10 Ways To Organize and Save With Group Vacations

Summer 2021 travel is heating up and closing in on pre-pandemic levels from two years ago, according to some of the latest Transportation Security Agency travel checkpoint numbers. On June 20, TSA reported 2,030,577 travelers, while exactly two years earlier, the agency reported 2,716,428 travelers.

And people are planning group trips once again, too. “Now that restrictions are loosening up, my friends and I — all travel enthusiasts — are planning to go on a summer vacation to Fiji since it’s near and just a few hours away from Australia,” said Immanuel Debeer, founder of Flight Hacks. “We’re going as a group not just because we miss the outdoors and each other’s company, but because group travel can be a lot cheaper.”

Group travel can be cheaper, according to travel industry experts, but you need to know how to get group-related discounts and savings. Additionally, it’s helpful to have some tried-and-true tips for successfully planning and organizing a group trip so that you can avoid common pitfalls and create an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Designate Someone To Be in Charge

Grace Poole, the founder of Parenting Under Pressure, and her husband have been designated as the official group travel planners among their respective families because they happen to live in the most central U.S. location out of everyone involved. “ Essentially, that means a lot of group trips and a lot of tedious planning,” Poole said. “We’ve found that one of the easiest ways to organize a group vacation is to choose one person/family to be in charge. That way, everyone going on the trip knows who needs to be informed about all of the decisions and any last-minute changes.”

Define the Budget

“Planning a group vacation is fun; getting people to commit and pay for it never is,” said Chris Atkins, owner and founder at Central America Fishing. “It’s easy to envision you and your family or friends enjoying a private villa on the beach somewhere, but oftentimes the reality is that not everyone will have the same vacation funds to play with. It is a waste of everyone’s time and emotions to get your hopes up about group vacations that are unrealistic, so defining a realistic budget before you start planning your trip will save you loads of time, heartache and possibly resentment.”

Book Well in Advance for the Best Savings

“I’ve found success in arranging group itineraries well in advance of the proposed departure dates, meaning group travelers can secure 2021’s rates for a trip in 2022 or 2023 — or beyond,” said Shy Bredewold, director of client engagement for Odyssean Travel. “Cruises and scheduled itineraries often increase 5%-10% per year, which means a group rate for a trip secured today can be paid over the next 12-24 months, and even some late joiners can enjoy savings when they’re ready to commit.”