Holiday season is upon us, and with it a myriad of potential faux pas that can turn a week in paradise into hell on earth. “Group holidays have a funny way of magnifying people’s personalities,” says consultant psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley. “Things you’d barely notice at home can suddenly become much more noticeable when you’re sharing space, making constant decisions and spending days together.”
Rooming with people you usually don’t spend extended time in close quarters with is bound to create wrinkles, and the cumulative effect can take its toll, Goddard-Crawley adds. “It’s usually not one big argument that causes problems. It’s more the build-up of lots of little moments.”
How can you avoid becoming a group holiday pariah this summer? Here are the key mistakes to avoid:
Endless WhatsApps
Oh good, another group WhatsApp chain to torch your phone battery and test the limits of your patience before you’ve even boarded the plane. Beyond the key logistics and a few messages sharing excitement about impending volumes of margaritas to be consumed, there’s no need to set up a running commentary before your trip begins. Nor, once you’ve made it to your destination, to use it as a vehicle for passive-aggressive conversations you wouldn’t have in person. No matter how many emojis you use, comments about the state of the sink, fridge or bathroom do not need to be digitised.
