How To Plan A Trip With Friends: 9 Easy Steps
Traveling with a group? This easy step-by-step guide on How To Plan A Trip With Friends will take the guesswork and frustration out of your next adventure.
Trip planning can be overwhelming and stressful. Traveling with friends can lead to anger or even lost relationships when preparation is neglected.
Let us help you make the most out of your next vacation with friends using these nine easy steps.
1. Why Do I Need A “How To Plan A Trip With Friends Guide”?
Traveling itself can be stressful. However, traveling with a group can bring stress to a whole new level. I learned this lesson the hard way and vowed I would never travel with a group again, that is until I discovered some simple steps to ensure we all have a good time.
Friendships Can Change During Travel
Group travel can either make or break our relationships. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t know our companions until we spend several solid days and nights vacationing with them. Tensions can rise and moods change, so a game plan is necessary to assure us our adventure will be enjoyable.
Nobody wants to have to tread carefully or be on their best behavior while on vacation. We want to relax, have fun, enjoy our friends, and be free to do our thing. These steps will help you to be organized, and ensure that everyone is on the same page. In turn, this guide will alleviate frustration and missed opportunities.
Preplanning will help to eliminate wasted time deciding “what should we do now”. This will allow everyone to better enjoy their time together.
2. Intention and Overall Vibe of the Trip
Stating the intent of the trip is the most important step.
Every other step in planning a trip with friends revolves around this step. A trip without a purpose or stated intent can easily lead to boredom, missed opportunities, guest rumblings, and frustration.
Every trip will have a different purpose. Relaxing, gambling, hiking, meditation, spa experience, wine tasting, and tearing up the town have a particular purpose or vibe you want to experience. Solace and meditation will be a completely different type of trip than a bachelor party of shots and strippers.
A simple statement of intent or purpose to your invitees allows them to easily accept or decline the travel opportunity. More importantly, it allows you to prepare your invite list, knowing that your guests agree with your overall plans.
Examples of an Intent Statement
This is a spa retreat. A completely relaxing trip: no bus tours and no shopping. This is a weekend to indulge ourselves in luxury spa treatments and “girl talk”.
We are going to craft all weekend at the annual Make a Craft Convention. This means “bring your soft pants and craft supplies”, not we’re going on a catamaran whale watching tour.
Imagine, being invited to a mountain cabin with your best friend, only to find out that it is a mastermind of entrepreneurs like herself. You unknowingly accept the invite because it’s the mountains. This sounds like a great time to spend sipping wine, reading magazines, and watching movies.
Where you thought you and your friend would sit around bonding, gossiping, and eating junk food the trip has turned into whiteboards, think tanks, and misery.
This may sound a little far-fetched but worse trips have happened.
Create a Great Experience
Every adventure whether it be a road trip with friends, a camping trip with friends, or a trip abroad with friends will have a different dynamic, vibe, and intention.
Take time to identify these factors as outlined in this How To Plan a Trip with Friends Guide. From experience, I have been on some miserable trips because the intention was unclear.
Help create a great experience with your friends by stating the intent of the trip before anything else!
3. Identify The Group Of Friends Traveling
Remember, not everybody is suited for every trip. Likewise, not everyone wants to participate in every getaway opportunity.
Intention, finances, and length of the trip are defining factors. Be clear with the intent of the trip so that your travel partners can make a decision, as to whether or not they really want to go.
Choosing the right travel partners for the right adventure will add to your overall enjoyment. Some trips easily cater to large groups while others are best experienced by a smaller more intimate guest list.
Who is going on this trip?
Some friends want to hike while others want to booze it up. There are weekend shopping trips, Big City Christmas Lights Displays, and relaxing spa trips.
A couples retreat will differ from a girl’s or a guy’s weekend trip. Your church group friends’ interests might vary from your mastermind group of friends.
Identify who is going on the trip. Collect names, emails, and phone numbers for easy communication.
How many people are going on this trip?
The number of people may significantly impact the experience you want to create for your group. Every single decision from this point forward depends on this step. From transportation to having meaningful conversations your group size will dictate every opportunity.
Leaving this step to chance causes frustration on every end. Members of the group may feel left out, or irritated, and will not enjoy the trip if the destination is difficult to maneuver. (Have you ever seen the Bride Train of 15 girls parading through the casino? Nobody looks happy)
Identify the group, get a commitment, and begin the planning.
StroTip
For groups larger than 8, consider an all-inclusive resort. These resorts are great for large groups, offering ample seating and entertainment options. There’s always plenty of space to relax, party, and explore.
For smaller groups of 2-8 people, finding seating at clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues is easier. Transportation between venues is also simpler with fewer people.
4. The Pre-Travel Planning Meeting
The Pre-Travel Planning Meeting is necessary and creates a foundation for the trip. It should cover 4 main topics:
- Designate a point person
- Set the budget
- Agree on expectations
- Pick a location
For large group trips, it is advisable to consult a travel professional. However, you can easily plan your trip with friends, yourself, or by consulting with your pack of travelers. Be warned though, too many voices can lead to indecision and overwhelming choices.
Designate A Point Person
The Pre-Travel Meeting is the perfect time to designate a point person for the trip. The Point Person and Host of the trip do not need to be the same.
The main job of the point is to help with travel arrangements, make necessary reservations, help develop an itinerary, and ensure that the trip remains within the agreed budget. The Point Person will need to communicate with travelers regularly and be detail-oriented.
This may sound a little overboard as far as the delegation of duties, but which is worse:
A. All reservations and daily itineraries are organized.
or
B. Standing around asking “Where do you want to go to dinner” or, “What’s the plan for the day”?
Set a Realistic Budget
For many travelers, budget is a big concern. While some may have an unlimited resource of money, others may have more limited finances.
There may be times when the host may need to adjust the trip itinerary to accommodate their comrade’s financial ability. Other times, the itinerary, adventure, and cost dictate your travel partners.
At any cost, never money shame travel companions into overspending their budget. Friendships are often lost over disputes involving money.
Developing a realistic budget for the trip can help alleviate any surprises and undue stress.
Consider these costs when making a budget:
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Transportation
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Special Clothes
- Incidentals
You, the Host, need to weigh the options and set a budget that is affordable for the group that you want to travel with on this trip. There might be excursions during the trip that are optional as well. We will cover this more in the itinerary section.
StroTip
As a travel agent and personal trip planner, I often ask my clients and friends to tell me where their comfortable budget lies. Building an itinerary around realistic cost expectations is much easier. Of course, you can easily add in splurges and eliminate less important experiences.
For instance, when we travel to Las Vegas with friends, we might opt to splurge on an over-the-top dining experience rather than overpriced bottle service at a club. Your group might be the exact opposite.
Money and experiences all boil down to personal preferences.
What Are The Real Costs
The Pre-Travel Planning Meeting is a good time to discuss payment responsibilities and commitment. Stating upfront costs, as well as incidental costs, is important.
Confusion and frustration often set in when one member of the group starts buying dinner one night and expects everyone else to pick a night to treat. This is an unnecessary burden UNLESS discussed ahead of time.
Unfortunately, uneven or undefined financial responsibility can break a friendship.
Timelines and commitment deadlines can also be discussed in the budget session. Unavoidable circumstances happen all the time, however, does that mean the rest of the group should have an increase in financial burden if someone has to cancel?
It is always best to state the terms upfront. There is nothing worse than someone dropping out at the last minute and your price just jumped $1000.
How you handle this situation is completely up to you but it needs to be defined and stated.
This Is a Good Time To Talk About Expectations
Every person will have some type of personal expectation concerning the trip.
Some may expect to explore every part of this new city, from sun up to sun down, while others friends are late risers and have no desire to sightsee.
Likewise, you might be expecting to indulge in a spiritual journey and your friends want to go to a club. Don’t ever assume you know what your group is expecting.
Pick a Location
The best opportunity to decide on a venue or at the very least, discuss possible destinations is during the Pre-Travel Planning Meeting.
Deciding on a location incorporates all of the preceding steps. Aligning your intention, budget, and group dynamics will quickly help you narrow your destination focus.
In a perfect world, everyone will be able to attend the pre-travel planning meeting and add to the conversation. Travelers not included in the discussion may have ideas or excursions that are important to them.
Communication is a key component when traveling with friends, especially when planning daily activities.
5. Develop An Itinerary
Now that the preliminary work and foundation are set, it is time to plan your trip with friends. This is the most fun part of pre-planning! Research and proper scheduling and timing will enhance your getaway experience immensely.
When your companions know the schedule and have contributed, however, loose it may be, everyone feels included. Being organized will cut down on unnecessary texts, stress, and frustration in the group.
Whether you are using a professional tour company or arranging a small group camping trip, the principles are the same. Let your people know where and when the activities or excursions are scheduled.
Here are some important steps in creating the itinerary for your trip with friends:
- Research and suggest points of interest
- Schedule breaks
- Keep in mind group suggestions
Research and Suggest Points of Interest
As the designated trip planner, you may need to research and suggest points of interest to your group. Even a long weekend getaway to a cabin retreat may require some suggestions of things to do in the area, such as a local winery or restaurant.
Some in your group may want to hit the ground running, sightseeing and shopping, while others in the group may want to enjoy an afternoon lounging at the pool. Since the possibilities are endless, a good trip planner covers all the basics and includes something for everyone.
Schedule breaks
Scheduled breaks or free time allows your friends to do something that didn’t make the itinerary list. Shopping, browsing a nearby art gallery, or reading quietly on their own could be just the reset they need.
Breaks are important to any itinerary.
Everyone Has A Say
Including the members of the group in the planning can make or break a friendship. Taking suggestions can help ensure everyone’s trip needs are met, especially on multi-day vacations. Their differing ideas can add to the overall experience of the trip.
Simply ask the group to submit 3 suggestions they would like to do or see on the trip. Make a list and the most popular and feasible suggestions for the group as a whole become part of the itinerary. The least popular or more individualized items might be accomplished during the scheduled free time.
StroTip
A well-designed itinerary considers the proximity of daily activities such as sightseeing, meals, and other entertainment. Leaving ample time for your travelers to enjoy their visit while considering transit times is super important to the overall experience.
Relying on ride-share and mass transit can impact your travel plans. Likewise, not everyone moves at the same speed and ease.
Make sure your itinerary and timeframe are realistic.
6. Travel Arrangements and Reservations
Any How to Plan a Trip with Friends Guide would be incomplete without this step. As the trip planner, you are going to have to keep track of arrivals, departures, and any other reservations.
Travel
Travel arrangements can be tricky, especially if your group is scattered around the globe. Allowing your companions to make their arrangements can help reduce your workload and potential financial obligations.
However, it is wise to give your friends some parameters, such as “arrive by” and “depart by” times. Otherwise, you could be making multiple trips to the airport or train station.
Hotels, rental units, and campgrounds have stated check-in and check-out policies. Likewise, you should incorporate these details into your itinerary.
Reservations
In our post-pandemic world, you will find that you are going to need reservations in most touring destinations and eateries.
Piling six people into a winery on a Saturday afternoon without reservations might result in being turned away. Likewise, waiting for a table to become available in a trendy cafe’ might cut into a scheduled tour time.
Reservations will ensure that your group can experience everything the trip was designed to bring without frustration and lost opportunities.
7. Communication
Communication is imperative during the trip planning process because it will:
- Alleviate Stress
- Promote unity
Alleviate Stress
As you plan your trip with friends, make sure everyone has a copy of the itinerary.
Why leave your guests in the dark, unless of course, the trip is designed to be that type of adventure? A simple spreadsheet or document with the details of the trip, contact information, and any other important information should be able to be easily accessed by all.
Promote Unity
The unity of the group before departure can be fun and helpful. Whether you use an email chain, messenger app, or a social media private group to talk, the guests will feel included.
Conversation amongst the group builds excitement and expectation for the trip. For those who may not know each other as well, it will help them start to bond and build a rapport.
Ask questions like:
- Will any of the dinners be formal?
- We have free time on Tuesday and I was thinking about going to the Farmers’ Market. Would anyone like to come with me?
- Hey, I’m looking for a new weekend bag, does anyone have some suggestions?
Questions open up dialogue and dialogue helps to gel a group experience.
8. In Case of Emergency
Even the best-laid plans sometimes develop a hiccup. Missed or canceled flights, illness, weather, and travel restrictions occur every day.
Having an open conversation on what to do in case of an emergency is far easier before a situation arises.
What If?
When you plan a trip with friends, consider and plan for the What If scenarios. Discuss possible outcomes and develop a fail-safe procedure to keep everyone safe.
Possible What-If and Emergency Scenarios:
- What if I lose my passport?
- What if we miss the cruise ship departure?
- Do you know if your travel companions have a food or medicine allergy?
- What will you do if someone in your party goes missing? How long will you wait to notify the proper authorities?
- Does anyone in your group know how to fix a flat tire?
- Sure, these are bummer questions to ask, but it is always better to be prepared.
Emergency Contact Form:
Provide an emergency contact form for your group. Sure, we know our friends’ families, but do we know how to contact them in the event of an emergency?
It is a good idea to have both a paper copy and an electronic copy of all Identification Cards and travel documents. A little preparation can save hours of time, especially if you lose your passport or identifying documents.
9. Final Thoughts: How To Plan A Trip With Friends
HAVE FUN!
Using the How To Plan a Trip With Friends Guide will help you step-by-step as you plan a trip with friends. You will stay organized and reduce the frustrations of trip planning.
Whether it’s a 10-day Mediterranean Cruise or a 3-day Road Trip to Chase Waterfalls, these principles are important to ensure you achieve the last step.
HAVE FUN!
More than anything, your friendships are important. Have fun, laugh a little, and then some more!
Thanks for reading! Now go forth and travel on!
