Messaging Your Group with Trip Chat
Last updated May 16, 2026
What Trip Chat Is
Trip Chat is a built-in group conversation attached to each trip. Instead of juggling a separate group text or email thread, everyone traveling can post updates, ask questions, and react — all next to the itinerary they're discussing.
Every trip has its own chat. It's private to the people on that trip and stays with the trip for as long as it exists.
Opening Trip Chat
Open the trip, then look at the trip header card. Next to the Invite Guests button is a chat icon. Click it and a panel titled Trip Chat slides in from the right.
If there are messages you haven't seen yet, the chat icon shows a small orange dot. The dot clears once you open the chat.
Sending a Message
At the bottom of the panel is a box labeled Message the trip…. Type your message and:
- Press Enter to send.
- Press Shift+Enter to add a line break without sending.
Your message appears at the bottom of the conversation right away. Messages are listed oldest at the top, newest at the bottom — closest to where you type — and each one shows the sender's avatar, name, and time.
The conversation refreshes on its own while the panel is open, so messages from other travelers show up without a manual refresh.
Reacting to Messages
Reactions are a quick way to acknowledge a message without adding a reply.
Hover over (or tap) a message and click the smiley icon. Pick from six emoji:
| Emoji | |
|---|---|
| 👍 | Thumbs up |
| ❤️ | Heart |
| 😂 | Laugh |
| 🎉 | Celebrate |
| 😮 | Surprised |
| 😢 | Sad |
Each reaction shows up as a chip under the message with a count. Click a chip to add your reaction to it, or click it again to remove yours. Chips you've reacted to are highlighted so you can see your own reactions at a glance.
Replying in Threads
When a message deserves a longer back-and-forth, keep it tidy with a thread instead of filling the main channel.
To start or join a thread:
- Hover over a message and click the reply icon.
- The thread view opens with the original message at the top and a Reply to this thread… box at the bottom.
- Post replies the same way you post a message — Enter to send.
A message that has replies shows a "replies" link under it in the main channel. Click the link to reopen the thread. Use the back arrow at the top of the panel to return to the main channel.
Editing and Deleting Your Messages
You can change or remove messages you sent. Hover over your own message to reveal its actions:
- Edit (pencil icon) — opens the message for inline editing. Press Enter to save or Escape to cancel. An edited message is marked (edited) so the conversation stays honest.
- Delete (trash icon) — removes the message. You'll be asked to confirm, because deletion is permanent.
These actions only appear on your own messages. You can't edit or delete what someone else posted.
Who Can Use Trip Chat
Trip Chat is available to everyone who is a member of the trip:
| Participant | Trip Chat access |
|---|---|
| Owner / Organizer | Full access |
| Invited guests (editors, viewers) | Full access |
| Agency / Planner (on agency trips) | Full access |
| Placeholder guests | No access — they have no login |
| Non-members | No access — the chat is private to the trip |
If you want someone to join the conversation, invite them to the trip first. See the Inviting Guests and Collaborators to a Trip article.
Tips
- Watch the orange dot. Trip Chat doesn't send email or push notifications — the dot on the chat icon is how you know there's something new.
- Use threads for side topics. Restaurant debates, packing questions, and "who's driving" all work better as threads so the main channel stays scannable.
- Reactions cut down on noise. A 👍 often says enough — no need for a one-word reply.
- Placeholder guests can't see chat. If a traveler needs to take part in the conversation, add them with an email address so they get a real account.
- Chat is per trip. Each trip has its own separate conversation; messages don't carry over between trips.