Tips For Choosing Your Travel Buddy
Planning a summer trip across the globe is one thing, but picking the right travel buddy can get a bit tricky. The process is sort of similar to finding a roommate, except that instead of seeing each other for a few hours each day, you will be spending every waking moment together. To get the most out of your trip, take these factors into consideration before inviting someone to join you on your jaunt around the world. No matter who you travel with, remember to reserve at least an hour each day to yourself.
Compare Schedules: Unless you are a teacher or a student, chances are you will have a small window of overlapping vacation days. Think about which friends or coworkers might be interested in taking a week or two off from work to join you on your trip. There’s always the option to start or end your trip with a friend and spend the rest of the time traveling solo, meeting other solo travelers along the way.
Consider Finances: If you are planning a budget trip, make sure you tell your travel buddy that you are not ready to spend the big bucks on a five-star hotel. If your friend or coworker refuses to stay at hostels or eat cheap meals each day, they are probably not the right travel partner for you. The last thing you want is to feel like you have to pay more than you are comfortable paying just to satisfy your friend.
Morning vs. Night Person: Are you a night owl or do you like to wake up at the crack of dawn each morning? This is an important factor to consider, especially if your travel buddy is the exact opposite. We all know people can get cranky if they miss out on sleep, so make sure that the person you travel with has a similar sleep pattern as you.
Single vs. Unavailable: If you are single and want to party each night, it’s probably a good idea to go with another single friend who feels the same. If you do travel with a friend who has a boyfriend/girlfriend, make sure you find out if they feel comfortable going to bars and clubs. It’s not smart to go out at night solo, plus you want to party with someone who actually wants to be there. If you are in a serious relationship, consider whether or not you feel comfortable traveling with your single friends.
Determine Travel Goals: If you are an outdoor adventurous type, steer clear of friends who consider vacations as a time to lounge around reading and tanning in the sun. Having different travel expectations can create tension during a trip because you will both have to sacrifice what you want to get out of your trip. It’s better to go people who share your same travel goals and expectations.
Image via maveric2003‘s flickr stream
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20 Comments
I learned some of these lessons the hard way when traveling with my two college roomates. Thankfully, my wife and I are far more compatible…
I’ve had the same experience!
Great tips, a travel buddy can be either the best or worst part of a vacation depending on how well you travel together. I’ve ended a couple of relationships after trips when it became apparent that we didn’t travel well together.
Sure is! I’ve had some not so great travel experiences with people I really thought I’d get along with perfectly…and then I’ve also had the opposite experience too
Good points, when I had wrong travel companions definitely the trips were definitely spoiled…
Definitely agree – it’s always disappointing but also eye-opening.
The night vs day person is a very important thing to consider but a lot of people overlook it! Thanks for putting it on the list!
Glad I could help
I’m personally a morning person but I’ve traveled with people who like sleeping in and it was a little frustrating at times!
My favourite is to travel with someone who’s flexible (not like that!). Then it doesn’t matter if you have slightly different views on finances/energy/schedules because hopefully there’s always room for compromise
haha I agree! Sometimes playing things by ear rather than following a tight schedule makes a trip more enjoyable.
I’m often the worst at picking travel companions. I’m so busy that it sometimes just ends up being who’s available at the same time as me. This has lead to some travel times that were a real drag. I need to heed some of the advice here and take that more seriously!
It’s hard to tell who you will end up traveling well with plus schedules can definitely get in the way!
Travelling will definitely make or break relationships whether it is friends or lovers.
Cole @ Four Jandals recently posted..Hatshepsut Temple – Weekly Hump Day Photo
I agree Cole – sometimes its a needed break and other times not so much.
Megan recently posted..Bohemian Shopping in Shanghai
Morning vs. Night person is definitely an important factor when it comes to choosing a travel buddy. That can make a huge difference because sleep is important and both of you have to on the same page whether the nightlife is more important than touring around the place your visiting all day. These are great tips and thank you for sharing!
Alexa Meisler recently posted..Las Vegas Travel Tips For First Timers
No problem Alexa! It’s true, if you are a nightowl, it’s best to travel with someone who also sleeps in
Megan recently posted..Photo Friday: Norway Memories
Your article does a great job of highlighting what should be common sense, but sometimes gets lost in the excitement of planning a trip. Selecting the right travel buddy is extremely important. My trip was oversees was almost ruined because of my travel buddy. For some reason, maybe it was because I was young, I thought our differences wouldn’t matter when we were traveling…..wow, was I wrong! Our differences were magnified 10x.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..DESTINATIONS: Ireland- Travel Tips For a Week In the Emerald Isle
I had a similar experience Mary – which certainly made me be a bit pickier when choosing a travel buddy!
Megan recently posted..5 Travel Habits to Avoid
I don’t have much of a choice anymore, my wife is my travel buddy we just found out along the way that we share travel goals and such. Although, I’m a bit of a night owl and morning ‘person’ it’s a sickening problem I have I know. My wife on the other hand I would describe as sleepy @(^_^)@
Cornelius Aesop recently posted..New Brew Tuesday: Left Hand Brewing – Milk Stout
haha good point – my boyfriend is now my usual travel buddy and it’s great
Megan recently posted..The Bohemian Side of Bogota