Travelling with friends is a lot of fun, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you book, and while you’re away. Here are six simple tips for a successful vacation with a friend.
Choose your travel companions wisely
Before you book a trip with a friend, be sure to think about how compatible you are with the person you have in mind. You might get along well when you see each other for drinks or coffee, but can you picture yourself spending an entire week (or more) with your potential travel companion? If the answer is yes, then start planning!
Think about habits and routines
Are you and your friend both morning people, or is one of you a night owl? Does your friend like to party while you’re more the quiet type? Make sure you know that your routines, habits, likes and dislikes will be compatible during the trip so you don’t run the risk of disagreements once you arrive.
Discuss expectations in advance
Before you go, make sure you both agree on what type of vacation you want to have. If all you want to do is lie on a beach all day, but your friend wants to be more active and get a feel for the culture, the trip might not work. But if you both want (mostly) the same things, your vacation will be much more fun and rewarding for both of you.
Make sure you’re on the same page about budget
Are you thinking five star hotels but your friend can only afford hostels? Budget woes can cause tension, so figure out what each of you is comfortable with when it comes to spending so you won’t end up arguing while you’re away.
Be willing to compromise
Travelling with anyone, be it a spouse, friend or family member, requires a willingness to compromise. There will be activities that you want to do that your friend isn’t so keen on and vice versa. But the key to making the trip work is to each make concessions for the other and compromise when you don’t agree on what to see or do on a specific day.
Agree on a basic itinerary before you go
There’s no need to plan out every step of your journey, but agreeing on a basic list of what you’ll be seeing and doing, or where you’ll be going is a good idea. That way you know you’re both happy with what the vacation will entail and the chance for disagreements is minimized.
Lead photos: Honey-bee and Christos Loufopoulos, Friends! via Flickr CC BY 2.0
