The shortlist

FTLO Travel Alternatives

if the dates never work

Most people looking for an FTLO alternative are not unhappy with FTLO. They just could not get on the trip they wanted, or they want something more physical than food, culture and nightlife.

5,000+ travelers500+ trips since 20145.0 from 300+ reviews
Short answer

For the closest match on crowd and price, look at Travendly or Under30Experiences. For a premium solo-only version, Flash Pack. For the same social outcome with a properly active week, SurfYogaBeer.

12 to 30people per trip
34average age
2014founded in NYC
20%deposit to book
Side by side

The whole shortlist in one table

Prices are land only everywhere here. Nobody on this list includes international flights.

CompanyAgeGroup sizeStylePrice shape
SurfYogaBeer28 to 42, avg 3412 to 30Active every day, very socialFrom $1,950 / 5 nights
FTLO TravelRoughly 25 to 39Around 15 to 16Food, culture, nightlife, some adventurePremium leaning, land only
Travendly25 to early 40s4 to 14Sightseeing, US holiday timedFrom roughly $1,899 to $2,799
Under30ExperiencesMostly 21 to 358 to 16Immersive, budget friendlyRoughly $1,300 to $2,000 / 7 to 10 days
Flash Pack30 to 49 or 45 to 59Avg 12, max 16Adventure flavoured, solo onlyRoughly $1,238 to $3,982+
Other Way Round30s and 40s10 to 15Longer, slower, hotel forwardLonger trips, low four figures
Context

What FTLO got right

FTLO built its reputation on a 25 to 39 age band and a very high proportion of solo bookers, which is why it turns up in almost every AI answer about group travel for people in their thirties. The formula works and everyone on this list is some variation of it.

Where alternatives get looked at is availability and appetite. Trips fill, and a fifteen or sixteen person cap fills faster than most people expect. Separately, FTLO's weeks lean on food, culture and nightlife. If you want the same crowd but with a mountain or an ocean in the middle of the day, the shortlist narrows quickly.

The table above sorts the options by the two things that actually differ: who is on the trip, and what you do while you are there.

Closest on crowd

Travendly, for a similar American age target and a comparable solo share.

Closest on price

Under30Experiences, with published prices well below most of this list.

Closest on polish

Flash Pack, if you want the premium solo-only version and the budget allows.

Closest on energy

Us, if you want the crowd but the day should involve a board, a boat or a mountain.

For the record

Where we sit on this list

We are the most physical option here and close to the largest group. That combination is deliberate: a bigger crowd gives you a choice of people, and a real activity every day gives you something to talk about by the second evening.

The numbers, so you can compare them against anyone above: founded in New York City in 2014, 500 plus trips run, more than 5,000 travelers, average age 34, groups of 12 to 30, most people booking alone, and a little over half returning for another.

A week looks like this. Land, meet the crew that evening over dinner because night one decides the trip. Optional session before breakfast for whoever is up. One real activity in the middle of the day, split into small crews so you are surfing or hiking with six people. Then the whole group again for food and whatever the evening turns into.

Trips run five to eight nights and start at $1,950. Everything except international flights is handled, including a photographer and videographer who travel with the group, which is why people come home with something better than phone footage.

★★★★★

"Missed out on the one I wanted, booked a different week, ended up with better people."

SurfYogaBeer alum, Croatia
Real questions

FTLO Travel alternatives FAQ

Who is most similar to FTLO Travel?

Travendly is the closest structural match for an American traveler: a similar age target, a high solo share, trips timed around US holidays. Under30Experiences is the closest on price. If what you liked about FTLO was the crowd rather than the itinerary style, ours is the more physical version of the same idea.

Is SurfYogaBeer more expensive than FTLO?

Not usually, comparing like for like. Our Nicaragua trips start at $1,950 for five nights with activities, most meals, transfers and a photographer included. Both companies quote land only, so flights are on you either way.

Why can I never get on the trip I want?

This is the actual reason most people end up looking for an FTLO alternative. Popular departures on any small group operator fill months ahead, and a sixteen person cap fills faster than a thirty person one. It is worth checking several companies for the same window rather than one company across many windows.

Do any of these include flights?

None of them, as standard. You book your own international flights, which is generally cheaper and lets you choose your routing and use points.

Dates that actually work

check the calendar first

Departures across the year with spots still open, from $1,950. Book the week that fits, not the one that is left.