The shared vacation home survival guide

The concept of a vacation home with friends sounds incredible. You find a beautiful house, everyone gets a spacious room with a picturesque view, each meal is delicious and accommodates everyone's tastes, cleaning occurs in a timely manner, and every friendship leaves perfectly intact! Sounds simple right? 

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The truth is a shared vacation rental can be a mixed bag. Activity planning, talking about money, and everyone sharing one space can make the situation a little touchy. Some pre-trip prep and clear expectations can save your vacation from potential conflict and offer a bit more peace of mind. A successful group trip is not effortless, but it is worth it. 

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Here are our tips for a feud-free group vacation: 

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1. Pick your room payment method in advance. 

The cost of housing can easily become a source of tension. You can agree to split the cost evenly or pay according to room size and added features like an en suite or balcony. Share costs directly on your Invitation to keep everything in one place and split up expenses accordingly. 

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2. Map out the menu.

Keep breakfast and lunch simple with a few quick, no-fuss options—then make dinner the focus. Use the event sign-ups feature in your Invitation or Event Page to plan out meals in advance and keep track of who’s doing what. Include cleanup as a responsibility to sign up for so the cook doesn’t get left with the dishes. Alternatively, dinner can be an all-inclusive responsibility—shopping, cooking, and cleaning—but this strategy works best when multiple people are sharing the load.

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3. Keep track of group expenses. 

Many group vacationers find it easy to put expenses all on one card and split up the charges afterward. (Just don’t forget to take pictures of all receipts, including tips, so the grand total is easier to calculate.) If someone offers to put their card down, then let them decide on a due date for payment from other guests. 

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Those who split expenses onto multiple cards should keep track of their charges to make sure everything is split fairly at the end of the trip. Decide on reimbursable and non-reimbursable items as a group before sending out payment requests.

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4. Don’t be scared of separating! 

Not everything needs to be done all together. Research a mix of activities and outings so there's something for everyone, and put smaller groups together based on who’s interested in what.

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5. Alone time is usually a good idea. 

Group trips can be a lot. Take a moment to yourself and recharge your social battery. You can always opt out of an activity or go for a solo adventure like a walk, drive, or snack stop. 

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6. Singles shouldn’t suffer.

Unless they explicitly offer to take a sofa or pull-out bed, don’t automatically assume single people don’t want or deserve their own room. 

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7. Assign rooms ahead of time. 

After booking the house, set aside some time to share preferences and split up the beds accordingly. This way you can take care of any necessary conversations ahead of time and enjoy the moment on the trip.

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8. Keep everyone well fed. 

Nobody is their best self when they’re hangry. Stock up on easy snacks like trail mix, fruit salad, and popcorn. Dinner is usually the time everyone gathers. Keep simple lunch materials in the kitchen so people can cook for themselves during the day.

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9. When in doubt, majority rules.

When you send out your invite, add a poll for big group decisions like picking the restaurant for a night out or choosing which water sport to try out on the lake. 

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10. Set expectations upon arrival. 

Before the trip kicks off, get the group together and go over any ground rules for the vacation. This is a great time to discuss smaller things like shoes in the house, preferred eating times, and quiet hours. 

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11. Select decision-makers when needed. 

We’ve all been at dinners where the group goes back and forth forever deciding on a bottle of wine or a salad. Save yourself (and your waiter) some time and let one person pick for the group. 

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Bringing friends together in one place can be exhausting, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Planning ahead and talking openly can help everyone enjoy each other's company and make memories together. Follow this guide, and who knows—your trip might just become a yearly tradition!

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We’re ready to help you plan your next group getaway! Browse Vacation Invitations and start packing your bags.