Planning the perfect holiday is daunting enough when it is just for you. Add in a bunch of friends looking for a memorable trip and your stress level goes through the roof. Where are you going to go and where will you stay when you get there? What activities should you schedule and where are the best places to eat? Planning things out in advance lets you enjoy the trip instead of worrying about what to do tomorrow. Remove the stress from holiday planning with three tips and some online tools.

1. Plan and Book Early – Not only do you get the best accommodation choices when you book in advance, you also get a chance to talk over the destination with everyone. This way, all your friends get to talk about the trip in advance and agree on a destination. No more worries about where to go. Plus, this gives everyone time to get excited and budget for the trip.

2. Look Online and Use a Travel Agent - Local trips, ones where you don’t need your passport, are easy enough to plan yourself. Sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline and many more offer easy booking for hotels, plane tickets and car rentals. Plus, they usually have a selection of attractions for the destination city. For international trips, talk with your local travel agent or an online travel agent like Holiday Velvet. Even if you wind up booking everything yourself, they are a wealth of information. A good agent knows the ins and outs of any holiday spot they book for. Plus, they remind you about things like travelers insurance and currency exchanges.

3. Reviews are Your Best Friend – Don’t simply book the first apartment a travel site throws at you. Take a minute to use sites like Tripadvisor and Urbanspoon to get a good idea of what you’re in for or attentively read the reviews published on the site you will book from. You might find little known local dining spots and shopping districts, or tours that don’t make the top ten list but should.

Plan ahead and enjoy your holiday. Find out all about your next holiday spot well before stepping foot off the plane. Enjoy all the tourist attractions, but make sure to visit local favorites as well. Don’t forget to plan for a day or two of total relaxation. You might be tempted to pack every day with adventure, but at some point a rest day is a good idea. It helps you keep your energy high for the entire trip.