Group travel to Eastern Europe can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful. These group travel tips have been garnered from personal experience. So whether you are traveling as a group on a study abroad trip or have joined a group tour, remember some of these tips that will make the experience more pleasant for everyone.
1. Respect the Culture and Laws of the Country You’re In
Wherever you come from, traveling in a group to Eastern Europe is going to mean you’re going to have to adjust your behavior accordingly. It will already be obvious to the locals that you are foreign (especially when there is a group of you), so be as polite and aware of customs and regulations as much as possible. 2. Respect Your Group Leader
Your guide or group leader has likely had more experience than you have taking groups of travelers to and around your common destinations. They know the rules and regulations, so listen to them when they outline those rules before any excursion. Also remember that it is a huge job keeping track of a group of opinionated, jet-lagged travelers; it’s your group leader’s job to lead, but he or she has the right to be stressed at times.3. Respect the Other Members of Your Group
There are bound to be personality clashes in any group of travelers. Close quarters, jet lag, hunger, and any number of other discomforts can make group members’ cranky sides show. The more understanding and patient you are with yourself, your travel companions, and your group leader, the more easily you will get along after everyone has acclimated to their new environment.4. Stay with Your Group
Unless it’s a designated personal time, stay with your group. Wandering off can cause unnecessary worry on the part of your group members, can make your group late, or can cause other disruptions if you stray too far from the day’s program. At the same time, keep an eye on others in the group to make sure no one gets left behind at the museum or while standing at a bus stop.5. Help Each Other
Lines of communication can get tangled when you travel in a group. If you don’t hear your group leader say that you’re leaving the hotel at 10 am, you’ll want to verify with other members of your group. Sometimes, one or more of you won’t understand how to purchase a ticket for the subway or what is expected of you when you exchange currency, so offer a hand to anyone who is struggling. This will streamline the group travel experience greatly and give your group leader a break.6. Keep Irreverent or Negative Comments to Yourself
While we all love a little appropriately-timed irony to lighten the mood, constant, unrelenting sarcasm can really drag down morale for the whole group. Eastern Europe isn’t always beautiful, your excursions won’t always be idyllic countryside escapes, and the locals are under no obligation to understand you. The strange, awkward, and downright unpleasant are all a part of the experience, so take it in stride.
7. Suffer a Little
Travel to Eastern Europe is going to come with its own share of discomforts, and these discomforts may be amplified depending upon how many members are in your travel group. If the beds at the hotel are lumpy, rest assured that no one else's was any better. If your feet hurt, most likely so does every other group members'. Ignoring these small things (at least outwardly) can go a long way in keeping up a positive attitude.8. Share
This might seem like a rather obvious suggestion, but Eastern Europe is so full of new experiences, be sure to share them with your group members. For example, you might have found a little café that serves the best blini you’ve ever tasted, or perhaps a new local friend presented you with so many freshly-picked currant berries you couldn’t possibly eat them all yourself. Sharing is a part of
Slavic hospitality . . . get into the spirit and share the good things with your traveling companions.
9. Include Other Group Members
Often times, sub-groups will form in your travel group, and so it’s easy to overlook that one person is consistently stuck in his or her hotel room while the rest of the group goes out dancing at night. Invitations are always appreciated, whether or not they are accepted. 10. Leave Your Biases at Home
Personal biases can throw a wrench into any group’s works. Just leave them at home. After all—you’re all traveling to Eastern Europe for roughly the same reasons. The person sitting next to you on the flight over might have different religious or political beliefs, they might have a different sexual orientation, or they might just be . . . different. What’s not different is that they’re on the same trip that you are—and that should be enough common ground for both of you.
