Holidaying with extended family or friends is a brilliant way of creating souvenirs – in the mind’s eye, to be endlessly recollected. They even grow with each reminisce: triggering endless hilarity and mirth.
Doubling-up to share accommodation can also bring great financial benefits – renting one house and splitting the cost will generally take you to places that might otherwise never have been considered.
Self-catering can also keep spending under control with leisurely brunches at home and picnics, making suppers out something to savour. But how will everyone get on: living hand in glove? Here’s Tom’s Cottage Cornwall guide to a harmonious Famihol or Friendcation…
Consider carefully
- Before anything else: who may be a good fit? Family dynamics – we promise – blossom within 24 hours of being under the same roof. Amicable adults revert right back to childhood when relaxed – great with nephews/nieces, maybe less so with Great Aunty.
- And little Billy’s bestie at cubs? The one with the fabulously dressed Mum? She ain’t so well-polished hiking the cliffpath - wrong shoes. But don’t judge a book by its cover, maybe that family’s bucket list has always included a family surf lesson.
- It’s as much about what you’d like to do on this holiday as who’d be easy to rub along with – if there’s common ground: it’ll be a roaring success.
We suggest making a list of the where and whys of possible locations, then matching who’d enjoy that type of holiday too.
Speak to no one until a loose plan is formulating (particularly if wine has been consumed!)
Expectations
Potential holi-buddies selected, it’s time to be honest -
- Be open and upfront regarding choice of property – everybody has their own must-haves
- A delicate dilemma, but essential from the get-go: who is responsible for booking the cottage and when will contributing individuals be forthcoming with funds – mishandled this can spoil things down the line
- Declare the type of days you imagine unfolding and enquire what ‘the others’ have in mind – not everything needs to be done together and being a bit fluid is part of the fun; but everyone will hopefully agree on some core together-time.
If things aren’t quite feeling right, go with your gut and make excuses (even if it was your suggestion – a little embarrassment now is better than wrecking a relationship).
Best laid plans
What excitement! After a fabulous build-up, a good journey and much enthusiasm bagsying bedrooms on arrival: you’re 12 hours into the holiday and not wanting to get up. What’s gone wrong? Martha drank 2 bottles of wine last night and spoilt Monopoly, Graham’s drawn up a regimented timetable of daytrips and AN Other snored the house down overnight. And there appears to be a Grand Canyon separating the basic groceries shop…
- Plaster on a chipper demeanour and establish some boundaries immediately! As still in your dressing gown making coffee, if The Others want to be somewhere in 10 minutes: off they must go. Check if they’d like to meet for supper (out or a barbq in the garden) and suggest making plans for the rest of the holiday over a beer tonight – when you’ve had a chance to get your bearings.
- Gather your inner-circle together (at leisure), decide what jolly you’re going to enjoy together today and go for it. As the day progresses make a mental list of wanna-dos for the rest of the week and speak freely to The Others tonight. They’ll be surprisingly receptive having had all day to think things over.
It won’t be like that
Unless teaming up with strangers and/or not having put the prep in, the odds of being poles apart are pretty minimal. Other people’s normal can be different though, so ensuring there’s enough bathrooms with 3 teenagers in the house is probably a good plan.
Having fun
It’s what everyone’s here for!
Ring up the changes and reduce the need for devices – if a workaholic is in your midst, suggest checking emails during a certain half hour every day: end of. If social media rules certain lives: same as. Give both a fresh focus: be it cycling an entire trail, stand-up surfing by the week’s end, walking from Tintagel to Polzeath on the coast-path or reading the whole Poldark saga before holiday-end.
Some will want to visit The Eden Project while others take the ferry to Padstow to visit the Lobster Hatchery (fab – something to discuss over supper); the real secret to success – we feel – is making time for some days on the beach or visiting a castle together.
Anything together and some things separately. Mix and match it up.
Remember
Be spontaneous and give a little. Don’t drop the really important things. Embrace wherever you are and revel in each other’s company. It’ll be a holiday never forgotten.
And when researching a Friendcation or Famihol: remember to check out Tom’s Cottage Cornwall. All-together rooms to comfortably gather, complimented by hide-outs to escape the clamour. Full details at Classic Cottages
