When traveling, it's most important to have good company to bring along. If you don’t enjoy solo trips but desperately need a vacation, read on to figure out how to pick the perfect travel buddy.
Choosing a Travel Buddy
Have the awkward ‘money’ talk before you start planning
It can get really weird if you start planning and can’t agree on the accommodation or the means of travel. The first conversation you should have with anyone if you are traveling together is about their budget. Ask them about how much they are willing to spend.
If you want a luxurious vacation but you don’t want a hole in your pocket by the end of it, you won’t be able to enjoy the vacation. And if you want the luxury but they don’t want to spend so much, you can be in a really awkward situation.
It’s also important that you don’t pick someone who is stingy or obsessive about money. You want someone that keeps track, but isn’t hesitant to pull their wallet out or is distrustful of you. Perhaps download an app that helps both of you keep track of who has paid where.
It can get really weird if you start planning and can’t agree on the accommodation or the means of travel. The first conversation you should have with anyone if you are traveling together is about their budget. Ask them about how much they are willing to spend.
If you want a luxurious vacation but you don’t want a hole in your pocket by the end of it, you won’t be able to enjoy the vacation. And if you want the luxury but they don’t want to spend so much, you can be in a really awkward situation.
It’s also important that you don’t pick someone who is stingy or obsessive about money. You want someone that keeps track, but isn’t hesitant to pull their wallet out or is distrustful of you. Perhaps download an app that helps both of you keep track of who has paid where.
Pace and Physical Activity
If one of you enjoys being out and about, hiking, doing adventure sports, while the other one wants to lounge around and just take a break for life, you’re in for what might be the opposite of the ideal vacation. Either one of you will have to compromise and be unhappy, or both of you will not have a good time.
Personality Traits
Things like humor, social battery, patience, manners, and adaptability all matter. You’re going to be spending all your time with each other, so it's important that you get along. These positive personality characteristics make great travel buddies.
Things like humor, social battery, patience, manners, and adaptability all matter. You’re going to be spending all your time with each other, so it's important that you get along. These positive personality characteristics make great travel buddies.
The Kind of Friends to Avoid
Ones that sleep like a log
You don’t want to be up early in the morning, ready to make the most of your vacation week while they’re in bed. You’ll be stuck around the hotel, not being able to get on with the day. Someone that is in control of their sleep is also easier to travel with because they are okay with surprises and can be up and going within minutes.
You don’t want to be up early in the morning, ready to make the most of your vacation week while they’re in bed. You’ll be stuck around the hotel, not being able to get on with the day. Someone that is in control of their sleep is also easier to travel with because they are okay with surprises and can be up and going within minutes.
Ones That Judge and Complain
If you want to indulge yourself in things that make you happy, your travel buddy shouldn’t be someone that would judge you. That’s why you shouldn’t pick someone you want to impress or want to be closer to, but someone who already knows you and enjoys being around you.
When going on trips, it's likely that a few things will not go your way. It’s easy to get disheartened sometimes but if your travel buddy keeps complaining about how wrong things are going and how upset they are, you won’t be able to enjoy your time either.
When going on trips, it's likely that a few things will not go your way. It’s easy to get disheartened sometimes but if your travel buddy keeps complaining about how wrong things are going and how upset they are, you won’t be able to enjoy your time either.
Ones That Lack an Adventurous Spirit
On trips, you should always have an open spirit. You don’t want a travel buddy that isn’t willing to get out of their comfort zone to try new things. Whether it is food, activities, or meeting new people, both of you should be on the same page about how comfortable you are with unfamiliar things.
Conclusion
Go with your gut. Listen to how you feel around people. If you generally feel drained after hanging out with someone, they obviously will not make a good travel buddy. Try and plan something with people whose company you enjoy and who have similar perspectives on life.
Go with your gut. Listen to how you feel around people. If you generally feel drained after hanging out with someone, they obviously will not make a good travel buddy. Try and plan something with people whose company you enjoy and who have similar perspectives on life.