Travelling with friends can be a lot of fun, staying together on trips can even be a lot more fun. But how do you decide between opting for shared or individual accommodation options?
In my experience, this decision will depend on a number of factors. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide whether to opt for individual (e.g. hotel rooms) or shared accommodation (e.g. Airbnbs).
Is cost a constraint?
If you are trying to save money, then it might be more cost effective to go for a shared accommodation as you can spread the cost among yourselves. If cost is not an issue, you might want to consider individual accommodation options and perhaps go for a hotel accommodation that suits your tastes.
Will you be cool with any room you get assigned?
If yes, then go with the shared accommodation option. However, if you’re concerned about being allocated the smallest room in the house and having to share the bathroom with others, go for the individual option and book a hotel room. This might seem small and inconsequential for some people but if you know you won't be cool with paying the same as the person that gets the ensuite, you might be better off choosing individual accommodation options.
One way to mitigate the issue of uneven costs is to have people pay according to what room they get or drawing names/rooms randomly, but this can become problematic and can be stressful for some people.
Do you draw energy from being around people i.e., are you extroverted?
If yes, then a shared accommodation might be ideal for you. If you are more introverted, or get overwhelmed by being around people for long periods of time (even the people you love), then having a hotel room to retreat to at the end of each day with your friends will keep you refreshed and recharged.
Is the trip a short one?
If yes, a shared accommodation might be more manageable if it’s for a couple of days.
If going on longer trips, then it is advisable to have individual accommodation spaces to avoid encroaching on each others’ personal space.
Does the destination have a variety of accommodation options available?
If yes, then you might want to opt for individual accommodation that meets each person's taste and budget. However, if the location has limited accommodation options, then opting for a villa or an Airbnb might be the only way to go.
Ultimately, the whole group needs to come to a decision that is most ideal for the group and the final decision might not necessarily tick all your boxes. This is where you have to be flexible. Plus, there’s no one size-fits-all approach but hopefully, the above questions can help you decide how best to proceed.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Are you team shared or individual accommodation?
Be well,
JJ
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