Traveling with friends can be an enriching experience that brings you closer together. However, different travel styles, personality clashes, or varying expectations can sometimes pose challenges.

Here are six tips to help you plan a trip with friends that will leave you not only relaxed but closer than ever.

Establishing Common Ground Traveling with friends

Communication is key when planning a trip with friends. Before booking anything, have an open discussion about everyone’s expectations for the vacation. Discuss potential destinations, attractions you want to visit, and the duration of the vacation that works for everyone. Will you always be together, or will there be days to explore separately? Will there be one or two main planning leaders, or will you divide the responsibilities? Ensuring everyone is on the same page and approves of the itinerary is crucial.

Aligning Vacation Styles

It’s important to acknowledge that everyone might have different ideas of what a vacation should look like. Some might want to relax on the beach, while others might want to be up early for a hike. Discuss personal preferences, potential accommodations, and transportation methods. What kind of accommodations does everyone prefer? Are you open to all-inclusive, group travel tours or ​​​cruise vacations? Are low-cost hostels or camping more your group style? Will you fly, drive or ​rent a car? What will the sleeping arrangements look like? When and how often will people want to eat? Flexibility is key so be open-minded about the possibilities so the whole group can come to a consensus.

Discussing Finances and Budgets Traveling with friends

Money can be a sensitive topic, but it’s vital to discuss budgets when planning a trip. People often have different ideas when it comes to a travel budget, so it’s best to have honest conversations about money and agree on specific arrangements everyone can live with. Try to reach common ground when planning a budget for accommodations, visiting attractions, meals out, and activities. Consider using an app like Tricount to manage group expenses on your trip.

Prioritizing Activities and Booking Early

Consider whether using a travel adviser would be easier than doing all the booking yourself. Look for group travel discounts and specials on tours or activities you want to experience. Decide in advance how much you want to do as a group versus how much time you’ll have to do your own thing. If there are activities not everyone wants to participate in, plan time to split up.

Planning for Travel Insurance Traveling with friends

As much as everyone wants a group vacation to go perfectly, the unexpected can happen. Be prepared by purchasing travel insurance so you’re covered for a wide variety of situations. Remember, each traveler residing in separate households needs to secure their own policy.

Embracing Flexibility, Fun, and Safety

Remaining flexible while practicing patience and kindness to one another will go a long way. Be considerate of differences in activity level, eating habits, and sleep schedules. Agree to stay accountable to each other for everyone’s safety. That means no wandering away without telling the group where you’re going. Be sure everyone has each other’s contact information in their phones. Look out for one another and use common sense so everyone stays safe.