So at some point, you may want to go on a trip with your loved ones, friends, or even just a random group of people. Wanting to travel is one thing, planning for a smooth and fun trip is another. Perhaps you need help with the latter. Worry no more, fellow traveler!
Here is a guide full of steps necessary so you can be an effective trip planner:
Picking Your Companions
A trip is never a group trip without having companions. As such, it is necessary for you to pick the right people you want to hang out with. Whether it is your family, or friends, or workmates, or a mix of the three, choosing your peers for the trip is a job that should not be taken for granted. This is so all of you can enjoy your trip as much as you can. Do not forget to tell everyone the purpose of the trip to give them an impetus to do more.
Once the group is filled, you may need a group leader who will essentially be the main trip planner in all of this. The group leader will establish the needs of your group, as well as provide an initial list of vacation place options and related factors like hotels, group transportation, airlines, etc. The group leader will also task other people, especially in a huge group, with other important tasks such as assessing destinations, checking financial matters, and even comparing options for group transportation.
Setting Up Your Communication
With all the needed people assigned, it’s time you set up all the necessary communication channels. From mobile phone contacts to group chats on social media, you will need multiple channels to talk with one another. This ensures that everyone invited can be, in essence, a trip planner. Everyone will know where to proceed when there are inquiries for group transportation, or simply start a random conversation. Any channels should be simple and comfortable.
Deliberating on Travel Expenses
The travel budget is often one of the most contentious topics within any traveling group. This is because any person within the party can have different or diverse ideas as to how the budget will be spent. It is thus paramount that everyone should agree on a budget for the entire trip and then stick to it.
Having a maximum budget for primary necessities such as accommodations, food, and whatnot will ensure that everyone remembers their part to pay for the trip. Of course, there are instances where your companions want to pay for optional experiences. If that’s the case, then it should be clear to everyone as well.
Before booking anything, however, it is more important to get to know all your companions well. What kind of accommodations are they most comfortable with? Who will find more efficient group transportation? How much are they all willing to allot for the entire trip? What are each of their ideas and what are the most common experiences that can be allowed under the budget? These questions are important so there will be fewer arguments and headaches not only in planning but in the actual trip as well.
Choosing Your Transportation
With your destination place now set, it is time to decide on what mode of transportation you will all use. If your destination is accessible by land, then it might be best to try charter buses or mini buses.
To be an effective road trip planner, it is imperative to check on the available bus rental services around your area. For instance, if you’re in the greater Chicagoland area, you may drop by Chicago Motor Coach, Inc. for inquiries on a charter bus.
If the trip is set at a far longer distance, then riding by airplane is the most obvious choice. As much as possible, everyone in the group should be vigilant on the price of flights, especially if the date of trip rapidly approaches. Make sure that you book your flights or your chartered land travels much earlier. With earlier bookings, your group may avail better group rates, improved services as bus route planners, or other incentives, while maintaining enough space for your entire entourage.
Being a road trip planner in the group, you must all work out essential details like the distance from the airport and/or terminal to your accommodations, how you will get there and how you can roam around. Should you choose ground vehicles, it is essential to book as early as possible since mini buses and other large-group vehicles are rapidly booked out every day.
Finding Alternate Accommodations
As a group, it may seem like a typical yet obvious choice to book hotels around your destination. Perhaps the higher the quality and services a hotel has, the better. However, there are times when being the road trip planner, your destination has no luxury hotels at all. If so, then you may need to choose another staying place while making the most of your traveling experiences.
Hotels aren’t the only places you can stay as one. In some circumstances, a luxury hotel is not even the best option at all. Unless you are all going for an all-around resort experience, you may want to try other residential areas. For example, renting an apartment would also be a more cost-effective solution. It gives you more options to customize your group experiences to your personal needs. Whether it is on being able to cook by yourselves, bringing your own gadgets, or simply not being used to ostentatious tastes, an apartment or transient house allows all of you to hangout without being crammed into one room.
These are just some tips on how to make your group trip more fun and cost-efficient at the same time. Remember to always plan for the necessary details, and even for contingencies just in case. So start planning, get some peers to make things happen, and go travel wherever you please.
Charter Buses for Road Trips
Traveling is indeed fun, especially when doing so as a group. The best way to travel in a group is by renting a charter bus for road trips. There is no better choice for the eager bus route planner like you other than renting our charter buses here with Chicago Motor Coach, Inc. Located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, we take pride as one of the most referred bus rental companies in Chicago and the surrounding areas. For more inquiries, please call us at 847-565-2326. We are more than willing to assist you.