Going on vacation with a big group of people has the potential to be either the best or worst trip ever. If planned right, a group trip means unforgettable adventures with your favorite people. If poorly planned, however, it can be more stress than it’s worth. 

Luckily, there are ways to ensure your group vacation is nothing but smooth sailing. Check out our tips below.

Set a Budget

This is essential — according to the American Psychological Association, money is the biggest source of stress for American adults. So, before you make any concrete plans or spend any money, get your group together and agree on a trip budget that works for everyone. Be sure to leave a little cushion in the budget for any financial surprises that might come up during the trip.

Thinking of splitting certain costs? Using apps like Venmo or Splitwise can make this process a lot easier. 

Appoint One or Two Group Leaders

Though all group members should have a say in planning, it helps to have one or two group leaders to organize the chaos and take initiative when need be. This isn’t to say that the other travelers can feel free to sit back and coast. One trick to keep everyone involved is to have different people in charge of different aspects of the group trip. For example, one person looks into transportation options, while another is in charge of accommodation research, or the area’s best restaurants, etc. With everyone involved in some aspect of the planning process, nothing will be accidentally overlooked. You should, of course, come together as a group to make final decisions after everyone’s done their respective research. 

Create an Online Logistics Document

Communication is the key to group planning. Having a central place where all trip members can access and contribute to the logistics makes communication simple and stress-free. Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets are excellent mediums for group planning, as everyone can view and edit them. Be sure to include the following items in the document:

• The agreed upon budget
• Hotel or house information
• Modes of transport
• Itineraries
• Grocery lists
• Phone numbers 

Now you know what goes into planning an amazing group trip, you’ll be able to enjoy that quality time together even more. Happy vacationing!

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