Profiling the G Adventures traveller

PAX has returned from a G Adventures Local Living experience throughout the Amalfi Coast, where we joined a group of fellow travellers to explore one of Italy's most beautiful regions.

It was interesting to observe how diverse our fellow vacationers were – a range of ages, origins and backgrounds, with a balance of solo travellers and couples.

So, how do you know what a G Adventures prospect looks like when they walk into your travel agency?

Introducing you to a few of our new lifelong friends:

Elizabeth. 20-years-old. A university student in Boston.

Elizabeth just finished studying in France for six-weeks before making her way to Italy for this G Adventures experience. She had never before done a G trip, but family had recommended this particular tour. In making decisions about her travel plans, she liked the idea of a small group tour that still allowed for some independence. The affordability of this Local Living experience paired with good timing coming off her stay in France made it the ideal choice, and she knew that good food, beautiful locales and ancient ruins were on the itinerary. Her favourite part? The views were great but even more breathtaking for Elizabeth was a trip to Pompeii. "I think touring in a group with G Adventures worked well because you could see familiar faces when walking around but still travel independently," she says. "It also was quite nice to have the group to eat meals with especially as a solo traveller."

Janice & George. Ages 52 & 50. Janice is a medical lab assistant (histology) and George, a heavy equipment operator.

This was not only the first G Adventures tour for Janice and George, but also their first group tour generally speaking. The couple was introduced to the idea after Janice's colleague told her about a Local Living experience she did with her husband in Spain. Janice and George liked the concept and after considering their options, they opted for the Amalfi Coast. Janice says it was a great fit for them because it attracted people of all ages and the accommodations were not a typical hotel-restaurant concept, plus the hiking element of the tour suited the pair well. "We liked the idea of a small group all living together," Janice says. "We were hoping it would be a great way to get to know people – and it was."

Lynda & Andrea. Ages 47 & 50. Lynda is a marketing professional and Andrea, a veterinarian.

Lynda and Andrea are experienced G travellers. The Local Living Amalfi Coast trip was their fourth with the tour operator, which they followed up with a more relaxed Local Living experience in another region. Previously, they had done the Costa Rica Quest in 2009 and Ultimate Italy in 2013. Why do they choose G? The couple says they find the trips to be very well organized and good value for money. It's made easy with transportation, accommodation and local highlights included, with the ability to participate in additional activities that pertain specifically to their tastes. "With the logistics such as transportation and accommodation taken care of, we can focus all of our attention on having a great time," they say. This particular experience stood out to them because of the opportunity to explore paired with the stability of staying in one place for the duration of the tour. "We like and have done multi-destination trips but wanted to try the local living experience. We would definitely recommend it," they say. "It also didn't hurt that the agriturismo was gorgeous, served amazing food and was set high on a hill overlooking the sea."

Nick & Sarah. Ages 29 & 26. Nick is an accountant, and Sarah is a teacher.

Nick and Sarah made their way to Italy for their honeymoon, where they put together a few independant experiences before the Local Living Tour began. Sarah had never before left the country (they are from the U.S.), and Italy was where she wanted to go first. Avid hikers at home, they liked the active concept of this particular trip, and wanted to take part in something low-stress where they could "just go with the flow." The couple says that this G itinerary allowed for a unique experience that would have been difficult to plan on their own. They say that taking in the Amalfi Coast by road, trail and by boat made it especially enjoyable. "We really felt like we got to know the place and the landscape."

Angela. 33-years-old. Works in public safety.

Angela from Switzerland joined this tour as a solo traveller. She says she chose G because the company's marketing material appealed to her understanding of travelling, and when it came to choosing which tour to opt for, she was tempted by the culinary experience and agritourism accommodation that came with the Local Living Amalfi Coast choice. She wanted to connect with locals and like-minded travellers while exploring places that she may not venture if travelling independently, made easy by having a local CEO (chief exploration officer) who could guide the group to places that everyday tourists would not go. The combination of being active and having time to relax was another selling point, and although she was admittedly skeptical of the group touring concept before taking part in the G experience, she says, "If you have open-mind people around you who understand that travelling is about getting to know different ways of life, it can't be more fun."