Ever since our friend group ventured up to Savannah, Georgia together last year for a birthday vacation, we have been hooked on friend trips. We’ve all partied on Bourbon Street in New Orleans together, found ourselves lost in a corn maze while visiting The Badger State, and (more recently) cruised our way to Cozumel while eating and drinking to our heart’s content.
I’m no stranger to frequent travel. Ben and I love going on trips together. It was always easy for the two of us to pick a location, plan a weekend, and go. Admittedly, this is why the idea of friend trips made me nervous at first. Booking travel for two people was a breeze. The idea of coordinating with six or more people sounded like it could be a challenge. When our friends started seriously considering traveling together, my over-analytical brain went nuts.
Would there be too many opinions about the trip? Would I feel weird about stepping away to get shots for my blog? What if we spend TOO much time together on the trip and need a second to decompress? Hey, I love my friends but ya girl needs her space sometimes too.
This is the part where I tell you that our friends full heartedly agree on one important thing: having a good time. We’re now four friend trips in and my over-analytical thoughts have proven to be just that – thoughts. Opinions haven’t been an issue because our group is easy going. Not once has there been weirdness over me needing to “get a shot for the blog”. Booking separate rooms still gives everyone their own space if and when they need it.
The season of life that we are all in right now is incredibly busy. Ben and I are trying to grow this little blog of mine. Some friends are planning weddings, while others are saving for houses. Everyone is busy building lives of their own.
That’s the thing though. Life is moving rapidly and too easily gets in the way. Weekends can’t always be spent wondering if you’ll finally finish that game of ring of fire. Thursday nights can’t always be ladies night at your favorite line dancing bar. Sunday Fundays are still very much a thing, just maybe not every single Sunday.
At this age, setting aside time to see your friends has to be intentional. On-a-whim texts to hang out rarely mean that everyone can always make it. This is why planned friend trips work out so fantastically.
Here’s why the next trip you plan should be a trip with friends:
- You’re probably all ready for a distraction from the responsibilities of life anyway, so plan one.
- For a weekend (or longer) your focus is hanging out with each other. No other plans can pop up or get in the way since you’re likely 1000s of miles away from “real life” back home.
- It’s quality time in a new city. Hello, unique memories that you can make outside of your hometown.
- You get the opportunity to bond and learn more about your friends. People say you never really know someone until you live with them. I believe that same assumption to be true for when you’re traveling with them (especially if you’re rooming together for the weekend).
- Friend trips are cost effective. Road trip? Split the gas costs. Staying for multiple nights? Split the cost of an Airbnb or the hotel room. Ben “the budget” Brubaker loves this aspect especially.
- “Remember that one time we _______ in _______” becomes a story that can live on for years to come. Or an inside joke among buds.
- You get to experience activities together that don’t revolve around going to the nearest hometown bar or hosting a house party. In New Orleans, we walked around a local street fair with craft tents and performers. When we all traveled up to Wisconsin for another friend’s wedding, we visited a cute pumpkin patch to kill some time. During our visit to Cozumel a friend and I submerged ourselves into an underwater oxygen bar. These were all really cool experiences that happened because we ventured out to explore the cities we were in. And we all did it together.
Friend trips get a 10/10 from me, dawg. I’d highly recommend traveling with your pals the next time you plan a trip. Have you ever traveled with friends? Where has your group traveled to?