Group Travel Etiquette
Just as different cultures have different expectations, group travel has its own set of rules people have to follow. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling with someone you know or with complete strangers. These rules will help you avoid friction with your travel partners whether it’s a group of ten or less.
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be able to learn how group travel works and what is the proper guideline to traveling with a group.
Be polite and friendly
When meeting the rest of the group for the first time physically, smile. Make eye contact. Shake hands or give hugs (if that matches the mood) and introduce yourself. Meeting strangers you'd spend the next couple hours with can be pretty intense for some people but you can ease up, make light jokes but don’t go overboard with it and just be yourself. Have a positive attitude. Offer to help with things were necessary but don’t insist. Complaining, griping or whining is not a good strategy to make your vacation better. In fact, it’s better to keep a cheerful attitude to defuse any tension. Rely on your tour leaders to mitigate conflicts, even potential ones.
Be time conscious
Familiarize yourself with the day’s itinerary. The time to meet for breakfast or go out as a group. Don’t take so much time prepping in your room at the expense of other people’s time. Be punctual and apologize when you fall behind time.
Stay organized
Nobody wants to put their vacation on hold to go in search of a lost travel partner. For security reasons, don’t wander far away from the group. If you must disengage from the group, inform your tour guide of your reason and whereabouts. When you’re sharing a room with someone else, cleanliness is a priority at all cost. Changing your clothes often, showering at least once a day, brushing your teeth, and washing your hands regularly are very basic and important things to do.
Have your essential items with you
Don’t forget your important personal items that you have to go around borrowing. Never make it your someone else’s problem to keep you clean and smelling fresh. A day of borrowing is okay, but five days of using somebody else’s shampoo can bring flare-ups among the group. Next, never use somebody else’s property without their consent, however small these items are. If they do end up letting you borrow their stuff, return it in the exact condition as you borrowed it
One overall travel etiquette you should follow is the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Be gracious, courteous, thankful, respectful and kind. With the right attitude, you can meet as strangers and leave as friends.
Thank you for reading. To learn more about our upcoming tours, click here.
