dkbyr

"Planning" your own family travel is the hardest of all group travel. After all, if something goes wrong, you may hear about it every holiday over dinner. I plan group travel for a living and the most successful groups are when everyone takes responsibility for their daytime activities. Some may decide to do things together however, I do not recommend you make the plans. Breakfast is the easiest meal to set, everyone on their own for lunch, and dinner-hire a chef, do carry in, or eat out. Then meet in evening and share adventures of the day.

Macross

Our number one rule: You pack it you carry it.

It is hard for me to ignore my one friend as I plop my small suitcase over my train seat and carry it up and down stairs but hey those are the rules.

We don't really cook meals. More yoghurt and pastry on the run in the am. Fresh veggies, cheese and snacks with wine in the evening if we don't eat out. We had a great fresh market by the last apartment in Dublin.
We can all do math so dividing the bill is not a problem. If you are with your family ask for separate checks. Never a problem.
I do get impatient with people that are constantly late so we tell one that we need to leave at 8:15 if it is 8:30. Promptness is important if you are meeting a cab or tour time.

kalnalcl

Thank you all so much! I'm starting to feel a little less apprehensive. I have scheduled a family meeting next month and I will lay out all of the rules. The rules suggested make so much sense and I think will go a long way towards a good trip where we all still like each other at the end.

thursdaysd

You might find these helpful:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how...ferent-budgets

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/bes...e-group-travel

Good luck!

AlessandraZoe

Go with God.

AZ

janisj

One large group trip - it wasn't family but 13 co-workers/friends. We booked 3 vehicles, a people mover and 2 saloons (sedans) But ended up w/ 4 -- at the last minute I decided to rent a 4th car -- must have had a premonition

We stayed a week in London in nearby flats -- then went out to the Cotswolds for a week in a rented watermill. In London we only had 3 entire group events - Ceremony of the Keys, tour of Parliament, and a posh dinner. Everything else was 2's and 3's and 6's and solo's - whatever

We had several pre-trip meetings and talked about what we wanted to do in the country -- they mostly deferred to me because I used to live in the area. But I didn't want to be the dictator-in-chief (though I can be when necessary ). I gave them websites and reading material so everyone could get ideas of their own. Then the plan was each evening after dinner we would all get together and decide the plans for the next day and where the various cars were headed.

Well . . . one couple apparently didn't like the choices for the next day so they got up really early -- and <B>took off with one of the cars!!!</B> Not kidding. They essentially stole the car If I hadn't rented the 4th car for myself it would have ended up with eleven people in 2 cars.

This is the same couple who didn't show up in for the Keys Ceremony or other events. So you never know what weird things might happen.

kalnalcl

thursdaysd thank you for the links, very helpful.

janisj I'm hoping a similar situation doesn't happen but trying to keep a very open mind and stay flexible.

AlessandraZoe thank you I'm going to need god's help I think haha

Macross

If you can get them to pack light that does help. The trunks are not huge in cars. Tell them they can do laundry though warning about the drying. Easier to hang up on drying racks. When we did our pub tours we had a couple of meetings and we had some guidelines. We knew our bus storage wasn't huge so we had size requirements. There are normally three of us that do all the research so we have not had much complaining. Trip advisor is also a great research tool regardless of what others might say. I think picking out clothing might be a challenge. I would still do layers but have a water proof rain jacket. You can always buy a new hat while there. Wool socks like smartwool are good to wear on the feet.