The holiday season is around the corner. Most of us spend hours browsing for the picture-perfect destination, while we tend not to pay too much attention to who we actually travel with. Some travel with family or their partner, while others prefer an adventure with a friend.
A travel buddy can make your holiday experience either much better or much worse. Here’s an outline of things to keep in mind when picking the ideal travel buddy.
Budget
Key to having a good time together when on holiday is to ensure you’re on the same page in terms of budget. This applies especially for expenses related to transport and accommodation. However, also keep in mind money that is going to be spent on basics, like meals and snacks, as well as local activities.
While most travel buddies generally split bills, things can quickly become awkward if, say, you’re looking to spend nights in a cost-effective hostel while your buddy has a pricey hotel in mind.
Neither of you should feel pressured into overspending. On the other hand, being held back by another person’s budget can be equally frustrating.
Interests
While it may sound obvious, it’s important to make sure you have enough similar interests when going on holiday together.
Once you’ve decided where to go, there will surely be things that neither of you would like to miss out on. With limited time though, you’ll need to find an itinerary that works for the both of you, while keeping that aforementioned budget in mind too!
Personality and travel habits
When travelling together you will get to know certain aspects of your friend’s personality you were maybe previously unaware of. Just think of the following examples: Are you a morning person or do you like to sleep in? Do you like to improvise on-the-go or have a well-planned itinerary beforehand? Do you show up early at the airport or always end up running to the gate to catch your flight? Would you consider yourself a respectful traveller? What about how you prefer to get around; do you favour walking, hopping on a bus or taking a taxi? Now answer these questions again, but this time with your travel buddy in mind.
Travel habits will impact what you can and cannot do while on holiday, where you’ll stay and how you will get around. You should at least discuss such topics between the two of you before deciding on travelling together and subsequently preparing your trip. Keep in mind that while you may well be very flexible when it comes to such traits, not everyone is.
Setbacks
We’ve probably all been through them: delayed or missed flights, overbooked hotels, bad weather, closed attractions.
Make sure you and your travel buddy are on the same page for when something goes wrong. Few things can be more frustrating than facing setbacks but having to deal with your dreaded travel buddy first.
If, by now, you’re starting to feel a little worried, be sure to check out our tips for no-stress travelling. You can always consider travelling solo as well!
Are there other things you keep in mind when picking a travel partner to go on holiday? Let us know in the comment section below.
Also, don’t forget to share your best holiday snaps with us on Instagram by tagging @bambaexperience or #bambaexperience.
