Cook together, at least once. Grocery runs are half the fun. Assign one big communal dinner per trip. Let someone else handle breakfast. The kitchen becomes the best room in the house when six people are chopping, stirring, and arguing about seasoning.

Start a shared trip calendar early. Drop a Google Sheet or shared note where everyone can flag arrival times, dietary needs, and the one activity they absolutely want to do. It prevents the "so what's the plan?" spiral on day two.

Pack smarter than you think. Beach towels, sunscreen, and a good Bluetooth speaker go further than a fifth suitcase of outfits. Bring the cooler. You'll use it every day.

Give people permission to do nothing. The best group trips have built-in slack. Not every hour needs an itinerary. Some people want to read on the deck all morning. Let them. The group finds its way back together by dinner.

Book early for peak season. Summer weekends and holidays fill up fast. If your dates matter, lock them in months ahead. The good houses go first.