Arguments with companions on holiday.

I stopped going on holiday with my sister after a couple of disasters.
Once she abandoned me in Paris when we had squabbled. We were teenagers and I was used to trailing after her so was suddenly left to use my basic French. I managed.

A few years later as young parents, we joined DSis, DBiL with their baby on a camping in France. DH our 2 DC (4,2) and DM.

It rained every day.

DM wanted to visit chateaux and wanted to be driven there.

DH wanted to to see other places he'd read about. Chocolate factory, brewery etc. I loved looking out local crafts and brought back a huge log basket which got in everyone's way.
I had taken my knitting which annoyed my DS. She refused to use disposable nappies so had to do hand washing everyday. This annoyed me.

The DC loved the campsites with all the play areas and quickly made pals.
The evenings were lovely. The men did the cooking and all that wine.

We never went with them again although DM tagged along with us or them.

Next month DS, DBiL and I are going to stay with DB &DSiL in Denmark for his birthday. (DH and DM have died)
I am bringing a friend. One of my DSons will be there, his DP and 12yr old.
Should I be worried? 🤣😂

I travel with a long term friend who was widowed a couple of years ago. We used to go away as a foursome so we have some experience of travelling together. We like to do the same things but she does rather rely on me to know where we are going. On the other hand, she goes to bed early and leaves me in the disco.

Sorry - want to add that my best holidays are with DD. We get on very well together, are happy to have quiet times when we don’t talk and we always make friends with fellow travellers.

Grammaretto - yes!

I would not want to travel with friends to be honest.
I'm pleased to share a villa with family though - so long as we all do our "own thing" in smaller groups whilst there. I wouldn't want to have to trail up to 20 people from place to place!

We can enjoy each others company at the villa but not be in each other's pockets.
Next year we are going to holiday in the UK with them all but not all under one roof!

Well, I'm quite happy to travel with friends- the more the merrier! I'm quite easygoing, and happy to just go with the flow; if someone wants to go off on their own, fine with me, or if they want to stick together throughout, I'm fine with that too.

sodapop

Deja vu, have I read this post before ?

Me too, very strange

We went away with close friends on a long weekend to Jersey. We both had 1 year olds. The other couple were usually much more active than us, long walks etc, so we prepared ourselves for an energetic time. Instead they wanted to sit on the beach all day. It was early spring and meant sitting wrapped in coats and blankets for the babies. We all lived by the sea at home so it was not a novelty.
We hardly spent any time with them but explored the island. Just goes to prove that you people are different on holiday than at home.

I'm sure I've seen this post before.

We recently had a holiday with friends. Their dog ate half MrA’s birthday cake.
Obviously my fault too.

@Astitchintime
Sometimes it's fairly clear why certain people stay single, isn't it!

@GrammarGrandma
It's still a funny story, though.

If I’ve ever gone with friends on holiday, it’s always been discussed before that we may not always want to do the same things so we make a pact that if someone doesn’t want to do something, they can do their own thing. I’ve had a particular restaurant in mind at certain times and would say they were welcome to join me but I won’t be offended if they go off elsewhere. One particular husband of a friend wanted to have a long leisurely lunch with a drink and was happy to off whilst I was happy belly the pool reading. We had several meals on the evening together but nothing set in stone. You just have to agree beforehand what the expectations are.

I'm afraid I have not been able to go on holiday since I lost my partner and cant really go anywhere on my own socially. Bit pathetic but that's the way it is. Not at all comfortable with only my own company and thoughts. Been fighting it but just feel
isolated on my own.

I’ve only ever holidayed with hubby. If I was alone I’d be at home couldn’t imagine holidaying with others. Maybe I’m a little anti social or just a homebody!

Patsee one of my friends has joined a "bereavement walks" group. She has made a close supportive friendship with another lady there and they have had two short breaks away together now.

Maybe there is an "older" singles group or a bereavement group you might benefit from - whether you holiday together or not.

The other thing that I think must be easier is an activity holiday - a cooking, art, or archeology holiday for example. Maybe that might be easier?

Thinking of you.

A few years ago I went on my own to Gran Canaria. On the bus going to the hotel I got chatting to a lady who seemed very friendly and, small world, lived only a few miles from me. We were staying at the same hotel with our rooms on the same floor. We got on very well over the course of the week and agreed we would book another holiday together. This time we went to Ibiza, most of the holiday it was great, but there were one of two little “issues”, nothing serious. The following year we decided to go to Majorca. I had stayed at the hotel previously and thought it would be a good choice for us both, but for some reason, my “friend” seemed to find fault in almost everything, the food, the wine, even the male holidaymakers at the hotel!! One night she got very drunk and was bad mouthing other guest and the entertainment (it was pretty bad!) The following day she had a terrible hangover and just wanted to sit at the hotel while she recovered. It was our last day and I was hoping to make the most of it, so I insisted we went to a local market. With hindsight, I should’ve gone on my own. After we arrived back in the U.K., we didn’t contact each other any more!

Another time, I befriended a lady on a Just You holiday. We got on very well and so I was pleased to meet up with her the following year, but it was not the same, she seemed to resent me talking to others in our group, she became rather controlling, telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, wearing, etc. I couldn’t believe how she had turned out, so after the holiday we didn’t contact each other again! I am now very wary of going away with friends, in case things go pear-shaped and it ruins our friendship!

I thought the same and travellers cheques from.....1970's???? Who uses travellers cheques these days?

Went away for a coach trip with a work colleague and dear me she wanted me to carry her suitcase for her, make the tea in the morning in the room, couldn't possibly walk along the castle walls and so I could carry on. Fetch me, carry me type my mother would have said! Never went away with her again and dropped contact when I left the Company we worked for.

Frenchgalinspain

We have NEVER encountered such uglyness !!!!!!!!!!!

What ugliness?
Ugly cities, ugly buildings, ugly surroundings????

The second time I went to Iran (1990s) I had to go on a group visa because they did not give individual ones. So I had to travel out and back with them. I abandoned them in Isfahan and stayed on there for 3 more days. It turned out none of them had been to Iran before and were desperately worried that I was going to "get myself arrested" or some dire thing was going to happen to me. Iranians are very hospitable and so long as you follow the dress code and dont criticise the government nothing is going to happen. The worst is that the room boy might knock on your door when you ask for room service in the hope of seeing you without a headscarf. I just told him to leave it on the floor outside.

Ive had a few minor adventures in countries where the rooms are cleaned by young men who can get a bit frisky with solo female guests. In an old fashioned hotel with keys I just half turn the key in the lock so even someone with a pass key cant get it open. And I never travel without my handy rubber door wedge which will prevent even someone with an electronic key card from getting in. Oh and I always unplug the phone when I go to sleep.

Oh dear Biglouis , I can definitely identify with your experience .
A friend of 20plus years & I planned a trip a bit further afield than Paris . To New York a first trip for us both ,this was pre 9-11 she then said her Sister & Sister in law would both like to come . I had previously met her Sister at family parties etc & was fine with that . Four of us , I don’t know how but I got to share a room with the SIL , though it was fine we got on .
All was good on the way out & for the first day .then my Friend & her Sister had a mighty falling out . So bad that the Sister refused to share a room & then shared with me , it then became my job to placate her , she was in tears , completely broken .
It spoilt the holiday not only for her but for me as well & my friend didn’t even speak to me about it . The rest of our 4/5 days was spent with myself & distraught sister together.
On the way home , myself & my friend were offered an extra night to stay in NYC at the airport, hotel & money if we took the next days flight .
Me being me was all up for this , unfortunately my friend chose not to accept with talk of car park expense etc .
Even now it still rankles .she never apologised either about the fall out .
Though , when I now look back there were plenty of instances where I can see she is self centred.
Fast forward , I invited her to my Wedding in 2011 , we had been friends since 1977 when we both moved to the same area & are daughters started school together . After the Wedding , she become a bit off , putting birthday card through my door not stopping not answering my call to say , oh I’m home etc .
Now , we just don’t see each other at all - so much history - gone .
I think she was annoyed re the wedding as I didn’t invite a “plus one “ in hindsight I should have , I invited her to the whole day & between us we have a big family . I even left out a couple of my sisters from the wedding . I think she had the hump over that & hasn’t got over it .
Oh well her loss 🤣

I’m sure I have read your holiday tales before biglouis?

Over the years have done a lot of travelling and living abroad with family, or alone etc. Now a widow living alone, I am happy to travel on my own but also have done some holidays with friend and with a friendly neighbour. Had several very successful trips with one lady who also lived alone, but we talked and organised it before hand. It always costs so much more to travel alone that we have gone on trips and shared a room. This way we get better accommodation and cheaper. We agree before hand that we will do our own thing and have quite different things we enjoy, so we go off to whatever pleases ourselves and have a couple of dinners and coffees with each other and it works out well. I think that having a basic plan like that means you know how you are going to spend the time , so long as you are honest about what you want to do. But I do enjoy travelling alone, doing as I please and also often meet someone on the trip who is interested in the same things. Also there is the benefit that on your own you can go off on a whim, not having to make long term plans.

Felt out with a friend on holiday last year. We had happily travel together for years but after we went our separate ways I realised I was much happier going alone and doing my own thing.
The only problem is people feeling sorry for the lone woman! I need a sticker to say i am quite happy with my own company thank you.