Small Group Travel? Not Always!
arthisto July 5th, 2008
Let’s start this post by comparing the photos. Recently I received an advertisement in the mail touting small group travel in Europe. Since I too tout small groups I read on and found that their definition of a small group is anywhere from 18-24 people. Wow, if that is the case, Art History Alive’s group size of 6-8 must be “micro-group” travel.
We’ve all seen these groups trailing behind a harried guide with a faded raised umbrella. Oft-haggard looking clients dragging along, stopping every now and then while the guide shouts out some historic or cultural facts, hoping that everyone can hear, as the guide continuously checks her watch. The guide keeps checking that watch because of the all important time schedule. It is vital to stay on schedule and to get these tourists to the pre-selected restaurants on time for their pre-ordered meals. Many, many of my travelers have found AHA a welcome and refreshing contrast to their prior experiences on tours like this.
First of all I am the guide and I really love what I do. This is not a vocation for me; it is an avocation, and a much beloved hobby. What could be more fun than guiding a truly, small group of intellectually curious adults through beautiful places, during only the prettiest times of the year.
No bedraggled clients here. AHA clients are rested because if they become tired, we take a rest. Simple. Our hotels are always located in the historic and cultural center of the city visited, and therefore easily within reach for a power nap if needed. No problem. I refuse to wear my clients out, after all, this is their vacation, and one of my goals is that upon their return they remember where they’ve been, what they’ve seen, and what they’ve done, with the most pleasant memories possible.
Quiet chats about art, history, and culture. Again, unlike other tour companies and their employees, this is not my job, it is my passion. Therefore, when we are standing in front of a piece of art, what I try to impart to you is what excites me most, what I have found utterly compelling about that artwork. However, I am very sensitive to museum visitors, being one myself, and therefore choose to be soft spoken with my clients inside, which is easy to do with AHA’s small groups. I often opt to share important information outside of a museum both pre- and post-visit enabling clients to experience the art on their own. Truth-be-told, my preference is stimulating conversation over a lingering and delicious lunch or dinner where we digest the art and history along with our meal.
Flexible itineraries. AHA’s philosophy is to maintain a “loose” itinerary for each day that can be easily and quickly revised if necessary. For example, clients can break off on their own whenever they like. We just arrange where and when to meet up and off they go. Sometimes a client will opt out on a site because they have been there before, no problem at all, we just meet up later. If we have a walk through a park planned and awake to rain, we just switch things around. And finally, each night we discuss and decide together what time we would like to start out in the morning. Try doing that with a group of 18 to 24 people.
Traveling with AHA means enjoying delicious meals anywhere and anytime we want, and this is all included in your travel price. Nothing ever pre-planned or even worse, pre-ordered! Because our groups are the size of a family we can walk into any of our favorite places, or try a new one, and simply ask for a table for the group. Our group size enables us to visit small, inviting, out of the way trattorias, hostarias, and bistros, and typically allows us to sit in the main room of the restaurant where all the fun is, while the groups of 18-24 are off in a back room reserved just for them. I can just imagine what the response would be upon entering a great little place, exuding wonderful aromas, on some back alley and asking, “ Table for 20 please.” I don’t think so.
I’m convinced that the key to success for Art History Alive is our group size and passion for travel. My passion shared with 6 to 8 interested people at a time affords AHA and our clients tremendous flexibility and endless choices. From the very day you sign up, you can be a part of the planning of your trip, so . . . . . where do you want to go?
