“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” — Mark Twain

No quote may be truer than this in regards to traveling with groups.  Having a lot of friends around can be exciting and fun but oftentimes it becomes a delicate juggling game of split personalities.  Everyone has their routine, their way of existing that makes sense in their minds.  You have the push-overs, the nay-sayers, the optimistic, the up-for-anything, take chargers and the bullies. Some people go with the flow and accept other people’s routines while others constantly power trip that their way is the only way and there is no use doing anything else.

During a trip to Ireland, I traveled in a group and experienced a lot of this.  I found myself put between several of the people trying to create a balance so that everyone could get along and enjoy what Ireland had to offer- not argue about what time we were going to eat!  Years later, and all the more wiser, I struck that balance during my recent trip to NYC.  Here are my 10 ways to enjoy traveling with a group.

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As I was walking around the booths at the Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show, the whole convention center was buzzing with energy.  From the hundreds of balloons surrounding the Taiwan Tourism booth to the dancers from Malaysia with their vibrant and fun costumes, crowds of people were excited and eager to explore all the different countries booths.  You could even zip line over the convention center and learn how to scuba dive!

We visited all the booths and sat through several of the talks and workshops gathering as much information as we could about what is happening with travel for 2010.  The talks proved to be the most informative with experts like Jen Leo from the LA Times, Johnny Jet and Rick Steves.

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Hi fellow traveler! Yes, you— I’m talking to you. I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Your airport and air travel behavior is completely inappropriate. I understand that you might not be a “pro traveler,” but that’s no excuse for you to not have some common courtesy on this flight we’re sharing. You’re likely confused as to what I’m talking about, so allow me to break down your annoying habits. Please make sure your seatbelt is properly fastened, and pay close attention: Continue Reading

No trip to New York City is complete without taking in a show, but a pair of Broadway tickets can cost as much as a hotel room, and a family pack of four – forget about it.  Don’t worry, you are not the only person faced with this dilemma.  There are plenty of ways to find discount tickets for the hot shows, especially off season or before the Tony’s are announced, and the more flexible you are about which show or where you sit, the more savings there are available.  I’ve tried them all, and I’m going to go over the pros and cons of each choice. Continue Reading