Over the weekend, I was binge-watching the second season of The White Lotus.

Basically, two couples take a trip to Sicily.

It sounds lovely, but it was the TRIP FROM HELL.

So many things went wrong that I found myself yelling at the TV.

I had to put my thoughts on paper because I realized—this was great content!

At first, my notes were just a chaotic mess of frustrations. But after some refining, I distilled everything into three key lessons you can use for your next group trip.

Let’s dive in and discuss what they should have done differently.

1. Only Travel with People You Actually Like

This trip was doomed from the start.

If your first reaction to a group trip invitation is to cringe—don’t go!

It doesn’t matter if they’re paying for the trip or if you love the destination. If you don’t genuinely enjoy being around these people, it’s not worth it.

2. Pay Attention to Your Subgroup

Subgroups exist within group trips—spouses, significant others, kids, or even best friends.

Here’s why they matter:

Even if you’re okay with an activity, if your subgroup isn’t, it can ruin the entire trip. An uncomfortable partner or a cranky kid can turn a fun moment into a full-blown disaster.

3. Communicate (Properly!)

We all know communication is important, but how you communicate matters even more.

Set clear expectations:

• What do you absolutely want to see or do?

• What are your hard no’s?

Spoiler alert: For example, it’s probably a good idea to communicate that you’d prefer if no one in the group sleeps with your significant other. Just saying.

Avoid the mistakes these characters made, and your trip should go much smoother.

Keep traveling, 

Andrew

Have you ever gone on a trip with people you didn’t actually like? How did it go?