The ultimate guide for seamless group travel with Villa Finder

Because planning a holiday among friends and family shouldn’t feel like herding cats through customs.

Few things bring people together like travel. You toast the first day with strawberry daiquiris, swap steamy gossip in the onsen and dissolve into snorts over scooter mishaps. But then come the flight-time feuds. Those midnight snore wars. That endlessly painful debate over who owes who what money. The kids want a pool. The teens demand wi fi. Grandma clings to her TV shows, and the parents hunt for a place to hide. Even the tightest crew of friends can blow up when one person’s budget-friendly escape is another’s annual salary.

Yet, we keep planning those trips anyway. Because when group travel works, they’re the kind of trips that you treasure for years. So, don’t throw in the beach towel just yet. Villa Finder turns big group chaos into coordination, one stress-free stay at a time.

Discover how to solve the top five problems of group travel.

1. Deciding where to go

One Happo Chalet offers breathtaking views of the towering 3,000-metre Japanese Alps. — Perhaps a Japanese ski trip with martinis and mountain views?

Top priority: deciding where to go. This can be a fiery process, complete with unanswered polls and texting tantrums. Before opinions hit boiling point, Villa Finder steps in with stays that tick every box.

Powder hounds can defrost in a Japanese ryokan-style house, complete with a jacuzzi for defrosting those snow-booted feet. Dreaming of your first safari? Sri Lanka’s elephants are waiting. The Island of the Gods is a crowd favourite for a reason, while Phuket and Koh Samui deliver that classic flop-and-drop combo with endless iced cha yen tea and Pad Thai on the side.

Whatever your vibe, the global connections of this planning team mean the destination debate disappears with the help of expert guidance.

2. Finding accommodation for everyone

PurePods Akashi Residence — Leave the kids at the villa pool, while the adults take a cooking class in the kitchen.

Next, finding the right villa. Some listings promise room for eight, a dog, a cat and two wheelchairs. Then the reality – as well as a liberal interpretation of what counts as a sofa bed – says otherwise. That’s why Villa Finder personally inspects every home before it makes the cut to join their 4000-strong collection.

No false claims. No broken elevators. Accessibility prioritised, real en-suites, baby chairs with all four legs and cots for every little traveller. It’s the difference between tripping over suitcases and having the room to kick back and do nothing – and everything – together. From toddlers to grandparents, everyone is comfortable.

3. Differing budgets

aerial view of PurePods Villa Kubu Dewi Sri — There’s a villa for every budget.

The bigger the group, the wider the gulf between spending styles. Trying to find one trip that suits everyone’s wallet can feel like another full-time job. Villa Finder helps find experiences with value, not compromise.

Splitting the cost of a villa lets you upgrade the fun – like organising a babysitter for a night off, or a floating breakfast ready by the pool. Payments for add-ons are handled directly through them, so you can lock in extras before you even leave home. Luxury made easy, affordable, and blissfully drama-free.

4. Complex logistics

aerial of krabi island thailand — Whatever your group likes to do, the concierge team can help. (Image: Denys Nevozhai)

You’ve found the right place, dollars and all. Now, for the rest of the holiday. Once you’ve shortlisted your booking, Villa Finder’s concierge team steps in with their sleeves pushed firmly up. They pair up with trusted consultants to plan every detail before you’ve even picked out your swimmers. Not just airport transfers and check-ins.

Think pink princess-themed birthday décor on arrival, a fridge stocked to match your snacking habits, and an on-site chef who turns dinner into a masterclass that will have you slinging new dishes long after you fly home. Add in wellness days that massage away even the tiniest hint of post-airport tension, and you’re set.

When you’re ready to venture out, the local experts take over. Need a surfboard in Bali? Done. A sunrise boat trip to spot blue whales in Sri Lanka? Sorted. How about an island-hopping lunch in Thailand or a soak in a Japanese hot spring? Consider it booked.

The concierges help you live like an insider, arranging everything from market tours to tea-estate picnics and seafood BBQs under the stars. And if you ever want a hand, the multi-lingual team is on hand 24/7 via WhatsApp, phone or email. Whatever you’re after, it’s covered. This behind-the-scenes coordination means more time together, less sorting logistics.

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5. Learning to Compromise

family at villa finder accomm — Leave with only the best memories.

Group travel tests patience and planning skills, but Villa Finder keeps the peace. The team tailors activities for every day so each person gets their version of a real holiday – and a chance to give back while they do. For every booking, Villa Finder will plant a tree in Indonesia, a small act that helps communities grow.

They take the chaos out of travelling together, turning plans into getaways that go down as smoothly as a fresh coconut cocktail. There’s only one thing they can’t do: decide who gets that master suite.

Start planning your group escape at villa-finder.com.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The ultimate guide for seamless group travel

Because planning a holiday among friends and family shouldn’t feel like herding cats through customs.

1. Deciding where to go

2. Finding accommodation for everyone

3. Differing budgets

4. Complex logistics

5. Learning to Compromise

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