Location, Location, Location — and Other Ways My Cohort Chooses Programs
- Road Scholar Barbara Winard has lots of travel experience, but she was curious how other solo travelers decide on their next learning adventure.
- She polled the Women of Road Scholar group on Facebook and got many different responses on the criteria these women used to narrow down their program choice.
- Criteria included dates, destination, activity level, cost and group size.
- Overall, Barbara recommends jumping in and trying something new on your next learning adventure!
My Cohort
About 85% of Road Scholar’s solo travelers are women, and about 20% to 30% of Road Scholar’s 80,000-100,000 travelers each year go solo. I have found that Road Scholar participants often share my interests and perhaps my dream destinations.
Whether or not we have the same background, life experience, education, geographic location or abilities, I almost always find kindred souls online and on my Road Scholar programs. On the other hand, I see myself as someone unique and with specific interests (don’t we all?), so I was curious about how other solo travelers like me decide where to go.
Road Scholar Tools
I often peruse Road Scholar destinations when I’m supposed to be cleaning, exercising or working. I love to daydream about where to go next, and I can feel both my pulse and heart rate slow down as I read about places from Antarctica and Armenia to Easter Island and Zion National Park.
With the tools available on the Road Scholar site, I can be specific about where, when and how I will travel on my next journey. Road Scholar categorizes programs by:
- Destinations
- Interests
- Date range
- Activity level
- Duration
- Price range
- Group structure
- Special offers
- Availability
- Dietary preference
- New programs and most popular trips
These categories definitely make narrowing the list easier, but I was wondering if these were, in fact, the criteria used by the majority of members of the Women of Road Scholar group on Facebook. So, I decided to go there to ask about which of these categories (or others) were most important to those in my cohort when they are planning a journey.
How We Choose: Heart or Brain?
How women decide on a particular destination may be as simple as checking off the items on a must-see list. However, I have realized that some of my dream destinations of the past have changed through the years, as I have. I am more concerned about weather nowadays (heat is harder for me), as well as the size of a group (I’ve found that I am more comfortable with fewer people) and the level and kind of activities offered (I am in decent shape but a bit slower than I have been in the past).
When I asked the Women of Road Scholar how they decided on a program, there were some surprises:
The Question
I posed this question a few weeks ago on the Facebook group: “I am interested in how you choose solo trips — is it by sex, destination, size of group, dates, cost or recommendations (or all of the above)?”
More than 150 women responded immediately. Most listed the following categories they consider while looking for a program, in varying order:
- Destination
- Dates
- Group size
- Activity level
- Availability of single rooms
- Cost
The Prime Mover: Destination
It makes sense that destination was the prime consideration for most of the women who answered my query. Here are some responses:
“I first look at destination and then at group size (I prefer small groups). All women or all solo groups are not a factor in my decision making.” —Ann
“Destination is first, activity level is next, then group size, then amount of time spent on a bus.” —Rosemary
“Location, location, location. Then topic. Don’t care that it’s coed.” —Julia
“I pick by where the trip is going and don't worry about who I will be traveling with.” —Michele
“Most of us solo travelers are picking our programs by where we want to go, and what we want to learn and do.” —Beth
The Right Time
Some women also consider dates that fit their schedules and plans, as well as the weather in their destinations. I myself have taken two Winter in Southern Europe programs over the past several years because they were less expensive, not too freezing (in Portugal and Italy), and less crowded. Here’s what some other women wrote:
“I choose mostly by destination, activities and dates (I try to get away from the cold in winter). Group size might be a consideration, as well as how rigorous it is for outdoor adventures, but those are secondary.” —Alice
“I’m more concerned about best time of year to go rather than gender makeup of a group.” —Beth
The Right Size
The size and composition of a group are also important for many of the women, who wrote:
“I never felt a need to join any women-only trips, but I strongly prefer a smaller group! More than 24 is a hard no. I prefer ten to twelve.” —Mindy
“I’ve gone solo on nine trips — most of them international. I chose by destination and group size. I like the smaller groups. I have never been on a trip as the only solo, and couples are always willing to include you.” —Peggy
“I did the Chicago art and architecture program, which was solo only. The group dynamic was just great — group structure will now be a big consideration for me — and may be as important as destination choice.” —Priscilla
The Right Room for Solos
Many women travelers like to have their own rooms, but some find that the cost can be prohibitive. Others like to save money by sharing with someone who is also traveling solo. However, some travelers might not be aware that there are some Road Scholar programs that feature single rooms at no extra cost.
Here are some responses:
“I chose one that didn’t have a solo supplement. This was also one with a high activity rating which suited me well, the Québec City walking program. Staying in the monastery there was absolutely amazing and so authentic.” —Jennifer
“Generally, if I want my own room, I have to act fast once a trip is publicized, as singles sell out quickly. I have always traveled solo with Road Scholar, having lost my husband about a year and a half before traveling with them.” —Linda
What Was Most Surprising?
I was surprised that more women did not list the cost of the program as very important when choosing a destination, although a few did. Several of them wrote that they took fewer programs in order to afford the ones they wanted.
I also expected more women to write about the importance of activity levels, and there were just a few responses. One woman said that she was specifically looking for more challenging travel, and another wrote that she had mobility issues and so chose the easiest level of activity.
But I think that I was most surprised by the number of women who were not interested in women-only groups. Most liked mixed groups, and many did not care what the balance was. I myself went on an all-women learning adventure to Québec City two years ago, and I have to say that it was one of the best programs I’ve had. Here are some other responses:
“My choice is always based on the things and places I want to see/do. I never give any thought to gender or that I'm solo. I actually never even think of myself as solo because Road Scholar trips have always been so full of friendly people. You make friends immediately.” —Chrismae
“Sex never occurred to me. I’m for destination and cost first, dates next and then size of group.” —Michele
Some Words of Advice
“In general, people on Road Scholar programs are eager to meet other travelers. The couples and the singles all mingle and get to know each other. In the end, I would not worry about it. Have a good time and go where your heart takes you.” —Patricia
And I agree — we all have dreams and experiences in common, and we all have unique needs and considerations. Most of us know what we prefer, and many of us are willing to jump in to try something we have never done before. Our next program can be a place that we have dreamed about all our lives or a place that we could never have imagined ourselves reaching.
Barbara Winard has earned degrees in English literature, journalism and, later in life, gerontology. For the past 25 years she was a senior editor and writer of online encyclopedia articles for children. Prior to that, after returning from a long trip to Asia, Barbara was hired by the Asia Society in New York City to produce films and print materials about Asian culture. She was also a producer and writer for New York City’s public television station, WNET/13.