How To Plan Travel With Friends (That Actually Works Out)

Traveling can be such an exciting and enjoyable experience, especially when you get to share it with people you love. Besides when I am traveling with my family, my next favorite person or group of people to travel with are friends. Last year I was fortunate enough to have traveled to a few amazing places with some of my close friends (one was even a week long cruise with a group of incredible women).

In case you have been wanting to plan travel with friends, but not sure how to go about it without it falling apart, I have some tips for you.

Learn how to plan travel with friends (that actually works out).

Pick the Right People

This is my top tip for planning travel with friends. Make sure the people you plan to travel with will enhance your trip instead of making it stressful. Choose friends whose company you really enjoy, as you definitely don’t want to ruin friendships.

I suggest traveling with people who are flexible, ready for an adventure, and also have laid back personalities.

Set a Budget

One of the first things to discuss when planning travel with friends should be the budget. Figure out up front what everyone is willing to pay and contribute toward a trip. Try and set up a meeting in person, on FaceTime or Skype to hash out those monetary details.

Create a budget within google docs and make sure to be realistic in coming up with an amount that works for everyone involved.

PayPal, Tricount, Splitwise and Venmo are some great sites/apps which will allow you to split costs, send/request money and also keep track of how much is spent.

Stay Organized

Coordinating with multiple people can quickly become a nightmare, but if you stay organized it can really help. Have one person take the lead then delegate responsibilities to others so everyone feels like they are contributing (booking airfare, where to stay, activities, food and more).

Communication is key to planning successful travel with anyone, especially a friend or group of friends.

Choose the Destination Wisely

I can tell you from experience that figuring out where to go is very important when planning travel with friends. Some people love exploring, while others want adventure, and then there are those who simply want to sit at a resort in the sun. To make sure you don’t exclude anyone, try and find a destination that has something for everyone.

A cruise is always a great idea because there are multiple destinations to visit, a ton of activities, lots of delicious food, areas to relax in the sun and pretty much something for everyone, no matter what you like (or don’t like) to do.

When my friend and I decided to go to Paris together last year (you can read more about that budget-friendly trip here), we both agreed beforehand that we would do a lot of exploring, visiting museums and miles upon miles of walking.

Travel Smart

Whether I am traveling alone, with my family or friends, I always only carry on my luggage.

When you are planning travel with friends, travel smart by bringing less stuff. Create a list and see which items can be shared (like certain toiletries, electronics, hair tools, accessories and more) to try and eliminate overpacking.