Traveling to Maui in a group can be fun, whether with close friends or family members. If planned well, it can become one of the most amazing holidays in your lifetime. But without careful planning, your group holiday to Maui could lead to misery.

There are so many things to think about when organizing a trip. Aside from booking your flights, you also need to look for a Maui vacation rental that can accommodate your entire group. Of course, you also need to think about the activities you need to do and make sure everyone agrees with your itinerary. Otherwise, it can lead to disagreements and conflicts that could certainly spoil the experience.

But don’t worry – planning a group trip to Maui does not need to be complicated. Here are some tips.

Assign a Leader

It is a good idea to appoint a leader or a “go-to person” who is good at planning. If possible, choose someone who has extensive knowledge about traveling and even better if they have been to Maui. The leader will be in charge of researching and planning the trip and collecting money from each member.

But if no one in your group would be willing to take up the responsibility of being a leader, you can assign several persons to handle different aspects of the trip. For instance, one person will be in charge of researching the activities, and another will be responsible for searching for accommodations or vacation rentals in Maui.

Plan as Early As You Can

Planning as early as possible is key to making your group trip a success. A good planning window would be between four to 12 months. That should give everyone enough time to save up for a holiday or file a vacation request from work. Finances are a major deciding factor when going for a group getaway. So, give everyone enough time to organize their travel money and free up their schedules.

Another reason why it’s a good idea to plan your trip as early as possible is to take advantage of promotions and discounts on airfare, activities, and Maui vacation rentals. Most airlines and travel companies offer excellent deals if you book your trip several months ahead. One of the challenges in organizing a group trip is the accommodation. Since affordable vacation rentals tend to get booked easily, it is always good to reserve your accommodation as early as possible.

Agree on a Travel Budget

One of the most complicated aspects of group trip planning is often the budget. People can have different opinions about how much money they would be willing to spend when traveling. But everyone in the group must agree on a budget for the trip and adhere to it.

Setting a maximum budget for trip necessities such as airfare and accommodations could prevent surprises for anyone when paying for the group trip. Of course, some activities can be optional, and each member should be given the freedom to decide whether or not they want to join certain activities.

Consider having a shared pot of money for food, especially if you are staying in a vacation rental in Maui, where you can buy groceries and use the kitchen for cooking meals together. It will be much easier than constantly working out how to split the bills each time you eat.

Stay at a Maui Vacation Rental

Searching where to stay on vacation when organizing a group trip is a major decision that can greatly impact your overall travel experience. While Maui is famous for luxury resorts that cater to honeymooners and moneyed travelers, these resorts may not be the best option for group travel unless you are willing to splurge for an all-inclusive resort experience.

Staying in a Maui vacation rental as a group gives you the chance to hang out with everyone without cramming in a tiny hotel room. Also, these vacation rentals typically come with fully-equipped kitchens where you can cook group meals. If you look hard enough, you will find beautiful vacation rentals with amazing views that are more affordable than resorts and hotels.

Pre-plan the Activities

The activities are some of the most important things you need to think about when organizing a group trip to Maui. Consider pre-planning some activities, especially when traveling in a large group.

If you plan on booking a tour, you may be able to take advantage of a group discount, especially if you book in advance. Sometimes, travel operators will require group travelers to book in advance, so make sure you do that, or you could miss out on some fun activities. It would be a shame to miss something that the group would want to do because you forget to book it soon enough.  But do not be too obsessed with planning every bit of activity every second of the day. Sometimes, things can happen by chance, and you do not need to add further stress to your group vacation.

Also, allocate certain days to be your “rest days.” You can spend these days lounging at the beach or your Maui vacation rental swimming pool. Others who want to explore Maui on their own can also do so during these days. While it’s fun to be with our friends the entire time, a little separation time can relieve the tension of togetherness. Just because you are on a group holiday doesn’t mean you have to be together 24 hours a day!

Planning a Maui vacation with a large group does not come easy. Hopefully, these travel tips can help you organize and get excited about traveling with friends or loved ones. Once you have completed the planning process, you can enjoy the anticipation of your Maui group holiday!