When Family Becomes Your Travel Crew.

Vegas Day & Night Life

Here’s the tea—it looks like our cousins’ trip is finally making it out of the family group chat. You know, the same chat where we’ve been “planning” this trip for years, but somehow the conversation always ends with, “We’ll figure it out later.” Well, later is finally here, and the decision has been made: Las Vegas.

If you’ve ever traveled with family, you know it’s equal parts love, laughter, and “girl, hurry up, we’re late.” My cousins are my built-in best friends, my partners in side-eye, and my safe space for being my unfiltered self. But when it comes to actually traveling together? That’s where things can get… interesting.

One cousin wants to wake up at sunrise to “see everything.” Another needs two hours to do hair, makeup, and pick an outfit. And there’s always one who just wants to “go with the flow,” which is cute until you realize “the flow” doesn’t have reservations.

And in a city like Vegas where there’s always something to do you can’t just wing it.

Why Planning Is Non-Negotiable for Vegas

Vegas is a sensory overload in the best way. The lights, the shows, the food, the shopping, the pool parties, the random Elvis sighting… it’s all part of the experience. But if you don’t have even a loose plan, you’ll end up wasting precious time trying to decide what to do next.

That’s why I decided to get us organized early. I actually created this cool digital travel itinerary a while back to keep my own trips on track, but it turns out it’s perfect for a cousin getaway too. Everything from activities to restaurant picks to packing lists lives in one place, and we can all access it from our phones.

For me, planning isn’t about taking the fun out of the trip, it’s about making sure we have the fun without missing the things we really want to do.

The Group Chat Glow-Up

If you’ve ever been in a family group chat before a trip, you know how wild it can get. Links flying in from ten different directions, someone sharing a random TikTok of a Vegas buffet at 2 a.m., outfit pictures with captions like “Yes or no?” that get zero consensus… chaos.

This time, instead of letting all the info get buried, I’m pulling it into the itinerary:

• Daily Schedule – Morning brunch spots, afternoon activities, evening shows, and a little room for late-night fun.

• Restaurant List – Because cousins don’t let cousins eat bad food.

• Packing List – Matching outfits for photo ops, comfy walking shoes, and something with sparkle for nightlife.

• Trip Highlights – Those “must-do” activities, like a spa day, rooftop dinner, and maybe even a helicopter ride over the Strip.

The best part? Everyone gets a link to the itinerary so they can check it without asking me for the plan every five minutes.

My Version of Travel Self-Care

Self-care isn’t always a candlelit bath or a face mask (though I’m not mad at those). Sometimes, it’s making sure future-you isn’t stressed out in a hotel lobby trying to figure out what’s next.

By building this itinerary, I’m giving us:

• Downtime – Because naps are non-negotiable in Vegas.

• Flex Hours – For those random “let’s just walk and see what happens” moments.

• Must-Do Moments – So we don’t leave saying, “I wish we had time for that.”

Vegas moves fast, but we don’t have to. A little planning means we get to enjoy the city without running ourselves ragged.

Pre-Trip Fun (and a Little Chaos)

We haven’t booked the flights yet, but the excitement is real. The group chat has gone from random memes to serious planning. Pinterest boards are popping up. We’re sending outfit inspo back and forth, only to change our minds the next day.

I already know we’re going to overpack. I already know someone’s going to try to convince us to squeeze in “just one more activity” when we’re clearly ready for bed. And I know there will be moments where we laugh so hard we can’t breathe—because that’s just how my cousins and I are.

Lessons From Planning a Cousin Trip

If you’ve ever been the “planner” in your family or friend group, here are a few things I’ve learned so far:

1. Get input early – Don’t build the plan alone and then get hit with “I don’t want to do that” two days before the trip.

2. Plan for different energy levels – Not everyone wants to be out all night or up at sunrise. Mix high-energy activities with chill moments.

3. Share the plan in one place – Whether it’s my digital itinerary or something else, make sure no one can say, “I didn’t know.”

4. Leave room for surprises – Vegas will throw opportunities at you. Don’t overschedule every second.

5. Budget talks are your friend – Figure out what people are comfortable spending before you start booking things.

   
   

What’s On Our Vegas Bucket List

I’m keeping some things a surprise, but here’s what’s already on my radar:

• A rooftop brunch – For the views, the photos, and the mimosas.

• A big show – Cirque du Soleil or something equally over-the-top.

• The spa – Because after a few days of walking the Strip, we’re going to need it.

• A little shopping – Whether it’s high-end or quirky souvenirs, we’re finding something.

• Nighttime sightseeing – Vegas lights are a show all by themselves.

The Countdown Is On

I can already see it us laughing in the airport, making "we are in our 30s, 40s, and 50s but still know how to have fun TikToks" in the hotel room, accidentally staying out too late, and telling stories we’ll be retelling at every family reunion for the next decade.

Being the planner comes with responsibility, but it also means I get to help create the trip I know we’ve all been dreaming about. And when we land in Vegas, we’ll be ready—with outfits picked, reservations made, and plenty of space for whatever adventures come our way.

Canva Editable Girl's Trip Planner

And yes, my digital travel itinerary will be right there in my phone, keeping us on track without killing the vibe. Because if there’s one thing I know about traveling with my cousins it’s that we’ll have the time of our lives… as long as we don’t waste it deciding what to do next.