My wife and I had long dreamed of visiting Costa Rica.  We knew about its reputation for magnificent landscapes, abundant animal and bird life, and preservation of the magnificent environment. 

    We could have spent hours searching the Internet for flights and hotels, reserving a rental car and taking care of the many other details that are required.  But we didn’t.

    Instead, we made a single phone call that took care of all of the necessary planning.  In addition, we knew that we would be following an itinerary which combined the must-see attractions with a number of hidden gems that we otherwise might have missed.  We also had the comfort of knowing that we would get good value for our hard-earned dollars.

    Of course, there’s something to be said for the enjoyment of planning a trip.  For some people, a vacation begins when they start to make phone calls, type on their computer and take the countless other steps required to deal with every aspect of a trip – and then hope that nothing has been overlooked.

    Others follow a different route.  They turn to tour companies that travel to the destination, or destinations, they wish to visit, and let their experts handle the details.

   We went to Costa Rica with a tour operator we had traveled with before.  Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) is the self-styled “Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled.” The itinerary allowed me to squeeze as many experiences as possible into every hour of every day.

     For example, one typical day included a visit to an OAT-sponsored school, where the children greeted the group with a charming folkloric presentation; a traditional lunch with a local family, and a guided horseback ride through a dense forest.  Another began with a hands-on tortilla-making lesson, followed by viewing giant crocodiles at close range, and ended with time spent on one of Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches.

   Our experience underscored the many benefits of traveling with a group. Here are a few of those:

    Follow the leader.  Many tour guides live in a trip destination or, if not, have been there many times.  They can bring the history, culture and other aspects of a place to life in ways that that enhances your travel experience.

    Relax on the road.  Driving in another country can be stressful at best, and downright dangerous if, for example, it requires sticking to the opposite side of the highway in a stick shift rental car.   When a professional driver is at the wheel, you can sit back, relax and take in the passing scenery.

    Safety in numbers.  Traveling with a group is safer than venturing out on your own, especially in a place with which you’re not familiar.  In addition, guides know what areas of a city to steer clear of and can provide assistance in case you encounter a problem.

    When cost is a factor.  Because tour operators receive group discounts on many aspects of a trip, the total cost can offer more bang for the buck.  Also guides can provide practical tips like good places to shop and where to get the best money exchange rate.

    Share the satisfaction.  We have met people on group tours whose company we enjoyed during bus rides and at mealtimes.  In some cases, they have become friends who share our love of travel and with whom we have planned future trips together.

    Staying healthy.  At this time of concern about remaining healthy while traveling, going with a tour group can provide peace of mind.  Companies have instituted a variety of measures to keep both trip participants and guides safe.

    For example, OAT follows a long list of protocols.  In addition to the use of face coverings, hand sanitizer, temperature checks and other well-known basics, it provides disinfected headsets that allow travelers to maintain social distancing, arranges to visit popular locations before, or after, large crowds congregate, and limits the number of people sharing a vehicle.  For more information log onto oattravel.com.

     Untours has practiced social distancing long before it became a well-known phrase.  That company combines the planning, services and on-site support of a group tour with the benefits of independent travel.

    During our three trips with Untours, the only times that qw met with other participants were during a first-day briefing, the goodbye dinner and an optional group activity which e opted to take.  Other than that, we were on our own. 

    Our accommodations included an apartment at a vineyard and a comfortable lodging on a farm.  We had use of either a rental car or public transportation passes.  An on-site representative was available to answer questions, offer suggestions and provide additional assistance that we might request.   See untours.com.

      An excellent source of information about group trips is Travel Stride.  It’s  a one-stop source of helpful information about, and bookings with, a wide variety of travel companies that offer more than 30,000 guided trips, adventure packages and river cruises around the world.  Anyone may use the use the site, and an added bonus is that members can receive a cash bonus of up to $700 per trip. Visit travelstride.com