Thanks to innovations in technology, it’s never been easier to stay in touch with friends. But while video calls and text chains are great, the best friendships revolve around shared, real-life moments.
The hour-long conversations, the inside jokes, the unexpected detours that become core memories … these are the experiences that strengthen bonds in a way that a WhatsApp group chat simply cannot.
That’s why, as the world celebrates the International Day of Friendship on 30 July, it might be time to stop saying “we’ll catch up soon” and finally take that trip you and your friends have been talking about forever — whether that’s an overseas holiday, a weekend beach getaway, or a quick city break.
Not convinced? Here are a few reasons to help persuade you.
What are the Benefits of Travelling with Friends?
Friend Trips Help You Reconnect Without Distractions
Work and family commitments can make spending meaningful time with friends difficult, and it can be additionally challenging if you’re building a business. A trip together, however, could change that and allow you to press pause on daily life.
This means uninterrupted time together over meals and conversation, rather than squeezing in a quick coffee catch-up or lunch between client meetings. Truly, it’s these moments of deeper connection and simply being present with one another that help friendships become stronger.
Friend Trips Turn New Experiences into Shared Memories
Some people like travelling solo because it allows them total control of their itineraries. Essentially, you’re the one who decides when to wake, eat, and what to do.
That said, a trip with friends means having people who encourage you to step outside your comfort zone — whether that’s sampling local cuisine, trying an adrenaline-packed activity or venturing off the beaten path.
It’s all about turning a simple holiday into an adventure, discovering things together, and sharing those experiences with people who understand you.
Friend Trips Help You See Destinations Differently
Holidaying with friends can also completely change how you see a destination. Everyone notices things differently. So, travelling with others could help you experience a place through their eyes as well as your own. And the experience can be even more rewarding if you happen to be travelling with people who know the area, have visited it before, or are locals.
That could ensure your trip isn’t just about ticking off attractions, but about being introduced to favourite eateries or local neighbourhood gems you might otherwise have walked past.
Friend Trips Can Save You Money
Group travel can also save you a tonne of cash. Essentially, instead of paying a premium as an individual traveller, you get to share accommodation, split the cost of airport transfers and car rentals, and score group discounts. You can even share on groceries and travel essentials like portable Wi-Fi routers. Just make sure to communicate openly about costs.
Importantly, too, friends can provide an instant sounding board and support system for filtering ideas, making decisions, and navigating unexpected travel hiccups, if or when plans don’t quite pan out.
Plan Your Friend Group Getaway with QVI
The reasons above notwithstanding, sometimes taking a holiday from idea to reality can be tricky and even overwhelming. That’s where QVI factors in.
Designed to support different types of travellers, QVI offers a wide range of products, whether you’re planning a short reunion or a longer adventure.
QVI Club, for instance, offers flexible pricing for stays worldwide, while QVI Breaks is perfect for quick getaways with the option to split stays into shorter periods.
There’s also QVI Vacay, which offers exclusive perks, including redeemable nights, special rates, VIP discounts, coupons and year-end bonus rewards; and QVI Tripsavr, which is great for those who want to book and plan everything in one place.
You also have access to more than 1,000 partner hotels and resorts across 50 countries, as well as QVI home resorts in Thailand, Türkiye, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.
Celebrate Friendship Day with a Trip to Remember
Let’s be honest. Every group chat has that holiday everyone keeps saying they should take together “someday”. But considering how quickly the years fly by, “someday” should really be today.
In other words, maybe it’s time to stop talking about it, say “let’s do it!”, and just book that trip you’ve been promising one another.
