You'll get bored. There's no time to see anything. The whole day is spent on the bus.

GrumpyHoonMain · 03/01/2020 20:33

It depends on your budget really. If you went high end in India (guided luxury rail holiday for example) then you will come across people your age. If, however, you went on a coach then it would probably be full of older people but that has it’s benefits in India — as the tours for older people often come with an onboard chef so you don’t need to worry about navigating local ‘road stop’ cuisine which isn’t always hygienic.

BritInUS1 · 03/01/2020 20:36

Try Explore ! They are great. I am 45 and have been to Myanmar and Vietnam with them and it's definitely not full of old people

I have heard good things from Wendy Woo too

SirChing · 03/01/2020 20:38

Travelsphere are really great at escorted tours. If your DH doesn't want to go, I will! 😂 I too am 43 so if YABU for wanting to go, then so am I!

Shamoo · 03/01/2020 20:40

39 and would lovvvveee this sort of holiday - do it! See the world!!

Noodledoodledoo · 03/01/2020 20:42

Exodus and Explore and Intrepid are all fab companies. Don't charge a single person supplement if you are happy to share a room.

I did loads in my late 20's and early 30's.

All companies were always happy to tell me a rough idea of the ages of other travelers booked on the trip, no direct info but - 2 in 20's, 2 in 30's kind of info.

I had amazing times and as others have said some ages can surprise you - on one trip we had a lady in her 70's who was life and soul of the party! On another a family with 2 teenage sons who were brilliant.

Do it - only way to see what you want!

Catrescue1971 · 03/01/2020 20:42

Do you know I'll bet there will be videos of these type of trips on youtube. Personally if I could afford this type of trip, which I can't, I would book one tonight.

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