Traveling with friends: Different generations share how they keep group trips fun and drama-free
Traveling with friends is absolutely fun—you get to experience new cultures and try new things with people who matter to you. But behind all that and the Instagrammable photos, you may also have to work through differences.
A Threads user recently went viral with her post where she talked about how a girls' trip "does NOT automatically mean four grown women sharing one bathroom" at a certain age.
"I love y’all DEEPLY. But I need: My own bed. My own bathroom. My own thermostat. And 20 minutes where nobody is asking me where the charger is," she wrote.
"Friendship is beautiful. SO IS PERSONAL SPACE," she added.
How do you really make a group trip work? PhilSTAR L!fe asked travelers from different generations how they navigate group travels, share expenses, and avoid the little disagreements that could put friendships to the test.
How different generations handle travel preferences
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Teresita Gonzales, a boomer who often travels with her friends, usually opts to share accommodation. "Mas tipid at mas masaya pag sama-sama," she said.
She, however, noted that everyone must agree on the arrangements and expenses beforehand.
Gen Z traveler Mary Hope Pereña echoed this, saying, "Mas nafi-feel ko 'yung bond if magkakasama din kami sa isang room."
Meanwhile, Icia Ramirez, a millennial travel content creator, believes that sharing accommodation with your squad isn't something that's mandatory.
"I'm in my 30s; we all have our own preferences already... I think we're at a certain point that we don't really need to be together 24/7, or we're not dependent on each other anymore," she said.
"We are old enough to afford our own rooms at this point, and the older you get, the more comfort level you require," Ramirez continued.
In any group, especially a big one, differences in personality and preferences are inevitable. Some are adventurous, while others prefer to take it easy. Some are willing to splurge, while others would rather stick to a budget. So, how can travelers navigate these differences and make sure everyone enjoys the trip without compromising their preferences? For Ramirez, it ultimately depends on who you're traveling with.
"What we do is, if I wanna go somewhere, I tell them, 'Okay, guys, I wanna go here. Whoever wants to come, eh 'di let's go. If not, I'll meet you guys after. It's more like that, and for me, it's not a big deal na you wanna do something on your own," she said.
This is also the case for Gonzales and her boomer friends, who give each other the freedom to explore separate places or pursue personal plans.
"Bago aalis, magsabi na sa mga friends na mayroon kayong bibisitahin sa pupuntahan niyo. Magpaalam ahead of time," she said.
Courtesy of Teresita Gonzales
Pereña emphasized the importance of communicating and considering everyone's preferences before finalizing their itinerary to ensure everyone enjoys the trip.
"We make sure na pag-uusapan muna namin and list ano 'yung gusto puntahan ng isa’t isa para magre-research kami about it and then decide. Sa food naman, kung ano gusto namin, nagkakanya-kanya na lang since hindi rin same ang mga taste. Pero, always talaga need pag-usapan muna para maayos din namin ang itinerary at mas ma-enjoy yung trip na walang nagkakasamaan ng loob," she told L!fe.
Pereña also realized that being too willing to go with the flow sometimes meant missing out on experiences she could have enjoyed on her own.
"I think isa sa mga 'di ko na gagawin ay maging go with the flow kasi parang I’ll never know when ako makakabalik ulit sa bansa na yun or place, so might as well gawin ko yung mga bagay kahit solo," she said.
Making group trips work
With airfare, accommodation, and other travel expenses adding up, traveling is a privilege. The last thing you want is for a trip to be overshadowed by disagreements over the itinerary or each other's preferences.
Whether you're traveling with friends for the first time or have been on several trips together, Ramirez stressed that it should never feel forced, with everyone given the freedom to enjoy the trip at their own pace and according to their likes and dislikes.
"We don't have to do everything together kasi I don't believe that everyone should do everything at exact same minute and all that. Because you're on a trip, we all have differences pa rin. Like now, even with my friends, now that we're all really close, we still have other things we wanna prioritize," the millennial said.
All travelers agreed that open communication and group discussion are key to keeping everyone on the same page.
"Super effective is planning everything together, kasi dito mo makikita 'yung gusto ng bawat isa. At least una pa lang may idea na kami kung ano 'yung trip namin, ano 'yung ayaw at gusto ma-try o puntahan. Lahat dapat i-discuss niyo together para smooth 'yung travel. Communication is key para walang friendship na mag-end," Pereña said.
Ramirez also emphasized that everyone in the group should figure out what they want, rather than just relying on their itinerary.
"You have to be decisive. You have to first understand what you want and then see if the other people have the same interest as you. If not, then you tell them that you'll do something else first. Don't be shy. If they get mad at you, then that's kind of the answer na wala nang trip number two," the travel content creator said, adding that you should always voice out your concerns, especially on money matters.
"I've had a lot of friends who have had fights like that na umaayaw na ‘yung isa because they can't afford it, and they will get mad at that person. But for me, if it's financial, she's making a financial decision, so you shouldn't get mad at them for that," Ramirez added.
This also ties in with Pereña's advice to be patient and considerate of one another, not only when it comes to money but also when managing time.
"For example, iba kasi kayo ng routine when preparing. Kunwari, sa day 1 mabagal kang mag-ayos, magbihis, so dapat mag-adjust ka na may hinahabol kayong oras and sinusunod na itinerary, kaya dapat iba ang routine mo. May naghihintay sa'yo," she said.
Ramirez also noted that every group needs someone with a "Type A" personality to take the lead and keep things organized. As she put it, "Because if you are all lost sheep, everyone will just be lost."
"One of you has to be like the Type A na she will enjoy planning because that's me. I'm a planner. I'm the type who will create a PowerPoint presentation for the group. I do that kapag ako 'yung in charge ng trip, and I want to make sure everyone knows what we're gonna do," she said. "There has to be one of you who should be a Type A especially if it's your first time."
If everyone has a Type B personality, the group may be comfortable with a more relaxed, unstructured trip, as long as everyone is on the same page about what they want to do.
For Gonzales, there has to be a designated "treasurer" of the group who will be in charge of the group's budget.
"Before traveling with friends, na plano na ang mga expected expenses like accommodations, food, and transpo. One should act as treasurer. Siya ang hahawak ng pera ng group and responsible na i-record ang lahat ng expenses. And if may kaya ang isang friend, pwede siya mag-sponsor ng isang meal," she told L!fe.
Gonzales said she and her fellow boomers make an effort to keep their trips enjoyable and peaceful.
"'Wag maging killjoy sa group. Kung ano napag-agreehan, go lang para smooth lang ang samahan," she said.
Beyond the planning and compromises that come with group travel, Pereña also encouraged friends to make the most of the experience and appreciate the chance to travel together.
"Enjoy lang your time together kasi it feels so good to travel with friends, na dati parang 'what if' niyo lang pero ngayon reality na siya at may kakayahan na kayong mag-travel na kayo lang. For me, mas napapalalim 'yung friendship habang nag-e-enjoy kasi mas nakikilala mo pa sila, mas nakikita mo kung bakit kayo click talaga," the Gen Z said. "It feels so nice to experience life with the best people."
