Tips For Group Harmony on Long Trips
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It sounds so great when you’re at home. Sitting in the living room or at the computer, making plans about what you’ll see or eat or do, with some of your best friends. And how fantastic that there’s a big group of you going, so you get discounts everywhere and all get to enjoy the great experience of traveling together. And then you hit the road.
Even the best of friends have troubles when they travel together, and a larger group doesn’t necessarily make this easier - it could even be worse. The group might be harmonious for a weekend away together, but if you’re doing any significant traveling, perhaps a week or two-week excursion to multiple destinations, things can get heated, or at least tricky. Here are a few things to think about before and during a group trip.
- Variety is the spice of a group trip. Don’t room with the same person every night. You might think you’re on a winner and want to stick with a particular friend; that’s fine, but it might mean somebody else spends every night with the snorer. Spread the joy and the pain around.
- Splitting up doesn’t mean breaking up. People are all different, even if you’re all college-aged guys from the same football team or you’re all forty-something women who work at the same company. Don’t expect everybody to like the same things that you do. Splitting up into some sub-groups to go sightseeing or out to dinner is not a bad thing. And it gives you something new to tell the others about when you do all meet up again.
- Even group travelers need alone time. Some people are pretty good at having others around them 24/7, but most of us do need a little bit of private space. If someone says they want to sit out an activity, don’t hassle them or make them feel bad for not coming. It’s probably just their way of gaining that bit of alone time that they’ll go insane without.
- Remember, life back home will go on. If you get into a conflict with a group member, try not to blow your cool. Things can get heated and seem like the end of the world while you’re all in a tight-knit group on a trip, but in a few days or weeks when you’re back home again, it won’t seem so bad. Don’t mess up a perfectly good friendship simply as a result of travel stress.
- Have fun! Group travel really is a great idea: you and your friends, teammates or colleagues will be sharing these memories for many years to come. Take funny photos, buy each other odd souvenirs and try things you’ve never tried before.
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