Group Travel Made Easy: With VBT and Your Favorite People

There’s no better way to see the world than by traveling with a group of your favorite people. Whether you want to cycle through the lavender fields of Provence with your extended family, explore Tuscan vineyards with your book club, or bike along the golden shores of Portugal with your closest friends, VBT’s Group Travel Program makes it easy. When you become a group organizer, our dedicated Group Tour Manager, John Zelig, is happy to help out with the logistics. From organizing schedules to recommending a destination everyone will love, John takes the stress out of coordinating a group adventure. Nobody knows the benefits of this program better than Sheppy Douma, a VBT traveler who has organized nearly a dozen VBT group trips.

The Gear Geezers Rock the Party

Sheppy’s traveling companions are her cycling group, the Gear Geezers. “The Gear Geezers formed in 2010,” Sheppy explains. “We’d go for a ride and then someone would host a dinner. At one of these dinners we started to talk about VBT trips. I’d been on a few with my husband before he passed away and have great memories of those adventures. Everyone in the group was eager to learn more—by the end of the dinner we’d all agreed to go on a tour together in the fall.” Sheppy took on the role of group organizer and reached out to VBT to learn about the program. “John gave me a lot of tips for getting organized and provided me with all the information I needed about possible departure dates and group sizes. I love working with him—he’s so helpful. It’s great to know there’s someone looking out for our whole group, it really gives us peace of mind throughout the whole process.”

Since Sheppy’s group members are all based in the same area, she uses a mix of group emails and in-person meetings to coordinate plans. “For the Gear Geezer’s first trip, I sent out a poll with a few destination options for people to choose and we landed on Puglia,” recalls Sheppy. “I hosted an Italian dinner for everyone who was interested. John had sent me a list of available dates ahead of time, so we were able to coordinate schedules and pick a departure that evening.” Sheppy says she still uses polls regularly during the early planning stages to gauge interest and narrow down destination options. “We try to make a three-year plan, so we’re always talking about our next destination and thinking ahead,” she explains. Getting everyone on the same page is a group organizer’s biggest responsibility; once everyone has agreed on the destination and travel dates the VBT team steps in and handles the rest. From the best biking routes to top-rated accommodations, expert local guides, and unique cultural experiences, the whole adventure is meticulously planned.

With VBT’s Air Packages, the Fun Starts in the Air!

Group travelers can also enjoy support from VBT’s expert air team—a dedicated team of skilled professionals who coordinate and book VBT air travel using contracted rates with top airlines. “Using VBT’s custom air option is a big perk,” Sheppy explains. “We almost always do the Pre- and Post-Trip Extensions that VBT offers—and sometimes we like to extend our trips even beyond that. The air team makes it so easy to add on our own travel plans. We also love to travel together so we’re not all arriving at different times. Plus, it means the fun can start in the air! The VBT air team helps make that happen.”

Group Discounts Let You Share the Love

One of the perks of organizing a group trip is the opportunity to earn up to two free trips, which the group organizer can use or share among the group. “I divide the group travel discount among everyone,” Sheppy explains. “Sometimes, we reserve some of the funds to bind a book of photos from our adventure—or for a special night out during one of our free nights.” To celebrate each adventure, the group throws a post-travel party once they’re back home. “We incorporate a theme from our trip. For example, if we learned how to make a new dish in a cooking class on the trip we’ll make that,” Sheppy says. And of course, the agenda for these parties also includes planning the next adventure together!

Interested in planning your own group trip? Learn more about VBT’s Group Travel Program and how we can help you plan the group adventure of a lifetime.