I’d love to be somewhere someday when a flash mob happened. It cheers me up just watching some of those on You Tube, so I’m pretty sure the real thing would thrill me right to my toes.

In a few weeks I’m hoping to discover firsthand what it’s like to travel in a mob. I thought the idea of a mob dance would inspire you while I offer some of my own ideas on how to make it work. And once I get back, I’ll try and let you know if I managed to follow my advice. We specialize in group travel tours around here, so I’m thinking my firsthand advice could be useful.

GO WITH THE FLOW

This is definitely my first order of business. I discovered it long ago but wasn’t really able to put it into practice without lots of trying. Being hungry, cold, too hot, tired, or tired of walking – any of these used to throw me into the depths of despair. I’d need relief immediately or prepare for the black cloud of my emotions to eat alive anyone within arm’s length. This kind of personality will not work in a large group. Period. If this is you, I’m not saying you have to change who you are. I AM saying you have to change who you are for this trip.

Learn to keep moving while you’re tired; maybe just talk a little less. Trust that food and drink are always just around the corner. Just because it takes longer in a large group to decide on specifics and therefore longer to get things accomplished, doesn’t mean you’ll never find nourishment again. Hang in there. Meal times will find you.

Be a Decision-Maker

Mostly, you probably just need to go with the flow, as above. But every now and then large groups find themselves without a prominent decision-maker. This Is Trouble. If your group tour is customized by a professional, a brilliant itinerary will hopefully make all the decisions for you. But every now and then, it rains. Things get cancelled. Buses are late. Etcetera. And when it’s pushing an hour or so past lunchtime, and what stands between you and food is just for one person to name the place already, then name it. Be willing to put yourself out there as the person who suggested that little hole-in-the-wall diner, because at least it was close by. Sometimes the holes in the wall turn out to be delightful finds.

Lower your expectations

Listen, we all have plans and dreams. We all picture how we want a thing to go, the attractions we most want to see and how long we want to take at each one. Let go of that. Consider Flash Mob Travel your chance to get an overview of places you’d like to explore on your own in the future. Don’t expect to stand several hours in front of one gorgeous painting at the Met. Don’t plan on half a day to meditate at the Lincoln Memorial or a quiet, leisurely stroll through Central Park. Get excited simply that you’re seeing these things at all. Go along for the ride, so to speak. When the group needs to move on, don’t fret.

One thing I plan to do is take a journal and a pen. I’m going to jot down my first impressions or the things I’d like to explore at another time. I won’t stress when I’m inspired but the group needs to move on, because at least I was there to capture a first impression. Without this opportunity, I wouldn’t have even had that.

Traveling in a group can be a challenge, and it requires compromise – like being in a family only magnified. Choose to go with the flow, make decisions when you need to, and be grateful for small opportunities, and group travel can be an experience almost as perfect as getting everything your own way.

Photo by leuan Jenkins on Flickr.