BACKGROUND

While chatting with your friends at school, the idea of a trip together comes up.

There is a break before school re-starts in September and the group wants a 3-day trip before the term gets underway.

Most of your friends are busy with work/school and haven't explored their surroundings.

You've been in Canada for almost one year and most of your group of eight friends also remain unfamiliar with Canada.

Everyone agrees a trip is needed, but there is no consensus on even the basic details.

With school re-starting soon, time is short.

Joao Prasad, the oldest group member, asks if you can manage a project to make a memorable trip.

Joao can act more like a father than a friend and has lots of opinions.

This particular trait irritates your other friends sometimes, but you and Joao are friendly and you accept the challenge.

Option 1

Most group members are from larger cities and are used to busier lifestyles.

A trip to Toronto to eat food and visit shops that remind everyone of home has appeal.

The first option is the least costly as some of your friends have relatives in Toronto to provide free accommodation, but this splits the group each night (four relatives' homes at two friends per place).

Splitting increases thetravel costs(two cars for three days, $80/car per day) and makes reconvening difficult as only two group members can drive.

Most events are eating or shopping-related, sofood costsare $100/person per day.

However, this trip only has familiar things(relatives, food, places) while your friends want newer experiences.

Option 2

One of the best-known tourist attractions is Niagara Falls.

There are also multiple casinos, which is another new experience.

You can reduce the cost of a trip using online coupons for cheaper hotel rooms.

The easiest to organize.

Packages usually include larger hotel rooms and tickets to visit the falls. However, the hotel rooms are on different floors and split the group into four friends per room each night (two rooms, $120/room per night).

Niagara Falls caters to tourists, which means everything else is a little overpriced (you expect each friend to spend $60 on souvenirs) and crowded.

These "tourist traps" aren't a relaxing scenario and people often lose money at the casino (expect to lose $100/person).

Option 3

Another friend had posted their photos from a trip to Tobermory where the water looks blue, and everyone looks relaxed.

A trip using an Airbnb rental could house all group members and contain a full kitchen to give the group more meal flexibility.

The most expensive, but also the most "Canadian" experience.

Having a kitchen reduces meal costs to $20/person per day and waterfront access means more privacy for the group.

There are beautiful beaches and tourist attractions nearby or your friends can stay and relax at the property.

Tobermory is almost four hours away (two cars for three days, $120/car per day) and overnight costs are the highest (an Airbnb, $400/night).

Which option would you choose ? Why?