Before traveling with a group, I became the worst version of myself. Planning an event brings out my darker side, whether it's a girls' weekend in Vegas or a few days "chilling" in upstate New York. I peppered the group chat with questions about dating preferences, clothing choices, and budget range. I create Google folders for flight information, vision board, and itinerary and press "Share" (without granting editing permissions).
I could blame it on my Virgo moon, but according to TikTok, I'm not alone. TikTok users say there are two types of people when it comes to group activities: “Planner friends,” who create complex itineraries and book excursions, and “Venmo friends,” who just pay their portion and show up at the airport . If you're not sure which one you fall into, you're probably in the latter category.
As we get older, the regular group get-togethers on Friends and Sex and the City seem more like fantasy than realistic fiction. A group of adult friends getting together regularly? It sounds fake. Therefore, in order to successfully implement the plan, at least one person must take charge and become the project manager for the occasion. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with taking on this role.
Project manager responsibilities may include putting together questionnaires to understand people's expectations for the trip, developing itineraries to ensure everyone knows when everything is going to go wrong, and in some cases creating a document so everyone can share their The contents were worn all weekend long. Is it extra? Undeniable. But if you showed up in jeans and a nice top and everyone else was wearing mini dresses and heels, you'd be pissed, wouldn't you?
Surveys, Contracts and Spreadsheets
Before using two different Google forms, Tanya Sesiakin, 27, said that while group travel may feel like fun and games, any trip that requires someone to spend limited, valuable resources like money and time ) is essentially a business partnership. Weddings in September 2023 – one for bachelor party invitees and one for bridesmaids. When you provide information up front, people can decide whether they can attend and know how much the pledge will cost them. It's almost like a contract.
Cecia King uses her survey to gauge factors like neckline preferences, how they're willing to help on their wedding day and what kind of drinks they prefer. “With surveys, you can tell attendees that your perspective and that your opinions matter,” she says. “You’re almost gamifying market research.”
On TikTok, planner friends agree that surveys are a necessary part of planning a group trip, much like how some couples manage their relationships with spreadsheets and weekly check-ins. Making everything public can be modified. Problems can be solved before it's too late.
"[Surveys] can help you better understand what people are willing to commit to," Sethiakin said. "The answers you receive are more honest than in a group chat, which is an added bonus because people will just agree with what the majority says (via text message)."
Planning is a full-time job
Felisha Barrett, 38, works as a travel agent at Fora Travel, providing clients with detailed itineraries, often as long as 10 pages. “The more details I include, the better,” she said.
While prices vary throughout the travel industry, Barrett estimates the average cost for most basic services for planning a trip for a group is about $500, and that doesn't include the additional commissions an agent may receive. On the ultra-luxurious side, some travel agencies like Fischer Travel Enterprises charge members annual fees of up to $150,000 before they even book a vacation. Yes, planning is so valuable.
To make a group trip run smoothly, designated project managers may treat their best friends like clients. Before we went to Vegas, my planning partner and I created a document that listed estimated flight prices, room rates, and photos of floor plans and guessed how much things like tickets and meals would add up so people could One can refer to it before confirming their booking. Attend. The best part? We do it for free.
While travel agents get paid to provide a range of services, amateurs do many of the same things but make no profit from their work. While they may find it troublesome to contact the team again to decide on a breakfast reservation, there's nothing more satisfying than being able to say, "I'm not sure, check the itinerary!" When someone asks when they need to go to a drag brunch.
You get what you pay for
Laying it all out in the survey avoids questions about expected expenses, which can be embarrassing to ask out of the blue. Detailed spreadsheets pull together everyone's flight information so people can split Ubers. A cute Canva editor can clean things up when getting ready, and a vision board can make sure no one shows up pregame wearing an outfit that doesn’t match the vibe. Planner friends may be annoying or nervous before an event (been there!), but it's a necessary move for the greater good of the team—and, of course, to ensure those Instagram photos are going viral.
Does it feel a little weird to send feedback forms to your friends like a telemarketer? perhaps. But if your trip is anything like the Fyre Festival, it's even worse. You'll thank yourself later - and when other people show up who know exactly what to wear and have enough money in their checking account, they'll probably thank you too.
source:
Felisha Barrett, Fora Travel
