How to Survive A Friend-cation
Say goodbye to the cursed Miami trips! Here’s how to plan one you’ll all survive.
Photo Courtesy: Pinterest
I know better than anyone that a group trip can go south faster than you can say “tequila.” When I went on a trip to D.C. last October, plans and expectations clashed. Half of us wanted to party all weekend and the other half wanted to go sightseeing. When only some of our needs were met, it resulted in a heated disagreement and lasting resentment.
Being mad at your friends during a vacation totally kills the vibe, so here are five tips to make sure your friend group makes it back home in one piece. Note: this includes all trips (especially ones to Miami).
Set Your Expectations Early
If you want your trip to make it out the group chat, it’s gonna need a lot of planning. A budget and an itinerary (which we’ll talk about later) are essential, but what about the personal things?
First, make sure everyone’s personalities mesh together well. You all don’t have to be besties, but you should at least know who you'll be vacationing with.
This Spring, I went on a trip to Virginia Beach. There was this guy on the trip who kept bothering me. In hindsight, he ruined my trip. His values were weird, and his comments were unnecessary. If I had known his character beforehand, I probably would have avoided him altogether.
So before you set out on a trip, make sure each person sets personal boundaries and expectations. Things like whether you're an early riser, a night owl, or someone who needs solo time, can make a big difference. With preferences set early on, you and your friends will know what to expect from each other.
Make An Itinerary
What’s a vacation without a few fun plans? No, I’m not just talking about spontaneous beach days and club crawls. I mean scheduled activities that’ll have your friend group living la vida loca.
Start by picking out a few things everyone’s actually excited about like trendy dinner spots, ATV rides, or even museum visits (just make sure you leave space for chill days).
Nobody wants to feel dragged into something they don’t wanna do, so keep it flexible. And if you want to stay organized without blowing up the group chat, keep everything in a shared Google Doc.
Budgeting
When you’re on vacation, it’s easy to spend like money grows on trees. Flights, hotels, clothes, food, and last-minute supplies add up fast. That’s why setting a daily spending limit can help.
It doesn’t have to be super strict, just realistic enough to ease any financial stress. Knowing your budget ahead of time also helps shape your itinerary.
As a group, agree on general price ranges for meals, activities, and other expenses to avoid surprises down the line.
Try to be Flexible
A trip is much more fun when everyone has a spontaneous and flexible attitude. With different personalities and moods, attitudes will inevitably shift when things don’t go as planned. Be willing to adjust without letting small things ruin everyone’s experience.
Assign Roles
To keep your tequila shots in a row, assign roles to different people in the group. Play to everyone’s strengths! Discuss who will be your treasurer, your itinerary planner, your foodie, and your ghetto tour guide. Make sure everyone contributes to the group trip equally, and remember, it’s okay to make compromises.
Take Breaks
It’s a fact that you’re not gonna wanna be around your friends all day. And that's okay. Everyone needs alone time.
It’s healthy, and recommended, to take breaks from each other. This is essential for recharging your social batteries (and decreasing the likelihood of an argument). Simple things like taking a nap, going for a solo walk, or just listening to music with headphones can help increase your mood and reset your energy before group activities.
Talk It Out
If you do walk into a disagreement, talk that shit out! We're all grown, so if you care about the people you brought on the trip, you’ll make the effort to communicate. And hey, if you’re the type who talks more with your hands than your mouth, it might help to have someone neutral around to help mediate.
A group summer vacation is supposed to bring y’all closer, not tear you apart. With a little communication, accountability, and flexibility, you can have the time of your life. So check your bags, check your attitude, and get ready to make memories. The goal is to come back with stories, not more opps. Safe travels!
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