When Maggie Hansen and a group of 11 of her friends made the trip to San Diego for her bachelorette party last year, she and her maid of honor tried to be as transparent as possible about the costs the 12 attendees would incur. Some could be anticipated, like airfare and a wine tasting excursion, but there were also unpredictable expenses like Ubers, bar tabs, and more.
While the financial costs of the getaway were inevitable, Hansen wanted to avoid adding emotional ones: In particular, the feelings of resentment, guilt, or disappointment that often arise with group trips. Since incomes and spending habits vary within a friend group, those feelings can multiply and fester. One friend may not drink alcohol or eat meat. That can easily cause problems if they are expected to split cocktail- and steak-heavy tabs with their friends who do. Another may make significantly less than others in the group but feel uncomfortable admitting to that fact.
