Back in May, I wrote a quick piece on my website detailing the pros and cons of traveling alone. And while I certainly wasn’t wrong to discuss the benefits of traveling alone–there certainly are quite a few, and it’s something I’d largely advise that everyone does at least once in their life– there are equal benefits to traveling in groups.
However just as traveling solo is very different from traveling with a friend or spouse, large group travel comes with an entirely different set of tips and recommendations. Here are just a few.
Know Your Co-Travelers
Have you ever heard the advice that you shouldn’t live with your best friend? Essentially, the idea that two people–even two people who are close with one another–can go crazy when living in the same place for an extended period.
Take this into account when you’re planning out a group vacation. While I’d never tell you not to travel with your best friends (they’re often some of the best people to travel with), know who you’re planning to spend a week or more with and make sure you’ll be compatible. Nothing can ruin a vacation like a fight amongst travelers.
Know How You’re Splitting Costs
Is everyone flying at the same time on the same airline in the same class? If you’re driving, is the driver being compensated? How are you splitting gas costs? How are you splitting bills when you go to restaurants, or hotel accommodations? If you’re rolling a cot into a hotel room, are the sleeping arrangements rotating, or is the person stuck with the cot all trip? Do some people carry cash but others only carry cards?
These are just some of the things that will inevitably come up during the trip. The further in advance that you’re able to determine how splitting and payments will go, the better. Avoiding tension is paramount to enjoying your vacation.
Communicate and Plan it Out
Communication is a huge part of planning out any vacation. Inevitably not everyone will want to do the same things at the same times, eat at the same restaurants or go to bed at the same time. Planning and fully transparent conversations about how you’ll handle the agenda for the trip can help avoid any of this coming back to bite you.
Do Some Stuff on Your Own
Sometimes you just need a break from others. Spending almost all of your time with the same group of 6-10 people for a week (or more) can be exhausting. As I mentioned above, even very close friends can wind up in strife spending too much time together.
Plan a least one or two activities throughout the trip that you can do on your own–perhaps things that only you enjoy–to “get away” while you’re on your getaway.