Going abroad with friends is a thrilling experience, however, it can also cause havoc if you do not plan or agree to things, such as budget, beforehand. Vacation is for you all to enjoy, and so you need to ensure you are heading somewhere everyone is interested in, and engaging in activities everyone will enjoy. If you fail to decide on a budget, destination, and even the sleeping arrangements, you risk falling out. Here’s a guide on planning a vacation with friends.
Choose Your Type of Vacation First
The first step to planning a vacation with friends is to take the friends out of the equation. Far too often we prioritize going with a certain group when that can actually detract from the overall experience. Contending with many different ideas on what kind of vacation you are going on can become a mess quickly. That is why it is best to choose the type of trip you want to go on first. Do you want to go on a camping trip in your local area? A beach trip across the country? A city trip to New York? Perhaps an all-inclusive resort like Amanyara Turks and Caicos is more to your liking? Once you know what kind of trip you want to go on, you can then ask your friends if they will be interested. This will help everyone manage their expectations from the start.
Find Ideal Accommodation for Your Group
One of the best parts about traveling in a group with your friends is that you can share accommodation costs. This means that it can be very economical to find a luxury vacation home on the newest Wilbur Labs project, VacationRenter, which compiles all of the vacation home listings into one place. Choose a beautiful home that all your friends can stay in, and you will not only have a great accommodation option, but you will also be able to save money by, say, making food at home.
Set a Group Travel Budget
The pay gap between your friends will likely become increasingly apparent as you age. Some friends might choose passion careers that pay them less, others might opt for industries that let them rake in the cash. Either way, chances are you won’t all automatically be on the same page when it comes to your budget. That is why to ensure everyone has a great time, you should make a group budget from the start. This budget should apply to what you do when you are abroad, but not what you purchase as a souvenir or gift. That way everyone can do the same activities. If you have one or two friends that are on a really strict budget, buy food and make meals together instead of eating out, and try to find all the free or discounted activities that you can.
Tip: If you can, find deals so that you can do the best tourist activities at a discounted price. Two-for-one deals are popular, as are discount cards for tourist sites.
Traveling with friends can be a nightmare, or it can be an incredible experience. The secret to a successful vacation with friends is managing expectations from the start, so that everyone can go and enjoy being on the same page.
