Holidaying with friends - does it work for you?

[SpokeyDokey]

We've just had to knock back a 'do you want to go on holiday with us?' request from a couple of reasonably good friends.

Fortunately the knock back has been accepted well.

We are by no means adverse to socialising and have a wide circle of friends but we've tried holidaying with two other couples over the years and it just didn't work for us. No major fireworks but some low level friction which just took the edge off for us - and probably them too to be fair.

So, does this sort of thing work for you or not?

 

[Levo-Lon]

No.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes and no. Depends on who, where and when. Not averse to doing it again. But I get lots of group holidays with tlh's family, last summer was 20+ of us in one billet and that after two no shows and two last minute withdrawals. (Which did generate some friction over payment tbh, if you all agree to rent a place for 30 and then folk drop out the cost per family goes up)

Best was when we just said "Here's the resort. here's where we are staying, find your own berths and we will meet for dinner every night and decide what else to do together, or not, day-by-day." Only fly in that ointment was we were staying in a boutique hotel and others exhibited a certain amount of the green-eyed monster, and the tendency of some to stay up in said hotel bar after we'd retired. I discretely made point to the manager that "If I'm not there to sign for it, it ain't going on my room bill" after I picked up the first night's after hours tab over breakfast the next morning.

 

[vickster]

Yes or I'd have to holiday alone (or in a group with strangers). I have one very old travel buddy for the more exotic stuff, and some other friends for the short haul/UK

 

[Drago]

Depends who with and what sort of holiday it is.

 

[MontyVeda]

My childhood family holidays were always with another family... i can't recall one where it was just 'us'.
After my folks stopped taking us kids on holiday, they went alone quite often, but these days they've started going with friends again... it works for them. There's little frictions and annoyances but nothing more than a single family group would experience.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Yes or I'd have to holiday alone (or in a group with strangers). I have one very old travel buddy for the more exotic stuff, and some other friends for the short haul/UK

And me on your waiting list

 

[User32269]

We regularly go on holiday with our friends and their kids. We all get on great and have never fell out. It's good for the kids because they have all known each other from birth and can play together. From some of the horror story's I've heard about other people's experiences, I think we're very lucky!

 

[vickster]

Good God I wouldn’t go away with friends who have children!!!!!

 

[MontyVeda]

Good God I wouldn’t go away with friends who have children!!!!!

it can be good fun for the kids if you have them

 

[Dave7]

Mixed views on this.
One of the best holidays we ever had, way back in the 70s, was with another couple. Booked a cottage in Cornwall. Still talk about some of the highlights.
Conversley.....
One of the worst was around the same time. A different couple. We still "laugh" about the worst parts of that holiday.

If you do go with another couple/family then set some pleasant ground rules and give yourself breathing space.

 

[User32269]

Good God I wouldn’t go away with friends who have children!!!!!

When you've both got a gang each, it actually makes life easier, honest!

 

[vickster]

When you've both got a gang each, it actually makes life easier, honest!

Yes but I would never be foolish enough to have any
I can have many more (exotic) holidays than most of my friends with children ... at times of year when there are many fewer children

 

[swansonj]

We holidayed with another family with similar age kids, from before each of our second child was born to when they were 16 or 17. First an annual weekend at Centerparcs, then progressing to camping and narrowboats. I'm not sure we'd have risked more than a long weekend at a time though.

The best advice was given to me at the start:

"The only rule is that everyone can shout at everyone else's kids. But after the second bottle of wine, you won't remember whose kids are whose anyway."

 

[User32269]

Yes but I would never be foolish enough to have any
I can have many more (exotic) holidays than most of my friends with children ... at times of year when there are many fewer children

Very sensible!
While I may not be heading out to tour Indonesia any time soon, I thoroughly enjoy acting like a big kid in the sunshine with my gang and their mates!
Have to bring them up with the right scousers on tour mentality, it's a hard job, but gorra be done.