As Spring Break and summer quickly approach, it's time to turn those group chat plans into reality. Dive into the latest issue of Cover2Cover for 5 essential tips that will transform your friendship goals into unforgettable experiences. Don't just fantasize – make it happen!

Step One: Find Out Who is Serious? 

It’s okay to hit your friends with the double text. Before making any plans it is  important to see who’s serious and who’s not. Bring that trip back up! See who’s down to continue planning and actually ready to make it happen.

Step Two: What’s the Budget?

Everyone’s money doesn’t always look the same. However,  that doesn’t mean you can’t come together to create a budget that works for everyone’s income and financial goals. After deciding who’s ready to take that getaway trip, discuss with your buddies what everyone’s budget looks like and what the best affordable options are.

Step 3: Where We Going and How We Getting There?

Let’s talk logistics. Plane? Train? Road Trip? Where we going and how we getting there? Traveling is everything but cheap. Luckily being a student comes with opportunities to save your coins on a student discount. Websites like StudentUniverse and StudentBean connect you with discounts for hotels and various transportation services. According to Yahoo! Finance, traditional airlines offer discounted rates for students; all you need is your student ID! 

Step 4: Take Account of Outside Expenses

Once you secure the location and the logistics of getting there, figure out what activities you want to do and plan accordingly. Will you be dining out every night? Is there a grocery store near the hotel or Airbnb? Creating a game plan for how you’ll be eating throughout your trip, will free you from worrying about food and allow more time to enjoy the week as you see fit.

Step 5: Don’t Forget the Itinerary!

What do you want to see? How many beach days do you want? Are there any tourist sites you want to visit? This is your time to enjoy your break! Decide what you want to do beforehand so you’re already prepared with a plan. It’s okay to change your mind later on but the goal is to have a plan prepared. After all, look how long it took to get the plan out of the group chat.