Group holidays are an opportunity to travel and enjoy some downtime, while also building memories and bonding with friends or family. When travelling with a group, it may feel like there are certain restrictions as to how you can travel and where you can stay. However, a group holiday can actually open up new opportunities that you may not be able to afford were you to travel alone or with direct family. Below are just a few examples of great group holiday ideas to try.
Go camping
Camping is suitable for all budgets and can be an opportunity to get away from the distractions of technology. You can share a tent with a few friends, or go away with a big group and multiple tents, potentially setting up your own little village.
You could plan to stay in a campsite within a national park and go for long walks together or take part in other outdoor activities like kayaking. Alternatively, you could plan to all go to a festival together.
Camping is not for everyone – it may be too rugged for certain friends or family members. It’s also something that you don’t want to do in winter (not only could the weather make it miserable, but many campsites won’t be open).
Rent a luxury villa
Throw your own private house party in an exotic location by renting a luxury villa. This is a great option for getaways with family members or friends.
Most people cannot afford to rent a luxury villa on their own. But when you spit the cost between multiple people, it becomes affordable – potentially even more so than a regular hotel.
The definition of a villa is up for debate, but they’re generally one storey buildings with outdoor amenities that are mostly found in warmer climates. Some of the top amenities to look for when renting a villa include a patio area with a barbecue, private pool and hot tub.
Villas can be based in fairly remote locations or they can be close to touristy attractions like bars and shops. Conder what types of holiday you’re looking for when choosing a villa.
Rent a cute cottage/chalet
Cottages and chalets are typically small houses found in isolated rural locations. They’re ideal for smaller group holidays.
As with a villa, renting a cottage or chalet can be surprisingly affordable when travelling with a group as you can split the cost. Many are found in scenic locations including overlooking the sea or high up in mountains.
Cottages and chalets are great for getaways in cooler climates and may come with amenities like fireplaces and hot tubs.
Cottages and chalets may not be suitable for groups of friends looking to hit the bars or go shopping as they are typically quite remote. However, you can find some in more buzzing areas like ski resort or vibrant historic towns.
Rent your own castle
Travelling around Europe? Did you know that it’s possible to rent a castle? From French chateaus to Scottish castles, there are many options that can be great for large parties of people. Split between multiple people, the cost of staying in one of these historic buildings isn’t even that much.
Across the US, you can similarly rent historic mansions, while in Asia it’s possible to rent historic palaces. Other older buildings like mills, lighthouses and chapels can also be rented.
Such accommodation may not always come with mod cons like air con or a TV, but can be ideal for those that want to immerse themselves in history and live like royalty for a few days.
Find hotels with large suites
Hotels are always an option for group holidays, but you’ll usually have to spread everyone out over multiple rooms. Unless you book early and specify that you want all your rooms together, you may all be situated on different floors. This is alright if you want some private time, but not okay if you want to spend more time together.
Fortunately, there are hotels out there with large suites that are perfect for accommodating multiple families or large groups of friends. Such suites are more expensive than regular rooms, but as with rental accommodation you get to split the cost and it can work out relatively affordable for everyone.
Rough it out in a hostel
Hostels are great for city breaks when all you may need is a bed. When travelling solo or in small groups, staying in a hostel can sometimes mean staying in a room with strangers – many hostels contain 6 to 8 beds per room, usually in the form of bunks. Travelling in a larger group could allow you to privately rent out hostel rooms so that you don’t have to share with strangers.
Hostels can be a bit basic for some people and don’t offer much privacy as everyone is in the same room. The biggest benefit of hostels is that they are very cheap.
Book a cruise together
Another option could be to plan a group cruise. Cruises are pretty much like floating hotels where you are fully catered for. They’re also a chance to visit multiple destinations while staying in one room the whole time.
Like hotels, your rooms (or cabins as they’re often called) may all be spread out. However cruise ship cabin are typically more basic than hotel rooms, so you won’t want to be spending all your time in them, giving you a reason to spend more of your day together.
Charter a yacht
Chartering a yacht for a couple days isn’t cheap – especially if it’s a crewed yacht. However, if you’re travelling as a group, you can split the cost and make it a little more affordable.
This could be a fun and glamorous alternative to a holiday rental. You may even be able to plan a journey and see different places.
Rent a minibus
When it comes to transport hire options, a minibus can be great for allowing everyone to travel in the same vehicle. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of a road trip together and get to the same destination at the same time.
A minibus is perfect if there’s a group of you and you don’t want to get split up in different taxis. This can make travel safer, ensuring that nobody has to travel alone or in a pair. Most cities offer minibus hire, all you need to do is search online for “minibus hire Sheffield” or something similar depending on your destination. This makes them perfect as airport transfer transport, allowing you to get all of your luggage into the same vehicle as yourself.
Renting a minibus could also be cheaper than having to rent two or three cars – you can spread out the cost of hire and fuel. Of course, if you’d prefer the option to split up and each do your own activities on certain days, renting separate vehicles may be better.
