CHOOSING A TRAVEL BUDDY
By Jason Jourdan
Looking for someone to share your adventures with, but not sure how to pick the perfect partner? Choosing a travel buddy can be pretty daunting: you’ll be spending A LOT of time with this person, so you better choose wisely. There are a lot of considerations when it comes to choosing a road companion, so we’ve put together a list of 5 things to consider in your search for “the one.”
1. Budget
Some people like to travel on a budget, others prefer to splurge on a lavish vacation. When choosing a travel partner, make sure you’re both on the same page about your budget and what kind of trip you want to take. You definitely don’t want to get stuck paying for a fancy hotel when you would rather just find a nice place to pitch a tent for the night, or vice versa. Money can, understandably, be an uncomfortable topic for some people, but it’s really important to get this budget issue settled before your trip, so you can avoid even MORE uncomfortable situations down the road.
2. Activities/Interests
If you prefer extreme adventures like skiing or rock climbing, and your buddy prefers relaxing on the beach, you’re probably going to hit a few bumps in the road. Vacations can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s important to find places off the beaten path. Others want to go see and do the touristy things. Choosing someone who has similar interests to you- or someone who’s cool with splitting up some mornings to each go do your own thing- makes it easier to agree on activities that you’ll both love.
3. Planning
If you’re someone who likes to plan out your trip down to the minute (color-coded itinerary included!), you’re probably not going to enjoy taking a trip with someone who thinks part of the adventure is having absolutely no plan at all. It’s important to discuss this in advance so you’re both on the same page about how you’re going to plan the trip (if you’re planning much at all!)
4. Scheduling
It’s kind of a given that you both need to be able to travel at the same time, at least for part of the trip. Obviously, it’s not going to work if your vacation schedules don’t ever line up. If you’re really struggling to align your schedules, there’s always the option to spend part of your trip with your buddy, and the rest of the trip traveling solo.
5. Lifestyle
Having similar lifestyles is important in a travel companion. It’s not going to be super fun to travel with a night owl if you’re a morning person. Right around the time they’ll want to go out, you’ll be ready to turn in for the night. Another thing you might not think to consider is your relationship status. If you’re both single and ready to mingle, hitting up the bars and clubs can be a great way to spend your nights. But if one of you is in a relationship and the other isn’t, you might have different priorities and interests on a night out. Just make sure if you or your buddy is in a committed relationship that you feel comfortable going out. Energy levels can also be a huge factor. If you live a very active lifestyle and want to go exploring every day, but your buddy wants to spend the entire trip chilling on the beach, you might want to reconsider how compatible you are.
While there are many more things to consider when choosing a travel buddy, these can be a great start to finding the right person to travel with. Having an open and honest conversation about these 5 things will get you on the right track to finding (and being!) the best travel buddy. Do it wrong, and you’re in for an unpleasant, awkward three weeks. Do it right, and you’ll likely have a friend for life.
