When it comes to traveling with friends, there’s always that one person who steps up to assume the role of the planner. That is — until the group chat goes batsh*t. Sidebar conversations, complaints about the hotel stay, activity schedule or lack thereof and food choices can easily derail the planner’s best intentions.
Thankfully, there are plenty of e-tools out there that can help you reign everyone in and start planning the best traveling experience ever. Here are some apps you need to be confident when you plan a group trip.
1. The KAYAK App
The Kayak app can help you find the right flights and hotels at the best price. Since you know where the group wants to go and when they want to travel, you can immediately start a search. Using the filters, you can further narrow down your search so that you’re finding the options that are best for your group.
Have time before you need to book? Set a Price Alert for the flight or hotel you want. It’ll track prices and let you know when they change. Also, an added benefit of
using this app is unlocking mobile-only hotel deals — the deals that hotels typically don’t offer on their websites. It can be a great way to save on your room.
2. Tab
If you decide against creating a budget pool or just need to split a bill while you’re away, the Tab app makes splitting the bill a breeze. Simply upload your receipt and break it down among your friends. So no more having to hear complaints from the Super Saver in your group that they don’t think it’s fair to split the bill when they only ordered salad and water.
3. Venmo
The app that has saved us from countless “I only have my card” after-work dinners is great for group trips. Namely, it’s a great way to start a “budget pool.” Depending on your destination and length of stay, determine how much you think everyone should expect to spend on the trip. Then, ask them to Venmo you the money in advance, so that you — as the planner — can take over as “Treasurer” for the group.
Once you’re at your destination, it’ll be your responsibility to pay for transportation, activities, meals, and refreshments. No itemizing receipts, no waiting for everyone to figure out exchange rates. Plus if you have money left over on your last day, you can decide whether to go all out or just Venmo it back.
4. Evernote
The Evernote app is great because it lets you clip articles and ideas from all over the web, and organize them in one place. This will be invaluable to
help you organize all the “hey we should check this out” links that your group is bound to send.
Plus, you can set it for offline viewing so even if your destination has patchy reception, you can still access the name of that souvenir shop you wanted to check out. Even better, collect all your ideas in Evernote then add them to your KAYAK Trips itinerary so you keep an organized schedule of your vacation’s day-to-day.
We hope these tips helped. Now get to planning!
Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.
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