Tips for Traveling with Friends
Traveling with close friends sounds like the perfect getaway. But no matter how close you may feel under normal conditions, travel can test your friendship. If you want to be on speaking terms by the time you get home, here are some tips for traveling with friends:
Have a meeting before you go. It can take be in person, text, or by email. The goal is to give each person time to speak up about what they want to do that appeals to their specific interests.
Next, delegate responsibilities. If there are a lot of details that need taking care of, establish who will be responsible for what. One person might make all the dinner reservations, while another handles any transportation arrangements.
And, be sure to load up on apps. There are tons of great apps to help you get around, eat, book attractions and translate the local language. Do some research and make sure you armed with some apps as travel resources. When things go smoothly on vacation it will reduce the chance of friction in your friendship.
Next, make a fun project out of documenting your trip. Start an Instagram feed or create a blog to document memories that extend beyond the life of the trip.
If you aren’t text savvy, take some really great pictures and create a photo book when you get home. And if you do anything when traveling with friends, make sure you Insist on some you time.
Remember that meeting I mentioned? Well in it, you can include discussing some activities that might be best done apart. It can be as simple as taking an hour off and going for a walk or to the gym in the mornings alone. If it’s in the budget, get your own hotel room for extended times out.
Finally, make sure that you compromise. Opinions might clash about something at some point on your trip. Don’t worry this is totally normal.
It’s how you react to a disagreement that is most important. You are different people and you probably won’t look at every situation the same. Rather than fight it can be worth it to give in on things that really don’t matter.
