How to survive a group holiday as a foodie?
Going on holiday with a group: a nightmare or a gift? I took on the challenge. I came back satisfied, with a lovely tan, wonderful holiday memories, an extra suitcase (without any limbs from one of my travel companions, but with new sneakers and a supersonic corn grater). And with these do’s and don’ts, you’ll dare to take it on too.
DO’S
Choosing restaurants together
A tricky one for control freaks (like me), but lots of fun in hindsight: take turns letting everyone in the group choose a restaurant. This takes you out of your foodie comfort zone and lets you visit places you might not normally go to. Because would you ever have chosen a restaurant with a Caribbean atmosphere yourself? Or one where everything – in São Paulo – is made with pork? An extra plus: there’s a chance people will talk about your awe-some choice for months to come (A Casa Do Porco is now even on the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world). Do check the location of your restaurant suggestion in advance, because nobody will be happy about driving for an hour and a half via a try before you die–path.
Splitting the bill
No matter how creative or easy-going your group is, a shared kitty makes the holiday much easier. Because: no hassle with apps or payment requests. It’s also nice for the waiter, because there’s no need to print ten separate bills. And the sooner you’ve paid, the sooner you can get back to the terrace for a nice glass of wine.
Sharing is caring
Order all the starters as dinner for once. The advantage of being in a (large) group is that everything will be easy to finish. And if not, we always have the doggy bag. Have all the food served in the middle and start sharing – if you don’t hate shared dining. You’ll taste many more different dishes than when everyone orders separately.
Book in advance
Restaurants don’t always have room for large groups. Avoid the risk of a walk of shame and book in advance at a restaurant you’d like to visit. And the larger the group, the greater the chance of a group discount. (Ask about it!) Also follow these smart tips for booking a table.
DIY
If you’re staying in a house or apartment with a kitchen, throw something together yourselves for once. Visit a local market or supermarket and get something for everyone. Divide the tasks and prepare a delicious dinner together. Bonding at its best.
DON’TS
Everyone has their own eating habits
Your cousin probably knows that it’s annoying when he picks the save the best for last–bite off your plate every time. And your colleague has probably been told before that using her own knife for the butter isn’t okay. But when it comes to holidays with large groups: let it gooo. Spending your entire holiday correcting other people’s eating habits is a waste of your well-deserved trip. And let’s face it: you probably have your own quirks too (I put mayo on everything, much to my friends’ horror).
Avoid jealousy
When you eat out with a large group, delicious dishes will be flying past you. It may happen that your tablemate’s food looks much tastier. Don’t spend the whole evening sulking about it. Order it yourself next time or ask if you can have a bite.
Consider everyone
Don’t assume everyone has the same amount of money to spend. Not only while planning your holiday, but also once you’re at your destination. It’s best to discuss this beforehand, but the most important thing is to take it into account. Drinking decadent cocktails for several evenings or visiting a Michelin-starred restaurant is fun, but happy hour and budget-friendly restaurants are just as good.
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