Nickels, how many of you like a good girl’s trip with some good girlfriends? I know I do but there are definitely rules of engagement to ensure the trip goes off without a hitch. I have been on quite a few girl’s trip. Some went really well and others not so much. Here are some tips from lessons learned to ensure your next girl’s trip is enjoyable.

Decide which destinations are best for a girl’s trip: There are places on my bucket list where I would like to travel to and not compromise on anything from the excursions to the budget. This is the type of trip that may be better left off my girl trip rotation. When I book a trip with others I know that compromising is a necessity not an option. I like to respect all parities involved because we are all spending our time and money.

Discuss budgets upfront: Conversations about money can be uncomfortable but it is important to agree on a budget and timeline for when the money is due before booking a trip with girlfriends. When I went to Jamaica for my friend’s birthday I was honest that I could not afford to make arrangements through her travel agent. I was able to find cheaper accommodations by booking with the hotel directly. Also, I elected to arrive a day later which also saved me some money. By having the conversation about my budget limitations upfront I did not hold up other members on the trip from moving forward with their plans and we were able to agree on activities that fit everyone’s budget.

Agree on activities and excursions: We all like to have little fun when we go on a trip and excursions may be just the way to do that. Discuss the activities you want to do while on vacation a head of time. Use a mental or physical venn diagram to find overlap in everyone’s interests. If there is not overlap discuss comfort levels of engaging in solo activities or simply begin the compromise phase before booking the trip. Conflict about an itinerary can be circumvented to maximize everyone’s experience by having open and honest communication with your girl group a head of time.

Decide on room accommodations: Obviously rooming with a friend is the most cost effective way to travel. This allows you to save money in one area while maximizing your funds in more meaningful areas like food or excursions. However, for me, there are very few people I can share a room with and not go nuts. This is because we are not accustomed to spending 24 hours over a several day period with our friends. In theater there is a termed called the fourth wall which is an imagined wall that keeps performers from recognizing their audience. The performers proceed as if they are not being watched. The gist is there are proverbial fourth walls in every friendship that are broken when we are forced to spend a significant amount of time together such as the time spent on a girl’s trip. Personality compatibility is a huge consideration when selecting a roommate because ours friends during normal hangout hours may be different on a trip. Below are a list of considerations to know about yourself to better understand your preferences and if they are a match for your roommate.

• Are you a tidy or messy person?
• Do you like to fall asleep in silence?
• Are you a late sleeper or early riser?
• Do hotel location and amenities matter and if so, what details are important to make you comfortable?
• Are you okay with sleeping on a pullout couch or cot?

Once you know the answers to the above questions you can match yourself with the proper roommate for a trip.

Comment below to let me know what lessons were learned from girl’s trip you have been on.