Group Trips: Co-Create Your Time Together
Last year, I went on a trip to Copenhagen that taught me some valuable lessons about the power of open communication and collaborative planning for group travel. What started as a surprise Christmas getaway for my partner turned into a Nordic adventure with some of our dear friends from Philadelphia, Boston, and London. As excited as I was for us all to be together, the travel lover and facilitator in me knew the importance of co-creation and communication to prepare for our adventure.
A couple of months before our trip, I decided to convene a planning session. Using a Google Jamboard, I invited everyone to share their thoughts, ideas, hopes, and fears for our upcoming trip. While my partner may have initially raised an eyebrow at my facilitator-like approach, this exercise proved to be a game-changer—and something I’d highly recommend.
On this Jamboard, everyone was able to share their expectations, boundaries, preferences, and concerns. We navigated discussions on accommodations, desired vibes, budget considerations, food, and more.
Out of this collaborative effort emerged a planning committee with one representative from each couple. Together, we organized a delightful long weekend in Copenhagen, with a detailed but flexible itinerary that catered to our collective interests and aspirations.
Friend trips, family excursions, and group getaways can often be rife with challenges and unexpected drama. If you're gearing up for a group adventure, I can't stress this enough—take the time to map out your journey based on the hopes and fears of your group. You never know what’s important to people: the need for couple time, the desire to branch off and have one-on-one moments, the wish to have shared meals. Simply having everyone together doesn’t make things work. Establishing clear communication channels and shared expectations will pave the way for a more enriching and co-creative experience together.
How do you even start this conversation?
Have each person share three hopes and three fears they have for the trip. That will offer lots of considerations to work with.