5 Things to Consider Before Planning a Trip with Friends

February 15, 2018

Floral Applique Cute Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Resort Beach Style #fashionblogger #styleblogger #blogger #fashionista #travelstyle #travelinspo #travelwithfriends #traveltips #bestintravel #travelblogger #fashionstyle #styleblog #pinkswimsuit #pinkbikini #pinkbathingsuit #bathingsuit #beachoutfit #beachstyle #poolstyle #pooloutfit #bloggerpoolpartyThere’s nothing like a beautiful beach and great company to provide a memorable travel experience. At the beginning of February, I was invited by a great girlfriend to join a group of 25 girls on an overnight trip. I really had only.met a few of them a couple of times, so I didn’t know 80% of the people joining the party. Can you remember the last time you’ve travelled with a house full of girls? I honestly cannot. From the moment I agreed to join Kahlea’s the Galentine’s Day beach mansion getaway, I was overwhelmed with excitement and a little bit of fear.

I had just come back from Siesta Keys the month prior on a visit with family and it’s one of the prettiest white beaches in Florida, so when Nikki (pictured below) invited me on the beach house for the girl’s party, I was really keen.  I love to travel solo and I often think of travelling more with friends. Everyone talks about how exciting it is to go on a trip with others, but hardly anyone gives you some insight before jumping on the amazing idea of a group trip. Going on a group vacation with people you hardly know can pose challenges when you don’t have the right mix, and luckily for me, I not only travelled with an amazing group of women, but met plenty of them at the beach house, too.Floral Applique Cute Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Resort Beach Style #fashionblogger #styleblogger #blogger #fashionista #travelstyle #travelinspo #travelwithfriends #traveltips #bestintravel #travelblogger #fashionstyle #styleblog #pinkswimsuit #pinkbikini #pinkbathingsuit #bathingsuit #beachoutfit #beachstyle #poolstyle #pooloutfit #bloggerpoolpartyFloral Applique Cute Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Resort Beach Style #fashionblogger #styleblogger #blogger #fashionista #travelstyle #travelinspo #travelwithfriends #traveltips #bestintravel #travelblogger #fashionstyle #styleblog #pinkswimsuit #pinkbikini #pinkbathingsuit #bathingsuit #beachoutfit #beachstyle #poolstyle #pooloutfit #bloggerpoolpartyFloral Applique Cute Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Resort Beach Style #fashionblogger #styleblogger #blogger #fashionista #travelstyle #travelinspo #travelwithfriends #traveltips #bestintravel #travelblogger #fashionstyle #styleblog #pinkswimsuit #pinkbikini #pinkbathingsuit #bathingsuit #beachoutfit #beachstyle #poolstyle #pooloutfit #bloggerpoolpartyFloral Applique Cute Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Resort Beach Style #fashionblogger #styleblogger #blogger #fashionista #travelstyle #travelinspo #travelwithfriends #traveltips #bestintravel #travelblogger #fashionstyle #styleblog #pinkswimsuit #pinkbikini #pinkbathingsuit #bathingsuit #beachoutfit #beachstyle #poolstyle #pooloutfit #bloggerpoolparty

Before you snatch up a few people and book a trip together, I thought I’d share a few important things to think about to help ensure you all have the most incredible time.

5 Things to Think About Before Travelling with Friends

Planning It or Winging It
Some people are planners and some are not. I have friends who love to do a lot of the planning, but I’ve seen others complain about others not pulling their weight simply because their friends are the type to just wing it or go with the flow. There is no right or wrong in how you or your friends plan their trips. Avoid getting upset at each other and communicate clearly before you commit to travelling together. There might be way more compromising and more/less planning done than you hoped there’d be. This brings me to my next point below.

Budget Travel, Luxury or Both
I love to treat myself to a few nice nights at hotels, spas, etc, but I also am a strong believer that you can have all the wonderful experiences without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to have a great time. You can find amazing food at affordable spots and incredible views and experiences at a premium. Some travel luxuriously and others live for travelling on a budget. I believe in mixing both to get the most of my money and to ensure I can keep travelling a lot year-round.
I have a girlfriend who is wealthy, to the point where if she really wants to do something fun or stay some place beautiful, she can throw down thousands and not bat an eyelash. She is down to earth and you wouldn’t know she’s wealthy because she would never speak of money. I love her to death, but if I were to go on a trip that is longer than 4 or 5 days with her, this could lead to some serious financial reprocussions.

Independent Adventurers VS Group Experiences
Opposites attract, even in friendship, and when it comes to travel this can be incredible or be a disaster waiting to happen. As someone who is used to solo travel, freely visiting sites and do the activities whenever I want is a huge perk. Some people do not like to separate and always want to do things together, yet do not want to try any of the things you want. Don’t let your differences ruin a perfectly good friendship. Before agreeing to travel together, communicate about how you both travel to ensure you all enjoy your time together and separately where needed.

Personality Clashes
As mentioned in many of my prior posts, many years ago, I read that the 5 people you spend the most time with are the ones that make up the qualities you have or desire, so travelling with a few select friends who are very different can lead to challenges when there are some major personality clashes. If you’re really looking forward to a having particular experiences, travelling with someone who brings a lot of drama to your friendship may be a really big unwanted distraction.

Lifestyle Choices
An outgoing individual who loves to go out and socialize after a day of activities might be you, but your travel buddies may be the type to retire by 9PM. Think of how you’ll spend your mornings and evenings. As long as you’re both okay with the other’s late night tip toeing and morning rustling you’ll most likely have a wonderful trip. That saying, waking up on the wrong side of the bed, really does affect your day if you’re the type that wants their beauty sleep!

At the end of the day, communication is key! Differences are what make us all unique. Discuss ahead of time and have an amazing time once you’re ready to go!

SHOP THE LOOK

I got this swimsuit last summer, which you can see was shot on my Instagram. It’s sold out but I found some really similar styles aned options and have linked them below.  My weight fluctuates a lot, so I bought size 4 (and size 2 to 4 in clothing) and it fit well. If you purchase the orange floral applique bikini and beteween sizes, go with your bigger of the 2 because the material is smaller than average, but the appliques are large to make up for the smaller material.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you plan on doing a group trip with friends in the future or have had a memorable experience on a group trip you’ve done (positive or negative), I’d love to hear in the comments below.

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Xo,

Miki

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  • The Fashion Folks February 15, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    What a lovely thing to do! And love all your very wise perspectives on it too. Communicaton and respect are two favorable things to do indeed. Your bikini is so cute too, love the floral statement. Hope you’re having a lovely week Miki! Xx

    http://www.thefashionfolks.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks so much. 🙂 Have a great week Mia!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • AnnaMarie February 15, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Loved reading through this, thank you for sharing xxx

    http://www.attainedbeauty.com

  • Fashion Charming February 15, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    Amazing tips!xx

  • Atsuna February 16, 2018 at 1:07 am

    These are definitely all great things to keep in mind when planning a trip with a friend. I’m actually traveling with a friend in a few more days hehe so all these tips are a great reminder for me.

    BLOG | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:20 pm

      Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the post. Have an amazing time planning your adventure!
      Xo,
      Miki
      https://mikialamode.com

  • Hadasah Love | Style To Love February 16, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Hi dear,
    Loving all about this post as always, warm greetings!!
    Much love, 🙂

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Thanks!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Nikki February 16, 2018 at 9:37 pm

    LOVED THIS!!! I definitely agree communication is key and this last trip was a major learning experience in some departments haha. I am definitely going to take some of these tips into future traveling situations!! xoxo

  • Lovely February 17, 2018 at 8:43 am

    Totally agree with you darling communication is the key to everything! I absolutely adore your bikini it is just so pretty.

    xoxo
    Lovely

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:28 pm

      Thanks so much! I love this suit. Yes, communication is always key!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Len Parent February 17, 2018 at 8:56 am

    You look amazing as always, Babe! Love your photos!!! Great blog post! Thanks for the tips!
    Have a fabulous weekend ahead!
    Much love, Len
    http://www.lenparent.com
    XO

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:29 pm

      Thanks so much Len! Have a lovely week!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Katherine February 17, 2018 at 6:57 pm

    Personality clashes is definitely something to consider! Great post.

    http://www.myclusterofthoughts.com/

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:59 pm

      Thanks Katherine!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Elegant Duchess February 18, 2018 at 4:08 am

    really good tips hun. I usually travel just with one friend that I have known since we were little and I know there wont be any personality clashes! xx

    |Elegant Duchess|

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:47 pm

      I have a couple of go-to people as well. 🙂 But I love the idea of finding more people to travel with! Thanks!! Have a great week!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Siree February 18, 2018 at 9:03 am

    Travelling with friends is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you can have to celebrate your friendship especially after a special event like finishing school or university!
    I always look back fondly on remembering not only a special time in my life but also commemorating a friendship that has lasted for many years too 🙂

    Xx
    Siree
    http://www.thehiddenthimble.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 12:51 pm

      Aww, I love that. With some great friends you’ve known for awhile, it can be so amazing! 🙂 I love that you guys did that after school ended. How fun and memorable!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • yuka February 19, 2018 at 1:28 am

    Thanks for the tips babe! I love traveling with friends and for the most part thankfully, things usually work out pretty well!

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      That’s awesome. 🙂 Usually that’s the case for people who are easygoing or outgoing. Very lucky so far on my end too. 🙂

      Xo,
      Miki

  • sharon wu February 19, 2018 at 2:27 am

    Your swimsuit is the cutest babe! So darling! This is going to sound crazy but I’ve actually never traveled with friends — only with family and my boyfriend. We shall meet somewhere very soon! 🙂 Great post Miki <3 Hope you had a lovely weekend! xo, sharon

    http://www.stylelullaby.com/beauty/most-loved-skin-care-items/

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      Yes, that would be so fun!! Get your pups potty trained girl. 🙂 Not everyone has done trips with friends, but hopefully we will soon! Thanks Sharon! Have a great week babe.

      Xo,
      Miki
      https://mikialamode.com

  • Olivia Poncelet February 19, 2018 at 8:27 am

    Such a pretty swimsuit!!
    nice pics 🙂
    Have a wonderful day !
    Olivia Poncelet <3
    http://www.oliviaponcelet.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:11 pm

      Thanks!

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Freeoversea February 19, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    Such great tips, specially agree on the budget part, nowadays is something that we have to consider primarily if we want to make the best out of our trips 🙂
    Sending all the love and good vibes,
    xx

    Patricia & Miguel
    http://www.freeoversea.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:13 pm

      Yes, so true. Some people just travel and spend very differently and that’s totally ok, but for long periods of time on a trip it can be a serious challenge and a huge dent to the wallet if you’re not a luxury spender! 🙂 Thanks so much Patricia & Miguel.

      Xo,
      Miki
      https://mikialamode.com

  • jasna February 20, 2018 at 11:42 am

    You always give the best tips babe, we are actually planning a wknd away with friends so thank you for this plus I love your swimsuit 🙂 xx

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks so much Jasna! So glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂

      Xo,
      Miki

  • Katie February 20, 2018 at 5:27 pm

    travelling with friends can be difficult.. especially, I find, with finances…. often we want to spend different amounts of money on different things. However, trips away with a best friend can be amazing!

    Love the photos by the way!

    Katie | katieemmabeauty.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:25 pm

      I totally agree! Finances are always one of the most challenging. Some people have higher paying jobs, others have famiy priorities. These things are good to discuss in advance! 🙂 Thanks so much 🙂 Have a great week Katie!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Allie Mackin February 20, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    I have traveled with friends before, sometimes it was great and other times kind of stressful. I visited a friend last year in Florida. She lives there with her husband and I had my own room and my own bathroom, It was great. You guys looked like you had a wonderful time, so relaxing.

    Allie of ALLIENYC
    http://www.allienyc.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 1:33 pm

      So true – I feel like sometimes you really just need your own space and that could solve so many problems. And I think when you don’t know the people you’re travelling with too well, having your own room can prevent some of that stress. Thanks so much for sharing that!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Rubi February 20, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    So true babe, it can be tricky to travel with a group especially with everyone’s different opinions! Greta advice babe!
    x Rubi
    Pose & Repeat

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks Rubi!!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Kemi February 20, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    These are good tips – I think it’s so important when you’re travelling with friends to get a feel for what each of you would like to experience when abroad, otherwise it could lead to some resentment and awkward moments!

    http://skylish.co.uk

  • Jessica February 21, 2018 at 12:59 am

    Great tips dear. Indeed, it’s extremely important to consider personality to minimize drama and make trips enjoyable for everyone. Anyway, I absolutely love your bikini dear! Super cute floral details and color is sooo chic too.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks Jess! Have fun at Fashion Month. Loving all your photos!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Anika May February 21, 2018 at 5:51 am

    Loving the tips in this post, amazing photos too!

    Anika | anikamay.co.uk

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 9:47 pm

      Thanks Anika!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Flo la vita February 21, 2018 at 11:39 am

    These were such helpful tips – and the photos are beaut xx

    http://www.flolavita.co.uk

    • miki February 22, 2018 at 10:46 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much!
      Xo,
      Miki