Holidaying with friends

Going on holiday with friends can be unenjoyable .
It shouldn't be like that .
A couple of my friends always seem to pay less for everything .
Fun to be with but frankly dishonest.
I have another friend who doesn't like spending any money and can exist all day on a packet of crisps .
And another who prefers shopping malls to castles.
I decided that the next time I agree to go on holiday I'll suggest a weekend away first .

Oh dear that's even more reason not to comment on old threads.

DH was still alive when this thread started, he's been dead for nearly 8 years.

I think this must be up there for the oldest post to be resurrected on Facebook, but I do wonder how the holiday went for walterwalt and that they are all still friends!

I always read the OP date before answering. Very old post, this one.

Take the bull by the horns and talk to them all…….describe your ideal holiday…….mine would be do what I please during the day, if someone else likes that idea then great, otherwise they do their own thing……..and meet up for dinner. Lazing by the pool isn’t for everyone, nor is constant sightseeing. Communicate and get it all in the open.

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It’s easiest on a holiday where most costs are included, All Inclusive, Cruise or Guided tour, I’ve done several group tours, sharing a room might be an issue, it never was a problem for me.

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With ground rules set, a holiday with friends is lovely. We holiday with friends on cruises, enough space and activities for even the most quibbly person.

We used to go on family holidays with a couple we know well and this went well for several years; but in the end I (and the rest of my family) could no longer cope with the behaviour of their child who was spoilt to death. It made life difficult for my children who on the whole behaved well and certainly knew that temper tantrums would not get them what they wanted! They also had an innate sense of fairness and seeing this child being given ALL the peas in the serving dish, or all the blobs of cream off the top of the trifle because he wanted them and shouted blue murder did not sit well with them! And who can blame them.

Huge shame as they were very good friends of hours; but their child-rearing rules were so different from ours.

Greyduster, that happened to us as well. We were sharing a holiday cottage and as soon as we arrived, the other couple jumped out of the car and raced in. They plonked their bags in the room with the best (sea) view and crowed that they'd got there first! Holiday went downhill from the start!

We've had several great holidays with friends, only one bad one which happened more than a year ago.

I'd explain to your friends that you have some concerns and tell them about your previous experience. They may well be thankful that you've bought it up if they have concerns of their own, but were afraid to mention it.

I hope you decide to go and have a great time.

We only did this once and I would never do it again. We went away with some very good friends that we had spent a lot of time with over the years, but being together for a week it soon became clear that he wanted to control everything we did. We hired a car and he insisted on doing all the driving, even when he was clearly too tired to drive. DH was so fed up after a week with them that it soured our relationship and it took years to get things back on track with them. As others have said, try and find out what their expectations are and let them know what yours are before you decide.

Have gone away as a couple with other friends and have had great holidays. We agreed right from the outset many years ago, to do as little or as much as we wanted together with no pressure whatsoever. Generally we all did things together as it was mainly city breaks and we enjoyed sight seeing . Sometimes my husband and I would do our own thing, or my friend and I went to the shops leaving the men to do whatever interested them but we had an upsoken agreement that we always ate together in the evenings and split the bill 50/50. There was never a problem working out who ate what and it always balanced it self out.

Ive only had one holiday that wasn't so good, when we went away with my daughter , her husband and children and their in laws. My daughter was trying so hard to impress the inlaws we were basically ignored ! My husband and myself ended up going out and about by ourselves, whilst daughter and inlaws did their thing. We did eat together in the evenings. Have to say her inlaws are the nicest people, it was DD that was the problem !

I would agree with the others, if your three friends have been doing this for a while they will have all the problems ironed out by now and you should take the chance.

A female friend and I (both in our 60s) want to holiday in September or early October, at Lake Garda or similar, in single rooms. We would also like to avoid or reduce the single room supplement if possible! Any suggestions?

We went away for a week with so-called friends, they did their own thing and we did ours. He was happy to lay on the hotel bed watching porn all day whilst she lay on a sun lounger. Boreing. We never had anything to do with them since. The best holiday we have is just the two of us.

Once went away with a friend who had travelled a lot. We discussed where to go, she booked a different island without reference to me. Towards the end of the the week the company rep on the island, a resilient young local woman, said she didn't know who to feel more sorry for, me or herself!!

Every year 6 of us go on holiday and have a marvelous time. One is captain in charge of the kitty and reservations. We have a lovely time sunning, eating, reading, sightseeing. Each does as they wish, except we eat breakfast and dinner as a group.

I wouldn't put past experience influence your decision. The dynamics of 4 people will work better than 2 as there is bound to be at least 1 person your compatable with. Stop worrying and go and enjoy the break.

I ave two lovely friends who I see once a year, they go on Holiday everywhere together, and get on really well, they have a Kitty for food and things, but use their own money for things they want, it seems to work out very well. I have a friend who we have met a few times while on holiday with our motorhome, we decided to go out for the day to look around the shops, the men went off on their own, and this friend dragged me around all the shops SHE wanted to go to, didnt even ask what I wanted to look at, I didnt say anything, which I should have done of course, but I shall never again go with them, I felt so disappointed, we didnt have time to look at the shops I was looking forward to, we should of course split up and meet again after an hour or so, then split again until when are quite happy, then everyone gets a chance to do their own thing.Good Luck on your Holiday.

I go away twice a year with a close girlfriend. We are both easy going and love sitting on the beach reading. We hire a car and she drives. If I have a couple of drinks more than her I usually put a bit extra in the kitty. Been doing our girlie holidays for 20 years now. Looking forward to June.

I now holiday on my own mainly as my friend and I can never fix dates together. I usually do tours so you do get to know other people.
If you do go with friends, single rooms are a good idea. Kitties can be a problem if one of you drinks more as it soon adds up. Better to pay for your own food and drink.