Traditionally, I’ve never been a fan of group tours, as it always ends with someone inexplicably crying or getting personally upset that not everyone wants to take the overpriced brewery tour.
But for me, one of the most stressful things about traveling with a large group happens before the vacation even begins: one person dropping out at the last moment.
The rest of the group is then forced to choose between footing the slightly higher travel costs or questioning their crazy friend about what on earth they still have to pay for – neither of which are ideal options.
But there’s a right way to go about it, says Lee Thompson, co-founder of Flashpack, a company that organises group trips for solo travellers in their 30s and 40s.
“Regardless of the reason you can’t attend, you should always offer to pay for your portion of any trip you’ve already booked, including accommodations, rental cars and planned excursions,” Thompson says.
“If you are travelling as a group, we strongly encourage you to book your own accommodation.”
Travel writer Victoria M. Walker says it’s best to be proactive when planning or opting out of a group trip, as friendships can be damaged by assumptions about who pays for what.
“I’ve seen friendships crumble and be torn apart because a holiday didn’t go well or someone had to cancel their holiday for one reason or another,” she says.
Walker agrees that people should offer to cover some of the costs if they have to cancel a trip at last minute: “It’s common courtesy, good etiquette and good manners to at least offer some kind of compensation.”
It’s common courtesy, good etiquette, and good manners to at least offer some kind of compensation.
Victoria Walker
Travel Reporter
But depending on the reason for the cancellation, some leeway may be appropriate: If someone canceled because they lost their job or needed emergency medical attention, Walker says covering the cost could help.
You can also get ahead of this problem by booking your own accommodation.
“We strongly encourage everyone on group trips to secure their own accommodations,” she says. “If someone has to drop out, it’s their own responsibility.”
You may need to calculate other planned costs as well, but at least one big expense will not be affected by last-minute cancellations.
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