#146 Planning a Group Trip｜French Travel Phrases

When planning a trip with multiple people—such as a family vacation, a trip with friends, or a company training trip—there are more points to confirm than with individual travel.

It is important to share information in advance with the travel agency, such as the number of participants, the purpose of the trip, the overall travel style, and whether free time is desired.

In this article, I explain useful French expressions for planning a group trip, together with key grammatical points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. Nous envisageons d’organiser un voyage de groupe et nous aurions besoin de vos conseils.
（Hello. We are considering organizing a group trip, and we would appreciate your advice.）

B

Bien sûr. Combien de personnes participeront au voyage ?
（Of course. How many people will be taking part in the trip?）

A

Nous serons douze personnes, principalement des amis.
（There will be twelve of us, mainly friends.）

B

Avez-vous déjà une destination ou une période en tête ?
（Do you already have a destination or time period in mind?）

A

Nous aimerions partir au printemps, idéalement en mai, et visiter le sud de la France.
（We would like to travel in spring, ideally in May, and visit the south of France.）

B

Parfait. Souhaitez-vous un voyage plutôt détendu ou un programme plus actif ?
（Perfect. Would you prefer a relaxed trip, or a more active itinerary?）

A

Un équilibre entre visites culturelles et temps libre serait idéal.
（An ideal balance between cultural visits and free time would be perfect.）

B

Dans ce cas, je peux vous proposer un itinéraire avec des visites guidées et des moments libres.
（In that case, I can suggest an itinerary that combines guided tours with free time.）

A

Cela nous conviendrait très bien. 
（That would suit us very well.）

1. Starting the Discussion About a Travel Plan

When consulting about a travel plan, it is important to mention at the outset that it is a group trip and that you are still in the planning stage.

The expression “envisager de …” means “to be considering” or “to be thinking about,” and is suitable when discussing plans that are not yet finalized.

Adding the following sentence makes the request more polite:

This conveys that you are seeking professional input and helps start the conversation smoothly with the travel agency.

2. Giving Information About the Number of Participants

When discussing a group trip, the first key detail to share is the number of participants.

By using environ (approximately), you indicate that the final number may change slightly.

If possible, it is also helpful to mention the relationship or background of the participants, as this helps the travel agency understand the overall atmosphere of the trip.

3. Sharing the Destination, Timing, and Purpose

Next, you should communicate your general preferences for the trip.

The word “idéalement” means “ideally” or “if possible,” and is useful when expressing preferred—but flexible—conditions.

4. Explaining the Travel Style and Priorities

For group travel, it is especially important to clarify whether the trip should focus on sightseeing, relaxation, or free time.

Here, “un programme plus actif” does not necessarily mean sports-focused, but rather an itinerary with structured sightseeing, activities, and movement.

The noun “équilibre” (balance) in the structure “un équilibre entre A et B” expresses the idea of combining two elements in a well-balanced way, without prioritizing one too heavily over the other.

Summary