How to survive a trip with friends and not kill each other by the end of it

And then there’s budget, because nothing derails a friends’ trip faster than mismatched financial habits. Whatever the topic (accommodations, dinner spots, guided tours or spa days, for instance), “these conversations need to happen on the front end,” Dr. Bradford says, especially if anyone has strong preferences around where to stay or what to do. “Some people just want a place to store their stuff. Other people are like, ‘I’m not doing anything below four stars.’”

2. Pick one “must-do” activity each

A group trip likely won’t include everything everyone wants, but that’s okay—as long as you have a little compromise. “Have every person name one thing they really want to do,” Dr. Horn suggests, like a specific museum, a scenic hiking trail or one night of clubbing until 3 a.m. This way, you all get at least one experience you were looking forward to—and, worst case, those who aren’t interested, have a built-in opportunity for some alone time, which brings us to our next tip.

3. Don’t be afraid to set micro boundaries

Getting much-needed space is near-impossible when you’re cramped in a tiny hotel room or doing every activity together…which is why Dr. Horn is all for setting “micro boundaries.”

If you’re sharing a bed and can’t exactly hide, for example, setting a gentle limit could sound like, “I’m going to pop in earbuds for the next hour,” so you can pause the yapping and scroll through Instagram in peace. Other creative ways to snag solo time include bowing out of an activity you’re not too keen on as an excuse to catch a break, as we mentioned above; going for a morning walk if you’re the only early riser in the crew; or sneaking in some pockets of solitude while others are napping.

4. Leave room in the itinerary for pure…nothing

Even with your absolute favourite person, being together 24/7 (especially with little sleep) can make you irritated. “That’s where the tension may start to occur when we don’t give enough downtime and flexibility,” Dr. Horn explains.

So just like you’d squeeze sightseeing or shopping into your calendar, make sure to leave some space for nothing too—whether that’s a couple of free hours before dinner, a slow morning with no breakfast reservations, or even one night without a set post-dinner agenda.

5. Absolutely don’t “vent” about others in the group

When someone’s constantly whining or running late, it’s tempting to turn to your other pal and say, “Can you believe they did X?” or “Isn’t it so annoying that Y?”