Travelling with friends can be fantastic fun, but you should think about ways to keep your friendship in tact when travelling together.
Traveling with friends is a great way to create lasting memories and strengthen your bonds.
But it can also be challenging, especially if you’re traveling long distances. There are a few basics to consider right up front, like the destination, the budget, and the priorities and how each of you expects to spend your time and money.
A great idea is to each take responsibility for different aspects of the trip or to divide the trip up and each person takes charge of a section of time and/or a location so everyone contributes and feels they have had a say.
Knowing what time your friends go to bed and rise, their relationship with fitness and even if they intend to date when away can all have a huge impact, so find out as much as you can up front.
Here are some insider travel tips on how to successfully travel long distances with close friends and keep the friendship intact:
1. Choose your friends wisely.
Not all friends are created equal. Some people are better suited for travel than others and some freinds are better suited to you than other friends.
When choosing friends to travel with, consider their personalities, interests, and travel styles, and their budget is a key aspect as well. For example, if you’re a go-getter who loves to be busy and up at 6am, you might not want to travel with a friend who’s more laid-back and prefers to sleep in all day and relax on the beach.
2. Be prepared for challenges.
There will be challenges when you travel with friends, no matter how well you know each other. You’ll be sharing close quarters, dealing with jet lag, and navigating unfamiliar places, possibly new customs and traditions and new people.
It’s important to be prepared for these challenges and to be able to communicate effectively with your friends. A conversation about how to deal with challenges before you even book is a great way to plan ahead.
3. Communicate openly and honestly.
Communication is key to any successful relationship, but it’s especially important when you’re traveling with friends.
Be open and honest with your friends about your needs, wants, and expectations. If something is bothering you, don’t bottle it up. Talk to your friends about it so that you can work through it together.
And know a trip with friends isn’t just about you and your needs.
4. Be flexible.
Things don’t always go according to plan when you’re traveling. Flights get cancelled, trains are delayed, and hotels overbook. Big and little things always go wrong when travelling.
It’s important to be flexible and to go with the flow when things don’t go your way. If you’re too rigid, you’re going to end up stressed and frustrated.
5. Plan ahead.
A little planning can go a long way when you’re traveling with friends. This doesn’t mean that you have to map out every detail of your trip, but it does mean that you should have a general idea of what you want to do and see as well as the pace at which you plan to go.
This will help keep everyone on the same page and avoid any unnecessary stress.
6. Give each other space.
Even the best of friends need some time apart. If you’re spending every waking moment together, you’re bound to get on each other’s nerves.
Make sure to give each other some space to explore on your own or to do things that you enjoy. This will help to keep the peace and ensure that you have a fun and enjoyable trip.
7. Be respectful of each other’s differences.
Everyone is different, and that’s what makes travel with friends so much fun. But it’s also important to be respectful of each other’s differences.
This means being tolerant of different opinions, lifestyles, and travel styles. If you can’t be respectful of each other’s differences, you’re going to have a tough time on your trip.
8. Have fun.
Traveling with friends should be fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. So relax, enjoy the journey, and make some memories that will last a lifetime.
Following these tips will help you to successfully travel long distances with close friends and keep the friendship intact.
Just remember to be prepared for challenges, communicate openly and honestly, be flexible, plan ahead, give each other space, be respectful of each other’s differences.