As you may have seen, the hubs and I did a big couples trip to Costa Rica this summer with 4 other couples. The 10 of us had an absolutely amazing time and despite everyone being dispersed in different cities we were able to plan a highly successful trip! So successful, we want to plan another trip together! So, below are some of the best tips for planning with a large group.

 

Click to see my full review of the hotel here – WESTIN PLAYA CONCHAL HOTEL REVIEW

1. ARE YOU WITH THE RIGHT GROUP?

First and foremost, make sure you are traveling with the right people. If some of the people in the group have major issues with each other, be careful. Planning some big group dinners, drinks out and other occasions like that will help to make sure you all get along well enough to travel together.

2. SET THE DATE WAY IN ADVANCE

The hardest part with big groups is finding a date that works for everyone. I would recommend doing this before you even pick a place to make sure you are going somewhere that is nice during the time of year you all can travel. Locking in the date at least a year in advance will help everyone work it into their schedules not to mention give everyone more time to save up.

3. PICK A DESTINATION

This should be a fun part, don’t let it be too stressful! Decide if y’all want to do more beach or cold weather to start. Then look at destinations that are nice the time of year y’all are planning to travel. Looking up flights is usually a great determining factor to where you should go. If there’s a great deal on a flight, that may choose the spot for y’all!

4. BOOK SEPERATE ROOMS

Although sharing rooms really allows you to save more money, if you’re traveling for more than 2 nights I would recommend everyone having their own room. Having a place to retreat to when you need a little breather is vital. Not to mention, it makes it easy to everyone to get ready quicker for dinners lol If you do decide to share rooms, make sure to couple up the people who like to get up and have breakfast together and the people who like to sleep in together.

5. DON’T TRY TO DO TOO MUCH

Take into account how long your trips is planned for, ours was 4 nights and 5 days. We  planned one group activity that everyone did together. This was a private boat charter and was so fun to all do together. For our second activity we split the groups up and while some wanted to zip line, others wanted to ride ATV’s – it’s okay to split up. Since it’s a bigger group, most things you do will feel like more of a production and will be more fun than normal, so enjoy it and leave some time to just relax  and have fun together. This will keep everyone from getting annoyed to grouchy with one another.

 6. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE CONNECTED AT THE HIP

Like i mentioned with the excursions don’t be afraid to do your own things sometimes. Don’t be a wet blanket or Debbie Downer for the whole group if they want to dine at one retreat one night and you and your spouse want to go somewhere else. State it clearly upfront that everyone is okay doing somethings individually or in smaller pairs.

7. MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS VENMO

As much as you will try to pay for things upfront, prior to arriving on the trip things always come up. From tipping the hotel shuttle driver from the airport to the hotel or your boat tour guide venom will save you so much awkwardness later from people owing each other money.

8. REMEMBER WHY YOU PLANNED THE TRIP TO START

It is easy when you’re on a trip with lots of people to feel like, well if it had been just me and my husband we would have made time for this, or definitely would have eaten here, and so on and so forth. But remember you didn’t want to go on the trip with just your husband, this trip was planned to make memories together with these other people.