i_am_kane

We are planning a family trip to Italy consisting of 10 people. My husband tells me I am being a mother hen, but when I lay my head down on that pillow at night, I want to be assured everyone is back at the hotel.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a simple method to use at the end of the day to be certain everyone is back at the hotel?

laverendrye

Count the legs and divide by two.

rkkwan

Ask this:

"Please raise your hand if you're missing!"

Seriously, I'd assign people in groups of 2 to 3, and you ask each group to be together at all times. It's a lot easier to notice if you've missing 2-3 people, instead of one.

Make sure each person knows the name of the hotel, or carry a business card/brochure of the hotel you're staying. If someone get lost, they can at least get help getting back to the hotel.

LJ

I travel with hordes of school kids on trips here in Italy all the time and we make them number off upon return to bus, hotel whatever.Nobody get s to go to there room until all are accounted for... I would just love to try this method with my relatives when we travel together but don't have the nerve, let me know how it goes.

elina

I come from a big family. My mother always asked "Anybody missing"? Once we forgot one of my brothers to a gas station. He waited patiently, and we returned in an hour to get him. He just saidquot;I knew you would notice at some point."

mrwunrfl

modifying laverendrye's method: count legs and divide by two then add .5 and truncate the to a whole number. This will count any one-legged persons. Better yet, count legs, crutches, and wheelchair wheels (all coming in pairs) and then divide by two.

You could start counting at 24 and after you've counted everybody, subtract 23 and if the number is not 10, then you have a real problem because it is the end of the day and you are at the hotel and have no idea where the missing person is.

Actually, I'd probably spend a quarter of my time counting: at the entrance to the museum and at the exit, on the platform waiting for the train, at the train door as everybody prepares to get off, on the platform after de-training.

Or give everybody a number and have them shout out their number. It's best, but not necessary, if they shout out their numbers in numerical order, e.g. 1, 3, 15, 28, etc.

dcespedes

I take it the 10 of you won't be "sticking together"? What about walkie-talkies?

I have enjoyed reading some of the more creative replies....

i_am_kane

Message to dcespedes. You've got it somewhat right - we will travel to each destination together, but we will not be joined at the hip. We are the grandparents (youngish), and we will be taking our two sons and their families. There are no commitments to visit particular tourist sites at a particular time, or to eat at a selected restaurant or a specific time for each "group" (the two of us, and each son's family). Sometimes it will work out that everyone is together.

I just know that someone reading this post has a simple, workable answer to my question.

Cobos

May I suggest cellphones...not only is it an efficient way of counting (everyone raise your cellphone) it is even a good way to find the missing person/group once thye do go missing... At least one cellphone for each group I would call mandatory....but I come from a country with more cellphone subscriptions than there are people

Cobos

Anonymous

Just have each son notify you when everyone in their own family unit has shown up.

i_am_kane

Cobos and Anonymous, Thanks, both good suggestions. (One son already has an international cell phone.)

Dreamer2

Hi Kane!

LJ has the best method for large groups. Everyone is assigned a number, and must "count off" without a gap before proceeding. However, yours is not a large group, and Anonymous's answer makes the most sense. But why are you so nervous about taking responsibility for everyone's whereabouts? Your sons are adults, right? Do you need them to call you at the end of the day at home, too? (Not being sarcastic - just wondering.) If you follow Anon's advice, be sure you explain that it's just a courtesy that will help you sleep better at night. The daughter-in-law's might take a bit of offense that you don't think they can watch after their own selves and families!
Have a great trip! I think intergeneration travel is wonderful.

easytraveler

How about the Japanese tour group method?

You hold up a bright colored flag - red, blue, yellow - and your group will just maturally migrate towards your flag!

i_am_kane

Hi Dreamer2, Thanks for your input. Yes, my sons are adults, and no, I don't "check-in" with them at home. I guess, it's just that I am setting up the trip, and feel responsible that all bases are covered. BTY, I've got the best daughters-in-law anyone could ask for, and they always feel free to tell me how they feel. So, maybe it's time to ask everyone going on the trip what their opinions are about my end-of-the-day worries.

Patrick

You know those little cardboard things you hang on your hotel doorknob that says "Do Not Disturb"? I suggest you make 5 of them that say IN, or are just a solid color (I'm assuming you have 5 rooms?). When people come in at night they put them on their door. When they leave they take them off. At least it prevents listening at the door or calling a room and waking the sleeping to say, "are you there?"

One simple idea not to overlook. If you are all traveling together a lot by underground or other public transport, make sure you have a plan if someone gets separated. The usual is, if someone didn't make it on the train, the others will all get off at the next stop and wait there until that person gets there and gets off too. Unless, that is, you all are sure where you are all planning to get off.

StCirq

Patrick''s advice is good. I was going to suggest you plaace a dish or tray outside your hotel door and provide each member of the group with one of those little packets of Post-Its. When they return each night, have them jot down their name on a Post-It and drop it in the dish/tray outside your door. Of course, if you're going to stay up waiting to make sure all the Post-Its are there, you might as well have them just knock on the door and say they're back.
I'm not sure either why you need to be the responsible ones and not your sons........

Anonymous

I wish we knew the ages of the grandchildren, so we could figure out whethehr they're out and about unescorted.

The problem wtih door signs, post-its, etc. is that in asking 8 people to be responsible for the reporting, rather than the OP's 2 sons, you're just multiplying the reporting burden and also the potential for forgetting and errors. Since the 2 sons will probably be checking on their families' return anyway, and since they above all others should understand their mom's need for resassurance, this seems the simplest method -- both least burden and least prone to errors (of omission).

Dreamer2

Thanks, Kane, for the reply! You remind me of my own Mom, and I have to say, I have inherited more than my share of her "worry" gene! These other suggestions are getting creative, and perhaps a bit complex. LOL I have a feeling it's one of those things you'll worry more about ahead of time. After the second or third night, it will be more like you hanging the "Do Not Disturb" sign out on your door knob! When I travel with my kids, and still even now that they are teens, I always make sure everyone has an index card with the name, address, and phone of the hotel, plus the cell phone numbers listed, in their wallet. Plus, we alway have an "If we get separated" plan decided.

janis

OK - I'm with your husband on this one. We are talking about 3 different "family units" -- Grams and Gramps, son #1 and family, son #2 and family. Sure you are one big family group - but don't you think your sons/D-in-laws are grown up enough to take care of their own families?

Not that you shouldn't be interested in what/where they are going - but why do you have to hover over them?

Reading between the lines it looks like Grandpa thinks you might be just a TEENSY bit controlling (in the nicest possible sensem of course)

i_am_kane

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Anonymous,the grandchildren will be from 6-14 yrs. old, so they will never be without adult supervision.

Patrick,I do like your suggestion if you get separated on public transportion. In the case of boarding a bus, there is a chance that some of us can get on and some are left on the sidewalk when the driver closes the door. Good idea. Get off at the next bus stop. I really like that suggestion.

Janis, I know you meant well, but truely, I am not controlling. I think things through very carefully before I act. I also keep a lid on my tongue. So far, this has made for a wonderful relationship with my family. Funny, they always want to be with me.

It's time for me to chew on this for a bit.

Thanks everyone!