Travelsphere alternatives: a smaller hosted group where most people come on their own

If you have toured with Travelsphere and would like a smaller group built around people travelling on their own, Spice Escapes is the alternative to look at. Most people on our hosted groups book on their own, whereas Travelsphere's own solo page puts solo travellers at around 10% of a group. Ours are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty. Below is a fair comparison, then four holidays, starting with Kraków Discovery, a hosted short break in the old town.

We have no connection with Travelsphere. What follows comes from its own website, as it read when we wrote this page in the autumn, so check the detail with Travelsphere.

Travelsphere: an average group of 27, and solo travellers about one in ten

• An average group of 27. Group sizes vary between tours, its FAQs say, and its solo page describes groups of "couples, friends, multi-generation adventurers and independent explorers".
• Solo travellers at around one in ten. The same page says they "typically make up around 10% of the group", that on some departures you may be the only one, and that for many this is part of the adventure.
• A room of your own, for a supplement. It says many tours are available to solo travellers with a single supplement, and its prices are based on two people sharing.
• Escorted touring since 1962. Its Relax & Discover tours "typically stay in one or two hotels", its Classic Touring holidays take in several destinations, and it sells rail and wildlife tours too.
• Protection. Its FAQs say G Touring Limited operates its flight-inclusive holidays under ATOL 11266 and is a member of ABTA.

With us, coming alone is the usual way to arrive

Arriving on your own puts you on the same footing as most of the group. Every holiday has a named host who has done the trip before, who travels with the group throughout, helps everyone get to know each other and keeps things running smoothly.

In Kraków and Lisbon the days are left open, while on Crete the group tours most days. Like Travelsphere, we charge for a room to yourself, as our single supplement page sets out. When one of the four suits you, see the dates and book online on its holiday page.

Kraków: an old-town townhouse a few steps from Main Market Square

Kraków Discovery is 4 nights at the Best Western Plus Kraków Old Town, a restored 19th-century townhouse a few steps from Main Market Square and around 500 metres from Wawel Castle. The days are yours, with optional trips to Schindler's Factory Museum, the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau, and as places on those are limited, book them with the holiday.

Jackie Whyte hosts the whole stay, so there is company at dinner. Dates are 26 May 2027 – 30 May 2027, from £589. Availability: 9 places left. More in Poland and our city breaks.

Crete: two bases and touring days, beside Travelsphere's one-hotel week

Travelsphere's Exploring Crete tour spends seven nights in one four-star hotel at Agia Marina, near Chania, with flights, 16 meals and a Holiday Director included, at a pace it calls leisurely. Crete Discovery moves once: three nights in Aghios Nikolaos in the east, then four in Rethymno, half board, with two pools and a spa at both hotels.

You fly direct from the UK, meet a tour manager on arrival, and Lauren Fawkes hosts the group. The week takes in Plaka and Elounda, a home-cooked lunch at a family taverna on the Lasithi Plateau, Heraklion with Knossos if you wish, Chania and the Preveli Monastery. It is 7 nights from £1,499, dates 5 Oct 2027 – 12 Oct 2027. Availability: 13 places left.

Lošinj: a week in one hotel by the sea, half board

If you liked staying put on a Relax & Discover tour, Croatian Chillout spends the whole week half board at Hotel Punta beside Veli Lošinj, with an infinity seawater pool and a spa. The suggested week includes a boat day round the archipelago, with a chance of dolphins, and a walk or cycle of about 3km to Mali Lošinj and its Apoxyomenos museum.

The transfer from Pula takes around three hours, with a ferry on the way. Jackie Whyte hosts, for 7 nights from £869, dates 1 May 2027 – 8 May 2027. Availability: 16 places left. See Croatia.

Lisbon: Tram 28, Belém and pastéis de nata

A Taste of Lisbon is 3 nights at My Story Hotel Tejo, next to Figueira Square, where you can catch Tram 28 into the old neighbourhoods. The suggested days take in Alfama and the viewpoints, then Belém for Jerónimos Monastery and pastéis de nata, with evenings free for a quiet dinner or Bairro Alto.

Airport transfers are not included, because the metro is the quickest way in, with a stop very close to the hotel. Pam Harte hosts, from £639, dates 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027. Availability: 9 places left.

Choose Travelsphere for an escorted tour, and us to travel solo with a host

Travelsphere is likely to suit you better if you want flights, transfers, many meals and the excursions arranged, a Holiday Director leading the days, a Classic Touring route through several places, a rail journey or a wildlife tour. For a group where everyone travels solo, it points to its sister company, Just You, which we compare in Just You alternatives.

Spice Escapes is likely to suit you better if you travel on your own and want a smaller hosted group, with one or two bases and company built in. New to this? Start with our guide for first-time solo travellers or our over 50s solo holidays.

Questions people ask

Is Spice Escapes part of Travelsphere?

No. Spice Escapes is a separate UK tour operator with no connection to Travelsphere.

Does Travelsphere do solo holidays?

Yes, on its regular escorted tours. Its solo page says many tours are available to solo travellers with a single supplement, and that solo travellers typically make up around 10% of a group. For a group where everyone travels solo, it points to its sister company, Just You.

Will I pay a single supplement with Spice Escapes?

Yes, if you want a room to yourself. Every Spice holiday carries a single supplement or room-to-yourself cost, shown on its holiday page, and the price you see buys a place in a twin shared with another solo traveller of the same sex.

How do I know Spice Escapes is safe to book with?

Spice Escapes has run hosted group holidays since 1981 and holds ATOL licence 9046, which protects our flight-inclusive holidays. Crete Discovery is run by Living Crete under its own ATOL licence, 9703, with Spice as agent, and our reviews page has what past guests say.

I am over 60 and used to escorted tours. Will a Spice holiday suit me?

Yes, if you enjoy some free days as well as organised ones. There is no upper age limit, each holiday page sets out what the days involve, and Crete Discovery, with its touring days, is the closest to an escorted week.

Book online, or ask us first

Each holiday page has the live dates, the price, the single room cost and a Book button, so when a week suits you, see the dates and book online there. Kraków Discovery makes an easy first trip (availability: 9 places left), and Crete Discovery is the closest to a touring week.

If you have a question first, ask Rosie, the chat on every holiday page, how we differ from the bigger operators, or contact the team. Rob Thompson owns Spice Escapes and hosts holidays himself, and he and the team are glad to talk it through before you book.