Hey, remember that Palm Springs trip your friends always talk about taking but never put on the calendar? It's actually happening. And while that upscale hotel sounded divine over 1 a.m. nachos, some people are worried for their wallets now that trip planning has truly begun.
Varying expectations kill weekend trips. Different income levels, spontaneous add-on activities and not budgeting add stress to what's supposed to be a fun getaway. Yet we tend to avoid financial conversations with friends because they're uncomfortable, even though they'd make everyone more comfortable in the long run.
2. Decide who's booking everything — and make sure they're paid back
Someone has to risk putting down their credit card for the hotel. If that's you, El-Amin suggests waiting until you receive deposits from everyone else.
Once you agree on dates and pick lodging, give the group a deadline for payments. Once everyone has paid, then go ahead and book on your card. That way, you're not left in a financially dire situation if friends bail — and people are more likely to commit to something they paid for. "If you're going to put down this deposit, that really means that you're serious about this trip," El-Amin says.
Beyond lodging, other costs can snowball throughout the trip. Activities and meals often are put on one person's card, which can become hard to keep track of, especially if different people pay for each event (then there's the hassle of saving receipts). El-Amin and White both recommend apps like Splitwise, which helps log and divide payments between the whole group or specific members.
"That has been a huge lifesaver, especially amongst friend-group trips, because then there's so much transparency around what people owe," El-Amin says. "And there's not that awkward conversation after a trip being like, 'Hey, girl, you still owe me for this.'" Integrate settling up into your departure day so that loose ends are tied up before everyone heads home.
3. Don't be afraid to split up
White remembers splitting the bill at a pricier-than-expected dinner and the sadness she felt about how her budget had been blown. While your friends are on a trip together, it's OK to break into smaller groups to better fit one another's budgets.
White advises being clear about your own boundaries. If the group decides to switch plans and splurge on fancy dining, especially while splitting the bill, others can try a cheaper restaurant. Don't be afraid to do your own thing.
Mix in group activities or meals that everyone is comfortable with, White says.
"It's so important to honor what it is you want to get out of your vacation and then have a lot of flexibility and patience for what other people's needs might be," she says.
4. Stick to your budget
In her early 20s, El-Amin, now 28, used to travel spontaneously without knowing how she'd pay for it, but it led her into debt. Then she created a separate bank account where she'd deposit a bit of each paycheck to build up travel funds.
"Whether or not I have a trip that I'm actively planning, I'm still making sure that a portion of my paycheck is going towards saving for travel. I can take advantage when friends reach out to me or I see flight deals at a really cool place, I already know that I have the money," El-Amin says.
Designating travel funds creates opportunity and sets financial boundaries. Going over budget on this vacation might mean sacrificing another trip later.
El-Amin also recommends investing in travel insurance on group trips. Say half the group gets COVID-19 and excursions are nonrefundable, then travel insurance could protect you.
5. When all else fails, stay level-headed
It's important to keep communicating every step of the way. Rising tensions may be due to issues building up over more than just money (like who got which room in the Airbnb or didn't clean up after breakfast).
"Oftentimes, if there is an emotional reaction to something, it's not just about one thing," Bhatia says. "It could be about relationship issues that have come up before and may be a displaced reaction. They may be upset about something else, but that will be the one thing that they might focus on and the reason they got angry or upset."
Bhatia recommends building in time for rest as well as active communication. "Talking things through makes for a better outing."
Dreading the trip home today or this week? Holidays have inevitable hassles, but later this fall might be the best time for a trip in quite a while. Get the lowdown from experts.
The masterminds behind a popular Sandford business class want everyone to know the secret to staying on “your side of the net” during an argument.
