% Diversity when traveling in a group

Plan your perfect group trip with this guide!

When I step out of my home, take a flight and land in a country never explored before, one thing I always think about is how grateful I am to be able to travel to a foreign country. Isn’t it the greatest privilege? For me, the highest education or the knowledge acquired is that which comes when I travel. The biggest gift is grasping a new culture and tradition with what time and money can give. As a person who was born and brought up in India, pursued her masters degree from the United Kingdom and now living in Germany – you can say that I have had my share of experiencing cultural differences especially while traveling in a group.

There are so many factors that play a role in what defines cultural differences. Sometimes, due to cultural differences, the discomfort is so palpable that you wouldn’t know how to react so as to not offend the other person. This is when two cultures collide.

But at the end of the day what we crave for is a simple human connection, look for inspiration and try to be a better version of what we were yesterday. So, how is this possible? Every country we visit holds a rich history that it’s perceived differently through various viewpoints. What we try to do is investigate these untold stories and retell them through our experiences. That is the beauty of embracing a new culture and tradition.

Here are my tips to embrace diversity or cultural differences when on a group trip.

1. Overcome all language barriers

This is probably one of the most common blocker when it comes to traveling in a multicultural group. Of course the main priority when you travel in a group is to be able to communicate clearly and carefully. Our intention is always to be approaching and friendly. So, how can we communicate with a group that is multilingual? Firstly, try to find a common language that would work well. If you are not successful doing so then I would recommend to use gestures, doodle/draw your emotion or use hand signals wherever possible. I would highly recommend you to encourage your fellow TripMates to learn a few sentences or phrases in a language that you all will be comfortable with. This could be the local language too. Remember to speak to others slowly and clearly. Also, make it a standard for one to repeat themselves if not understood properly.

2. Research beforehand

It is absolutely essential to research about the culture or tradition of the destination you travel to. Details about how the day to day life and customs are so as to make your stay with your group as smooth as possible. Mentally make a list of all cultural differences that occur so that you are not caught off guard. Also, another tip would be to have a conversation with someone who has visited the destination before. This person does not necessarily have to be an acquaintance but simply browse through travel blogs and forums to get pro tips. This conversation with someone who has visited a destination is different from a local who lives there.

3. Be open and avoid all stereotypes

Just be empathic and try to understand the situation your fellow TripMates are in as well. One thing I always believe is that no matter our skin color, the clothes we wear, the food we eat or the money we have – At the end of the day, underneath all of these layers we are all the same. Just be open to all cultures and the differences that come with them. Just remember, what really matters is to smile together, laugh at the silliest joke and share a meal because it’s all about the experiences and the memories.

Thinking about the most multicultural cities in the world?

Here are my top 3 picks for your next group trip:

Amsterdam: This is one of my most visited and loved city. Amsterdam is home to more than 178 different cultures and you can conveniently go about speaking in English though the national language is Dutch.
London: Ah! Can I just say a part of me is left behind in London? I absolutely adore London and can truly vouch that it is one of the most multicultural city in the world. Simply because even if you don’t know English you can communicate with the use of hand gestures and figure your way around.
New York: That’s it! I am leaving it right here. Do I need to explain further? One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and specifically in Queens, people from India, Korea, Brazil and several other countries make it extremely diverse.

Traveling in a multicultural group is always better because the possibility of learning from the other person is so much more. So we hope this guide can help you in planning the perfect group trip. If you still have concerns or doubts regarding group trips, check out our top tips to get rid of your concerns on group travels.

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