In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about relationships, specifically the one you have with your traveling companions. Think carefully before you invite someone along, and remember that even your best friend might not be the best choice. I’ve traveled in groups of varying sizes with anything from friends, to relative strangers, as well as with family. Travel partners are important, and can have a huge impact on the enjoyment you get out of a trip. Take a quick look at this video which recommends some potential considerations when you’re traveling.
The video recommends that you discuss things like budget and the types of attractions you might want to see. Conversations like this become even more important the larger the group you’re traveling with. In my experience, traveling in very large groups is a stressful experience, and you don’t want that to ruin your fun.
When I was studying in Ireland, the first trip we went on that I planned myself was to Scotland. When I put the trip together I didn’t know most of the people coming with me very well and it made the situation that much more difficult. Finding way to get around with 9 people and no car was the least of our worries. On top of that, we had people who wanted to cook all of the meals in the hostel kitchen, while some of use wanted to experience the local cuisine. Choosing a restaurant was a nightmare, and we argued over anything from how much we wanted to pay to what food we wanted to eat. I never thought to talk about these things before we went on the trip, and it would of saved us a lot of hassle.
The lesson to learn from all this is to make decisions about these things before you go, so you’re aware of everything going in to the experience. If you stress out easily, make sure your travel partner can handle it. And like the video says, particularly if you’re traveling in a large group, don’t be afraid to split up if you need. Also important to consider is that there are some people that you probably just shouldn’t travel with. Don’t let your dream vacation be the thing to ruin your relationship.
