Group tour that is not hostels but not luxury

[ewl]

DD is going to take a short sabbatical from work (she’s 25). She wants to do some travelling but her boyfriend can’t have too long off work. So she’s thinking of joining a group tour.

She’s looking for something mid level, like a 2-3* hotel and probably her own room. Something comfortable.

All that she seems to come across are hostel trips for 18-19 year old gap year kids or luxury tours that would cost £8,000 for two weeks.

Something like Exodus Adventure Holidays?

They're far from the only company in that market but a good one. She might have yo double check about having her own room.

Explore is another one. If she doesn't mind a slightly older crowd Riviera travel are good.

I would look at Intrepid and G Adventures. They have different comfort levels and are aimed at younger travellers.

Edited to add my brother used to travel a lot with Contiki and TopDeck. They do mainly coach tours which may not be what they want but still an option to consider.

Intrepid fits the bill exactly. Mid range for price and accomodation. Lots of people travel alone but it’s not a shag fest like the younger solo travel companies. Many women travel alone with them. I did one tour with a friend and one tour solo with intrepid. I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. Their travel is adventurous and independent. Things like travelling on trains rather than tour buses. It’s small groups, both mine were less than 12 guests.

I like Exodus too. We're doing a couple of trips with them this year, one self guided and the other as a group. We did their Morocco trip a few years ago, it was amazing.

I did a few Intrepid trips in my mid twenties. If she searches for the "comfort" or "premium" options rather than "basic" or "original", they are nicer hotels and more luxury transportation. You can also pay an excess to get an individual room.

We Road Travel. Didn't actually go on a trip with them but did some research

You go in a group on a tour with a group of people around your age. And you pick how adventurous, party animal you want to be. Then they group you with like minded people

You can share a room with someone or pay a bit extra to have your own room.

I have travelled with each of Explore, Intrepid and Exodus, they all run trips to both off-beat and more mainstream destinations around the world. Trips are usually max 3 weeks though, I did a 4 week trip through China with Intrepid, but usually they are more geared to people taking holidays, not sure if she's looking for something longer if she's taking a sabbatical. They are all great companies, though usually you share a room with someone else of the same gender. Some of them offer the option of paying a single supplement to have your own room most nights. Sharing with other women has always been fine for me though, as people are very like minded who go on these trips.