How to plan a girls trip everyone can afford
The group chat says "we HAVE to do a trip this year" every January. Here's how to actually make it happen, at a budget that works for everyone, without one friend fronting the whole thing.
step by step
Send a group survey before suggesting places
Ask everyone privately about dates, budget, room preferences and what kind of trip they want: beach and pool, city and shopping, wine country, or a mix. Private answers matter because nobody wants to be the one who says the budget is too high in front of the group.
In the planner The Group survey is built for this.
Set the budget from the survey, not the most excited friend
Pick a budget that works for the lowest comfortable number, then choose the destination. It's much easier to add an optional splurge dinner than to ask someone to stretch.
Book the stay and sort the rooms
A rental house or a few rooms at one hotel both work. Decide who rooms with whom early, and whether the bigger rooms cost more.
In the planner Use the Rooms page, and set bigger rooms to more shares in the splitter.
Track bookings in one place
Flights, the stay, dinner reservations and activities. One list means you're not digging through the group chat for a confirmation number.
In the planner The Bookings pages keep every confirmation together.
Send the money text early
Send one message that explains how costs will be split and when deposits are due. Clear and early is kind.
In the planner There's a ready-to-send money text in the planner.
Split costs fairly and settle up
Log shared costs as they happen, charge optional activities only to the friends who joined, and send each person one clear number at the end.
In the planner The Google Sheets cost splitter tells each friend exactly who to pay.
The planner for this trip
Every step above has a page or tab waiting for it. Each one opens with a Start Here page, so you can type right in or print it. Instant download on Etsy.
Fillable PDF + cost splitterThe Girls Trip PlannerGroup survey, rooms, bookings and a splitter that tells each friend exactly who to pay.$10.99 on Etsy 
Google SheetsGroup Trip Cost SplitterFor girls trips and friend getaways. Every cost split fairly, with one clear number for each person.$6.99 on Etsy Questions I get asked
How do you plan a girls trip on a budget?
Survey everyone privately first, set the budget from the lowest comfortable number, and make splurges optional so only the people who want them pay for them.
How far in advance should you plan a girls trip?
Four to six months gives everyone time to request time off and save, and it's enough lead time for good rental houses.
How do you split rooms fairly on a girls trip?
Use shares: the bigger or private rooms count as more shares, and shared rooms count as less.
More group trip guides
Packing next? Build a packing list for your destination, travel month and kids' ages.
Rather hand the whole thing off?
I'm Kristina, and planning group trips is what I do.
Linen & Luggage is for planning it yourself. When you'd rather not, my travel company, KM Luxe Travel, plans the whole trip: the right hotel or villa, the flow of the days, and the little details, often with perks like breakfast and upgrades when available.