Traveling alone is fun. However, when you are with a group of close friends, the excitement multiplies. The pandemic has left all of us stressed, and everyone is yearning a getaway. If you plan to take a group holiday with your buddies post-pandemic, there are some travel tips you should keep in mind. It might seem unmanageable to plan a trip for a group of people. More people equals more planning and responsibilities.
It is especially challenging if it’s your first holiday with friends. Once you know the right way to deal with frequent problems, further planning gets easier. Check out these seven easy tips for your first group getaway with friends.
1. Set a Budget
The very first step while you’re planning a life-changing trip is setting a budget. Now that you’re traveling with your friends, try sitting and considering how much can everyone afford to spend. A group of people can have ranging incomes, so the budget would vary from person to person. Having a concrete total travel budget makes decision making a lot simpler. You can rule out options that are too over-the-top. Be considerate and pick a budget or destination that is economical for every friend. Try discussing this at the beginning itself. It will save you from a lot of problems later on.
2. Decide on the Package or Independent Planning
Travel packages are hand-tailored plans by third-party organizers. Independent booking means that every aspect of a trip is personally decided and booked by the traveler. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these options. You can go for a travel package that includes everything, from transportation to booking. It is very convenient for those who hate rigorous planning. Although a package is a more straightforward option, there is no flexibility.
You will have to stick to the schedule set by your planner. Independent booking, on the other hand, grants full freedom and flexibility. You’ll have to do that extra leg work of booking and drafting your travel blueprint, though. All boils down to personal preferences. Have a chat with your friends, and settle with whatever option fits everyone right.
3. Opt for Apartments or Airbnb
If you are traveling in groups, you will have to settle for more than a couple of hotel rooms. That could weigh down your travel budget by a significant margin. Instead, you can opt for a more wallet-friendly option; apartments or Airbnb. Indeed, there is even a trick for you to make the most from Airbnb credit. This will save you a lot of money, which can be used to explore your destination.
After a long day of traveling, you can grab a dry red wine and relax with your group back in the apartment. You get to spend quality time with all of the squad in one place. It is almost as if you are living together.
4. Split Tasks for the Group Holiday
Planning, booking, and organizing a trip for a group of people can be a hefty task. It can quickly get stressful if you don’t prepare well enough. The best way to tackle overburdening is to split tasks. Assign a role to every group member. One could handle all transport, one could handle picking touristy places, one may take care of the group’s travel kit, and another can focus on overseeing the budget. Life is easy when you have a responsibility to focus on.
Prioritize communication and coordination throughout the process. You will realize how easy trips are if everyone works in harmony. Try assigning a group leader who’ll oversee if everything is working out well.
5. Focus on Personal Choices
More people means more diversity in opinions. Don’t make the first steps of a group holiday harder, planning is more natural if you listen to what everyone wants. Hence, try discussing what every individual wants to do or where they want to go. You can always assign a day where everyone can do some personal exploration. Although it may be difficult to encompass all ideas into one plan, you can always plan activities in a group or individually. Does one of the members feel like bailing out on adventure sports and visiting a library instead? Relaxing has a different meaning for everyone.
6. Split Bills Using Money Pots
When you are on holiday, it becomes difficult to keep track of spendings. You don’t know how to split the bills by the end of a trip. Especially in a group holiday, who pays what is something you should keep in mind. There are several things you can do to tackle this issue. As a solution, you can consider having a money bank. Each person puts in a certain amount of money, and this amount can be used to pay charges difficult to split like restaurant charges.
You can quickly pay the booking and travel charges by splitting. Another option is to download various apps that record how much you’re due to pay your friends. It makes things like calculating due money or splitting bills a lot more convenient and easier.
Although it may seem obvious, it is essential to share all information on group trips. Keep everyone updated about the plans and ideas. Make a group on Messenger, WhatsApp, or any platform and inform the group if there are any changes in the plan. You can also use it to communicate your locations if you’re planning to explore individually during the day. Messaging in a group makes it easier to disclose information to every friend simultaneously, even in case of adversity.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know when you’re planning a group holiday with your buddies. It might seem like a lot of work, but when you’re with your loved ones, it’s hardly a problem. Just remember that it’s essential to communicate. Keep everyone updated in the chatroom, in case you split from the group. Most important of all, give yourself time to relax. We all deserve a nice break after this lockdown. Don’t make planning a stressful endeavor. Talking with your travel partner should solve it all.
Hey, I Have Travel Planning Resources Here to Help You Easily Plan Your TripEssential Items
Don't forget to bring the Travel Medicines, as well as your necessary Travel Kit. If Your Next Destination Requires a Visa
IVISA will help you with their speed, simple, and secured services with just a minimal chance of being rejected.
Find Your Flight and Transportation to The Destinations
You can read my travel tips to Find Cheap Flights.
You can also use 12Go to book buses, trains, ferries, or any transportation to places.
Book An Accommodation
I mostly use Booking.com to find a place for my trip. Sometimes I try to Get Free Credits on Airbnb to book homestays. Driving Yourself Will be More Enjoyable
You can easily compare prices and find great deals on Discover Cars.
Protect Yourself and Your Trip
Travel Insurance is Important, especially after COVID-19, there are more possible health issues and pandemics. Please don't forget to have a shield for yourself and your trips!
FIND THIS GUIDE TO PLAN A GROUP HOLIDAY HELPFUL? PIN IT NOW!
