Taking a trip with your best friends could be the most exciting and memorable time of your life. The good news is that it is possible to reduce tension and increase the likelihood that everyone will have a pleasant experience if some time and effort is put into planning the trip and honest conversations are had among all parties involved. If you want to go on a trip with your friends, read the tips that follow. It might keep things from going wrong on the road.
Know Your Companions Well
It does not follow that you will get along well while traveling with someone just because you are friends. This is why it’s important to ask them things like what they want to get out of the trip. This will help you to organize things better so you both – or all – have a good time.
Above all else, you should know a lot about the people you will be traveling with. Even if someone seems easy to get along with at first, they may have preferences that are very different from yours, habits that don’t work with yours, or travel plans that go against yours. If something like this happens on your trip, it could turn into a nightmare.
Keep in mind that just because you’re friends at school, college, or work doesn’t mean you’ll be great travel buddies. Before committing to a longer trip, it’s smart to take a short trip for a weekend or a week to see how well you and your travel companions get along.
Agree On Your Budgets
Many long-term relationships have ended on a busy street in the driving rain, three miles from the guest house, when one person wants to walk to save money on the bus fare and the other person just wants to stay dry. The same goes for the foodie whose friend can only afford to make peanut and jelly dinners for themself.
Before you start making plans, find out each other’s comfort preferences and how much money each of you has for things like food, lodging, and transportation. This will save a lot of potential arguments and awkwardness while you’re aware together.
Have Your Own Room
Sharing a place to stay can be fun and can help you save money. But if you’re going to different places, a night or two alone will give you both some much-needed space. If you’ve agreed to share (a cruise or tour), make sure each of you has some “alone time” in the room.
It should also go without saying that you’ll need your own bags. Again, it might cost less to try to get everything packed in one, but if you’re trying to keep your favorite new men’s cargo pants crease-free and your friend just dumps their clothes willy-nilly, an argument is sure to take place.
It’s Okay To Split Up
It’s fine to go your separate ways if you both want to do different things. When one person feels like they have to change their plans too often for the other, they quickly feel resentful. Getting away from each other, whether for three hours or three days, will also help ease tensions. It’s good policy, not a sign of trouble or failure. Also, you’ll have a lot of stories to tell each other when you get back together.
