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The long-haul, single-destination group tour — from the inside

Previously I have written on the subject of one of the rarest categories of all touring offerings in the U.S. outbound travel marketplace: the long-haul, single-destination group tour (LHSDGT), in this article to be referred to as LT. The LT was defined at that time as a group tour of three weeks or longer that focused on a single overseas destination.

Over the many months since the original article appeared (Sept. ’04, pg. 106), I have received a surprising amount of reader comment on the subject, most lamenting that there are not more such offerings available.

Exploring Colonia, Uruguay

A trip to Uruguay in April ’04 was my first to that country. I went to see Montevideo, its capital city. I also wanted to visit the small town of Colonia (its full name is Colonia del Sacramento) in the southwestern corner of the country, about a 2-hour drive from Montevideo. Having seen photos of its quaint, cobblestone streets and having heard that it had begun its existence as a Portuguese settlement, I was intrigued.

Solo Traveler Q&A

QUESTION: I am a bit of a loner and have no family nearby. While I am not able to travel a lot, I do enjoy my trips, which are usually solo. The December ’04 tsunami disaster made me think, however. If something happened to me, I wonder how long it would take for my family to find out?

I would like to plan a trip to Peru, which seems safe, but can you suggest something I can do to ensure I would be missed soon, without having to start checking in with my family (as I am much too old for that) or without seeming like I am being paranoid? — Tom K., Syracuse, NY

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