I typically travel a lot independently and really do enjoy it, but it is a big hassle having to plan the entire trip. Because of this hassle, I’ve been looking more and more into tours.
I have done private tours in the past, and I really liked not having to lift a finger when it comes to planning and the flexibility of having a private guide. The only issue that I had with private tours was that there was no real buffer between you and the guide. Not that it’s necessarily an issue, but it would be nice to chat with different people throughout the trip. That’s why I have recently been considering group tours, but I don’t have much experience with them. I’m a little worried about the rigidity of the schedule and being stuck with some personalities I might not get on with… Maybe these concerns aren’t valid, but I would love to hear from people who have more experience with both group and private tours and some pros and cons for both!
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It sounds like you are open to meeting new people and might enjoy a group tour! I get that the schedules can seem a bit hectic for some tours…but there are also a lot of options that build in that free time that you are looking for 
, or that have a slower pace. There are also partially guided tours, where you are on your own for the evenings, etc, but you join day tours with different groups. This could be good too, although it’s harder to make long-lasting connections when the groups change every day, so it depends on what you prefer!
Where are you looking to travel to? I think that, depending on the destination, you will find plenty of good group tour options that will also allow for some time on your own though!
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Totally agree. I used to plan a lot of my own stuff when I had time, but working full time I really don’t have that anymore so I naturally ended up on more group tours. There will definitely be people that you may not get along with but even with 10 people there will be someone you’ll end up getting along with. It’s also not forever, and as @bagelabroad said, there’s often a lot of built in free time where you can do your own thing.
Plus, look at the positive not the negatives, some people have met their true love on group tours!
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A great in between option might be a partially guided tour.
I went on this one in Indonesia Best of Bali & Komodo Escape by Vio Travel with 3 Tour Reviews (Code: 7417245) - TourRadar which is the best of both worlds!
There are quite a lot of these types of options in many different countries. We got private pickups and some private day tours, but also joined group tours for some experiences like Komodo Island and Mt Batur so you can still meet and chat with other travellers but you aren’t with them throughout!
That being said, I have been on several group tours and had the same concern as you to start with but I actually found it really fun going on an adventure together with new people! There might be people who are more your cup of tea than others, but you usually get plenty of free time in the evening or different parts of the day to do your own thing. Afterall, you all chose the same tour on the same date so already have a lot in common! Go for it!
I agree with the points here.
I love a group tour for a few reasons. First is you meet lots of new people. Plus it’s great having itinerary sorted for you and the benefit of travelling with others is you share the cost of guides/buses etc so you end up saving a bit of money compared to private trips, or dealing with the hassle of organising it all on your own
I do prefer a partially guided tour though, with some time as a group with some planned excursions, but then more time to wander and do what you like. If you like the group, then great, you have some people to hang out with in free time. And if you don’t gel with the group then you get some respite 
I’ve done both types of tours. I prefer solo ones. It could also be my age- I’m 54, and I prefer to be on “my time “. I like picking a few cities in one country, and then I add small groups tours each day. I may have one day which I leave open. I’m also an introvert, so being around people all the time is too much for me:)
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