Mel Greig: Rules for keeping the peace on a group holiday

Many of us are about to embark on Christmas Holidays, some with their partners, others with the full family but what about the mix-matched group that are holidaying together for the first time?

That’s currently the holiday I’m on, it’s a group of friends from all walks of life thrown together including a couple and two single sisters. It’s already one of the greatest holidays of my life – we have nailed this group dynamic.

How did we do it? Well, I’ve come up with 5 top rules for every group holiday to make sure you don’t end up hating each-others guts or end your relationship by the end of it.

If it’s a planned group holiday, look at the dynamic of everyone

Will this person get along with this person? Will everyone here find it funny if someone (me) strips off and goes for a late-night nude swim?

You need to pick people for a group holiday that have a similar sense of humour because laughter is the easiest way to overcome any awkward moments and to keep the banter flowing.

And if someone is going to be offended by a bare pair of boobs, it might be best to leave them at home.

Pick space over location if you’re all staying in the one house

Space is so important because you need a few different zones to escape too, if you’re all on top of each other there are too many elements that could rub someone the wrong way.

Dirty bathrooms, the heat or listening to someone have sexy time when you might not be partaking in the same activity are just some things that could cause tension.

Get space instead of a place on the main street, a 10min walk also doubles up as accidental exercise.

Don’t invite tight asses

There is nothing more annoying than someone refusing to go to a certain place to eat because they are living off a $10 a day budget (slight exaggeration but they’ll likely end up mentioning every 5 minutes).

You don’t want that person that then analyses the bill and says, “I only ate 5 hot chips so I’ll put $1 towards that and I also only had one wine when Mel had 2 wines,” just split the bloody bill and know that it all balances out.

Don’t be the group whinger

No one wants a negative Nancy on their holiday and if you’re travelling to a third world country there will be teething problems.

Your toilet might not flush all the time, the streets might not be as clean as we have in Australia, it’s hot, your legs are rubbing together – we are all feeling and seeing it, but you don’t need to complain about it every 10mins.

Look at the positives and enjoy the fact that you’re blessed enough to be away on a holiday.

Keep the communication open and honest

Don’t let things fester, put some house rules in place from the start. If there are things, you’re adamant of seeing and doing, invite the group but also let them know you’re planning to do it no matter what.

Don’t start doing your own activities without inviting other people in the group, alone time is good but remember, you are on a group holiday for a reason . . . there might be a single traveller that will start to feel left out.

Most importantly, forget what you think you know and want to do on holidays. If someone suggests something completely random why not try it? Holidays should be about getting out of your comfort zone and trying things for the first time. Create memories and if something doesn’t go to plan, laugh about it and share that story.

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