Travel etiquette with friends

Travel, once the pastime of the leisurely set, has become a regular pursuit of multi-generational Filipino families. It’s no longer surprising to learn that most everyone we know is planning a trip, has gone on one, or is booking their nth tour to some popular destination in Asia, the US, and Europe. Our social media feed, in fact, is often cluttered with accounts of people crossing off a few more items on their travel bucket list.

However, what are usually overlooked in these interesting snippets are the myriad challenges that they sometimes deal with before “wheels up” and upon landing at their destination. Despite painstaking preparations, travel may be marked by unexpected glitches and hitches that can test anyone’s patience and resolve.

For one, we need to keep our cool and employ common sense when dealing with security checks, unforeseen delays, and passengers who cram the overhead bins with their stuff. Then just when we’ve settled in our designated seat, there’s someone asking to switch seats with us for some annoying reason.

Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time traveler, and whether you’re traveling alone or with company, you have ways to ensure that your trip goes smoothly from the get-go. But for now, let’s focus on a question sent in by a lady who wants to minimize lapses when traveling with friends.

Dealing with tricky issues of group travel 

Q: My girlfriends and I are planning to travel out of the country soon. While we are paying for our individual round-trip plane fares, we are splitting the rest of our travel costs evenly into four. With these figures all sorted out, how do we avert the chance of getting on each other’s nerves over tricky issues that may randomly crop up? I’ve heard how trivial matters, such as how much to tip hotel staff or restaurant waiters, can sometimes be a cause for concern. 

Should we agree beforehand on which popular tourist sites to visit together and when to head out to individual choices? What about diet restrictions, shopping and gastronomic preferences, and personal sleeping habits?—Pat A.

A: It has often been said that the best way to learn more about another person is to travel together. After all, you’ll see the best and the worst of each other when you spend so much time in close proximity. On the other hand, if you and your friends have tight bonds, mutual interests, and find fun and humor even in awkward situations, I am confident that your friendship will be further enriched by creating fresh new memories wherever you go.

Been there, done that: 7 useful reminders 

Here are some useful tips from people who have traveled with a posse of friends and family members . . .

Agree on your budget beforehand. This should include not only your plane fare and the costs of hotel accommodations but also how much money you need to pitch in for the shared activities that await you in your travel itinerary.

If you are availing of a tour package that will cover your daily transfers, transportation to and from the tourist attractions or other places, this must be settled beforehand, especially when you are booking it from home. However, if you plan to take Grab (or Uber or its counterpart abroad), please decide from the beginning whether you guys will split every expense evenly.

It is always advisable for you to assign one person to handle payments for everything—cab fare, entrance tickets not covered by the tour package, and tips. You may either give your “treasurer” advance contributions for all your common expenses, or she could advance it and charge you daily at the end of each excursion.

If she charges the costs to her credit card, then you should pay her at the end of each day—not after her credit card company sends the bill. That is a no-no. Money issues and concerns should be discussed beforehand so everything is clear. “Cuentas claras” as our folks would say back in the day.