Compared to planning a couples getaway or even a trip with just your small, immediate family, planning a group getaway comes with some extra challenges. Whether you’re traveling with extended family or a group of friends, a vacation together can be tons of fun. But bringing together several couples or families and coordinating everything from hotels to transportation for everyone makes every step of the travel planning process more complicated.

But with a little work, you can plan an incredible trip together and create memories you’ll no doubt treasure for years to come.

Ready to start planning your next group getaway? From booking cabins near Zion National Park, like Watchman Villas, instead of your standard chain hotel to creating a trip to finding activities everyone can enjoy together, here’s what you need to know for a successful trip.

Opt for Cabins Near Zion National Park

Where you choose to stay during your family vacation is just as important as how you get there and what you do during your trip. Picking a lodging option where everyone in your group will be happy and comfortable means that no one gets a bad night’s sleep and winds up grumpy the next day. Also, when you’re traveling with a large group, planning downtime is an easy way to give everyone a chance to relax, take a nap, or otherwise unwind in between activities. 

While a chain hotel is a common choice, there are some big downsides to choosing one for your group getaway. While it’s great for everyone to have their own space to retreat to after a long day, hotels provide little in the way of common spaces where you can relax together. This means that once you get back to the hotel for the day, everyone will go their separate ways.

But when you book cabins near Zion National Park, not only does everyone get their own space, but you’ll also have plenty of space to share! Our two-bedroom private villas each feature a master suite with a King bed and a second suite with two Queen beds. There’s also a large living room, dining area, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Whether you want to cook a family meal or host a game or movie night, you’ll have plenty of room, while individual couples or families will be able to retreat to their own private spaces at the end of a long day.

Make an Itinerary

When you’re traveling with just your immediate family, you might not need to do a ton of planning ahead of your trip. You can have a list of things you want to do, and then decide the night before what you want to do each day. When you’re traveling with a group that has various needs and ability levels, this last-minute planning won’t work.

There are plenty of activities that your whole family will be able to enjoy together. But other activities may require your group to split up into smaller units. Planning an itinerary ahead of time will allow you to find activities that suit everyone, while still leaving time for the things that you want to do together. Review your itinerary ahead of time with everyone in your group. That way, everyone can provide feedback and you can make changes ahead of time, instead of finding out after your trip has started that part of your group doesn’t want to do a certain activity.

Find Activities for Everyone to Enjoy Together

Before you can create that itinerary, you’ll need to find activities for every age group you’ll have along. You likely won’t have much trouble finding plenty of things for each individual group to do. Older children and active adults will enjoy hiking. Older adults may find wandering the art galleries of Springdale, taking a scenic drive, or going shopping an ideal way to spend an afternoon. There are also plenty of easy hikes where little kids can get their energy out.

But activities that everyone can enjoy together are a little less common. A few great options include:

• Visiting the Zion Human History Museum
• Taking a Jeep tour through Zion
• Go horseback riding
• Ride the Zion Shuttle through the canyon, stopping at overlooks
• Pack a picnic lunch and eat it in the park
• Visit the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Area
• An e-bike ride through Zion

Talk to the other members of your group about what they might like to do during your trip. Find out whether everyone wants to stick together for the whole trip, or whether they’re okay with breaking into smaller groups to enjoy certain activities that not everyone wants to do together.

Planning a Group Stay at Cabins Near Zion National Park

Ready to start planning a group getaway in Southern Utah? From booking cabins near Zion National Park to creating an itinerary ahead of time, these tips can make travel planning a breeze.

Looking for more tips for planning your visit to Watchman Villas? Click here for the ultimate guide for how to visit Zion National Park.