#040: Small Group Adventures with Girls’ Guide to the World

In this episode of the Why We Travel podcast, Claus Lauter chats with Doni Belau about small group adventures for women.

Created my Doni Belau Girls’ Guide to the World offers unique, small group adventures that foster authentic connections between women and cultures.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why small group adventures offer a safe entry point for solo female travelers
• How cultural immersion and personal growth are integrated into Girls Guide to the World tours
• What makes a 6-10 person group size ideal for bonding and individual connections
• Why having a private room is essential for women's group travel experiences
• How Girls Guide to the World ensures trip participants are a good fit for group dynamics
• Why flexibility and a positive attitude are crucial for enjoying travel experiences
• What unique frameworks are used to create themed trips like art-focused tours in European cities
• How meeting local women and supporting their initiatives adds depth to travel experiences
• Why early booking is recommended for popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast and Paris
• What role the Girls Guide Traveling Sisterhood Facebook group plays in empowering female travelers

Doni Belau is the founder of Girls' Guide to the World, a women-only tour company offering 60 tours across 40 countries. With over 15 years in the travel industry and having visited more than 80 countries, Doni crafts diverse, transformative journeys that blend cultural immersion, adventure, and personal growth. Her background in TV production and humanitarian work informs her approach to creating meaningful travel experiences for women of all ages.

You can learn more about Doni Belau at https://www.girlsguidetotheworld.com/

Visit our website at https://whywetravel.net/

Transcript

Voice over: This is the Why We Travel Podcast. The podcast dedicated to those who want to explore the world on their terms. Each week, you'll hear from amazing travelers and experts sharing their best travel stories from the road. Listen to their unique travel experiences and get insider tips about their favorite destinations.

Voice over: Whether you're an experienced world nomad or just getting started, this podcast will inspire you, improve your travel skills. Change the way you travel and motivate you to get out and see the world. Discover the art of independent travel and meet fellow travelers in our online community. Now let's get into it with your host and world traveler.

Voice over: Claus Lauter. Welcome to the show. 

Claus Lauter: Hello. Welcome to another episode of the Why We Travel Podcast. Today we want to talk about small group adventures, have another talk about really group travel. Most of the time it's solo. Travelers around the world, but for a lot of people just getting into traveling, group travel might be just the right thing to get started and take their journey from there.

Claus Lauter: So dive deeper into this topic. I have Doni Belau. We see, she's the founder of girls guide around the world, a woman on the tour company offering 60 tours across 40 countries. . With over 15 years in the travel industry and having visited more than 80 countries, Doni beats me there, crafts diverse and transformative journeys that blend cultural immersion, adventure and personal growth.

Claus Lauter: Her background is in TV production and humanitarian work, and her approach to creating meaningful travel experience might be a bit different than others do. So let's dive into the topic and welcome her to the show. Hi Doni, how are you today? 

Doni Belau: Great, Claus. Thank you so much for this opportunity. A real pleasure to be with you.

Claus Lauter: First question, as always, is when did the travel bug bite you? What is your very first memory idea of when I get into trouble? Childhood memory. 

Doni Belau: Well, I have to, uh, thank my parents, um, they did, uh, take me as many places as a car would go, so I was born and raised in Nebraska, the very smack dab middle of the United States, and we, uh, back then, um, The prices, uh, of air, for air, you know, air travel were just, uh, extremely expensive, at least for a normal middle class family.

Doni Belau: So we would drive, and everybody else we knew would drive, so we'd go to Maine, we'd go to California, and we even drove all the way down to Mexico, to near Guadalajara, and stayed for a month. So, I think they, um, definitely initiated that sense of, Uh, desire for discovery, but I would say it was cemented. Um, when I was 17, um, almost 18, I was about to go off to college and my sister, who's 16 years older than me, um, took me to Europe.

Doni Belau: Um, and it was the first time I'd been to Europe and we went all over the place. We had no reservations. It was a little bit of chaos. Uh, but we had so much fun and also, it kind of just Uh, open my eyes to a different way of living. So you don't, you know, when you've just been in the small place that you were raised and maybe just in your country, you don't know, um, that there's just a hundred different ways to live.

Doni Belau: And that to me just, it kind of just was like this aha moment where I'm like, wow, there's all kinds of different ways to live, to eat, to see, to be, to experience life. And I loved it. 

Claus Lauter: Now, you have been all over the world over time, and now you're at a point where you are helping others becoming travelers in a way.

Claus Lauter: A lot of people, when they get started, as I said at the beginning, people do not know what to expect out there. They might be just scared of what will happen to them. Specifically, if you're thinking about, if a solo traveler, I don't know, might be too risky. I don't want to start. Your approach is small group adventures.

Claus Lauter: Tell me what that entitles or what that is. 

Doni Belau: So, um, it kind of, um, was created organically, um, and, and I, I started to realize, you know, if you're in a bigger group, so we do women's only trips. And I also tried doing one, uh, that wasn't, but the, the whole idea behind these women only trips is that 53 percent of women in the United States are single.

Doni Belau: Most of our customers, 75 percent come from the States. But we do have people, um, you know, as long as they can speak English from around the world, join us. Uh, but, uh, when you have a small group of 6 to 10 women, we never take more than 10, You can bond as a group, as well as get to know each individual person.

Doni Belau: So if you have even 12 or 20, people start to segment off three or four here, and then there might be one person left out in that scenario. So I think it's of critical importance that we pay a huge amount of attention, and we just, uh, we train our, Um, you know, we've been working with a trip facilitators to, um, really help facilitate that group bonding.

Doni Belau: So you might, um, go with us to Charleston or Cape Town, or, you know, anything in between, but what you, what we really want you to walk away with is a new friend or three, and that is extremely empowering and fulfilling for people, um, and it is a lot easier to go in a group For people that, like, as you, um, pointed out, might be a bit nervous about travel completely on their own.

Doni Belau: And a lot of women in particular are nervous about going out to dinner on their own. Uh, they just, men too, like, you know, it feels awkward. For me, I, I don't have any problem with it, but it, that's not the norm. Um, so we provide that sort of safety, that comfort, um, obviously someone who speaks the language of wherever we are going.

Doni Belau: Um, so they don't have to worry about all those things all taken care of. So it's a, uh, an entryway point to solo travel and it is considered solo travel even when you're in a group if you don't know those people. Um, and that's the other thing people get a little bit nervous about and I really try and we, uh, coach them through it.

Doni Belau: This idea that, oh, what if they don't like me or what if I don't like them? This sort of, you know, school girl, first day at school kind of sailing. Um, but that is what we really train our facilitators you. to create is to create the safe atmosphere and women wants to bond. They're very supportive of one another and it's set up that way.

Doni Belau: So and then each night you sit next to someone else and get to know their story. Uh, and it works 99 percent of the time. Uh, and everybody feels, you know, enriched. 

Claus Lauter: Now, I mentioned before you're traveling all over the world, um, I saw you going to Chile, um, you're doing Paris, so this is a very, very different destinations being in a big city with a group was having the experience there, then going into Patagonia.

Claus Lauter: which is awesome, but again, it's a very different. Is there a kind of selection process that you bring people together? Because obviously there's a bit of a risk that somebody suddenly finds out he's not an outdoor person. How does that work? 

Doni Belau: You know, good question. Um, so we have, we, Basically, talk to almost every single person before they sign up.

Doni Belau: We have a wonderful, um, group of ladies that are in our sales department. And, you know, I think department is kind of silly because we have probably about eight or nine people on our team. Uh, but we really want to, um, talk to you to make sure the trip is right for you. Um, it oftentimes that is as simple as, um, You know, how much walking is involved because a lot of our ladies, not all of them, but a lot of them are over 50.

Doni Belau: And then, you know, sometimes if you're 77, you know, might may not maybe climbing up a hill is not so easy for you. So we talk about that. And then also, just to make sure that they are going to fit into a group. We do have sort of a personal acknowledgement form that people fill out. So the idea is that everybody's on board with.

Doni Belau: The idea of connecting with others and and being kind of bringing their best self each day. Um, so we don't, we also say, you know, uh, basically the things that, um, you know, will that work if you, if you, you know, if you basically if someone's and you've, we've all met this, this kind of person. If somebody is just really negative, um, that can be a downer for a group.

Doni Belau: So we encourage and actually. We demand, really, that everybody come with an open mind. And an open heart. So and a positive attitude because travel. I think there's a misconception. A lot of us think, and I know I did thought this for years. Oh, we're going to go on this trip and everything's just going to be perfect.

Doni Belau: You know, so we do have a pre trip call about 2 months before the trip. So everybody gets to know each other a little bit on that call that we talked about, um, you know, all the to do's and and so forth, but, um, on that call, we also. Talk about how you, have you ever had a week in your life where the weather was perfect every minute of the day?

Doni Belau: Every single meal was just the best you've ever had. You know, everything was easy. Everything was on time. No, you know, travel is a microcosm of real life and real life stuff happens. So that's why we really need everybody to cooperate in terms of just bringing their best selves. And that's when we all have the best possible time, uh, is when everybody is happy.

Doni Belau: Is there an up for the challenge of having fun, but rolling with some of the punches because things happen on every trip, you know, it's just normal. 

Claus Lauter: I think it's very important that you mentioned that. And when people ask me, it's like, what's your best country? And it was like, every country, every place as the nation has the good, the bad, the ugly.

Claus Lauter: And then you have your own day where the good, the bad, the ugly happens. And I think not highlighting it, but the bad stories are always the ones that you remember the best because they just stick. If everything's always perfect all the time, then it's just a blur. Not saying that things should be bad, but.

Claus Lauter: Again, it's a bit of an up and down on that. That's what it is. Now, you do not just sightseeing, you do cultural immersion, you do culinary tours, you dive into foods, there's wellness in there. Talk me to a typical, or if there's something like that, a day in the trip, how does, how could that possibly look like?

Doni Belau: Right. Well, you know, each trip is different. It really is. I like to bring a framework to the trip to the experience. So, uh, but there are cornerstones. So corner, you know, sort of guiding, um, principles, if you will, for the, for our brand, for what we're all about. So, though, those simple, um, Guiding structures are you never, um, you never have to share your room.

Doni Belau: Uh, you will have your own private room with bath. Um, and it's, uh, it seems kind of a silly thing to say, but a lot of women only travel kind of. Somehow we assume that, you know, because we're ladies, we all want a room together. Well, most people don't. Like, after 25, you want your own room. Even if you're coming with your sister, you need some quiet time on your own.

Doni Belau: So, um, that's how we structure the price. Um, we stay in four and five star hotels, so it's a fairly upscale experience. Um, in most cases, we are trying to develop a little bit. More affordable, if you will, uh, what we're calling, um, local, basically local tours. Um, but, uh, in general, um, we also include wine, uh, with dinner.

Doni Belau: So that's also a kind of a standout thing. Um, and then keep these groups small. So that's why they're, at the beginning, if you look at the website, you'll see they're more expensive than a lot of other trips, because you have this, uh, Very personalized, highly curated experience with your own room and so forth.

Doni Belau: Uh, but now everything diverges after that. So I have retreats on there. We're doing a really cool retreat in Hawaii, um, that centered around a woman I met who does sound healing, uh, with a partner. And then we're really soaking in the real Hawaii, which is a You know, we're making ways and we're learning, um, about, uh, some ancient myths and traditions where, uh, you know, you're doing basically trying to turn what can be a bit of, uh, I don't want to even say it, uh, kind of So if you're in Hawaii and you're in a total tourist trap, you can get really lost, I think, in Hawaii and not see Hawaii, not really soak in Hawaii, by just going to a big resort, all, you know, everything included.

Doni Belau: So we're, we're, we do something like that. Um, then, um, I'm doing another trip that is Budapest, uh, Vienna and Prague this, this, um, fall. And the idea was to see those three country, three countries and three cities via train. Uh, but the other framework was, let's, let's think about, um, the architecture and, and the Hapsburg period, and, um, the Art Deco and Art Nouveau that you see in all three of those great cities.

Doni Belau: Um, so I, I like to create some kind of framework. Uh, we do a, a trip to Paris that's about Paris artists and authors. Um, because what we don't want to do is go to a place like Paris, for example, which we've all had our fill of, um, and it's been delightful during the Olympics, but we, um, you know, I don't want to just go there and check off the 10, 000 people.

Doni Belau: You know, top tour destinations that everybody else does, because, you know, you could do that yourself, but that does not require, um, the kind of effort and, and curation, I guess, that, that we, we like, uh, to give to each one of our trips. We also like, uh, particularly when we're in a developing country or a more, uh, say exotic location, we really want to meet with women in those places to see what life is like for women.

Doni Belau: Um, as an example, in Marrakesh, we go to Morocco, we do two trips to Morocco every year, and we meet with a lady who started a not for profit, has lunch with her. In, uh, Marrakesh, she started, um, uh, basically a restaurant where she trains women who are divorced mothers. They get shunned in society there if they're divorced, so that they have lost all their power and ability to make money and, you know, anything.

Doni Belau: So she trains them, um, to be, you know, chefs, uh, be waiters or waitresses, um, you know, to be front of house, back of house in a restaurant and they all get jobs. This, this kind of thing, not only do you get to learn, um, some of the cultural, um, situations that women are in, in different countries, but also to give back.

Doni Belau: You know, we, um, donate, of course, to that organization, and then people were often moved where we ended up sponsoring a lady for, for the whole year, um, so we, we're trying to go a bit deeper rather than, yes, we're going to go see the Medina, we're going to see the and, and shop at the bazaar and all that, but.

Doni Belau: What else can we do to really learn, uh, what, what the life is like there, particularly for the women. 

Claus Lauter: Yeah, I love the approach that makes you at the end of the day, that makes you a traveler and not a tourist and somebody who really dives into the environment that you're in there. I can imagine you have a lot of returning customers, clients, um, and a long waiting list when people are interested in such a tour and joining a group for such an adventure.

Claus Lauter: Um, what's kind of. Timeline do they need to plan to to get on board with you guys 

Doni Belau: really depends again on the trip? Um, there's certain trips that sell out. Um, we we um, you know, way ahead and other trips that that are, you know Two and a half months away and you can still get the last seat. Um People, you know, we have um a wonderful group a wonderful community of people who've taken You know, two three four five and six trips with us.

Doni Belau: Um signing up for two or more trips a year You They'll often meet people on a trip and then say, Hey, let's go on this trip together. And, and, and other times they'll go make their own trip and have nothing to do with this, which I really, um, love to hear about. And they'll visit each other. Uh, but yeah, you know, um, still have a couple of trips that are not sold out for this year.

Doni Belau: Um, but we've got, we're going to have 65 trips next year and there's Most of them, we've got probably 20 still to get up, but what we do now is we put up a trip, even if it's not completely ready, we'll say, reserve your spot, that's refundable, and then once the trip is published, you know, we go back to those people, and that happened, um, Recently, we have an art and artisan trip to Japan, where we focus, uh, we go to Kyoto, and then we go to the Art Islands, and really focus not only on the art in the Art Islands, which, that's just one of the most interesting places in the world to see modern art, but of course the artisanship, um, uh, the classic, um, and that you find all over Japan, but particularly in Kyoto.

Doni Belau: So that one sold out before it was even published. Uh, so it depends on the trip. Amalfi is probably our most popular trip. We also have a fall in love with Paris for the first time, so what I call Paris version. The Paris Virgin's trip, um, that, that sells out always, uh, way in advance, but, you know, each year we're offering a whole bunch of new destinations, um, so it, it's anybody's guess, uh, on each one, really, and I, I just say, you know, it's just like anything, if you're, you're shopping, you see a great looking shirt, you know, buy it, because you never know if you're going to be able to get back.

Doni Belau: Uh, to that same place and time. So, you know, it's usually best to sign up as early as you can. Uh, but, uh, there's still, there's still trips to available. We, you can, I think there's a, another spot on, uh, the Chile trip. Uh, so, yeah, uh, encourage people to do that. Okay. 

Claus Lauter: Very interesting concept. Before we come to the end of our coffee break chat today, is there anything you want to share with our listeners that we haven't touched on?

Doni Belau: Yeah, I would like to invite people to our private Facebook groups. So, um, about, uh, I don't know, maybe four or five months ago, I thought I decided it would be nice to have a space for people to meet and talk, um, about travel as women and to cheer each other on. So, in that space, it's called the The Girls Guide Traveling Sisterhood.

Doni Belau: We don't do any advertising. We don't talk about our trips. And of course, you know, on our Instagram page, and on our newsletter, and our Facebook, and our website, of course, it's all about those trips and what they mean to us, and, and the reviews, and all that kind of stuff. But, this is a space, Uh, which people are joining at a really fast clip.

Doni Belau: It's one of the few areas of Facebook that's growing are these private groups, but it's a it's a safe space that people can kind of talk about what they're worried about or what they're excited about and then cheer each other on. And that might be coming on a trip with us, or that might be going solo to visit you in Cyprus or, you know, going to visit their sister.

Doni Belau: And they've never gone by themselves anywhere before, whatever it is. We're there to say, yeah, you go girl, you know where we got your back. We believe in you. And even if you're scared, do it anyway. 

Claus Lauter: Yeah. I think the Most difficult step. Now, there's this old saying, the first step is the most difficult when you go on a journey and having other travelers who have done it.

Claus Lauter: I don't think there's any community who is more empowering to get other people on the road and having the same experience like travelers. I'm not talking about tourists. Tourists have a place there, but traveler is just a different level. Where can people find out more about you? 

Doni Belau: If they go to Girls Guide to the World.

Doni Belau: So it's TO the world, not uh, the number. So girls Guide to the world.com has everything there. Uh, you will find our, our Pin, um, our Pinterest, our Facebook page, and our our Instagram there. Um, those, and if you maybe wanna put it in your show notes, just 'cause it's a different, um, it's a different chat. Um.

Doni Belau: handle, I should say. So it's GG2, the number two, the world on, on Facebook and, and, uh, Instagram. And then you, if you go to our contact page on our Girls Guide to the World dot com website. On the contact page is an invitation to join that traveling sisterhood on Facebook. So as long as you answer the few questions that we have and agree to the rules, you will be welcomed in with with claps and, you know, cheers.

Doni Belau: And we'd love to have you part of that. If you travel with us right now, we're there to encourage you, you know, at some point in the future, um, to get out there, because it really is such an empowering and learning experience to, to travel the world, even if, you know, it's your first time going to Europe or your first time going to South America.

Doni Belau: It is, uh, an eye opening, um, invigorating, empowering experience that is proven now to extend your life. It's so powerful. So good for you. It's actually an investment in yourself. 

Claus Lauter: I couldn't agree more. Every trip, even me after almost 70 countries, every trip changes you and hopefully makes you a better person.

Claus Lauter: Doni, thanks so much for your time today. I think that was a really good insight there. And I think it's a awesome program that you have there. And I hope a lot of people will check it out. I will put the links in the show notes and then you're just one click away. Thanks so much for your time today.

Doni Belau: Thank you so much, Claus. It was such a pleasure to be with you. I appreciate it. 

Claus Lauter: Hey, Claus here. Before you leave, I have a question. Are you a traveler? Do you have a favorite travel destination or favorite travel experiences that you would like to share with the world? Then become a guest on the Why We Travel podcast.

Claus Lauter: Simply message me and I will get you all the details for becoming an interview guest. And then we take it from there. That's it for now. I'll see you in the next episode and have a great day.