Group Travel Tips — Making travel a lot easier

don't go around in circles with discussions in your group trips --- plan ahead!

Summer’s here and it’s time once again for group (or as we say it in Filipino, “barkada“) trips. Whether it’s for team building or a pleasure trip, it’s clear that summer is the best time for these journeys. The sun is out, the waters are clear, and it’s the perfect excuse to bond, recharge and get to know each other a little better.

There are travelers who like to travel in big groups, especially if some members are not part of their barkada. They take this opportunity to network and get up close and personal with acquaintances, or maybe even add to their group of close knit friends. There are also those who travel with a solid group, perhaps a small group of steadfast travel buddies who have been part of previous adventures. Then there are those who may just prefer traveling alone, but sometimes get into group trips by no force of their own. Either way, each one has its preferences and unique qualities that make each trip an adventure. Which one are you?

Traveling in groups can clearly be a very fun and exciting adventure, but it can also be a stressful one if not handled well.
Each one has his or her own agenda and expectations for the trip, and small conflicts can arise if these are not met or compromised early on. Here are a few tips to make your group travel more fun and less stressful:

Have a destination and objective in mind, as a group. Are you traveling to hang out? Are you doing things or activities separately or as a group? Do you prefer certain accommodations or is everything a “free for all” (a.k.a., anything goes) weekend? Deciding where to go and agreeing on what activities will be done should be cleared out prior to the trip. That way, everybody knows the itinerary and will be informed on what will happen. That way, each one can plan out their own activity to go alongside the planned events.

Will you be trekking through the mountains or lounging by the beach?

Agree on a group budget. Shared expenses, like transportation and a place to stay, can arguably become issues during the trip. Should you be staying in a rented place, agree beforehand on your group budget and how much each one can/will shell out. That way, you can decide on where you will be staying without any ill will towards the planner.

In that event of sharing expenses, Have a group fund. It is wise to have a group fund where you can get your payments for transportation (gas if you’re driving), food and other shared projects (boating, diving, exploring expenses). It is best to have this on hand for emergency expenses as well.

Have at least one (1) group activity during your travel. It is inevitable that some may want to do things on their own, or have other things in mind during the travel. However, since you ARE traveling together, why not have one or two activities wherein you do things together? Get a boat ride and explore the islands together, have a sit-down dinner or hangout around the bonfire and share stories. Too strenuous? Have a spa day and get your nails done, or get a massage. It will not only make your trip a lot more interesting, but will also give you time to get to know people in the group which you don’t normally hangout with. You can renew friendships and start new connections!

Always stay positive and have a good time! A positive attitude goes a long way. As group trips go, there will be times that schedules and activities may not go on as planned. It is best to be optimistic and have a positive attitude with you to boost everyone’s morale and also keep the good times going. After all, you’re there to have fun and enjoy!