I have traveled with large groups a few times, either with family or friends. I have had many adventures, and misadventures, which has left me with many memories. The biggest trips were when I went to Italy with 70 classmates and teachers after junior year of high school and when I went away with 4 families (17 people) to the jersey shore after freshman year of high school. Both trips were incredible, and I had a great time. Here are things I realized while traveling.
1. Dinner takes FOREVER
It can take anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours to get a meal with more than eight people. Any amount of people eight or more are going to be difficult to eat with: who wants what drink, which person has a complex order, how many tables you need, and how many people have cheeseburgers. The more people you have, the longer dinner will take. Most of them time, unless you call in advance, it takes forever
2. Plan, plan, plan
No amount of planning is ever enough when going on vacation with 8+ people. But some structure is necessary. If you just go on vacation with no plans, you won’t be able to make group passes or decide what the most amount of people want to do, or the person who complains the most. Things like hotels, some meals and overarching ideas for the day. Maybe you decide to go to the beach Monday, biking and mini golfing Tuesday and to the pool Wednesday. Obviously this is not everything you will do, but its nice to have a layout so you can all do what you want, and do it together.
3. People have priorities
Every year when I go to the beach with my family, we go during my Aunt's birthday, so we have a birthday dinner at one of two restaurants. Its a must for every year, and this kind of thing takes priority over dinner somewhere else. However, some of our necessities are different. We like having pizza at Jumbo's on the boardwalk, they like eating crab at Joe's Crab Shack. Sometimes, its ok to separate in order to please the most people.
4. Be respectful
Just because you and someone else get along, does NOT mean they will get along everyday for a week, or that they will have the same needs as you. Try to give people there space, and take little "breaks" from people every so often, even if it means sitting on the balcony for 10 minutes people-watching.
5. Know you can do things in smaller groups
When your have little kids, the only things you can really do involve everyone. But as you get older, you can split off- who wants to ride bikes, whose going to sleep in, who wants to reserve our spot on the beach. It’s pretty easy once most people involved are over the age of 10.
6. Finding housing is difficult- you may take up an entire hotel
At some hotels in Italy, we took up almost an entire hotel. You make take up a hotel, or a bank of rooms, but its all part of the fun!
7. You will become closer
We have gone on vacation to Wildwood, NJ with one other family probably 10 times. We have gone with just our families, with a total of four families, and we have seen it all. It’s crazy looking back on all the times, and I can say, the kids we go with, I am definitely the closest to them out of all the people I consider family. Their’s just something about spending five days together that both drives you nuts and together.
8. Everyone has weird habits
I have family friends who must have coffee in this little café two towns over when we go to vacation at one destination. And when we were little, it had to be Tuesday night. You just kinda have to accept it and say “this is ok”.
9. Pictures are the best
The pictures you take will help make the vacation seem linger, can be posted on social media, and are even fun to take.
10. The memories are great
Looking back on it, the trips to Wildwood are some of my favorite memories growing up and wouldn't trade them for the world.
Enjoy your summers and any family vacations you have!
