From family gatherings to parties or friends’ reunions, group trips ate the opportunities to travel the world with the people whom you love and admire. They also can be planning messes, with decision-making, scheduling and sorting-out finances coming all together in a seemingly endless and disappointing growl. However, they don’t have to be. Here are a few tips to help you plan your next group trip, allowing everyone to focus on the fun, rather than thinking about the logistics.
Understand your group
The first important step is the right planning. Before starting the trip, make sure the travellers will get along well with each other. Is it a group of friends, or is it a group of family members? Is it a group made of people with a huge age gap? Considering all these factors are very important when it comes to the comfort zone, sharing the room, and activity level. Group dynamics can play a huge role in determining where to stay. Families might prefer the facilities and ease of a resort or hotel. You must determine what is most important to the group as far as accommodation is concerned- whether it’s the food, location, a pool or a beach and filter your search accordingly.
Figure out the finances
One of the most difficult points in group trip planning is deciding the budget as people may have different ideas about how much money to spend while they are travelling. As you are in a group, you should fix a budget and then follow it. A maximum budget for the necessities like accommodation should be fixed at the initial stage itself. It’s better to have a shared pot of money when you are travelling in a group, mainly if you are planning to stay in such an accommodation where you can purchase your own food and cook together. It is much easier than constantly thinking about how to split bills on the way back home.
Book flights first
The flight tickets or ground transport can immensely increase the closer the trip day gets, plus spaces can be filled up leaving no scope for a group. When you plan a group trip, ensure that you book your travel early so that you get the best deals and make sure you get enough space for the entire group. Find out details like how to reach from airport to the hotel, and what is the mode of transport to get around. Is it worth to hire a vehicle? If yes, you might have to get in the minivans early in the morning.
Pre-plan some leisure activities
Look at the best things you can do and consider some pre-planning activities. If there are some tours that you want to do you may get a group discount. It is better to book in advance if you have many people.
You should not be too ambitious and fanatical with planning, as sometimes the best things happen by chance and you do not need to stress yourself during your holidays!