Avoid Traveling In Groups Without This Type Of Person, According To Rick Steves
To most people, travel usually means taking a break from everyday life and getting to enjoy a little slice of uninterrupted R&R. However, the truth is that, no matter where or when you're going, traveling also requires its fair share of planning, organizing, and preparation. And while, sure, this might all be completely different to your usual line of work — spreadsheets hit differently when they're about itineraries instead of quarterly reports — planning your vacation itinerary doesn't just magically happen (we wish). Especially if you're one of those more laid-back people who just don't like planning at all.
After all, not planning for things like transportation and accommodations can make it challenging to maximize your travel experience, and you can wind up forgetting to cover everything you need during your next trip. Plus, not planning can even lead to you missing out on key attractions, local events, or wasting time figuring out the logistics on the go. That's why travel expert and writer Rick Steves always recommends that, if you're about to embark on a trip, you're going to want to make sure you bring a "leader" along for the ride — aka, someone who's willing to "take responsibility" and guide everyone in the right direction.
Having a leader makes traveling easier
According to Rick Steves, in conversation with The New Yorker, having a designated group "leader" means smoother travels. Because without someone to take charge, groups can quickly become indecisive and waste time — two things you don't want to be doing when you're already limited to a short time away. Ideally, the leader will help keep everyone on track — researching important details like museum hours, reservation requirements, and other crucial details — and make key decisions when they need to.
And while Steves might be a well-known advocate for the approach, he isn't the first one to touch on the subject. Enter: The "mom" of the group. A popular type of content on TikTok, users are sharing quick clips of the friend they consider the "leader" — or "mom," regardless of sex — of their group. From keeping everyone on track to buying train tickets and herding friends through busy terminals before the gate doors close, they're the personification of a mama hen trying to herd her (mostly unruly or oblivious) chicks.
@gadventures Every friend group has the mom who's getting the kids from point A to point B 👩👧👦 #gadventures #traveltok #airport #travelhumor #fyp
And while some travelers might resist the idea of a group leader, Steves argues that most people eventually give in and agree that, without someone taking charge, there would be no progress. "People roll their eyes, but somebody's got to take the responsibility," he argues.
Other ways to plan and prep your travels
While having a leader is great, we can't all be so lucky to have a friend who's willing to take on the responsibility and who we're also willing to travel with. That's where technology can come in to fill the gap. For example, Rick Steves recommends a long list of apps to help manage your trip itinerary that includes everything from booking platforms like Expedia to itinerary organizers like TripIt, and user-sourced apps like Tripadvisor for on-the-ground recommendations. Other travel apps worth downloading before your next overseas trip include things like DeepL for accurate translations, Rome2Rio for transportation options, and AccuWeather for reliable weather forecasts.
Nonetheless, it's also important to try and strike a balance between planning and spontaneity. After all, planning every little detail of your trip can be a bad idea — especially if it's just going to turn your vacation into nothing more than a stressful list of tasks to complete.
Instead, consider separating your plans into "must-dos" and "could-dos," and plan for just one or two main activities per day — always leaving room for unexpected discoveries and local recommendations. This flexibility will ultimately allow you to adapt to changing circumstances and creates space for memorable unplanned moments — all while you make sure the trip actually makes it out of the group chat.