Road Scholar vs. Overseas Adventure Travel: Which is Better?
The key difference between Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel is that Road Travel is more affordable than Overseas Adventure Travel. Additionally, it prioritizes education, while Overseas Adventure Travel caters to adventure and exploration. They are also contrasting in terms of destinations, activities, and group size.
However, if you are planning your next trip, you must face this question: Road Scholar vs. Overseas Adventure Travel: Which is Better? To make it clear, here’s a detailed breakdown of this question. Hope you will be with us till the end.
Overview of the Road Scholar
Road Scholar has been a non-profit travel organization since 1975. It provides 5,500 educational tours across 150 countries around the globe. The company offers in-depth learning opportunities via different tours. They may include cultural experiences, study tours, workshops, and activities like walking and biking.
This company also offers a number of domestic and international destinations. It helps travellers learn and grow throughout their lives on meaningful educational journeys.
These tours make people feel the importance of living life to the fullest at every age by experiencing the world around them.
Road Scholar allows us to meet new people, visit historical places, and explore various cultures and landscapes.
The most interesting thing about this organization is that their trips take place both on land and at sea. About 2,000 guardians are traveling to new places through Road Scholar at any given time.
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Overview of Overseas Adventure Travel
Overseas Adventure Travel, also known as OAT, is a small travel agency that takes groups on adventures around the globe. This company offers tours on every continent, including 80 itineraries.
Some of their most popular destinations will include Italy, Egypt, Africa, and around the Adriatic. They usually provide the following types of tours:
- Coach
- Ship
- Rail
- Vana and
- Air
OAT also has tours that are only for women or solo travelers. They also offer multi-country and single-country tours. Therefore, the company provides various activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, cultural visits, local interactions, and wildlife viewing.
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Road Scholar vs. Overseas Adventure Travel: A Quick Comparison
There are some major differences between these two reputable travel agencies. Comparing them would be difficult, like comparing Emerald Grotto and Blue Grotto, two popular sea caves in Italy. So, let’s see the differences between Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure at a glance.
| Criteria | Road Scholar | Overseas Adventure Travel |
| Group Size | 10-24 people | Maximum 16 people |
| Destinations | Domestic and International | Typically international |
| Goal | Education and learning | Adventure and exploration |
| Demographics | Older travelers | Old travelers |
| Cost | More affordable | More costly |
| Activities | Lectures, discussions, Workshops, service opportunities | Hiking, biking, kayaking, etc. |
What Are The Differences Between Road Scholar And Overseas Adventure Travel?
We have got a quick overview of Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel. Now, let’s kick off the major differences in detail.
Experience
Road Scholar tours are more relaxed and intellectual compared to the Overseas Adventure Travel brand. These tours mainly focus on hands-on and classroom-type learning experiences. It enriches your bookish knowledge and outlook with some experiences.
Conversely, OAT tours are more adventurous and active than Road Scholar tours. They emphasize more physical exploration. These tours are the practical ways of learning and servicing.
Activities and Itineraries
In terms of activities, both Road Scholar and OAT offer completely different tasks for their travellers. Road Scholar provides lectures and discussions on a wide range of topics, such as:
- Arts and Photography
- Canadian studies and history
- American studies and history
- Cultural and fine arts
- Bicycling
- Golf
- Crafts
- Cooking and cuisine
- Home and gardens
- Health and Fitness
- Nature
- Regional studies
- Ocean cruises
- Small ship cruises
- Science and technology
- Hiking
- Winter sports
On the contrary, OAT offers activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, local interactions, cruising, and cultural visits. Besides, their itineraries include:
| Northern Europe | 15-day trip |
| Egypt | 16-day trip |
| South America | 4-day cruise trip |
| Mediterranean | 17-day cruise trip |
| Israel, Jordan & Egypt | 18-day cruise and land trip |
| China & Tibet | 22-day land trip |
| Antarctica | 14-day cruise trip |
Focus
Both Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel mainly focus on education. Still, there are some significant differences between their goals. RS emphasizes educational experiences with deeper learning opportunities.
On the contrary, OAT offers cultural, historical, and adventure explorations. They provide on-the-field education. Unlike Road Scholar, OAT’s educational itineraries are very similar to traditional tours.
Group Size
Another significant difference between RS and OAT is their group size. Overseas Adventure Travel typically has smaller group sizes than RS. The number of their participants is 8 to 16.
On the other hand, there are at least 10 to 24 members in Road Scholar Travels. Sometimes, Road Scholar also keeps secrets of the number of their participants. In a few trips, there can be more than 40 Road Scholars in a group.
Destinations
If we talk about destinations, Road Scholar has more variety in their destinations compared to OAT. RS offers both domestic and international destinations. They make tours from the Eastern Seaboard in the United States to Southeast Asia.
Conversely, Overseas Adventure Travel primarily focuses on international tours. Specifically, they choose places with unique adventure opportunities. For example, consider exploring the Himalayas or sailing the canals of Venice.
Cost
While comparing Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel, RS would be the more affordable way to travel. OAT is expensive due to its international tours and costly activities. The minimum price tag for an RS trip is $4,700, while each Overseas Adventure Travel tour costs up to $6,190.
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Road Scholar vs. Overseas Adventure Travel: Which One is Better to Choose?
Ultimately, choosing between Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel will depend on your personal needs and preferences. For example, if you are on a tight budget, Road Scholar can be a better fit for you. It costs less than any OAT trip.
On the contrary, if you are aware of your fitness, OAT tours will be a better choice for you. Their physical activities and exploration will keep you in good health. In other words, if you prefer education, go with a Road Scholar tour. Otherwise, Overseas Adventure Travel will be a better choice for adventurous individuals.
FAQs
Is there any better time to go for Overseas Adventure Travel tours?
Yes, there is. Their travel plans include the best time of year to go. Therefore, it’s better to check the climate conditions at the destination before booking a trip.
Is a Road Scholar trip worth the money?
Yes, it is. As we already know, Road Scholar is a nonprofit. So, they don’t charge high prices for their itineraries and offer a great overall value.
Are OAT travels for older?
The average age for OAT travelers is 50 to 70. So, we can say that OAT travel is for seniors. Sometimes, it also allows children up to 13. But the participants should be physically strong and fit as there are lots of physical activities to do.
Conclusion
Road Scholar and Overseas Adventure Travel are both well-known companies for offering enjoyable travel experiences for mature travelers. So, it’s all about Road Scholar vs. Overseas Adventure Travel. Just keep in mind that both of these organizations are very good in their ways. So, the choice is yours.
