Find the Perfect Travel Buddy
Travelistas love planning their next adventure. Some travel solo, but most still want the perfect travel buddy. The success and enjoyment of your trip can depend on choosing the right person. You may want to travel with a best friend or a sibling; however, their idea of an adventure may be different than yours. How can you determine if a person is a good fit? Here are five tips for finding the perfect travel buddy.
Discuss the Budget
Once you’ve found a potential travel buddy, you should discuss the budget for the trip. Money talks! Therefore, make it part of the conversation. Talk about the total cost of the vacation including the airfare, hotel, tours, and transportation. Then discuss what each person can afford and what each person is expected to pay. Be very specific and detailed with your potential travel buddy to limit future disagreements about costs and payments.
Have Common Interests
Second, discuss your likes and dislikes. You and your travel buddy must have some common interests. Of course, not everyone likes the same things, yet, it’s still possible to have a successful vacation. For example, ask what type of tours does he or she want to experience. Why does he or she want to travel to the location? Then ask why do you want to visit the same place. Compare your responses. Do you prefer luxury hotels and your travel buddy prefers hostels? Do you check reviews on TripAdvisor or wing it? Are you a beach bum? Perhaps your partner is an adventurist. Talk it out!
Pacing Your Trip
The third thing you should discuss is pacing. If you’re a beach bum and your partner is always on the go, are you all willing to compromise? Is either of you independent enough to enjoy what you love without the other? You can both have fun participating in activities you enjoy and then come together to do some things together. The pacing of the trip must fit your personalities, so everyone is a happy traveler.
Length of StayÂ
After the pacing, agree on the length of stay. Some people can stay away from home for two or three weeks. Others do not have that type of vacation time or freedom to do so. Your travel buddy may like short jaunts to cover two or three locations in a specific time frame. You may want to stay in one place and immerse yourself in the cultural experiences. Again, talk it out and see if the partnership is a good fit.
What’s Your History
Lastly, contemplate your history with your potential travel buddy. What is the relationship? Are you best friends, relatives, or business acquaintances? Think about your personalities and if they mesh. Knowing a person for a long time does not make for a good travel buddy. If there is one thing about the person that drives you crazy at home, inevitably, it will make you insane in a foreign country. Â As much as you love your siblings or cousins, hanging out with them across the ocean may not be a good idea. Therefore, think long and hard about the history of your relationship with your travel buddy.
Review the Tips
A well-planned vacation decreases the chances of mishaps. Planning also includes the five tips for finding the perfect travel buddy. Review the tips.
- Discuss the budget
- Discuss your common interests
- Agree on the pacing
- Agree on the length of stay
- Think about the history of your relationship
After you plan and follow the tips, it’s time to pack your bags. Enjoy your next adventure.
I totally agree with you and do think that is such a great idea. Wonderfully written post by the way.
Thank you!