3. Plan Your Budget. Once you have your travel companions together, you'll need to find out about how much each person expects to spend. Most of your companions probably won't know how much to expect to pay, you may want to research some basic costs like airfare to Europe (book your flights after booking a villa), the exchange rate from dollars to Euros, and the cost of renting a mid-range villa. Try to get an idea about how much people are willing to pay for their accommodations. If anyone's budget is far below (or above) the group average, you may want to talk to them about either changing their expectations or opting out. It is also a good idea to collect some sort of "deposit" at this point to ensure that there are no last-minute dropouts after you've booked!

4. Let Your Interests Determine the Location-- not the other way around. Trust me, you'll have more fun. Before you pick your destination, come up with a list of possible activities and ask your companions to pick their three favorites. Here is a short sample list:

- Visit museums

- Shop at outdoor markets

- Explore medieval towns

- Go swimming

- See famous sights

- Have a cooking lesson

- Hike in the countryside

When all the votes are in, come up with a "top five" list.