Holidays can make or break a friendship group. If you want to come home and still be on speaking terms with the people you have known since primary school, it’s best to have some ground rules before you travel. This is your how-to guide for planning a stress-free holiday with your mates.
1. Discuss the destination.
Have a group meeting and write down what you want from your holiday. If your mates have written beaches and cocktails but you fancy a skiing break in the Alps, it’s time to reconsider your holiday or come to a compromise. Indoor slopes, anyone?
2. Pack as a group.
You don’t want to arrive at your destination to find you have a combined twenty bottles of sun cream and no hair dryer. Discuss who is bringing what so you can all contribute to the group’s needs.
3. Budget before your holiday.
You have worked for four months straight saving a grand. Your friend is packing tins of beans and asking his or her mum to borrow fifty quid. Plan and discuss the budget before you travel and make sure you all have (roughly) the same amount (here’s a handy calculator to help you out).
4. Keep track of each other’s spending.
Nominate the sensible friends to keep track of the friends who are likely to blow their whole budget on the first night. It’s often a good idea to have a kitty—a central pit where you all contribute a set amount, and then use the cash for group events—to keep you all in pocket.
5. Splitting the bill.
There’s nothing worse than being in a restaurant and taking ten minutes to work out you owe fifty pence more than your friend. Decide at first whether you are all paying separately, splitting the bill fairly or using a kitty (see tip number 4). The wait staff will thank you for it.
6. Organise the room sharing.
You like sleeping on the beach all day and partying all night, where your friend is up at the crack of dawn visiting cathedrals and galleries. Organise your group so that rooms are shared with like-minded people to avoid arguments.
7. Discuss booking last minute.
Last minute holidays can often mean you save huge amounts of money as flight operators and hotels look to fill up remaining spaces. Wait until a few weeks before your planned departure date and see prices drop. This can be risky for larger groups, but if your crew is four or fewer you might well walk away with a swell deal.
8. Prepare to be annoyed.
You’ve seen your friends at their best and possibly at their worst, but you haven’t seen their daily habits and mood swings. Remember, you wouldn’t be mates if they weren’t worth it so take a deep breath and power through.
9. Be flexible.
You won’t be able to do everything you want to do every day. Holidaying with friends means some degree of flexibility. Do that bungee jump and they’ll let you go to the cocktail happy hour. Everyone’s a winner.
10. Spend some time alone.
Yes, being on holiday with your friends can be an amazing chance to bond and have fun. However, plan some time alone so you can appreciate your surroundings and do your own thing for a while. You’ll appreciate the company of your friends even more afterwards.
Booking a holiday with your friends can mean an amazing adventure for you all, but you’re also going to have to learn vital skills in planning, flexibility and being considerate. Happy holidaying!
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