Top 10 Tips to Narrow Your Group Travel Destination Search

It seems simple, but — as with most things in life — the majority of potentially friendship-ending (or, at the very least, vacation-ruining) travel issues start from a lack of communication. Before you book anything, make sure everyone’s on the same page: have a trip-planning party to discuss everyone’s trip expectations, destination and accommodation preferences and budget.

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Once you’ve established everyone’s expectations, keep the lines of communication open with a trip-exclusive group chat. Even if you have another group chat for your friend group, create a distinct chat for the trip only: this will ensure no one misses any important trip-related convos, while also curbing resentment or FOMO from friends who aren’t able to attend the trip.

As stunning as certain destinations may be, it’s important to consider how much time your group has for your getaway — and factor distance into your travel destination. How many vacation days can everyone take off? How long will it take to drive over the border on a long weekend? If you only have a three-day weekend, for example, it might not be worth it to convoy eight hours each way or take a four-hour plane ride (factoring in time spent at the airport). Maximize your vacation time with a destination that makes sense for the amount of time you actually have.

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Are you an itinerary-making activity-planning goddess, or are you a free-spirited traveler who prefers to go where the day takes you? If you’re travelling in a group, it’s likely that there will be a mix of travel personality types — but that doesn’t mean you can’t all journey together. Be honest about what you prefer, and make sure that your destination will have something for everyone.

Speaking of travel style, one of the first things you’ll need to come to a consensus on is whether to make your trip an all-inclusive one. All-inclusive resorts make travel easier, but can also be more expensive, and offer less options for trip customization. Depending on how much you’ll take advantage of all-inclusive amenities, a resort may be the best — or worst — choice for your group. For example, if your group will likely leave the resort for every meal and spend a lot of time on self-guided adventures, it may not be worth it to shell out big bucks on an all-inclusive resort. On the other hand, if most people in your group want to totally relax and stay in one spot (with all the food and drink they can consume at their fingertips), all-inclusive just might be paradise.

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The quickest way to hyper-focus group travel destination search is to center your trip on an event. Finding a music festival, convention or other big event makes it easier to choose travel dates, location and activities. However, if the event is popular, you’ll need the group to make decisions and book well in advance – or you might miss out.

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When can everyone in your group travel? One of the biggest money-saving travel hacks is to book a trip in the off season, which may vary depending on where you want to go. If your friends have flexible vacation schedules, it’s worth considering an off-season trip to save time on lines and money on non-peak-season prices. However, if this isn’t a possibility (teachers, for example, tend to have the same vacation times), this might not be an option.

Want a trip that’s a mix between the it’s-all-taken-care-of feel of an all-inclusive resort and the adventure-activity-based vibe or a self-planned trip? Consider finding a destination that offers a tour. From a full trip tour (where your whole trip is organized start-to-finish) to a day tour in the city you’re visiting, tours can offer a happy medium to groups with a mix of travel styles.

For a nature-loving group, considering the environmental impact of your travel destination is important. A local destination or stay-cation that doesn’t require a plane ride might limit the environmental impact of your trip, but you can also consider how you can be a responsible eco tourist if you’re travelling to a distant destination by doing research online or looking for an eco-friendly travel company to assist you.

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It’s 2020: use technology to your advantage. Use trip-building apps (like Skyscanner) to help your group narrow your destination search, and then use fare-watching apps (like Hopper) and travel itinerary apps (like Tripit) to make planning the trip easier, cheaper and more convenient.