Unpacking the Invisible Labor of Small Group Travel Planning
You know the feeling. It starts innocuously enough—a casual mention over dinner about how "we should all go somewhere together this year." Heads nod enthusiastically around the table, phones emerge to check calendars, and suddenly you find yourself volunteering to "look into some options." What follows is a familiar choreography that you've performed countless times before, one that transforms you from excited traveler to project manager, researcher, diplomat, and decision-maker all at once.
The Unsung Heroes
If you're reading this, chances are you're the person in your friend group or family who always seems to end up planning the trips. You're the one who knows everyone's dietary restrictions, remembers who can't share a room with whom, and somehow manages to find accommodations that satisfy both the budget-conscious and the luxury-seekers in your group. You're also likely exhausted by the sheer weight of responsibility that comes with orchestrating everyone else's good time.
The “Invisible Labor” of Planning a Group Trip
You're experiencing what researchers call "invisible labor"—the cognitive and emotional work that keeps relationships and households functioning but rarely receives recognition or acknowledgment. While this concept has been extensively studied in domestic contexts, it extends far beyond household management into virtually every area where planning and coordination are required, including travel.
“It takes the equivalent of two full working days, or 16 hours, to plan and book a trip.”
At its best, travel planning can be a form of care-giving, a way of expressing love through attention to others' needs and preferences. The person who remembers your fear of heights when booking activities, who finds the perfect restaurant for your anniversary dinner, who builds in rest time because they know you get overwhelmed in new places—this is emotional intelligence made manifest through logistics.
Breaking the Cycle
The goal is to make the planning role sustainable and appreciated. Some people genuinely enjoy research and coordination—the satisfaction of solving complex logistical puzzles and creating memorable experiences for others. But even natural planners deserve recognition, support, and occasionally, the opportunity to be surprised by someone else's thoughtful organization.
When the moment is right, let that “someone else” be us! We would love to partner with you on your next small group trip to continue the legacy of caring for everyone in your group, but without the personal stress for you.
