Girls' trips can create the most amazing memories. They can also be some of the worst experiences and break up even the longest of friendships. Here is a list of short and simple tricks to keep you and your ladies from hating each other by the end of it.
1. Communicate!
Communication is key to thriving in any sort of group, especially if it's four or five of your closest female friends. You may assume you all are on the same page, but being explicit about things like what days you're going on the trip, who's booking the hotel, and how you're getting there is the most important thing.
2. Make a budget.
I mentioned before that communication is key, and the budget is something that should be explicitly talked about. Everyone should be on the same general page about how much you're willing to split on things like hotels and Ubers. You can spend as much or as little as you want on drinks and gifts, but make sure everyone is clear on how much you're willing to split things. I'm sure you know about Venmo, but there's also Splitwise which helps your group of friends easily split a bill, and CashApp, which is like Venmo.
3. Plan for some solo time.
I am a big advocate of alone time. I love being around friends but sometimes I just want to be by myself and have some experiences on my own. If you're planning a big detailed itinerary, I would recommend adding in some blocks of free time for everyone to do what they want separate from the big group. This way no resentment is harbored after the trip if someone didn't get to do something they wanted to do because the group didn't want to do it.
4. Designate a "sober sister."
Not all heroes wear capes. Someone is going to have to be the designated sober sister and you can alternate so each person has a turn. It's dangerous enough being a woman in a place you don't know, and even more dangerous to be intoxicated. There should always be at least one person who's sober and able to call for a ride home.
5. Plan for disagreements.
I wish it didn't have to be this way, but it's just reality. You're going to be a group of probably five people, all with different communication styles, tidiness levels, and stress tolerance. You're going to probably be packed into a small room together for a couple of days and stuck with each other. Someone is going to get upset with someone else. But if you go in prepared for this and remember that this isn't forever, that you're never going to get this moment back, you'll be able to pull yourself out of your feelings and appreciate it for what it is: a trip with five or so of your closest female friends.
