Planning a Group Trip

Traveling with a group can be extremely fun – it can also be stressful. There’s no way to totally eliminate stressful moments, but with good planning, they can be minimized.  The following will get you started:

Start Early  Whether traveling for fun  or to volunteer, it also helps to do some homework ahead of time. If you are planning to travel during peak seasons such as Mexico in March or Europe in the summer, plan well in advance.  The size of your group will also impact just how early you need to start planning.

Choose a Group-Friendly Trip  We recommend considering a tour or cruise. The major decisions have been made, and the expectations are laid out. The variety of options and structured environment of cruises give travelers the flexibility to spend time separately or as part of the group. Just saying, "Let's go to Jamaica!" with a group of people is fraught with pitfalls.

Budget Once you’ve decided on a place, the next important decision to make is a budget range.  Money can be a sensitive topic and by agreeing beforehand on the level of luxury you’re willing to pay for, you can avoid much conflict later. What one person considers affordable may not align with what others think, so make sure to be specific.  If this is a group trip being paid for by a company, the money topic is much different than if you're talking about a church or choir group, which could include people of different income levels. 

Travel Agency  Once you know where you want to go, approximately when, and a budget range, it is time to call Salty Dog Cruise and Travel Planners – this is not the time to wing it on-line.  You need professionals like Salty Dog who do this for a living, who have the experience to walk you through the variables, make recommendations on trip locations, times, etc.  And we can get you better deals than you could arrange for yourself, not to mention having access to all sorts of other special deals.  Remember: hiring Salty Dog does not cost you ANYTHING extra!

Tour Guide or Self-Guided Trip?  If you are putting together a custom trip, you will need to decide whether anyone in your group is familiar enough with where you are going to serve as a Tour Guide, and whether they have the personality to do so well.  If not, Salty Dog will arrange for a professional Tour Guide for you.  Often, Tour Guides will take a group on an over-view tour of the city/cities you are visiting, so you know better what there is to see, and still allowing free time to go back to those sites and attractions that you'd like to explore in more detail.

Planned Activities  Now you know where you're going, when, what type of trip it is going to be, it time to begin the fine tuning.  Hopefully all participants have been researching on-line for the types of things they're most interested in, developing their own personal "must see/must do" list. 

Realistic Expectations  The single most common error in traveling with a group is to set too strenuous a schedule; even small groups are not as nimble as you and a bud can be, and you would do well to realize this up front. Setting yourselves up for, and then trying to execute, a forced march through countless sites with a large group asking for trouble.  Salty Dog will work with you to develop an itinerary that will include the most important sites and activities expressed by the group, allowing for free time.  We will also ensure that the itinerary doesn't totally exhaust the group!

Once the group members receive the itinerary, they can then begin to browse on-line to determine the things they will want to explore in their free time.  It will also give them ample time to plan what they will need to pack. 

Pick Good Leaders  It is important for the group to pick at least one Group Leader who will serve as the focal point for all members once you're on your trip.  If you have a large group, you will need more than one, dividing your total group into smaller ones.  It's important that you have a method of keeping track of all of the members of your group.  Salty Dog is happy to work with your group to help you understand the traits that will be most beneficial in an effective Group Leader.  Be sure the Group Leader either knows all of the members, or is provided information about each person, including a picture and any special needs they have.

Communication  This is the key to reducing much of the tension that can result from traveling with others. Whether you’re on a trip with your best friend or total strangers, establishing a clear channel of communication will benefit everyone. Something as simple as your Group Leader saying, “If there’s ever anything bothering you during the trip, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I know we can work it out and have a great time,” can really have a big impact on everyone’s attitude.  It's also important for the members of the group to let the Leader(s) know if there are any problems. 

A group trip can save you a lot of money, be an exciting – and educational – experience, one that you might not experience alone.  Salty Dog Cruise and Travel Planners is here to help you make your group trip all that you want it to be!

So where have you been considering?  The Caribbean?  
Alaska?  A Mediterranean cruise or a tour of Europe? 
Simplify your decision making – call us today!

Let us show you the world!

Call toll free (800)697-9179  or  (336) 476-7088