I'm going on vacation this week. How can I avoid being the victim of the Itinerary Nazi?

Question

I fear this one person will be very rigid in where we are at every single hour of the day. IT'S MY VACATION AND I'LL SLEEP UNTIL NOON IF I WANT TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

First of all, have a great time! I will miss you and your off-beat questions. I want to hear all about your trip when you get back.

Damn right, it's your vacation too! Ask the I.N. for a print out of his/her itinerary the night before each day & tell your fellow travelers that you will meet them at whatever interesting activity is set for a reasonable time. If you don't want to "follow the leader" at least you will know where the group will be (probably to the timed minute from the sound of it!) and let them know when you will be joining them.
Don't give in just to avoid conflict or you will suffer. Be polite but firm in your refusal to be led around like a small child. I bet if you speak up you will find others in your group that feel the same way & maybe you can split up into smaller groups.
Be safe!
- Jaci

Answer 2

This is precisely why I ALWAYS travel alone. That whole business about having to discuss and decide "What are we going to do today?" is frustrating and annoying.

Anyways, since you're stuck with this person, here's the best advice I can give -- and this is based on a similar situation I had the second time I went to Europe.

Basically, don't let yourself be bullied or strong-armed into doing anything you don't want. Since I presume you're paying your own way, that entitles you do do whatever the hell you want. [I just thought that it's odd you're travelling with this unpleasant control-freak again, but that's not for me to comment on.]

If bozo wants to go to a certain museum and you want to go elsewhere, simply say pleasantly, "Well, enjoy the museum. Let's meet back here at 4:00, shall we?" Then immediately depart for your chosen destination. Being proactive is far preferable to just standing there debating the situation and allowing yourself to possibly get beaten down into submission.

If you're sharing a room and bozo insists you get up at when they want, get a separate room. I'm not kidding -- use all your souvenir/drinking money if need be. And if the twit then has the audacity to bang on your door to wake you up, you are within your rights to sternly instruct them that they are not to do that again.

I've known several control-freaks in my life. The secret to dealing with them is simply to stand your ground and not budge -- they're usually used to having people relent rather quickly. As such, they'll have rather perfected their catalogue of responses and strong-arm tactics -- by refusing to budge and not debate the subject [and I mean state your refusal to agree, and then not respond to their continue efforts], they'll be thrown off-kilter since you're not giving them anything they can play off of. If you can't do the first thing I mentioned [tell them where you're going and immediately depart] and are in a position where they have time to try to change your mind, just tell them you're going to do such and such, and then just smile at them an not speak further. They'll keep trying to brow-beat you, but just smile at their continue questions and protestations. Be a rock, and don't budge whatsoever. They'll quickly realize they can't control you. Again, maintain a pleasant face -- you don't have to be unpleasant to them, merely don't let them push you around. Who knows, they might just lighten up and change their ways. [Yeah, I'm the eternal optimist!]

Have fun on vacation -- if you're paying your way, there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't be able to have fun.

Answer 3

Take matters into your own hands. Impress this person with a strict itinerary of your own -- an itinerary of awesomeness and relaxation.
"I'm taking a vacation!! A vacation from my PROBLEMS!!!" - Bob (What About Bob?)

Answer 4

Tell them exactly what you just told us. Without the bold caps, if possible.

Answer 5

Tell them that. Be very clear about what you want and don't worry if they like it or not.

Answer 6

tell them to go the hell away!