My first international trips were as a solo traveler who joined a small group. I was a teenager back then, and hit the road with companies like Where There Be Dragons and Global Routes. (Both are still around!)
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To this day, I remember those adventures fondly. First, I got to strike out on my own as a solo traveler with a group of fellow solo travelers. Second, I had expert guides who empowered me to explore and learn about far-out destinations in India and Cambodia. Third, our itineraries were pre-planned, making travel easy.
Turns out, you can find these types of adventures for adults.
Welcome to FTLO, a new travel agency designed for solo travelers aged 25-39. Their trips are designed to let you travel solo, but in a like-minded group that’s of a similar age. You can shop for pre-planned trips based on destinations or even vibes. All you have to do is cover the trip fee, then your own flights to get there.
FTLO does the rest.
If you’re tired of planning your own trips or want to get off the beaten path with a fresh new approach to travel, I highly recommend exploring FTLO’s small group trips.
What can you expect from FTLO trips?
Here’s what makes FTLO stand out to me, and why I feel comfortable recommending it to readers, even though (spoiler alert), I’ve never joined a trip, and this post isn’t sponsored.
Like I already pointed out, these types of small group, solo-traveler-oriented trips have a place in my heart because they’re how I first began traveling as a teenager.
Beyond that, FTLO has a stellar approach to travel and trip-planning. Here’s what I like:
- They have experience. FTLO has been around for almost a decade. They’ve used that time to fine-tune how they plan trips. More importantly, it tells me that they’ve probably handled a few serious mishaps, hiccups, and other travel challenges. Remember: travel agencies shouldn’t just be good at planning trips. They should be good at navigating those inevitable travel obstacles.
- Small groups = better cultural immersion. Small group trips are the best way to travel, in my opinion. First, you get to bond with members of your group. Second, your group is more flexible and dynamic because it’s smaller—you can visit more places, in other words, and experience greater cultural immersion. Third, I consider small group tours ethical because they don’t put the same strain of overtourism on small communities.
- They’re meticulously planned. With almost a decade of experience, FTLO knows how to put together a winning, memorable itinerary for its destinations. That means you can find the perfect trip that will meet the ‘vibe’ promise—whether you want to find hidden gems or stick to well-known attractions. In other words, your guides have (most likely) completed the trip before, and know what to expect to make it ultra-magical.
- They have solid reviews on TrustPilot. Don’t just take my word for it. Go to FTLO’s TrustPilot page. At the time of writing, FTLO has a 4.9-star review based on almost 1,600 real user reviews. That speaks for itself.
- They’re not exorbitantly priced. FTLO covers all expenses except for flights. You can find itineraries that run for seven nights and eight days for between $3,799 – $5,000, depending on the destination. It’s not cheap, by any means, but considering what you’ll get for the experience (and the hassle you’ll save), it’s very reasonable.
- You will make friends for life. Remember those two trips to Cambodia and India that I mentioned up top? I was sixteen and seventeen for those trips, and I still keep in touch with friends I met on those trips. One of them I speak to regularly—we even went to the same college for a semester.
- You can book within 36 hours of trips, and cancel within 65 days. Not a major point, but still worth noting.
How to book a trip with FTLO
You can find the perfect group trip in a few different ways. First, you can complete your travel profile. The form helps FTLO figure out what types of trips you’re after—whether nature-forward adventures or culture-hunting city tours. You can also narrow down your dream destinations.
If you already know where you want to go, head to the Destinations page and start shopping for small group trips. If not, head to their Trips By Vibe page—you can check out beachy trips, trips for first-timers, and more. Or, if all you know are your vacation dates, head to the calendar page where you can see FTLO’s full trip schedule for the year.
Here are a few spring trips with FTLO to keep on your radar:
- Havana (March 4-8) – $200 off
- Lapland (March 8-15 or 15-22)
- Brazil (March 15-22)
- Japan (March 28 – April 5) ***Remaining spots during peak cherry blossom season
- Baja, Mexico (April 8-12)
