I love traveling with my family and traveling solo, but sometimes I love doing girls trips. I do a girls trip with my sisters almost every year and frequently travel with my work colleagues. This year I’m celebrating my 40th birthday by taking 7 friends to Thailand and Vietnam. I’m beyond excited!
I’ve learned a lot about planning group trips, especially after running The Book Club Tours so many times over the last few years. Trying to make decisions with 8 different opinions can sometimes be a challenge. I wanted to give you a few tips on how to plan a group trip that have really helped me.
Tips for planning a group trip
1. Pick one person to be the lead
This is really key. If there is not one person to be in charge, then it’s possible that nothing will get done.
2. Agree on a Budget
Make sure everyone is on the same page before you start planning. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a trip that you can’t afford.
3. Divide & Conquer
If you’re going to several locations, divide those up and have everyone research and choose a hotel, restaurant, tour or activity. If you’re staying in one place, you can divide responsibilities like accommodations, transportation, activities, food, etc.
4. Stay Organized & Communicate
Use a Google Sheet or Google Doc to collaborate, make notes, and keep track of the schedule and expenses.
You can use my custom group trip planner Google sheet to help get you started. Just open, copy, and paste into your own Google sheet. Be sure to check out the different tabs for Itinerary, Wish List, Accommodations, and Budget.
5. Embrace Flexibility
All the planning in the world can’t make things go 100% smoothly. Embrace mishaps and remain flexible. Like I always say, “It’s either a good time or a good story.”
I hope these tips were helpful and you’re able to get started on planning your own group trip!
