Our family loves to travel and while we have taken many short trips with other families, we decided last summer was the time to try a longer vacation with friends. During a weekend away together with our friends, we were out for dinner waiting for our food. To keep everyone happy, we started asking questions that everyone went around and answered. My question was what one place do you most want to travel to? The list was interesting, especially from the kids: Stonehenge, a Greek Island, the Eiffel Tower, Paris, Crete, and Newfoundland. Someone then spoke up and said I wonder if we could plan a trip and see how many of those we could visit.

Not one to back down from a planning challenge, we went all in and planned a 31-day, three-country trip to Europe building on many of the group’s bucket list travel spots. Sorry Jack, I couldn’t fit Newfoundland in, next time. The guide below shares all of our learnings, tips, and things to consider before you try this out. Stay tuned to the end to see how it all turned out.

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The Ultimate Guide to Travelling with Other Families

Travelling with another family can be a fun and rewarding experience. When done right, it creates a treasure trove of shared memories, laughter, and deeper connections. However, like any adventure, it requires careful planning and consideration to ensure it’s a trip everyone wants to repeat. Here’s a comprehensive guide to making your family travel with friends an experience you’ll remember forever (in a good way?).

Why Travel with Another Family?

The best family friendcations – vacations taken with your family friends – offer a unique blend of bonding, cost-sharing, and fun. Travelling with another family can enhance your travel experience in numerous ways. Here are a few compelling reasons to consider this for your next getaway:

• Shared Costs: Splitting costs for accommodation, transportation, and even food can make travel more affordable. This allows both families to enjoy more options than they might have had on their own. You can find great deals on larger vacation rentals.
• Diverse Company: Kids get friends on the go, making the trip more enjoyable and giving parents some much-needed downtime. Different groups can split off and have some time on their own. Whether you let the teens sleep in while the parents go for breakfast, the moms slip away for a day of pampering, the guys go out for a drink after dinner, or one couple goes on a date night, the possibilities are endless and mix up the dynamic of being with the same group all the time.
• Shared Responsibilities: From planning itineraries to keeping an eye on the kids, sharing responsibilities can make the trip less stressful. One family can handle breakfast while the other gets the kids ready for the day’s adventures.
• Enhanced Experiences: Different families bring different perspectives and interests. This diversity can lead to a richer travel experience, with everyone getting a chance to try something new and exciting. Best of all, this might lead you and your family to try new things you wouldn’t have considered on your own.
• More People, More Laughs: oh, the stories that are created alongside the memories together. Some of our favourite travel memories are the funny things we did travelling with friends.

Tips for Families Travelling with Friends

Successful family travel with friends hinges on preparation and communication. Here are a few essential tips:

• Try Before You Buy: Before committing to a long vacation, take a couple of shorter trips or weekend getaways together. This will help you gauge compatibility with travel styles and routines.
• Discuss the Important Stuff: Have candid discussions about budgets, travel goals, and styles. This upfront clarity can prevent misunderstandings later and determine if you are ready to spend your relaxing vacation time together.
• Collaborative Planning: Ensure everyone has input into the itinerary so that each family member has something to look forward to. It’s vital that everyone gets a pick and that one person is planning for the entire group.
• Pace and Style Differences: Accept that each family has its pace and style. Build flexibility into your plans to accommodate these differences.
• Time Apart: Plan for some individual family time. This creates space and allows each family to engage in activities they enjoy. Just because you are travelling together doesn’t mean you have to do everything together.
• Mindful Parenting: Recognize that different families have different parenting styles. Be respectful and mindful of these differences, especially regarding routines like bedtimes and meal preferences.
• Consider Age Differences: Significant age differences among children can complicate planning. Ensure the activities cater to all age groups or plan separate activities accordingly. It’s also important that the kids get along, not just the parents.
• Go with the Flow: Minor hiccups will occur. Adopt a flexible attitude and don’t let small issues ruin the experience.
• Choose Carefully: Select a travel family with similar interests, means, and eating habits. Compatibility in these areas can make or break the trip.
• Privacy Matters: Choose accommodations that offer enough privacy for each family. Separate rooms or even separate accommodations can provide much-needed personal space.

How to Travel with Another Family

Now that you’re equipped with the basics, here’s a step-by-step guide to planning a successful trip with another family.

1. Choosing the Right Family: Finding Your BTFFFs – Best Travel Family Friends Forever

The key to a successful joint family trip lies in choosing the right travel partners. Here are some factors to consider:

• Compatibility: Ensure that the families are compatible in terms of interests, travel styles, and parenting philosophies. Discuss potential itineraries and preferences beforehand to gauge compatibility.
• Communication: Open and honest communication is crucial. Both families should feel comfortable discussing their needs, expectations, and any potential concerns. Remember you want to come home friends at the end.
• Flexibility: Travelling can be unpredictable. Choose a family that is flexible and can handle unexpected changes with a sense of humour.
• Budget: Make sure both families have a similar budget. Disparities in spending expectations can lead to tension and awkward situations.
• Shared Interests: Look for families that share similar interests and values. This will make planning activities easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

2. Planning the Trip

Once you’ve found your BTFFFs, dive into the planning phase:

• Destination Selection: Choose a destination that offers something for everyone. Whether it’s a beach resort, national park, or cultural city, make sure there are activities that appeal to everyone in your group.
• Accommodation: Consider vacation rentals, family suites, or all-inclusive resorts. Ensure there’s enough space and privacy for both families.
• Transportation: Decide on the best mode of transportation. For road trips, consider renting a large vehicle. For distant destinations, flying might be more practical, with car rentals arranged at your destination.
• Itinerary: Create a flexible itinerary that includes group activities and individual family time. Balance high-energy activities with relaxation.

3. Packing Tips for Multiple Families

Packing for a joint family trip requires some extra thought. Here are some considerations to help:

• Coordinate Essentials: Coordinate with the other family to avoid packing duplicates of shared items like beach gear, first-aid kits, or cooking supplies.
• Pack Light: Encourage everyone to pack light. This will make transportation easier and reduce the stress of managing excess luggage. Carry-on all the way.
• Shared Items: Consider sharing items like books, games, and snacks to reduce the load and increase variety.

4. Enjoy Your Holiday

• Stay flexible and go with the flow. Be open to new things and experiences.
• Respect everyone’s boundaries. Create opportunities for alone time with your family.
• Learn something new about your friends.

5. Capture the Memories

Creating lasting memories is the ultimate goal, here are a few ideas to try:

• Photographs: Take plenty of photos and consider setting up a shared online album. Set up a trip photo shoot with Flytographer to capture the feel of your holiday and ensure everyone can be in your holiday photos. It’s also a great way to meet the locals and get great travel tips.
• Travel Journal: Encourage everyone to keep a travel journal or document your trip through a travel app like Polarsteps. This does double duty as you also get a ready-made photobook at the end of your trip.
• Post-Trip Reunion: Plan a reunion after the trip to relive the memories, share photos, and keep the memories alive. We did this with a dinner that celebrated all the places we had been together.

Would We Do It Again?

Heck, yes. Now my daughter doesn’t want to travel alone as a family as it isn’t as much fun.

The trip planning was way more fun with another family and much easier to have others to share in the research and booking. From the start, we figured out how we would split things, what our shared budget was, and what would happen if one family wasn’t able to go unexpectedly. We leaned on everyone’s strengths from planning to packing and had a few family games nights to make sure the kids were involved in planning.

The trip was amazing. We tried so many things that we would never have done on our own, felt comfortable leaving the teens so the adults could have a couple of meals together, and got to stay in some spectacular Airbnbs that wouldn’t have worked with our family of four. We shared some of our travel traditions with everyone getting to pick a day/attraction they wanted to visit and capturing daily favourites. Our friends shared some of their traditions like mindful moments, picnics, and awesome travel gear. Best of all are the hilarious stories that we will remember forever alongside our beautiful photo books. We are already planning our next big adventure together -Italy here we come.

Conclusion

Travelling with another family can be a truly amazing experience that deepens friendships and creates lasting memories. It is also very different than travelling with family. By carefully selecting your travel companions, planning thoughtfully, and maintaining open communication, you can ensure that your family friendcation is a success.

The best trips are those that bring people closer together, making memories that last a lifetime. So, gather your BTFFFs, plan your next adventure, and embark on a journey filled with laughter, exploration, and unforgettable moments. Be sure to share it with us in the comments. Happy travels!