The “retro revival” era is well and truly upon us, with the recent resurgence of vinyl records, classic video games, vintage fashion, and polaroid cameras. However, you probably didn’t think the same could apply to the travel industry.
Well, travel clubs are back in fashion. They were first created in the 1800s as a social place for powerful men to discuss their travelling experiences, as it was far less accessible at the time.
However, travel clubs later evolved into organised group experiences, allowing people to explore the world with a group of like-minded people. These were popular in the late 1900s and are starting to gain traction again. Read on to find out why!
What is a travel club?
In the modern day, travel clubs are a good way to connect with people like you and travel the world together. Also known as a holiday club, you’ll share experiences, navigate cultural differences, and try new things with the support and company of other travellers.
Travel groups like this are a great way to meet new people and feel more comfortable as you explore our incredible planet. This is because you’ll often group up with people of a similar age and mindset who have similar interests.
The trips you book will often have distinct themes, delving into specific parts of a culture, immersing in the heart of nature, or seeing the most popular sights.
However, they are often membership-based, charging a monthly or annual fee, and sometimes sign-up fee, just to join. In some cases, being part of a travel club will help you secure discounts on your holidays, but they can just as often be more expensive than organising your own.
This begs the question: why are they becoming popular again?
Why are travel clubs gaining popularity?
Travel clubs are a popular choice due to the no-hassle nature of their offering. In most cases, everything bar flights and insurance is organised on your behalf and covered in the total cost of the trip, almost like an “all-inclusive” holiday.
For example, your food, accommodation, activities, in-country travel, and more are all paid for and sorted as part of the package. This takes a huge administrative burden off your shoulders, allowing you to focus entirely on the excitement ahead.
Plus, these trips will be planned and run by organisations with a strong local knowledge and connections, ensuring that you get an immersive and (most importantly) totally safe experience. This often means you will be looked after throughout your trip by people on the ground.
The discount aspect is obviously a very attractive option for travel clubs, as a large discount on travel can outweigh a monthly fee. (Another option is to sign up for our monthly newsletter, which is totally free, keeps you in the know, and may include a discount every now and then!)
Lastly, travel clubs often give you a reason to visit countries you may never have thought of seeing before. For example, live on the open steppes of Mongolia with a real nomad family or visit the ancient Inca capital of Cusco in Peru!
Do Projects Abroad offer a travel club option?
While not strictly a travel club, we offer many of the benefits of a travel club without the need for a costly subscription. In fact, if you see a project you like, a deposit of as little as £195 is all you need to secure your place (and it is taken off the final cost of your trip!).
Our travel club equivalents are available for people at all stages of their life, and we can even organise trips for schools and businesses, too.
High school specials, a teen travel club
Our High School Specials are essentially travel clubs for teenagers, giving you all the benefits listed above for a single, transparent price. You’ll be matched with other, like-minded people your age and fully supervised 24/7 on the ground.
What makes our travel clubs for young people different from anywhere else is that we focus on personal growth, cultural understanding, and making a tangible impact on the world.
You could volunteer in conservation, complete a medical internship, or choose from dozens of other projects all while meeting other teens from around the world!
Gap Programmes, a travel club for young people
Taking a gap year and hoping to see the world? Our Gap Programmes are curated, extended travel experiences for people aged 17-24 taking time away from their studies.
Enjoy a thrilling mix of adventure, adrenaline, and cultural immersion with exciting activities to give you a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Alternatively, join our Global Gap Year for a full, 28-week international journey.
Grown-up Specials, over-50s travel club
For the young at heart, we have projects dedicated to older volunteers who want to meet others their age and volunteer around the world.
This can be to put the skills you’ve learned in your lifetime to good use, or to immerse yourself in a new culture for an unforgettable experience.
For schools and organisations
If you’re looking to take an educational trip abroad that is aligned to your curriculum and to foster personal development, then you already have a travel group ready… you just need a provider to tie it all together.
If you want to travel with five or more people, we will tailor-make you a Group Trip designed to meet your specific needs with custom pricing. Get in touch with our experts to discuss your options today!
For everyone else…
Not sure you fit into any of the categories above? Don’t worry, our volunteer and intern projects are for anyone aged 16 and over.
You’ll get the chance to immerse in a new culture, meet people from around the world, and develop your skills all with 24/7 support from our staff. You can filter our list of projects to find just what you’re interested in.
Interested in more like this?
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