How old is too old for a group tour?

Like a lot of young people, my first real travel experience was as part of a tour group. Yep, I was one of those late-teens/early 20s kids hanging out of a tour bus, feeling like the ultimate backpacking warrior. It wasn’t my finest hour, but it did pave the way for me to fall in love with travel, so I can’t be completely embarrassed about it. The group tour is a rite of passage for many young people and, when you’re on a budget, can be a great way to see a lot of places, quickly and cheaply. Dragging your sorry, hungover carcass around Europe stuffed into a bus with 30 other people is definitely acceptable in your early twenties. But what about when you’re older? I’m 27 now and while that’s far from old, it’s starting to get to the age of being completely out-of-place on a bus tour through Europe. Most importantly, I probably wouldn’t enjoy myself because I’m way past my party prime and want to be sound asleep in bed by 10pm… alright, fine… 9:30pm! There, I said it! So, should you say no to a group tour and how old is too old when it (...)