The grossest things you can do on a group trip

Group trips are a great opportunity to explore a new place while bonding with old and new friends. But with so many different personalities in play, tense moments can arise from time to time.

Still, there are ways to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone. As etiquette experts know, it mostly comes down to being considerate of your fellow travelers.

“Etiquette is about being considerate of others, and group travel is no exception,” Nick Leighton, etiquette expert and co-host of The “Were you raised by wolves? podcasttold HuffPost.

To help make group travel more enjoyable and reduce negative experiences, HuffPost asked Leighton and other etiquette experts to share some common faux pas — and tips for avoiding them. Here are six rude behaviors to avoid on a group trip:

“Etiquette crimes often happen when expectations are vague and people make assumptions, so it’s best to have lots of clear communication before and during the trip to make sure everyone is on the same page. wavelength,” Leighton said.

Rather than booking lots of things yourself or declaring where everyone will be going and what they will be doing, have a candid conversation with your fellow travelers about wants and needs. Make sure you know everyone’s dietary restrictions and driving abilities, eg.

“Don’t assume everyone likes the same thing and make decisions for the band without consulting the band,” says etiquette expert Juliet Mitchell, also known as Ms J.

This is especially important when it comes to expenses. Have an honest discussion about how much people can spend on accommodations, then use that to decide on a destination and type of accommodation.

“You can find out about budgets ahead of time, or you can put together a general travel itinerary with costs and ask for feedback,” said Jodi RR Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “Don’t assume someone’s budget. Someone who generally has money may be frugal right now or someone who lives frugally may do so specifically to have the funds for a fabulous vacation.

“When friends stay at a rental, each should respect the privacy of the other,” said Diane Gottsmanan etiquette expert, author of “Modern etiquette for a better life” and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. “You don’t have to spend all your time together. If you’re friends, you’ll notice if they’re tired or if they’ve had enough “friend time,” and it’s important to give them their personal time and space. »

Be respectful of your fellow travelers’ comfort level around friendliness, especially your introverted friends. Again, don’t assume everyone is on the exact same page.

“Not everyone wants or needs to be together 24/7,” Smith echoed. “Too much time together is a sure way to ruin a group vacation.”

She recommended using the pre-trip planning process to figure out what activities people want to do as a group and schedule downtime for those who want to. In the interest of respecting people’s boundaries, also do not borrow clothing or other items without permission.

“When you’re traveling to a friend’s house, with your friends, don’t expect the host to treat you like you’re staying at a hotel,” Gottsman advised. “Rent your own car if arriving by plane or carpool unless they offer to pick you up. Offer to do your own laundry.

Even if you’re not staying at a friend’s house, it’s still important to clean up after yourself when sharing a space with others. And be sure to step up and do your part in the division of labor.

“If you’re renting a vacation home, you’ll need to discuss the logistics of meal planning,” Smith said. “Are you still eating there? Or outside? Will there need to be a grocery run? Meal preparation, cooking and cleaning should be delegated well in advance.

Decisions that affect everyone should be made in consultation with your group. So remember to have a conversation before inviting someone else to join you for all or part of the trip.

“There should be agreement on the others,” Smith said. “Is there anyone else who could join you?” From close relatives to a cutie your friend met at a bar, chat about whether other people will be allowed to join the group.

“Group travel is a team effort, so there’s always a need to find consensus and compromise,” Leighton said.

Remember during the trip and the planning process that there are likely to be trade-offs, whether it’s choosing a time for dinner or sitting in the front seat of the car.

“Also understand that there are ways to provide choice when you travel,” Smith said. “You don’t always have to travel together to the destination. Instead, decide that the vacation begins when you check into the hotel. Then one person can fly first class non-stop and the other can opt for a layover flight which saves them a lot of money.

People can spend different durations at their destination, so if there’s more you want to do that hasn’t been listed on the itinerary, consider getting home a day or two later and tackling it during your solo time at the end.

“You can all arrive for the long weekend and then you can extend your stay if you wish,” Smith explained. “Be open and flexible in your thinking to find a solution that will work for everyone.”

And try to be respectful of other people’s activity preferences, especially if they’ve done some planning or heavy lifting.

“Put on a happy face,” Mitchell said. “No whining. You may not like everything, but appreciate the effort that goes into the food, location, activity, etc.

Don’t leave people hanging when it comes to payment. Make sure the group has a system for sharing costs and collecting money.

“During the preventative conversation, in addition to the general budget, you should discuss the planner coordinator for the group,” Smith said. “Before the planner books anything, an email should be sent with the estimated costs and everyone should agree in the affirmative. If possible, try to get everyone to pay their own share instead of the planner also having to play banker otherwise everyone would have to contribute upfront to the banker and then all costs settled at the end of the holiday.

Once an agreed budget and payment system is in place, you have an obligation to stick to it.

“If you agree to cost-share, be prepared to share as agreed,” Mitchell said. “And it’s rude not to bring enough money and expect others to ‘match’ you until you get your next paycheck.”

In the event of a financial problem, have a frank conversation with your fellow travelers. Don’t be presumptuous about what others are able to cover for you.