Some people are pleasantly surprised, while others are uncomfortable. Young people "break into" senior tour groups. Young people | senior tour groups | tour groups

As summer approaches, many people plan to travel during the holiday. A while ago, several young people made videos about their experience of joining an elderly group, which attracted a lot of attention. Many netizens were curious: can young people also join an elderly travel group? How can an elderly group be different from what they imagined?

On social media platforms, many young people post sharing their experiences in the senior group, or are taken care of by their younger peers, or have mastered photography skills to become group pets. Some young people also openly say, "I was cured by a trip." Is the experience of the senior group really like this? The reporter contacted several young people who had just returned from their travels.

Young people accidentally or intentionally "break into" elderly groups

Flying over 2500 kilometers and nearly 4 hours, 21-year-old Chen Xiaolei arrived in Kunming, Yunnan from Beijing and embarked on her graduation journey.

"I really like the weather here and wanted to take advantage of time to fulfill my wish, so I signed up for a 7-day and 6-night tour group." To Chen Xiaolei's surprise, when she gathered at the airport, she saw a group of travel companions with an average age of over 50.

"I am the youngest member of the group, including the tour guide, which makes me a bit worried about the upcoming itinerary." Chen Xiaolei said that the itinerary includes physical activities such as mountain climbing, and traveling with the elderly requires consideration of their physical factors. I am not sure if the travel rhythm and atmosphere will be affected.

After the start of the trip, Chen Xiaolei was pleasantly surprised to find that the senior group seemed to be different from what she had imagined. The members had a harmonious relationship and no one was dragging them down. The elderly were full of energy and seemed to enjoy the trip very much. "I feel like it's similar to going out to play with peers, and it's also more relaxing because there's no need to do strategies in advance, and there's no age anxiety."

Low price, charter car travel, gentle pace, and the elderly group will also consider the physical fitness and travel preferences of the middle-aged and elderly population, with high cost-effectiveness as the selling point. Nowadays, some young people take these advantages seriously and choose to travel in elderly groups.

Li Lu, who lives in Henan, told reporters that she would specifically choose an elderly group when traveling: "Air tickets and hotels are generally cheaper than what she booked, and the time is more suitable. Moreover, intercity transportation is more convenient than renting a car. If she knows how to take photos, she may also become a favorite of the group."

When there is a vacancy in the group quota, young people can apply for the elderly group

Elderly people who have money and leisure are one of the main travelers, especially those who travel around cities and short-term tourism products, which are popular among the elderly population.

The reporter learned at a national tourism consulting service point on Xinjiekou Outer Street in Haidian District, Beijing that elderly groups are generally divided into two categories: individual customers who register directly and customized package products.

"Banks or some large enterprises will give customized group tours as benefits to customers. They provide a list, and we are responsible for arranging travel services." Mr. Li from the service point explained that if young people directly apply for individual group tours, the majority are elderly people. Outside the peak period of holidays, online and offline registration and group tours may be arranged in the elderly group.

The reporter searched multiple tourism websites and found that some tourism product detail pages have specific requirements for limiting the age of participation. After inquiring by phone, some customer service representatives stated that if they are accompanying family members or if there is a recent vacancy in group membership, young people can also sign up for the elderly group.

The first thing Aunt Cao, who is 58 years old this year, did after retiring was to travel to Xinjiang with her daughter. "The tour group we have chosen is specifically designed to serve middle-aged and elderly tourists. The rest of the group consists of a couple who are about the same age or even older than me. My daughter, as the youngest in the group, is particularly popular."

"Although it's called the Sunset Red Travel Group, it's also great to have young people join. The more young people in the group, the more reassuring it is for us. In case of unexpected situations, young people can still lend a hand," said another 65 year old Mr. Qu in the group.

Regarding the participation of young people in tour groups, Zhang Yunyun, the tour guide of Aunt Cao's tour group, told us to avoid pitfalls and confirm the nature of the tour group in advance

By chance, some people have entered the senior group, leaving behind beautiful memories, while others have encountered some unhappy experiences. Last August, Wang Meng and her friends signed up for a travel group to Beijing. During the process, she was dissatisfied with both the itinerary, scenic spots, and meals and accommodations.

"After gathering, I found out that an elderly group had been arranged. Along the way, the tour guide would applaud and sing, forcing the atmosphere to liven up. The most unacceptable thing was the itinerary, which only arranged two scenic spots a day. Although it was very leisurely, when encountering free activities, a few elderly people would get off the car and gather for a while, urging others to leave quickly." Wang Meng recalled.

On the Internet, there are many elderly groups who complain that they have more shopping trips. Although they are not forced to buy, they affect their travel experience. "Some elderly people think it's okay to browse these shops, but young people still want to spend time on unique attractions, after all, finding time to travel is not easy."

Mr. Li from the China Travel Service Center said that young people who apply for the senior group should avoid pitfalls and confirm with the travel agency whether it is a pure play group when registering for purchase. This can be inquired with the sales team, which is usually indicated on posters and promotions.

Tour guide Zhang Yunyun suggests that the tour group should match individual needs, and young people should choose to travel freely, choose their own place of play, and arrange their own time. After selecting tourism products from legitimate travel agencies, understanding the specific itinerary, and confirming that there are no hidden or mandatory consumption situations, sign a contract to register for the tour.