What is it like when the trip is at full capacity?

[abacab]

Has anyone been on an ABD trip with the maximum number of people (40-44)? That seems like a lot of people... How do the two guides manage so many people? Is the experience significantly different (worse? better?) when the trip is full as opposed to, say, half-full?

 

[jjb52]

Has anyone been on an ABD trip with the maximum number of people (40-44)? That seems like a lot of people... How do the two guides manage so many people? Is the experience significantly different (worse? better?) when the trip is full as opposed to, say, half-full?

I have been to Ireland with 38 people and Germany with 22. I didn't think my trips were affected by the number. I think the children got more attention on the Germany trip as 5 of the 22 were girls and one guide spent alot of time with them so that was fortunate for the children but did not deter from my experience. There were additional local guides that really did the work during the day's events and the group is oftern divided into 2 smaller groups. The ABD guides do a great job with all the behind the scenes work, recommendations for free time, dining,etc. With a bigger group you have a greater chance of having a few travelers show up late so the day doesn't start on time but that happened more in my small group w/ younger kids than the Ireland group of 38. I would not worry if your group is full-more people to meet!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Our Greece trip (late June) was to capacity at 44--and it went very well; the kids all bonded and the adults all felt that the group as a whole was very easygoing and really like family. We have no horror stories at all about our group--and we were all sad to see the trip end! (We were quite a group to contend with in museums etc--fortunately the ear whisper devices worked really well so you could be toward the back and still hear everything)

 

[abacab]

Our Greece trip (late June) was to capacity at 44--and it went very well; the kids all bonded and the adults all felt that the group as a whole was very easygoing and really like family. We have no horror stories at all about our group--and we were all sad to see the trip end! (We were quite a group to contend with in museums etc--fortunately the ear whisper devices worked really well so you could be toward the back and still hear everything)

I see you have been on a lot of ABD trips. Is there a big difference between the ones where there are fewer people rather than more? The one we are booked on is China; it is our first ABD trip ... how many were on your China trip?

 

[sayhello]

I've taken 4 ABD's, and 3 of them had fewer people (14 for Southwest Splendors, 15 for Alaska, and 28 for Knights & Lights). My Med cruise add-on had 39 people. And honestly, I didn't notice any difference. The Guides really just made it all look effortless, and I didn't feel any less cared for. I was surprised, because I really did expect there to be a difference.

Sayhello

 

[tufbuf]

I've taken 4 ABD's, and 3 of them had fewer people (14 for Southwest Splendors, 15 for Alaska, and 28 for Knights & Lights). My Med cruise add-on had 39 people. And honestly, I didn't notice any difference. The Guides really just made it all look effortless, and I didn't feel any less cared for. I was surprised, because I really did expect there to be a difference.

Sayhello

That is so true! The biggest group we had was the Greece trip as well and the rest were between 33-40. Our Ecuador/ Galapagos trip was the smallest at 17. Like WeLoveABD said, the Greece group was large but everyone did their part to be on time, there were no glitches at all. The one time Chris, our guide, "panicked" was when everyone decided to kayak. They easily made arrangements and divided us in two groups. You don't really feel the difference honestly, other than maybe a smaller vehicle to accommodate a smaller group. There is so much going on, chatting with new friends, getting ready for the activity of the day and ABD really makes it seamless you won't notice any burden in being in a large group.

 

[Bobo912]

I agree with everyone else. I've been on ABDs with 40, 30 and 16 and there was no significant difference.

 

[abbyjt]

We were on the Greece trip with tufbuf and weloveabd. Even though 44 sounded overwhelming, it wasn't. I think the only little glitch was that the bus was full. The trip was wonderful and like they said, the guides made it look effortless.
Our China trip had 42. That one actually felt a little too full, but still, we never felt left out or overlooked and the trip was wonderful.
All the other trips we have been on have been much smaller (16 to 28). Each was fantastic. We are going back for more.