Trafalgar alternatives for solo travellers: one hotel, a host and a small group

If you have looked at a Trafalgar tour but travel on your own and want a smaller group, Spice Escapes is the UK alternative to consider: hosted groups of around fifteen people, and some reach twenty, where most people book on their own. Trafalgar's Europe tours average 40 to 45 guests and travel mainly by coach, while the four short breaks below each stay in one central hotel. The first is Prague Christmas Magic, 3 nights minutes from the Old Town Square market.

First, how Trafalgar's group sizes, flights and rooms compare with ours, then the breaks. Every Trafalgar detail comes from its UK website, checked this autumn, so confirm it with Trafalgar. When one of our holidays fits, see the dates and book online on its page.

Trafalgar's coach tours and a hosted Spice group, side by side

• Group size. Trafalgar's FAQs give an average of 40 to 45 guests on Europe trips, with a maximum of 53. Its 22 Small Group Tours average 16 guests, close to our size, though three of the four it lists in Europe move between several stops.
• Who is in the group. Trafalgar says its guests come from all over the world. On a Spice holiday most people have booked on their own, so turning up alone is normal.
• Who looks after you. Trafalgar sends a Travel Director and Driver team for the whole tour. Our host travels with the group throughout, helps everyone get to know each other and keeps things running smoothly.
• The shape of the trip. Trafalgar's Prague, Vienna and Budapest covers four countries and five cities by coach, and its German Christmas Markets tour runs from Frankfurt to Berlin with seven stops. Our city breaks unpack once and stay put.
• Rooms. Both companies will put you in a twin room with another guest of the same sex at the twin price, and both charge extra for a room to yourself. Trafalgar offers reduced supplements on many departures, and ours are listed holiday by holiday on the single supplement page.

Does Trafalgar include flights? No, and with us they are your choice

Trafalgar's FAQs say flights to and from a tour are not in the prices shown, though you can add them while you book. Its price does cover accommodation, breakfast daily, some evening meals, porterage and restaurant gratuities.

With us, each holiday page shows a price with your own travel and a price with a flight from a UK airport, and the from-prices on this page are the own-travel ones. Flights and flight-inclusive holidays booked with us are protected under our ATOL licence, 9046.

When Trafalgar will suit you better

If you want several countries in one trip, with a guide and a driver handling every move, a Trafalgar coach tour does exactly that. Its Small Group Tours take the idea to places such as Tuscany and San Sebastian with fewer people, and it goes much further afield too.

We suit the person who would rather unpack once, eat well, explore at their own pace and come back to a host and a group that mostly came alone. Our breaks fit a long weekend of annual leave.

Prague at Christmas, from a hotel on Little Square

Trafalgar's Prague, Vienna and Budapest gives Prague its first three days before the coach heads on to Vienna. Prague Christmas Magic stays put at Hotel Rott, on Little Square just steps from Old Town Square and its Christmas market, with Sally Wiltshire as your host.

The provisional plan is gentle. One day is the market and a cup of svařák, the Czech mulled wine, with the Astronomical Clock or Charles Bridge if you like. The next starts at Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, crosses to Malá Strana, and ends at the markets on Wenceslas Square or Peace Square, with trdelník, the chimney cake. Dates: 4 Dec 2026 – 7 Dec 2026, from £675. More festive ideas: Christmas and New Year breaks for solo travellers.

Seville at your own pace, with a 48-hour bus ticket included

Surprising Seville gives you 4 nights at Hotel América, minutes from the cathedral and the Barrio de Santa Cruz, with Jackie Whyte as host. A 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket is included, so the second day is a city bus tour and the Seville Skywalk, at your own pace.

Everything else is optional: a guided tour of the cathedral, the Alcázar and the Giralda, a Segway morning, or a flamenco show at Tablao El Arenal. Dates: 4 Mar 2027 – 8 Mar 2027, from £549. More in Spain.

Berlin, Friday to Monday, from a hotel by Alexanderplatz

Berlin Bound is 3 nights at the H4 Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz, a short walk from Museum Island, the TV Tower and Hackescher Markt. On Saturday the hop-on hop-off city tour tickets start, and you can stay with your Spice coordinator or go your own way. The group may stop at Monbijoupark, where Berliners dance tango outdoors on Saturday afternoons.

A river cruise ticket covers Saturday or Sunday, and Sunday is free. Dates: 4 Jun 2027 – 7 Jun 2027, from £549, availability 22 places left.

Lisbon, if you are happy to make your own way in

A Taste of Lisbon has no airport transfer, because the metro is the quickest way into the city and there is a stop very close to the hotel. You stay 3 nights at My Story Hotel Tejo, next to Figueira Square, with Pam Harte as host.

The suggested days take in Alfama, Rossio Square and the Elevador de Santa Justa, perhaps Tram 28, then Belém for Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and pastéis de nata. Evenings are yours, for a quiet dinner or Bairro Alto. Dates: 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027, from £639. See all our city breaks.

Questions people ask

Does Trafalgar include airfare in its tour prices?

No, according to its own FAQs, flights to and from the start and end of the tour are not in the prices shown. You can add them while you book, and flights that form part of the itinerary itself are included.

Will I pay a single supplement with Trafalgar or with Spice?

Both will place you in a twin room with another guest of the same sex at the twin price, though Trafalgar does not offer this on its Asia, Africa or Eastern Mediterranean trips. A room to yourself costs a supplement with both, and ours is listed for each holiday that offers one.

Is Spice Escapes part of Trafalgar?

No. Trafalgar Tours Limited says it belongs to The Travel Corporation family of companies, while Spice Escapes is a separate UK tour operator that has run hosted group holidays since 1981.

Will I be the only one travelling on my own?

On a Spice holiday most people have booked on their own, so you will be in familiar company. The host travels with the group throughout and helps everyone get to know each other.

Pick a city, then book on the holiday page

Each holiday page carries the live dates, the price with or without flights, the single room cost and a Book button, so when one fits, see the dates and book online there. Prague Christmas Magic, hosted by Sally Wiltshire: 7 places left.

To talk it through first, ask Rosie, the chat on every holiday page, how we differ from the bigger operators, or contact the team, who will answer questions about Sally's Prague or Jackie Whyte's Seville before you book. There is more in our guide for first-time solo travellers and on solo holidays for over 50s.