How do I plan a group trip with friends who live in different cities?

Agree the dates and a budget first, then choose a place that is fair to reach from every home city, not just the cheapest from one. Collect everyone's answers in one place before anyone books, so nobody is left paying far more than the rest.

Practical steps

1. Pick one organiser. Groups stall when everyone waits for someone else. One person sets the deadline and chases answers.
2. Ask for dates as ranges. Ask each person which weekends or weeks they can do, and how many days of leave they have. Look for the window that suits the most people rather than chasing a perfect match.
3. Ask for budgets privately. People say a higher number in a group chat than they can afford. A private answer gives you a figure everyone can live with.
4. List home airports or stations. Write down where each person would travel from. A place that is a short hop from London can be a long, expensive trip from Glasgow or Berlin.
5. Shortlist places that are fair to reach. Compare the total travel cost and time for the whole group, not one person. Places with good links from several cities usually win.
6. Vote, then lock it in. Put three options to the group with a short deadline. Once it is decided, check real prices from every departure point before anyone books.
7. Book the group parts together. Accommodation is usually booked by one person and split. Flights are booked by each traveller from their own city.

Where annamo helps

annamo is a free group trip planner that runs in the browser. The organiser sends one link to the group chat and each person answers six short questions on their phone, with no account: their dates, home airport, budget and what would make the trip for them. annamo ranks the dates that suit the most people, keeps individual budgets private to the organiser, and shortlists places with flight prices estimated from each person's own airport. Before anyone books, the organiser can check real fares from every departure city. Estimates are a guide, not a quote, so always confirm the final price when you book.

FAQ

How far ahead should we plan a trip from different cities?

Two to four months ahead is a good target for flights within Europe. It gives time to agree dates and still catch reasonable fares.

What if one friend cannot fly?

Plan around them from the start. Choose places they can reach by train, coach or car, and compare their cost and journey time with everyone else's.

Should everyone fly into the same airport?

It helps but is not essential. Arriving at nearby airports on similar times often saves money, as long as the transfer is easy.