So one of my sisters was planning a weekend getaway for a group of friends. They weren’t really her friends, but I will not add any extra details to protect the innocent, lol! She had called me frustrated because when she asked what everyone wanted to do, they didn’t suggest anything, but they didn’t like her suggestions. That’s the one sore spot I hear a lot in planning a group vacation with friends or family. Here is my resourceful take on how to plan a group vacation like a boss.
1. Be The Boss!
This was the first tip I gave to my sister. If you have been tasked with planning a trip for a group, then do it. Sure, they’ll complain about some decisions, but I guarantee that they don’t want to be in charge and won’t leave. Actually, it’s okay if they leave because that’s one less sour person around.
2. Don’t Give People Open Choices On Vacation
“Where should we go to eat?” That’s the worst question to ask a group of individuals because everyone will have a different response. Then you spend 30 minutes to an hour hearing someone make a suggestion and then another person saying, “No, I don’t like that.” Then it repeats until it is too late to go anywhere.
The Vacation Illusion of Choice
My husband always says that you have to make people think that they are choosing when in reality you have already made the decision. That sounds deceptive, Nikki. You’re darn right it is, but that’s because in reality people don’t like making decisions and they want someone to decide for them. And let’s face it, when you go on vacation the food is typically similar and the activities relate to the region. What do you mean, Nikki? If I go on an island vacation there is usually, boating, swimming, snorkeling, etc. The local restaurants will probably have food from the ocean. So in reality, you don’t have hundreds of options.
People need a small menu of options to make quicker decisions. This is probably why people like to take cruises for group vacations. Your activities and meals are already planned for you. Sure you have options, but they are limited. You can eat here or there. These are the activities tonight. And you can’t complain because you are already there and hey you’re on vacation.
What if I don’t know what to pick? I have a hard time believing you don’t know what to pick. If I may pretend to play therapist, I think you worry that people may not like your choice. That’s normal. There will always be complainers. They will do one of two things go along with the group or do their own thing. You can’t please everyone.
3. Vacation Planning Rules of Three
I find that three options are best when trying to make group decisions. Anything more than three can be overwhelming and takes a longer vote and anything less than three, well, takes away from giving the illusion of choice.
Food Options
So when planning a vacation for a group, do research ahead of time and pick three restaurant options for breakfast lunch and dinner. Repeat them on other days in case you want to try all of them. Use google or even call ahead to the hotel where you will be staying for recommendations.
Then when your group asks where they will be eating. Like the boss you are, you can say, “Here are the three options.” Include an option with a little bit of everything, and look at you like the last piece of cake because you thought of everything. And since you make the decisions they may ask what you suggest. Pick your favorite, you’re the boss! Or if you want to be a diplomatic boss (they still exist), pick the option that has something everyone can enjoy, especially if there are food allergies in the group.
Activities
So I could just do the same with the activities right, Nikki? Yes and no. Let’s go back to my favorite place, the beach. Any beach. You don’t want to suggest water skiing on a vacation that your 80-year-old cane using grandma has decided to come along on or if you invite someone like me with children too small to do anything adventurous. Then we will just be sitting on the side of the beach looking at all the fun you are having. You should offer three activities per day: a light, moderate, and intense activity.
And since you are a boss, you can really wow them if you can offer those activity options in the same area. Come walk back with me to the beach. Oh, we never left? Okay. Sit down on the lounge chair and I’ll explain. If I were planning a beach day on my family’s group vacation, my activities would look like this:
light activity: playing or relaxing on the sand
Moderate activity: boat ride
Intense: Para-sailing
Very simple! Do you have to be this thorough? Not really, but the fewer decisions people have to make on vacation the better. And then they look to you as a resource because you have it all laid out. Make it so they won’t want to make decisions!
4. Send vacation plans in advance
If life were a video game this would send you to the final level where you win the game, get all the coins, whatever success in a game is nowadays. Sending the vacation plans ahead of time allows everyone to process the information. They can look up the restaurants and activities ahead of time.
5. Turn on vacation auto pilot and enjoy!
Because you planned the itinerary ahead of time you can enjoy your family and friends without wasting time trying to make decisions and planning at the moment. I didn’t mention this, but you can put a block of free time in your planning, which calms the one person in the group who doesn’t want to do anything. You have planned. That block is their illusion of choice, wink wink!
