How to Be Part of Tour Group without Going Crazy

Being part of a tour group doesn't have the same sense of adventure or romantic notion of an Indiana Jones-type character, but let's face it, having a professional deal with the daunting tasks of a foreign language, arranging meals and rooms, ferreting out the undesirable and taking care of all your travel needs can be pretty attractive. Plus, the price is often pretty darn good. What will cost you, however, is the inevitability of at least one obnoxious tour member hell-bent on making your vacation miserable. Fear not, as there are ways to cope with this vacation virus and not have it ruin your time.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Acknowledge that, in all likelihood, someone in the tour group will be unpleasant. Consider yourself lucky if there is only one. Knowing this when you sign on the dotted line helps prepare you for dealing with it.

2. Keep physically fit. Travel, under the best circumstances, is stressful. You’ll be better able to deal with your obnoxious tour mate if you are in the best physical shape. There's nothing quite like a screaming hangover to magnify an irritation. Stay hydrated, eat well, move around as much as possible and get plenty of sleep--you know the drill. It will pay off with a better frame of mind to handle the personalities making up a tour group.

3. Open your mind to the everyday. Sure, when you’re off to an exotic location, you expect differences and culture shock. But what about the shock of an abhorrent countryman? How open minded are you about him? So what if he talks too loudly with a grating regional accent and is an unbelievable penny pincher? Take this as an opportunity to learn about yourself. What and why are certain things so upsetting to you?

4. 
   Taking advantage of the fun of travel lessens the downsides and reduces stress.

   Enjoy the scenery. Focus on why you are on the tour rather than allowing the irritant in seat 5B get to you. While looking out the window, maybe you should be listening to the history of the indigenous tribe as opposed to eavesdropping on 5B’s political views.

5. Take care of your needs. Be sure your questions get answered by the tour guide. Put in your two cents when the group is asked about what kind of restaurant to patronize. Don’t be sublimated. Don’t seethe silently. Don’t be bullied.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your tour guide to handle it. Before the obnoxiousness gets totally out of line, ask the tour guide to step in. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to ask, but we don’t live in an ideal world. Tour members shouldn’t have to police each other.
• Fully research the tour before signing up. What demographic is the tour marketing? Does the activity level suit you? Does the itinerary match your expectations?