Small Groups: Our Only Focus

Small group travel is all that we do – just 12 to 24 guests on our own custom-designed tours. And it’s all we’ve ever done, from the beginning.

Because our company originated with the small group travel experience, the small group philosophy means a lot to us. It is built into the very foundation of our company, of our mission, and of every tour that we offer. We design and operate our tours specifically for small groups, rather than adapt a conventional tour to take fewer guests, as do some other travel companies that recently have introduced small group tours to their standard tour line-up.

We’ve proven that small groups and excellent value, combined with premium quality, are a great mix. While you’re sure to find tours with fewer guests, or lower prices, or labeled “Deluxe” (with the prices to match), you won’t find the combination of value, quality, superior accommodations and amenities, and guaranteed small groups that we offer.

How do we do it? We create and operate our own tours then offer them directly to you – so no middlemen add to the cost along the way. We work closely with our airline, hotel, and other travel partners to secure the lowest rates possible. Then we put those rates to good use by offering our tours at an excellent value – not necessarily the lowest price, but the best ratio of price to experiences, quality, and service.

We invite you to compare our tours with those of other travel companies – group size to group size; hotel quality to hotel quality; included sightseeing to included sightseeing; itinerary to itinerary – and see for yourself. You’ll find that Odysseys Unlimited offers the best package of small group travel and premium quality – at an excellent value.

“We have yet to find another travel company providing this level of excellence at such good prices. We are already looking toward our next trip with you!”
Pamela Ryan and Richard Cyr
Bluffton, SC

The Small Group Experience

We design our tours specifically for small groups of just 12 to 24 guests, which enables us to move about more flexibly and efficiently; enjoy more spontaneous encounters; and experience a degree of freedom and independence simply not available to travelers on conventional group tours of 40 or more.

Traveling on your own you’d see the major sights, but chances are you’d stick close to the traditional tourist routes. Our goal is to show you the major sights and take you where you’d like to go on your own but don’t have the access or opportunity to plan yourself: behind the scenes, to private homes and traditional villages, to local schools and off the beaten path. And this is all in the company of experienced, knowledgeable tour directors who share their countries – and their lives – with you, bringing destinations alive in a truly personal and meaningful way.

Not only do these opportunities enhance your travels, but someone else makes the arrangements and manages all the details – leaving you free to savor the small group experience.

“We like the model – small groups, excellent tour directors, solid hotels, good mix of group/independent activities.”
Roger Soder
Seattle, WA

Respect for Your Freedom and Individuality

If you’ve avoided taking group tours, preferring to travel on your own, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the service, independence, and value that Odysseys Unlimited offers. And if you’re a veteran of traditional group tours, we’re confident you’ll be impressed by the many advantages of small group travel, as well as by the high quality and outstanding value you’ll enjoy with Odysseys Unlimited.

We offer the best of both worlds: the value, ease, and comprehensive itinerary of a group tour, and the freedom, quality, and service that sophisticated travelers demand, and deserve. With Odysseys Unlimited you won’t feel like you’re part of a herd – we value your independence and individuality as much as you do. For this reason we don’t issue name tags or flight bags that immediately brand you as a “group traveler.” Our style of small group travel is flexible, not rigid. Should you choose to sit out an included tour or two and go off on your own, you’re entirely welcome to do so. And we think you’ll appreciate having the occasional lunch or dinner on your own, away from the group.

A Variety of Accommodations

We know that hotels aren’t the main reason for traveling. But it happens that good accommodations can enhance your overall tour experience – and great accommodations can contribute to a great trip. So we select those hotels that we believe are the best for a particular trip and experience – those that will offer our guests the best combination of quality, value, and atmosphere for each destination. Our hotels in major cities are usually centrally located so guests can get around easier; our unique lodgings are often out of the way, offering our tour members a local ambiance larger groups never experience.

“The combination of excellent hotels with a small group is the way I like to travel. I would highly recommend Odysseys to everyone I know.”
Patricia Joyce
Peoria, AZ

We categorize our diverse selection of accommodations as follows:

Excellent Hotels
These are the Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class accommodations we use in major cities worldwide, including well-known chain hotels as well as independently owned properties. You can expect excellent service and amenities in these well-located properties.

Unique Lodgings
Perhaps our most interesting lodgings, these properties cater to small groups and independent travelers, and generally are not available to conventional groups of 40 or more. From the historic paradores of Spain and pousadas of Portugal to a French farmhouse or a Tuscan villa, these accommodations often are destinations in themselves.

Small Ships
We leave the mass-market big ship cruise experience to others, and instead focus on the smaller, more intimate ships that ply distinctive waterways. As you cruise along the Nile, the canals of France, or the waters of Patagonia, among others, your small ship is as much a part of the journey as the places you visit. These vessels let you see the life of a country up close, and allow you to disembark frequently to explore ashore. And while they may vary from simple and comfortable to truly deluxe, these ships generally feature a casual on-board atmosphere, single-seating dining, and amenities such as lounges, boutiques, and plenty of open deck space.

How We Rate Hotels

Our itineraries list a rating beside each hotel. Rather than impose our own subjective ratings, our source is the standard travel industry manual, Hotel & Travel Index, which ranks hotels throughout the world based on standard criteria. This allows you to effectively judge the value of a particular trip and accommodations, and to make an educated decision relative to other travel companies.

Hotel Classifications

Geared to travel professionals in the travel industry, the Hotel & Travel Index’s classification system comprises three categories: Deluxe, First Class, and Tourist Class. Within each category, a lodging may be rated superior, moderate, or with limited service to further define it.

Unrated Accommodations

Some hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be included in the Index, so we list them as Not Rated. This in no way implies inferior quality or service. Please note that our small ships are not included in the Index; their ratings here are based on the classifications of their operators.

Extensive Included Sightseeing

Our small group tours include a great deal of thoughtful and engaging sightseeing and activities, from museum tours, safaris, and scenic excursions to home visits, cultural performances, and wine tastings. In major cities there’s usually free time to explore on your own after a guided city tour. And our tour directors will not pressure you to buy optional tours at additional cost. They will be happy, however, to offer suggestions for your free time, if asked.

“We’ve been on 20 tours with 3 different companies and we have found the price/value of Odysseys the best.”
David and Barbara Hauer
Bethesda, MD

High Quality, Well-Located Hotels

Since accommodations comprise an important aspect of your trip, we’re committed to selecting properties that meet our standards of high quality, convenient location, and excellent service. From superb hotels in major cities to unique or historic lodgings too small for conventional tour groups, these accommodations promise to enhance your enjoyment and comfort throughout your trip.

Most Gratuities Included

Experienced travelers know that tipping is an expected element of worldwide travel; but at times it can become a nuisance or inconvenience. For that reason we’ve eliminated the worry by including in your tour price all gratuities for local guides and drivers, hotel and airport porters, and dining room servers. Gratuities for your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel (if your tour includes a cruise) are not included and should be extended on a voluntary basis, in recognition of truly excellent service.

What Your Tour Price Includes

We design our tours to be highly inclusive, while still making it possible for you to exercise some personal preferences. So we include all the essentials – airfare, accommodations, most meals, extensive sightseeing – but leave some room for you to explore on your own or to enjoy a few meals away from the group.

In general, every Odysseys Unlimited trip includes:

• Travel in a small group of just 12 to 24 guests – guaranteed
• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; plus all flights within your tour
• Accommodations in distinctive lodgings – those that offer the best combination of quality, atmosphere, and value for a particular location
• Most meals: all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners – and you’ll also have the opportunity to dine on your own, without the group
• Extensive sightseeing (plus all entrance fees and admissions) – you don’t have to spend extra money to visit the sights you traveled so far to see
• Singular activities and more intimate cultural encounters possible only with a small group
• The services of an experienced, professional Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• $100 frequent traveler credit toward your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours; $300 after 10 tours)

Guaranteed Tour Prices

All tour prices are guaranteed through December 31, 2023.

Fully Refundable Deposits

A deposit of just $475 confirms your reservation, which you can make with a personal check or major credit card: American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and VISA are all accepted. Best of all, your deposit is fully refundable up to 95 or 155 days before departure (depending on the tour). It’s easy to reserve your tour with us; simply call toll-free, 1-888-370-6765, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Small, Congenial Groups

Each of our tours is custom-designed specifically for small groups, with a balanced mix of sightseeing, traveling, cultural encounters, and free time. Most important, we limit our tour membership to just 12 to 24 guests – guaranteed, both for the freedom, flexibility, and camaraderie that small groups engender, and also so guests may enjoy a more personal and authentic travel experience.

Variety and Quality

We offer a diverse array of fully escorted small group tours throughout the world, ranging in length from 11 days to three weeks: Europe on and off the beaten path … adventures in Africa, Asia … far-reaching journeys in Australia and New Zealand, the Americas – all with unique features available only to small groups.

“We have yet to find another travel company providing this level of excellence at such good prices. We are already looking toward our next trip with you!”
Pamela Ryan and Richard Cyr
Bluffton, SC

Our Tour Directors Make the Difference

We believe personal attention is key to an outstanding travel experience, so we’ve ensured that it’s a hallmark of Odysseys Unlimited. It starts with our travel counselors when you reserve your trip then continues on the road with your tour director. Our tour directors rank among the best in the business; their love of travel is surpassed only by their desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. And traveling in a small group means your tour director will have more time to spend with you and more time to share the personal insights that can add so much to your experience. This helps make your trip genuinely special – and different from conventional tours.

Seven-Time Honoree Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Tour Operators” Award

We are honored that Odysseys Unlimited has been named seven times as one of the “World’s Best Tour Operators” by readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s prestigious annual poll. Based on surveys completed by thousands of readers and travelers, the “World’s Best” list judges tour operators on their staff and guides, itineraries, activities, destinations, accommodations, food, and value.

“Tour exceeded my expectations having never taken a group tour. An excellent experience – can’t wait for my next one!”
Ronni Goldberg
New York, NY

Odysseys Unlimited is a BBB Accredited Business; a member in good standing of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA); and holds appointments to International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

For more than 20 years, we’ve served the travel needs for more than 100 of America’s most prestigious non-profit organizations. More recently we put our expertise to work on a wider scale by making our tours available to all travelers. We continue to serve our client institutions, including alumni ­associations of the following ­colleges and universities, as well as other organizations.

The small group experience – just 12 to 24 guests, guaranteed – is at the heart of each Odysseys Unlimited tour. This means our guests are not encumbered by the large numbers found on conventional tours. They have the ability to move about more easily, engage more spontaneously, enjoy more fully. They are able to take advantage of unique intercultural experiences simply not possible with larger groups. They may stay in intimate lodgings that cannot accommodate typical tour groups. And every step of the way, they are accompanied by an experienced, caring, and highly professional tour director.