How to Survive a Group Vacation (Part One)

The idea of a summer vacation to a foreign country as a member of a travel group was an exciting idea for me when I decided to take a trip to Ireland in July 2014. I made the decision after I consulted with my husband because this trip was a solo excursion for me. We agreed the idea was too good to pass up because our tour organizer Robert was a family friend and originally from Ireland, so I had an opportunity to visit his home country with somebody who had inside access to the Irish culture.

The dynamics of my vacation were different because I had rarely travelled without my husband or children on major vacations before my trip to Ireland, so I had to formulate a game plan before I left Canada. My experience with international travel provided me with a few of the points on my checklist, while the group travel experience was something I had encountered before on a vacation to Scotland with my daughter. The difference was the amount of time my fellow travellers and I would spend together, so I compiled my experiences into a travel article.

Some of my points are based upon health issues and others are simply tips about how to travel well in a group situation. Our group was composed of people over 40 and beyond so we shared a similar philosophy because of our ages which were well beyond the hard party stages in our lives. The age dynamics worked well within our group and so did the number of people (18 of us; 20 would have been maximum number) which was an ideal number according to Sean, our very experienced tour guide.

A FEW TRAVEL POINTERS

The best way to prepare for a group vacation that includes a long flight across an ocean is to figure out a few practical methods to ensure a basic level of health and well-being. I am not on any form of medication, but my Registered Nurse side kicked in and I wondered about many of my fellow travellers, given the mature age group on our excursion.

I wondered about prescriptions and how they should be dispensed when the person will cross many time zones and will arrive at their destination with a completely different day/night program ahead of them. My advice to long distance travellers is to consult with their physician or pharmacist to figure out the best plan for their medication protocol while on vacation.

Airplane travel also creates a few sanitation concerns because many people have to share a confined cabin space for many hours and some issues may arise on the plane. I suggest that travellers bring along a hand sanitizer to handle the situation as it applies to food trays, TV controls, pre and post meal hygiene, as well as post-bathroom visits.

Hotels are also a place where certain precautions may be advisable for travellers. I recommend the removal of bed coverlets because they may not be cleaned as regularly as the linen and may contain a few sanitation concerns. I would also advise hotel guests to use a sanitizing wipe on phones and any other public use devices in the room. The TV remote is also a public item and I would recommend placing it in a zip-lock bag for use.

The drinking glasses may also be a concern because they may not have been cleaned in a commercial dishwasher, so I would suggest that a guest take time to rinse them in very hot tap water before use. My final bit of advice is to wear slippers or flip flops in the room to avoid contact with the carpet or floor.

A hotel room will have many guests in the course of a year and these people bring a wide array of hygiene and health issues to that room. I believe a little caution is a prudent measure to avoid health problems on a vacation.

PART TWO: THE PEOPLE EQUATION ON A GROUP VACATION

The most likely situation found in any group excursion is one where people do not know all of the other people on the trip. Our organizer Robert was the common denominator for almost all of the people on our trip and he was able to facilitate introductions based upon his relationships with us. In short, Robert was an ice-breaker and played a vital role in the group dynamics.

The first issue on a group excursion is to pick somebody who best fits your own personality and interests because most excursions will require double occupancy in rooms. Our trip took place in a foreign country and required bus travel, so you will spend a lot of time with your temporary roommate, as well as the rest of the group in close quarters.

The best method is to establish good communication right off the bat with your roommate. Issues like bed choices and shower times need to be discussed so both people can enjoy access to their daily routines. Who wants the bed closest to the window and when do you want to use the shower are basic questions that need to be asked early in the trip. Other issues like sleep habits need to be addressed to find common ground.

The idea of a day plan should also be discussed so both people are comfortable with their personal options for the next day.

Some unavoidable issues such as snoring may arise during the trip and a discussion may be necessary to discover whether a simple solution like turning over is enough, or if the best way to alleviate the problem is ear plugs or white noise machines.

The most important part of the equation is communication, so address any concerns right away before you let something become an entirely different issue.

The next issue is group dynamics and it is a good idea to suggest each person has the freedom to choose not to do the same thing as everyone else on the trip. The excursion will include planned tour events, but you still have choices like taking a bath or walking on your own at a tourist site. A group excursion should never feel like everyone is joined at the hip and it is important to keep your own space on them.

We all energize in different ways. Some people energize in groups while others energize with alone time. Often couples have these differences and become cognizant of what they require as an individual, so apply these same principles to the group dynamic.

A leader is always required in group travel and our trip had Robert (our organizer) as the primary “go-to” person while tour guide and bus driver Sean was also a “go-to” person for our group. An organizer like Robert gave our group a great opportunity to come together in a positive way because he was familiar enough with our personalities to figure out the chemistry in our group. He correctly picked a group with great chemistry, in my opinion, and his choices made our group trip a success.

Robert also communicated with the group prior to our trip and discussed which elements of the excursion were most important to us. He was also able to establish solid boundaries of realistic expectations with good communication.

I have read a cautionary message that states: ”Don’t ever travel with someone you didn’t know beforehand” and I disagree with this notion. Robert was our group’s “glue” and knew everyone except my cousin Nellie. He trusted my endorsement of Nellie and she is an upbeat, funny and positive person who fitted in very well with the group. Robert was our common denominator and he bridged the gap between former strangers on our trip.

PART THREE: THE SECRETS TO A GREAT GROUP VACATION

A group of people who just met and will share a vacation together in a foreign country need to adjust to the group dynamic and our tour group were able to accomplish this essential step. As I mentioned, we were a group, but it was important for all of us to make personal choices on the trip and we had enough flexibility in our daily schedule to break away from the group philosophy along the way.

I like to research destinations before I take a trip, but this time I decided to simply enjoy the journey. I believed somebody in the group would cover the research and that person turned out to be my schoolteacher cousin who brought a binder full of information with her. It was a wonderful bonus for all of us on the trip.

Another angle was the seasoned travellers in our group, including a couple who were on their third tour of Ireland. They were upbeat and positive people who were a great asset to us because they provided helpful advice from first-hand experience about Ireland to us. Initially I wondered whether there would be a clash between first time and seasoned travellers because of different expectations, but I was very happy with our experience.

The needs and interests of 18 people required a few adjustments because some people had mobility issues while others were super high energy types and the trip gave them many opportunities to pursue more rigorous activities. Others wanted to pursue photograph opportunities in picturesque Ireland and we were able to adjust our schedule to meet their needs. The biggest asset is flexibility in a group dynamic.

I decided to test my personal boundaries on the trip when I decided to make a steep climb and defy my fear of heights. Two of my fellow travellers encouraged me to fight my fear and lean on them for both physical and emotional support along the way. Jan and Shannon held my hand or shoulders whenever my anxiety began to rise and I was able to climb not one-but two- of these steep ascents. This memory will stay with me forever and I can thank these two wonderful travel companions for this life moment. I would recommend stepping out of your comfort zone while on vacation because you will find personal accomplishment in your adventure.

Search for spontaneity on a group vacation. Three of us had an unplanned afternoon on a covered patio at a bistro on a side street where the weather was good and the laughter was endless. Talk about a boost to the immune system, along with another wonderful memory of our trip.

One of the unplanned moments had a little different dynamic because the protocol for buying rounds of drinks was not entirely clear at the time. Most people live within a budget on a trip and need to plan their expenditures along the way, so an unforeseen expense can be an uncomfortable surprise. The best way to deal with these matters is good communication before the event to ensure people can make an informed decision.

I like the term “compassionate honesty” when it comes to these types of situations where issues involve money decisions and it worked well on one occasion during our excursion because people spoke honestly and without judgment. It is good to have a plan in case of a dispute but thankfully our group did not have a dispute.

One of the choices I made during the trip was limited contact which, for me, meant a phone break with no calls or texts. I limited contact to my business email and was able to address an issue with a new client via this route. I did keep contact with my family because most places had wi-fi access and I was able to email and FaceTime or Skype with them.

People will make their own choices for communication access during a vacation, but should ensure their access can be facilitated by their communication provider before they leave the country. Otherwise the process may be more complicated for them in a foreign country.

CONCLUSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

I was excited and a little nervous when I decided to take a group excursion without my immediate family on the trip. However my cousin Nellie gave me a comfortable family dynamic and my friendship with Robert made me confident he would surround himself with good travel companions on our trip.

I was right about Nellie and Robert because we had a great group of people who were able to travel and share a mutual fond memory on the trip of a lifetime. I was happy to see how a group of people could adjust to new situations on a daily basis and I thank them for this wonderful opportunity to explore new experiences as part of the group.