Group Trip Tips: Having Fun While Catering to Different Travel Styles

Planning a trip for just a few people can be stressful enough. There’s airline tickets to consider, hotel accommodations, excursions…it can be challenging.

Now, imagine what it’s like to do it for a large group.

But planning a trip for 10 or more people doesn’t have to have you dreading your vacation. If you plan it right, the more the merrier!

When it’s left up to you to plan a trip for a bunch of people with different vacationing styles — some want to relax, some want to party, others want to do it all — just take a deep breath and follow these few simple tips.

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Getting There

Perhaps the most frustrating part of any vacation is the travel. Long lines at the airport, delays and layovers can have everyone feeling cranky before they even arrive at the destination.

To avoid this stress, make sure everyone is prepared. Make sure everyone has the proper paperwork, IDs and allowed amount of luggage before you head to the airport. Once you arrive at the airport, have everyone check any bags that may not fit in overhead compartments to avoid delays at the gate and, for anyone who doesn’t already know, go over the proper security line procedures. All of this will save time.

Also, hand out any itineraries and discuss any plans for when you arrive so people can pack accordingly. Nothing is more frustrating that not having the right clothes for different situations.

What to Do

When planning vacation activities, talk to everyone in your group to get ideas. If you go to, say, Los Angeles, some may want to visit Disneyland, some may want to check out Holly and still others may want to score some LA Dodgers tickets. If you discuss this beforehand, it will be much less stressful once you arrive at your destination and everyone will be excited to start enjoying themselves.

And don’t forget about yourself. Don’t get carried away with what everyone else wants that you neglect to see a certain landmark or attend a show you’ve always wanted to see. Sure, making everyone happy is important, but you’re not going to enjoy yourself if you only do what others want to. Treat yourself!

Keep Calm

The absolute worse thing you can do on a vacation is to stress out. Vacations are supposed to be about relieving stress.

Avoid stressful situations like planning too many activities in the same day or forcing others to participate in activities they may not want to. These situations can lead to arguments and hurt feelings, two things that should have no place on a great vacation.

If you’ve planned correctly, these things should not happen. But even the best plans can go sideways unexpectedly, so if they do, remember to take deep breaths and smile.

After all, you’re on vacation!

If you’ve volunteered — or have found yourself nominated — to organize a trip for a large group of people, remember these simple tips. You and your friends will be happier for it.

Alisha Field has worked in the travel and sports industries for several years now. She writes travel and sports related articles in her free time in hopes of helping others.