Here we go! Issue #2 is here 🚐

This week: how to sort the money chat before it turns awkward, $80 surf lessons in Byron, and a few crews looking for someone to fill a seat.

Last week I nearly didn't hit send. This week, after seeing how many of you actually opened it, I'm very glad I did 🫶

Money is a sensitive topic, and nobody wants to talk about it until it becomes a problem. Sort out how you want to split things before you start your trip.

1. Agree on how you'll split expenses before you even start

Splitting everything down the middle, or taking turns to pay, it doesn't really matter which one you pick, as long as you pick one before the trip starts. Deciding this on the road, mid-argument, is how resentment builds.

Marco (my boyfriend, yeah that german dude I picked up in the middle of Daintree Rainforest 😂) told me he once did a day trip with a group of backpackers he met at a hostel, and ended up covering all the fuel himself, simply because he didn’t talk about how they would split costs at the beginning.

2. Track it as you go, not from memory

Use a note on your phone or an app like Splitwise. "I'll remember" never works past day three. Whoever's paying should snap a photo of the receipt or pop it into Splitwise on the spot. Takes five seconds, saves you so much headache later.

3. Decide how you're handling fuel

Some are happy taking turns to pay for fuel, others prefer a proper even split. On my road trip, I paid for all the groceries and my buddy paid for all the fuel. At the end of the trip, we worked out an even split and sent the other the difference.

One thing people forget: whoever owns the car also has extra costs like servicing and insurance. Just work out what works between you guys. Trust me, you don't want your ride break down in the middle of the way 🚐

4. Same goes for groceries

Some crews love cooking together and splitting the grocery 50/50. Others prefer buying their own stuff, especially with different dietary requirements. Neither is wrong, just agree which one you're doing before the first grocery run.

5. Camp fees and accommodation too

Work out whether you're free camping or paying for caravan parks. There are heaps of free camp spots on WikiCamps or Campermate, so have a look together, try to agree on something.

None of this is about being tight with money, it's about starting the trip on the same page. Sort the cash chat early so you can enjoy the rest of the trip with no dramas 🚐

This week we're featuring Style Surfing Byron Bay 🏄

They're Byron's original surf school, running since 1999, and one of the very few licensed to teach right in town on Clarkes Beach. Max 10 students with 2 instructors, so you actually get looked after.

Gaz has been teaching in Byron longer than anyone else, and he still runs every single class himself. He loves sharing what he knows and makes sure nobody gets left behind, no matter how much of a beginner you are.

A 3-hour surf lesson is normally $90, but you can get it for $80, because you’re a Likeplan subscriber!

Byron is on nearly every east coast route, so if you're passing through, this one's worth a stop.

To claim it, head to their website and message Gaz with the code LIKEPLAN 🤙

So much has happened in the last 7 days!

The bit I'm most excited about: we helped two members find travel buddies for Brisbane → Cairns → Darwin, leaving any day now. That's the whole reason Likeplan exists. If you're heading that way, hit reply and I'll connect you.

Also this week:

Know someone road tripping Australia?

If you've got a mate planning a trip up the coast, a hostel roomie hunting for a travel buddy, or someone in your van park who'd get something out of this, send them our way 🚐

The bigger our community gets, the better the discounts we can negotiate for you 😉 (and who doesn’t love saving money!!??)

And if you've used Likeplan this week, just hit reply and tell me how it went. I read every single one.

Safe travel wildlings!

Midori x