Tips for Traveling in a Group

Now that we are all pinching pennies, a lot of people are traveling together with coworkers, friends or family, or perhaps with a tour group. There are times when I enjoy charting the waters on my own and times when I welcome the kindred spirits of fellow travelers on my journeys. If you are new to this type of traveling or if you would just like to make your trips better, there are certain behaviors and attitudes that are different when traveling with a group of two or more people.

Here are some suggestions that I have taking note of in my group travels:

In order to take care of your own personal needs in this trip, make sure you are realistic and also creative about what you pack. If you know you will not get much privacy or time alone, try to make your own special moments by bringing some things that only you can enjoy, a new mystery novel, some favorite candy, a laptop computer if you can. If you were packing for a child that is always the first line of defense, you just need to rethink it for adults.

Eating is a big event when traveling with a group. If you have special needs, diabetic, vegan, gastric bypass, anything at all, by all means make them known upfront and prepare to have a way of dealing with them. It is too frustrating after everyone have been seated and has already ordered their dinner; then suddenly they hear at the end of the table "I am not sure why we are even at this steak house, because I can't eat this or that or even those . . . ."

If you keep having the thought, "I would have stopped there", or "Why can't we go into that art gallery instead", then you may want to come back to this destination again, either with a spouse or close friend who enjoys these specific things the way you do. A lot of times I do wind up re-visiting places that I have been to with a large group and at the time I couldn't check out what I wanted to. It's a good way to "scope place out first".

Remember, and I saved the hardest one for last: "it really is not just all about you", you are one person in this group. Don't be "Debbie Downer" or the "Martyr Mary". A lot of times, I think we try to label our whining as though we were just making a suggestion; but in reality we have actually just been complaining the whole trip. The problem is we don't remember or hear it the way every one else does, Ad nauseam. Whining never adds; it only subtracts attitude and air space. Keep your attitude in check.

Group trips and excursions can be very fun to share, they are economical, educational and they are also a great way to meet some new people if you care to mingle. Once you get the hang of traveling with a group, you may often times prefer it. There are people all across the globe just waiting to hop on and share the adventures with you, give it a try!