if you do a trip multiple times, maybe you could take turns with the master.

otherwise the one who did most of the planning. if that was equal, one couple could pay a little more.

usually when we have done this one couple did more of the planning than we did, so they got the master.

It really depends. I once shared a house at a ski town with co-worker friends. I was the youngest and my boyfriend was still a student, all the other couples had full time jobs. My boyfriend and l went for less time because we couldn’t afford to go the full week. My friend who organized it charged us the same as everyone else. Lesson learned on my part. I paid but l really couldn’t afford it. Now l know better to communicate early about how costs will be split. I had assumed it would be more fair.

Honestly no idea who got the master.

I agree people with most need (baby or small kids, people with mobility issues etc) should get first pick - or makes the trip easier for everyone.

We travel with friends every year. Order is…who needs space for a little one to stay in their room? Who needs to be close to their kids? Who are larger and could use the king bed? Who did the most work/deposit? After that flip a coin. I went from “I need the master” to “just not a couch”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not at all a fan of whoever gets the master pays more. It's like people who want to split the check because they ordered something cheaper. It just comes off so poorly past a certain age. Either your friends with people and you're doing things you can afford and there will be give and take over the course of the friendship and it all works out or don't do it.

Let me guess you always order more and get the best room. Yes, they should pay more. Why should someone else pay more if you order tons more food and drinks and they ordered less.

The opposite. I just don’t spend my life bean counting. I honestly don’t care if I chip in extra some nights or don’t get the master.

That's your prerogative. But others may feel differently (or have a tighter budget). If it works for a given group of friends, who are you to lecture them about the morally superior way of splitting cost? (for you do come across feeling superior).

Anonymous wrote:We've taken trips like this quite a bit and the primary BR usually goes to, in this order:

- the family with a need for privacy/space (babies, small kids or a workaholic that needs the desk space etc.)
- whomever did the majority of organizing/planning/deposit
- whomever arrives first, gets first dibs and/or if someone is leaving early they would get the "lesser" option

I don't think we've ever divided cost based on room. Generally speaking everyone spends time in the common area or are out skiing, hiking, whatever all day so it's not a huge deal to have a "lesser" room in a vacation house.

This except for the last one. If we haven't discussed it ahead of time, we wait until everyone arrives to split up rooms. Especially if they layout is not clear online.

But if I showed up and whoever got their first had snagged the best room, I'd call them out for being a jerk. We should just discuss it. None of my friend's would claim the master without running it past the group.

Though I do use this as part of house choosing. If I am not ok with the non-master bedrooms, I would veto the house and look for ones that work better for everyone. Or if everyone else was ok with it, ok then I'll take the master.

I'm sure someone put in more effort.

We have vacationed with the same 3 families a few times and there is always someone who does more research/planning. That couple gets the primary.

Anonymous wrote:Flip a coin. Putting down the deposit is not a lot of work.

You are completely clueless if you think all that is involved is the putting down the deposit!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not at all a fan of whoever gets the master pays more. It's like people who want to split the check because they ordered something cheaper. It just comes off so poorly past a certain age. Either your friends with people and you're doing things you can afford and there will be give and take over the course of the friendship and it all works out or don't do it.

Let me guess you always order more and get the best room. Yes, they should pay more. Why should someone else pay more if you order tons more food and drinks and they ordered less.

The opposite. I just don’t spend my life bean counting. I honestly don’t care if I chip in extra some nights or don’t get the master.

At a certain point, you're just a sucker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not at all a fan of whoever gets the master pays more. It's like people who want to split the check because they ordered something cheaper. It just comes off so poorly past a certain age. Either your friends with people and you're doing things you can afford and there will be give and take over the course of the friendship and it all works out or don't do it.

Let me guess you always order more and get the best room. Yes, they should pay more. Why should someone else pay more if you order tons more food and drinks and they ordered less.

The opposite. I just don’t spend my life bean counting. I honestly don’t care if I chip in extra some nights or don’t get the master.

Anonymous wrote:We've taken trips like this quite a bit and the primary BR usually goes to, in this order:

- the family with a need for privacy/space (babies, small kids or a workaholic that needs the desk space etc.)
- whomever did the majority of organizing/planning/deposit
- whomever arrives first, gets first dibs and/or if someone is leaving early they would get the "lesser" option

I don't think we've ever divided cost based on room. Generally speaking everyone spends time in the common area or are out skiing, hiking, whatever all day so it's not a huge deal to have a "lesser" room in a vacation house.

This seems sensible to me.

This all just once again confirms why i don't travel with others...I book a trip and I get the master no questions asked. I mean my kids will sometimes ask but they will never win that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flip a coin. Putting down the deposit is not a lot of work.

It’s not the amount of work, it’s the amount of risk. If someone backs out, your money is already gone.

I would presume that if someone backed out they would still pay their portion or give you the deposit money. I can' imagine traveling with people I didn't trust to not be total ****s.

i mean only one person can put the deposit down from their account. What if the other family gave you half the deposit ahead of time. Which means you are equally at risk. Then what... who gets the master?

Anonymous wrote:Flip a coin. Putting down the deposit is not a lot of work.

It’s not the amount of work, it’s the amount of risk. If someone backs out, your money is already gone.

OP here. I'm the one who paid the deposit but I don't feel like I did any more (or less, TBH) legwork than anybody else. I'd obviously like to have the master (with private balcony and en suite with huge tub) but it seems from the responses it would be friendlier to suggest we draw straws. Or maybe I suggest we kick in more if the others are agreeable to us claiming the best room.

Anonymous wrote:We've taken trips like this quite a bit and the primary BR usually goes to, in this order:

- the family with a need for privacy/space (babies, small kids or a workaholic that needs the desk space etc.)
- whomever did the majority of organizing/planning/deposit
- whomever arrives first, gets first dibs and/or if someone is leaving early they would get the "lesser" option

I don't think we've ever divided cost based on room. Generally speaking everyone spends time in the common area or are out skiing, hiking, whatever all day so it's not a huge deal to have a "lesser" room in a vacation house.

We do the same, in general. On one ski trip, one couple asked for the primary and offered to pay more. One spouse was a non skier and wanted to hang around the house more, hence they wanted the best room. Totally understandable and we didn't argue with their offer of higher payment. It was a significantly better room than the rest.