It isn’t always easy to be the one in charge of travel and accommodation plans. This is doubly true when you are traveling across a number of different countries, as you might in Europe. Thankfully, there are some tips that you can keep in mind when organizing your travel that will make managing accommodation for large groups seem much easier.
If you’ve ever been the one in charge of organizing travel and accommodation plans for a large group of friends or co-workers, you know it can be a nightmare. There are so many different factors to keep in mind, especially if there are multiple countries involved in the trip, as often happens on European trips. There are some easy answers; thinking ahead and making sure to book UK hotels that rate highly on the luxury scale if you’re heading to the UK, for example.
Everything from cultural differences to time zone changes to the expectations of whoever you’re traveling with can cause unforeseen issues, so cutting out risks by choosing luxury accommodations can often be one of the best ways to eliminate a point of stress or contention. But what else can you do to minimize the stress of planning a holiday for a large group?
Plan Out the Logistics Ahead of Time
Maybe it’s a bit obvious, but one of the most important things you can do to minimize the stress of planning a group holiday is to… well, plan it out. This means doing some research and figuring out the most efficient, but also flexible, itinerary that you can. Schedule flights long in advance, direct ones if possible, and do your best to make sure that the whole group will have plenty of time to make those flights and to rest before and afterwards. A great way to do this might be by using chartered flight services, if you have a big enough group.
Related: How Collette is Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Group Travel
Other than scheduling flights, there are plenty of other transportation options that could be relevant, especially around Europe. Do you need to hire a bus or car after landing to get to your accommodation, or is an Uber or taxi trip sufficient? Do you plan to take tours or visit local attractions? Planning out as many aspects of your travel and itinerary ahead of time, and confirming them, can save you a host of issues while you are actually traveling.
While you’re looking at logistics for your group, you should ensure that everyone is easily contactable and knows the itinerary. This is likely to mean some sort of app or platform that allows communication, and perhaps the organization of local SIM-cards or travel plans on mobiles. There’s nothing worse than traveling in a group and not knowing where someone has gone and being unable to get in touch with them to confirm some crucial aspect of your travel.
Friends That Travel Together Should Stay Together
When traveling with a large group, it can be tempting to let people organize their own accommodations or to try and spread people out and take cheap deals in a variety of places. Don’t do this. Eat the costs and book accommodations together. All of you starting every day in the same place will make it so much simpler to synchronize the rest of your movements and will nip a thousand potential problems in the bud before they even start.
There are plenty of large hotel chains that can accommodate large groups. You might not all get rooms on the same floor, but you want to be at least in the same building. You should also pay attention to where exactly the hotel or accommodation is located. Sure, it might be nice to stay in a district a little way in the country, but that’s going to mean it takes way longer to get to and from the airport. Staying centrally in the city is often the best way to open up your options as to where and what else you can do.
Specific Tips for UK Hotels
Even though it is a little off the European mainland, the UK is actually the perfect place to anchor a group trip to Europe, especially for visitors from America. A stay in the UK will have no language barrier to overcome. There are plenty of hotels throughout the UK’s major cities that allow easy access to iconic buildings and sightseeing spots. The UK and London specifically are just a great place to start a European holiday.
When you are planning a group trip, don’t skimp on planning or accommodations. Spend the time to get organized and plan it out properly, and spend the money to make the accommodations worth it.
