Мы часто советуемся друг с другом, когда планируем поездку.

We often consult each other when we plan a trip.

Breakdown of Мы часто советуемся друг с другом, когда планируем поездку.

• поездка: the trip
• часто: often
• мы: we
• когда: when

Questions & Answers about Мы часто советуемся друг с другом, когда планируем поездку.

Why is it советуемся and not советуем?

Because советоваться means to consult with someone / to discuss together, while советовать usually means to advise.

So:

• Мы советуем = We advise
• Мы советуемся = We consult with each other / We discuss things together

The -ся changes the meaning. In this sentence, the idea is not that we give advice, but that we ask each other for advice and discuss things together, so советуемся is the correct form.

What exactly does друг с другом mean?

Друг с другом means with each other or with one another.

It is a very common Russian expression used to show mutual action between two or more people.

Examples:

• Они разговаривают друг с другом = They talk to each other
• Мы часто спорим друг с другом = We often argue with each other

In your sentence, it makes the mutual meaning explicit: we consult with each other.

Why is it друг с другом and not just друг друга?