How do you plan a trip? If there are six people going, there will be at least six different ideas of where your group should go.....at least!!! Here are some steps that will make planning the trip a little easier.

1. DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL

Ask the group to decide on whether you should go somewhere within your own country, or whether you should go somewhere outside of your country. Does everyone have their passports? If not, that may help make that decision, as there may not be enough time to apply for passports.

Another thing to consider is the amount of time it would take to get to the destination as opposed to beginning to enjoy the destination faster. If you go somewhere closer, you could be sitting on the balcony enjoying a mountain view or dipping your toes in the ocean far quicker than if you fly to another country.

2. FLY OR DRIVE

If you decide to travel within your own country, you should decide if you want to fly or drive. Of course, some destinations will be impossible to fly to, but if it's a shorter distance, you may want to consider driving. If the driving time is too long, find a fun destination along the way to stay a night or two. See the sights, eat at a great restaurant, go dancing, gaze at the stars, anything to enjoy the moment.

3. CITY OR COUNTRY

Once you decide on a general location, you should then decide on whether you would rather stay in a big city, or if you would rather stay in a less populated area. If the idea of staying right in the thick of things within a city does not appeal to you, you could consider staying in a place that is near the city. Or, if you would rather be more isolated, you can stay in a vacation rental that is off the beaten path. Do you want to have lots of activities and restaurants, or do you want to enjoy nature? Do you want to eat out a lot or have your own kitchen? Do you want to stay in a skyscraper hotel or a small boutique hotel, or even at a cottage along the banks of a quiet, trickling river?

4. HOW MANY NIGHTS

The length of time you have available will also help determine your destination. If you only have three nights, do you really want to spend a lot of that time on an airplane, or driving long distances? You might decide on a location a little closer to home to make the most of what is available at your destination. However, maybe the destination isn't as important to you as the journey! If you are driving through beautiful mountains, maybe that is the more important part of the trip, just enjoying the sights along the way.

5. CONSIDER WHAT ACTIVITIES YOUR GROUP WANT TO DO

If you are wanting to see wildlife, you might consider staying in a mountain rental in Estes Park, Colorado. If you are wanting to see the Eiffel Tower, you are going to have to fly to Paris and you could stay in a hotel with a view of it. If you are wanting to see a Red Socks baseball game, you could stay in an old historic hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Finding out the interests of the group is the most important part of traveling together.

Once you have determined whether you want to travel domestically or internationally, whether you want to fly or drive, whether you want a city or a country vacation, how many nights you want to go and some of the things you want to do, you are on a great path to trip planning. We always assign one or two people to proceed from here to gather ideas on lodging and flights. But, if you don't want to plan, you can always hire me to plan your vacation for you!