All the stages of planning a girls holiday

It’s that time of the year where you and your girlfriends have decided to go on a holiday. 

You’ve been drowning in work for the past few weeks, so this seems like the best idea ever until you realise how stressful planning a holiday actually is.

Here are all the painful steps you will endure before finally booking your break:

Step one: Decide where to go

You’ve had your ideal holiday planned out in your head for ages. Somewhere cultural with a great nightlife. You know you’re at a point in your life where you’ll really be able to experience it properly. So you look into flights, get some bargains going and start thinking of the stuff you’re going to pack. You’re convinced your friends will think the plan’s brilliant. Barcelona here we come!

Step two: Have your holiday idea shot down by all of your friends.

They don’t want to go to Barcelona. Charlotte went one time with her gran and Amber says she doesn’t speak Spanish so it won’t be as interesting. Plus it’s just like buildings and stuff, it’s not going to be ‘fun’ according to your mates. You have to act like you don’t care whilst you quickly shove the laminated day itineraries you typed up last night back into your bag before anyone sees.

Step three: Create endless small group chats to figure out where to go.

Sarah and Lydia want to go to Malaga but Haja and Zoe are set on Zante and you’re still pushing Barcelona but no one’s listening anymore, so does it even matter? Meanwhile Hazel and Jess want to go to Brighton because they can’t afford anywhere else and the whole trip has to fit around Hannah’s internship at some law firm her dad set up for her, even though you know she’d be an awful lawyer.

Step four: Have a massive argument about it.

You’re all going to say things you’ll regret and in hindsight it is a little harsh to call Zianna selfish just because she said she didn’t want to go away for two weeks but then again she did call you boring for wanting a cultural experience, so it’s all fair game. Things were said that shouldn’t have been said and you’re probably all going to hug and make up soon but for now the holiday is a shambles.

Step five: Split into various groups.

At this point you accept that trying to get 15 people to agree was never going to end well so you all part your separate ways. Some people are doing a girls trip to Zante, some are interrailing around Europe, while your small group have decided this year it’s Magaluf, a far cry from the cultural mini-break you’d originally planned.

Step six: Wait as a natural leader begins to emerge.

It’s the person pushing for a certain destination, bloody Sarah. She was the one who first suggested Magaluf and you’re pretty sure she’s manipulated you all into agreeing with her. She’s chosen and booked the hotel before you even get a chance and next thing she’s telling you she’s organised t-shirts as well. She’s a total control freak but in her defence if she didn’t do it, nothing would ever get done.

Step seven: Try not to fall out with the group of people you’re going with.

The minute you agree to go on holiday with someone, you make it five times more likely that you’ll have a massive argument. There’s a ticking time bomb between the lot of you and you know everything will come out when alcohol is involved. Try not to bring up that time Temi got off with your ex boyfriend because that’s not relevant right now. Besides, you’ve already paid £125 for your flights!

Step seven: Go on the holiday, have an awesome time and realise all the stress was definitely worth it.

All that drama’s finally paid off

It might be a nightmare trying to get out there and part of you is still sad you aren’t in Barcelona but you have to admit, there’s nothing quite like girls on tour.