Overview
Group Chat is a built-in messaging feature that lets you connect with fellow travelers and your trip organizer before, during, and after your trip. Share excitement, ask questions, vote in polls, react to messages, and stay on top of important updates -- all from your traveler dashboard.
Getting to Group Chat
Log in at dashboard.squadtrip.com
Find the trip you're booked on
Click "Details" to open your trip information
Click "Chat" in the actions row (its tooltip reads Group Chat) to open the chat window
Note: Group Chat only appears while your booking is active (not cancelled) and the organizer has enabled it for the trip.
What You Can Do in Group Chat
Feature | How It Works |
Send messages | Real-time messaging with multi-line text (like Slack or iMessage) |
Share media | Upload and share photos (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP), videos (MP4, MOV, WebM) and PDFs with your group |
React to messages | Tap any message to add a reaction (thumbs up, heart, laugh, fire, or check mark) |
Vote in polls | Your organizer may create polls for group decisions -- activities, dining, excursions, etc. |
See pinned messages | Important updates from the organizer stay pinned at the top of the chat |
Daily Digest Email
On days when you have unread messages and something new was posted, you'll receive a daily email digest (sent at 6 PM Eastern) summarizing the chat activity:
New messages from the group
Poll updates and results
Pinned messages from the organizer
Highlighted organizer announcements
This keeps you in the loop even if you don't check the chat every day. You can turn it off in your notification settings.
Managing Your Notifications
Control how and when you receive Group Chat notifications:
Go to Settings in your traveler dashboard
Scroll to Chat Notification Preferences on My Profile
Toggle Daily Digest (6 PM EST) or Mute All Chat Notifications -- they save automatically (@Mentions, Organizer Announcements and Real-Time alerts are listed as Coming Soon)
See How to Manage Group Chat Notification Settings for details on each option.
Important Notes
Group Chat is only available for confirmed bookings -- you won't see it until your booking is complete
If your internet drops, Group Chat automatically reconnects when you're back online
Only organizers can pin messages, delete other users' messages and create polls
Your notification preferences apply globally to all trips, not per-trip
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Can't find the Group Chat button | Verify your booking is confirmed. Group Chat only appears for confirmed travelers on trips where the organizer has enabled it. |
Messages not loading | Check your internet connection. Group Chat auto-reconnects when you're back online. If it still doesn't load, try refreshing the page. |
Not receiving digest emails | Check your notification settings under Settings > My Profile. Make sure "Daily Digest (6 PM EST)" is on, "Mute All Chat Notifications" is off, and check your spam folder. |
Can't create a poll | Only organizers can create polls; travelers vote on the polls the organizer posts. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to download an app to use Group Chat? A: No. Group Chat works directly in your browser at dashboard.squadtrip.com. There's no separate app to download. It works on desktop and mobile browsers.
Q: Can I use Group Chat before the trip starts? A: Yes. Group Chat is available as soon as your booking is confirmed and the organizer has enabled it. Most groups start chatting weeks or months before departure to coordinate plans and build excitement.
Q: What happens to Group Chat after the trip ends? A: Group Chat remains accessible after the trip. You can continue sharing photos, memories, and stay connected with your travel group. The chat history is preserved.
Q: Will I get notified about every single message? A: By default, you receive a daily digest email summarizing activity -- not a notification for every message. Real-time alerts are not available yet (they are listed as Coming Soon in your chat notification preferences).
Q: Can other travelers see my email or personal information in Group Chat? A: No. Other travelers only see your display name and profile photo in Group Chat. Your email address and personal details are not shared with the group.
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