7 Tips to Plan the Next Trip with Your College Friends

College students love their breaks. And they often have a wanderlust to travel, whether that is to a favorite spring break destination or to more exotic locations they want to visit now before they graduate, take jobs, and face the real adult world of other financial obligations.

Some students are able to satisfy that wanderlust by studying abroad. Others volunteer with international charities. But if that is not you, then you can still plan a trip to a new place, either within your own country or abroad, with a group of your college friends.

If you should decide to do this, here are some important tips:

1. Make it a Small Group

Three to four people are a good group for a trip, especially if the destination is unknown to any of you. It’s much easier to keep track of each other if you go separate ways during any of your sightseeing or activities. And choose friends whom you know are up for a new adventure and who won’t get upset if things don’t go exactly as planned.

1. Choose Travel Mates that Will Get Along

You may end up with travel delays; if you take a road trip, you will all be in a car for a long time – there may be more frequent bathroom stops or an unplanned stop when someone wants to see something. Close quarters will require that everyone can get along well.

1. Pick a Destination That Satisfies Everyone

If some of you want sunny and warm, preferring to lounge on the beach, while others want to explore a new city, then the destination will be tropical but to a resort area – something for everyone. The destination should be a group decision, of course.

The other factor will be the budgets of those who plan to go. Not just the destination, but the getting there and back too. Some of the group may have to begin to save earlier than others. Also, get a party bus for your Anaheim road trip.

1. Prepare Ahead for Pending Academic Work

If you all will be returning to classes and assignments that will be due when you return, you should plan to get these assignments completed ahead of time. If any of you are strapped for time, check out your options for cheap essay writing services us to get help with an essay or paper that will be due. After all, if there are travel delays in getting home, missing an assignment due date can be a “hard pill to swallow.”

1. Plan Type of Itinerary

Once the destination(s) have been chosen, then the group must decide how strict or open will the itinerary be. Obviously, some parts must be strict, especially if the trip involves multiple destinations and reservations. There are extremes – a backpacking trip with hostel stays versus set reservations for specific dates, for which deposits have been paid – and everything in between. 

1. Plan for Accommodations and Transportation

These will be important if the itinerary is rather strict. And the plans must be made well in advance. A part of this planning also involves details such as luggage limitations, for either plane or car travel. Another factor will be sharing rooms. These are decisions that must be made in advance and of which everyone must be aware and satisfied.

1. Plan for Downtime

Being on the go 18 hours a day is not a normal schedule, even for energetic college students. If the itinerary is strict, then this may have to be scheduled. For example, if a boat has been rented for skiing and snorkeling, and the cost is being split by everyone, then a late-night before may result in one or more is just too tired to participate. If the itinerary is far more flexible, which is often the case with college students, then no downtime must be scheduled. To each his own.

Planning and Communication = Success

These seven tips should drive home the point that any trip among friends, whether a weekend getaway or an extended trip to places abroad, the key will be for everyone to be involved in the planning and to communicate their wishes. Compromises may have to be made to accommodate everyone, but that’s what friends are for.

Author Bio: Melony Hart is a writer of all things college-related. She speaks from her own experiences and those of others, providing lots of perspective and advice. In her spare time, she dabbles in gourmet cooking, animal rescue, and environmental efforts.