By: Avigail Feldman
At the start of the year, I made a pact with myself that I’d finally pull the trip out of the group chat. You know how it is with that one group of friends. You all talk a big game about jetting off together, picturing the vibes and adventures in your head, but actually making it a thing? That's where it gets tricky. This year, my girlfriends and I were set on making the trip happen and decided to get on it early. Here is how we planned the best weekend away with all the tips and tricks for you to plan yours.
1. Choose A Destination
This is the time to have fun and create that aesthetic Pinterest board you’ve always thought about. Do you want the Après Ski vibe or the hot Miami sun? Wherever you choose, make sure the whole group is all in. For our trip, we decided to head up to Whistler and have a nice getaway in the mountains.
Pro tip: If you're looking to save money, pick a place where you know you have a place to stay! Maybe your friends have a vacation house you can use or you pick a place where you have family to stay with.
2. Agree On A Budget
I know this is boring and it also can be a little awkward at times, so it's crucial to all be on the same page with how much you're spending. Clear communication is going to be your best friend with this one!
Pro tip: Create a shared note on the Notes app on your phone to track all expenses for the trip. Or, if you're like me and tend to write down important stuff on paper, here's a link to my favorite planner.
3. Save The Date
Picking the dates for a group trip can almost be the hardest part of planning. Either one weekend doesn’t work for one person or another person needs to be home by a certain day.
Pro tip: To avoid having 20 messages pop up in your text thread, use apps or websites such as WhenAvailable to save stress and make saving the date as efficient as possible. Sites like these will take all the dates everyone has submitted and automatically generate the perfect itinerary (you’ll thank me later).
4. Plan Your Trip
Set up a time when you and your friends can decide what your trip looks like. My friends and I LOVE to use Google Forms to make polls, and let me tell you... it saved us a lot of time.
For our trip, we wanted it to be planned around relaxing during the day and having fun in the evening. When you go to plan your trip, it's always a good idea to have balance when planning activities. Not only with what those activities are but the prices as well. My favorite things we did on our trip to the mountains were a wine and cheese board evening, a spa day (this was our one large splurge), and a night out at the bars.
Pro tip: Make sure to make dinner reservations in advance if you're going to a busy destination! This may be a given, but it's always best to have it even if you don’t end up using it.
5. Responsibility Is Like A Game Of "Hot Potato"
Yes, you heard me correctly. Usually, every friend group has one person who is organized and reliable. The thing is, it can be hard if one person dictates the entire trip and almost mothers the group. Passing around the ‘responsibility hot potato’ could be something as simple as each person picking a restaurant to eat at or everyone planning one activity or day so each person gets to do what they want. The main goal is for no one to accidentally become the "mom" of the trip.
6. Prepare To Depart
The moment has finally come when you're thinking about getting ready to leave. My favorite place for packing/outfit inspiration is Pinterest, but if you need help (like me), read this article for things you need to pack for spring break that you didn’t even think about. With your packing completed, my next pre-trip staple is to self-tan (it's become an addiction). For you to get that perfect sun-kissed glow, here consider these self-tanners we literally can't live without.
Now that you have all the tools possible for the best girl's trip, it's time to make it happen. Don't let it stay confined to the group chat. Gather your girls, pack your bags, and get ready to head out on the ultimate getaway.
Comments