Traveling w groups/expectations?

[janapur Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close janapur]

Add other people's kids to the mix and then you really need that list of expectations!

My brother and his wife mentally check out when they visit my folks at their ts, leaving my mom exhausted from entertaining the five kids while my brother's on the golf course. They come empty handed and hungry. They leave the place turned upside down. The kids watch loud tv all day. It's generally unpleasant to witness and one of many reasons why I started buying my own ts weeks. My addiction to timeshare is another story . . .

My sister blames my mom for enabling this behavior. Mom doesn't like confrontations.

I guess you can't pick your family.

I love this LOV idea. Where do I sign up??

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I love this LOV idea. Where do I sign up??

I'm in the Salt Lake City airport now waiting for our flight to Denver which is delayed due to weather. I won't be home until after midnight, if then. If no one has sent you an invite to LOV by then, I will send you one tomorrow.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Traveling with others. A lesson learned.

My DH has a best friend who has a wife and 2 boys, younger than our DS but DS is good with younger kids.

We made plans for W'Burg and Sunterra nicely provided a C/D unit at Powhattan for us over 4th of July. We took the lower and they took the upper unit.

First off, everyone spent all waking hours in our lower unit. Secondly I had forgotten that I am the ONLY earlybird in the entire group so I would be bouncing off the walls before everyone was ready to go anywhere and wanting to go to bed while everyone was still in the hottub or watching TV. Crumbs all over the place and messes to face in the mornings

We did have a very good time once we finally got out the door and I do get on well with the wife.

<how stupid am I?> I mentioned that maybe we should do Orlando together, figuring easy trade.

So a year goes by, I had already made our trade into OLCC for Thanksgiving months earlier, and I get a phone call. "I thought we were all going to Orlando"? YIKES 4 months out and I'm getting this call now....

Thank you VRI preference....I grab a 3BDRM at Cypress Pointe for them. Because of air we spent one night at their unit <no GC necessary> and we headed to OLCC to check-in the next day.

This worked so MUCH better than last time! We went to parks together twice and had Thanksgiving dinner at our place. Other than that we all went our separate ways and did our separate things.

Sharing quarters is definately not up my alley with this family but spending time with each other during a week away works out fine. I don't know if I have to get them a different resort but definately not an attached unit.

[starbucks Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close starbucks]

Please tell me what a "LOV" group is........

I think it is important to discuss expectations as far as down-time versus touring/sight-seeing before hand. Everyone's expectations for a vacation are not the same. Some love to be on the go all the time,trying to see as much as possible, and others, appreciate not being tied to a schedule and doing whatever moves them at the moment. If the parties are flexible and don't easily get hurt feelings, I know first hand that it can work out great.

[starbucks Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close starbucks]

Ooops!
Just saw that LOV=Ladies On Vacation

[chemteach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chemteach]

We almost always travel with 1 to 3 additional families. It's great for the kids because they have instant playmates on the vacation (though the three of them keep each other well-entertained...). We always state up front that no one is obligated to do anything with the others, and we should all feel free to not join the group for activities. My family is the "hang out the pool" type, and one of the families we often travel with is the "get up at dawn and go hiking" type. It works out well because we join them for a few hikes and we all feel good about it. It's travelling with family (in-laws, anyway) that has gone bad for us.

[CatLovers Member Find all posts View Profile Close CatLovers]

Here's the list

Okay, here's the list. My apologies for the delay, I was away from my office and the file was on my desktop (not on my laptop) so I had to look for it when I got back. We put this together based on ideas from TUGgers OY.

HOW TO SHARE A TIMESHARE VACATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS
(AND STILL STAY FRIENDS AFTER)

This list of “ground rules” was compiled from suggestions put forward by TUG members, and other sources. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list – only what happened to “come up” in various discussions. I have found that if you print it out and give it (or forward it) to your guests, it sets the stage for a positive fun vacation!

• Once at the resort, you don’t have to travel together, eat together, or play together! It’s perfectly okay to tell the others that you want to do your own thing.
• If you’re signing up for a tour or planned event, or going out to dinner, it’s friendly to ask the others to join you, but remember, it’s okay if they say no. If you want to be on your own, don’t ask them.
• Try to plan at least one event together during your time there – it’s a nice gesture of friendship to the people who invited you.
• Clean up after yourself! You can be more lax in your private space (such as your bedroom), but this is critical in the common spaces such as the living room, kitchen, patio, or private hot tub.
• Be respectful of other’s private space
• Be aware that some people get up early, some late; respect the differences. You’re on vacation, ease up!
• If sharing a meal, split the bill, but if appropriate, get separate drink bills. Some people drink 4 or 5 drinks while others don't drink at all; it’s unfair to have someone else pay your drink tab.
• Come to agreement on groceries up front. Most people agree to split the bill for basic groceries, and pick up their own tab for expensive “extras”.
• Remember that some people eat in only for breakfast, others for lunch and dinner as well. Again, it’s okay to be different; just make sure that the groceries are “fair”.
• Make yourself aware of the “rules” of the resort once you arrive. Things like which days there are maid service, what’s included, what’s not, etc. That way, you can be sure not to inadvertently break any rules that will likely cost your hosts money or aggravation later.

Compiled by Merge & Al Sunderji, CatLovers on TUG, April 8, 2006

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Thank you.

Thanks for the list.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Okay, here's the list. My apologies for the delay, I was away from my office and the file was on my desktop (not on my laptop) so I had to look for it when I got back. We put this together based on ideas from TUGgers OY.

HOW TO SHARE A TIMESHARE VACATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS
(AND STILL STAY FRIENDS AFTER)

This list of “ground rules” was compiled from suggestions put forward by TUG members, and other sources. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list – only what happened to “come up” in various discussions. I have found that if you print it out and give it (or forward it) to your guests, it sets the stage for a positive fun vacation!

• Once at the resort, you don’t have to travel together, eat together, or play together! It’s perfectly okay to tell the others that you want to do your own thing.
• If you’re signing up for a tour or planned event, or going out to dinner, it’s friendly to ask the others to join you, but remember, it’s okay if they say no. If you want to be on your own, don’t ask them.
• Try to plan at least one event together during your time there – it’s a nice gesture of friendship to the people who invited you.
• Clean up after yourself! You can be more lax in your private space (such as your bedroom), but this is critical in the common spaces such as the living room, kitchen, patio, or private hot tub.
• Be respectful of other’s private space
• Be aware that some people get up early, some late; respect the differences. You’re on vacation, ease up!
• If sharing a meal, split the bill, but if appropriate, get separate drink bills. Some people drink 4 or 5 drinks while others don't drink at all; it’s unfair to have someone else pay your drink tab.
• Come to agreement on groceries up front. Most people agree to split the bill for basic groceries, and pick up their own tab for expensive “extras”.
• Remember that some people eat in only for breakfast, others for lunch and dinner as well. Again, it’s okay to be different; just make sure that the groceries are “fair”.
• Make yourself aware of the “rules” of the resort once you arrive. Things like which days there are maid service, what’s included, what’s not, etc. That way, you can be sure not to inadvertently break any rules that will likely cost your hosts money or aggravation later.

Compiled by Merge & Al Sunderji, CatLovers on TUG, April 8, 2006

This really touches on most of the problem areas...great list!

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

We travel alone and also with friends, sometimes up to nine others. We usually all have our own units, however; we did just recently share a unit with the couple we travel the most with. We travel with them the most because we all have similar interests and also are usually on the same schedule. I am an early bird and so is the husband of the couple. My husband and the wife usually sleep until 7-7:30am, however, not with each other

We have our own set of rules, well really just one rule.

#1 It's your vacation too! No one is obligated to spend all their time with the other people with whom they are traveling.

The annual vacation in Jan/Feb to the Carribbean is strictly relaxation. All of us do nothing but sit on the beach and read. This works well for everyone.

Other times, we usually balance our time between pretty busy seeing the sites in the area or just taking a day to chill out.

Oh, one more rule, no kids. If I decide to take my grandkids anywhere, it is never with another couple.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

LOV=Ladies on Vacation. Group is comprised of mostly TUGGERS and/or TS4UMS. It's by invite only for obvious reasons. If anyone would like to join, send me an email with your email address and I will send you an invitation.

We've had trips to Paris, Cancun, St. Martin, Orlando, Berkshires. We were planning a trip to Thailand for next Jan but that fell through since we couldn't get the exchanges. Anyone can start/suggest a trip.

[greenwagonmom Member Find all posts View Profile Close greenwagonmom]

Thanks for the list of rules. We are considering traveling to Mexico next summer with a group of friends and our children. I like the idea that though we are travelling together, that doesn't mean we have to do everything together. Vacation should be fun and relaxing!

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I am an early bird and so is the husband of the couple. My husband and the wife usually sleep until 7-7:30am, however, not with each other

Wow...so if 7 or 7:30 is sleeping in, what time do you get up?

I'm usually up by around 9:00 if nothing wakes me and I still consider that early!!

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

I usually get up at 5am and so does my neighbors husband, although sometimes he's earlier

[janapur Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close janapur]

We have our own set of rules, well really just one rule.

#1 It's your vacation too! No one is obligated to spend all their time with the other people with whom they are traveling.

My oldest son taught me this about a decade ago when I was trying to rush him off to another day filled with rides and activities on a Disney vacation. He said "Mom it's my vacation too. Can't I just stay here at the pool?"

He actually though those days at the parks were for my amusement.

He's two months from being an adult and I still respect that he prefers to rest while I like being on the go.

Jana