Group Travel Specialist

Traveling in a group multiplies the fun!

A trip with friends or family should be on everyone's bucket list. There's nothing better than spending a week with the people you care about the most, making memories, and getting up to some mischief. But planning a group trip while considering everyone's schedules, budgets, and preferences can give you a migraine.

Before you start feeling overwhelmed, we've broken down the planning process into six easy parts. Each tip should help make the planning process feel like a group effort! So read on, get your crew together, and get ready to have a blast.

Start Planning Early

Get started at least a year in advance. You don't necessarily have to book your travel that far in advance. You can begin the conversation and gather general ideas about who can attend and where your group would like to travel. Your lives will be much easier when it comes time to make arrangements.

Figure out Your Purpose, Budget, and Itinerary

Will this trip be about relaxing, or are you guys planning on turning up! Or maybe you'll do a little of both! Do you want to rough it out in nature or go on a cultural tour? Be sure you are considering everyone's interests and wallets while the planning is happening. Make sure to agree on a budget before planning to ensure that no one feels pressured to spend over their limit.

Keep the Options Simple

After discussing what you want from this vacation and agreeing on a budget for everyone, it's time to narrow down your options. Ask everyone in your group to share two or three ideas on things like accommodations and activities. Pay attention to the places that more than one person throws out. You've likely found a winner if the majority likes a particular destination, hotel, or excursion. 

Make it collaborative. Everyone should have a say in the planning process, but depending on your party size, it'll be hard to get everyone on the same page. To take some of the pressure off, make a checklist or project planning board using a tool like Trello. Once you have your list, designate individual tasks for everyone in the group and knock out that checklist. This way, the work is split up, and everyone will feel included in the planning process.

Hire a Vacation Photographer

A professional vacation photographer will take stunning and candid photos of your whole travel party that you can reminisce about for years - and, of course, at an agreed price! Not only can they capture your trip beautifully, but there's also the added benefit of gaining a local perspective through the lens of a professional.

Be Flexible

While planning out the trip, be sure to remind yourself that the goal is having fun. Things happen that you're not in control of, so try to make the best of the process and the trip. Remember, the main reason for your getaway is to reconnect and spend some much-needed quality time with the people you love!

"It's the journey, not the destination, that matters."-Ralph Waldo Emerson