Group travel offers the perfect opportunity to make your next getaway both exciting and more environmentally friendly. While every travel decision matters, the task of sustainable trip planning can sometimes feel overwhelming. The good news? With group travel, you can share the responsibility with friends, making it easier to prioritize eco-friendly choices and reduce the stress of planning. Together, you can enjoy a more sustainable and enjoyable trip with less effort.

Easy trip planning – less stress, more options

Group travel takes the pressure off trip planning. By dividing responsibilities, you reduce the time each person spends on logistics. When everyone contributes to the research stage, there’s more time to focus on sustainable options and fun experiences. With everyone pitching in, it is easier to find accommodations and activities that are eco-friendly and support the local community. Still, I promised excitement. Group travel amplifies the fun! Building an itinerary as a team means you’ll get to try many new things you might not have ever done on your own. Every new notification in your ChargeHolidays App adds to your anticipation for the upcoming trip and all that awaits. Find out how easy it is to add friends and family who will be joining you, ensuring everyone has access to the itinerary and essential travel documents right at their fingertips.

Is it your turn to suggest a destination? If your group travel is to Thailand, Estonia, Morocco, India, or one of the other countries covered in our Native Narratives blog, check it out for local tips!

Group travel packing strategies

Another advantage of traveling in a group is the ability to share. By sharing essentials like sunscreen and shampoo, you minimize waste and weight. You can reduce the number of single-use products thrown out by not having to buy plastic-heavy travel-sized items. Instead of each person bringing their own, you can create a shared packing list, which lightens your load. With less luggage, you reduce carbon emissions during transport. This has a much bigger impact than many people think! Reducing the amount of luggage you book for a flight can lower your ticket price and, if you choose to travel by train, allow you to carry a lighter bag, resulting in a much less stressful trip.

Fun on the road

Every small decision can turn into a fun experience. On the way to your destination and back home, you can ride and karaoke together. By sharing a vehicle you reduce carbon emissions compared to everyone driving separately. Did you know that despite having room for four or more passengers, cars in the EU are only occupied by an average of 1.6 people, and in the US, just 1.5? What a waste! By filling all 4 seats your own transit footprint immediately is quartered. So, load up the car with your friends and blast your favorite playlist.

If your drive is rather long, make spontaneous pit stops at eye-catching quirky attractions and local eateries, and turn what might have been a mundane drive into a series of mini-adventures. Taking an e-vehicle can be a fun, sustainable experience. It is much quieter so you don’t have to shout to chat with your friends during the trip. Plus, you can use the charging time to bond. In our app you can easily find accommodations with EV charging stations that suit your (rented) e-vehicle. What are you waiting for?

Keep the idea of sustainable transportation going even after arriving at your destination. As a group, you can choose to bicycle or walk throughout the day, which when alone may not seem as appealing, but as a group, this time spent on transportation actually feels like a fun excursion.

Support local communities

Remember the planning stage? With each group member contributing, you have more time to carefully consider each element of the trip, allowing you as a group to choose options that give back to local communities. Think about where your spending goes. When you book locally, you’re not just enjoying unique experiences, you’re also ensuring that your money supports people and environment. Your group can make a significant impact. Every meal at a locally-owned restaurant and every ticket purchased for a community-led activity enables local businesses to thrive and sustain local jobs. We have collected several tips how you can travel sustainably. Look here and discuss the topics with your travel friends.

Save money!

Group discounts may mean that experiences are cheaper per person, allowing you to enjoy excursions that might otherwise be out of budget. A specialized tour with a local guide or a cooking class that uses ingredients sourced from nearby farms may be pretty pricey, but when you book as a group and split the cost, it can be affordable. Another big saver can be on accommodations, as staying as a group may be cheaper and can even reduce energy consumption since you’ll be sharing spaces and utilities. Consider the benefits of using one light and watching a movie together instead of everyone doing so individually.

Let’s start trip planning

Next time you have wanderlust, invite your family and friends to join you and know, you are not only doing something for your relationships, but also for the wellbeing of the planet!

Carolyn Wheeler

This article was written by Carolyn. She wishes you a great time during your next trip with your family or friends!