Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the best and worst of traveling with friends! I have done a lot of solo travel and of course, travel with my family, but a trip with friends can also be fun from time to time. These are the things we love, and the things we hate, about traveling with friends!
Love #1: Sharing Experiences
Sure, solo travel is fun, but having a travel companion is even better. Whether it’s a drinking buddy to share pints with or someone to explore a new city with, traveling with a buddy always beats traveling alone.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Solo Travel
Hate #1: Differing Expectations & Plans
People have different reasons for wanting to travel and different expectations of what a trip should entail. If one of you wants to be up at sunrise for photography or sightseeing while the other wants to stay out all night at the clubs, then you’re going to have to find a compromise.
It helps to talk about some of this ahead of time, and figure out a game plan that works for everyone in the travel group. Have a plan in place so that everyone can buy in and be ready to take on a new city. That said, it’s OK to spend time apart on a friends’ trip. It’s just all about expectations and communication.
Love #2: Splitting Costs with Friends
Traveling with one friend automatically cuts your hotel costs in half. A lot of times you can get two-for-one discounts to various attractions. Even when eating out, you can sample more items on the menu by sharing plates with your friends.
Hate #2: Financial Differences
Budgeting for your own travel can be difficult. Planning for varying budgets within your travel group is even more difficult. You don’t want to let money, or lack thereof, interfere with having a good time with your friends. However, not everyone will be at the same spending level. If one person can’t afford the activities you’ve planned, that can put a damper on the day. The best way to deal with this is communication. Ask everyone upfront what their budget is, and try to work with that.
Love #3: Sharing Perspectives
When traveling with friends, you all have different perspectives, and get to share those perspectives with your friends. I have friends who love to look at art and antiques, while others may prefer history and science-based attractions. When traveling together, my friends might drag me to something I might not go see on my own, but that I inevitably end up enjoying. Sharing each others’ interests can open you up to new experiences that you wouldn’t have on your own.
Hate #3: Friends Can Cramp Your Style
If you’re used to the freedom of solo travel, traveling with friends can be an adjustment. You can’t just take off and do your own thing all the time, and you have to get used to compromise when making decisions on what to see and where to go.
Love #4: Safety in Numbers
Solo travelers are easier targets for scams and crimes. Traveling with friends doesn’t guarantee your safety, but your odds of staying safe are better when you are with other people. You also have someone looking out for you and watching your back. Maybe they keep you from drinking one too many beers, or from buying too many pairs of shoes.
Honest Safety Advice for Travelers
Hate #4: One Person’s Problems Become Everyone’s Problems
When you travel as a group, you are sharing experiences, but you might also be sharing problems. For example, if one person in the group has too much to drink, then the rest of the group has to babysit that person. And the next morning, the group plans could be ruined by the person with a hangover who won’t get out of bed.
Love #5: Travel Stories & Memories
Travel memories are best when shared with friends. Reminiscing on old trips and creating new memories are the best reason to travel with friends. Travel is a great bonding experience and sharing the good and the bad of travel together can really strengthen your friendship.
Hate #5: Too Much Friend Time
Inevitably, your friends will do something to annoy you, especially if you are used to traveling on your own. It happens, and everyone needs their own space sometimes. Even the best travel companion can get on your nerves after a while. The longer the trip, the greater the opportunity for you to get on each others’ nerves.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Traveling is such an amazing experience, whether you travel alone or with friends and family. Obviously, we think the best parts of travel with friends outweigh the worst parts by far, and we plan to keep traveling with friends as long as we can. Communication is the key to a successful trip with friends. Want more of our travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: