1) Share the responsibility… and the Blame.
Shit happens, mistakes are made and details fall through the cracks but that is no reason to cause tension within your group. It is common to want to place blame but it’s also important to remember that you chose not to make those plans. If you have your heart set on a certain attraction, budget or location then you need to accept responsibility and take the initiative to make it happen!
2) Know what you HAVE to do and advertise it.
No one wants to travel and miss out on the one thing they really wanted to do so make sure your group knows what is important to you and take the initiative to make it happen. If you merely mention it and wait for someone else to put it on the agenda it’s likely that you’ll never make it and possibly develop hard feelings over it. Also accept the fact that its their vacation too and if they don’t have the same interests that you may need to go alone!
3) Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
We all know you love your friends but that doesn’t mean you want to be attached at the hip for days on end. I strongly believe that a little alone time is a good thing, especially while traveling to re-center yourself and digest what is going on around you. Use your time apart to experience what makes you different, splitting up is a great way to accomplish more of what each individual wants to accomplish.
4) Have an opinion without demanding.
There is nothing more frustrating than asking where everyone wants to ask and there is complete silence. Just throw out a couple ideas, anything to just get the ball rolling so you don’t end up spending more time talking about what to do than actually enjoying doing it. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum, demanding that everyone does what you want isn’t okay either, be open and flexible without commandeering the entire trip.
5) Relax.
YES, you are on vacation and you want to see new places and experience new things but it’s also about making those memories with your friends. Try to focus less on the destination and more on the journey, you are supposed to be enjoying yourself after all, let go a little. If you’re really having a hard time and start bringing down the group, excuse yourself, its their vacation too, don’t ruin it for everyone just because you’re unhappy.
One of my favorite hostels located right in the center of Jerusalem was Jaffa Gate Hostel. We were tired from traveling but anxious to put down our luggage and start the hunt for our first falafel of the trip! A young gentlemen greeted us with coffee and tea and went over the amenities such as internet, television, nightly movies, went over the basic rules and gave us a tour of the facilities. While I loved the decorated interiors, simple bedrooms and comfortable common rooms its really the stairs leading to Jaffa Gates rooftop that make this hostel top of my list!
