I’ve been on trips that have been an absolute disaster because things were unclear between me and a friend… and I’ve lost friendships as a result. I’ve also been on trips that have been a million times more amazing because of my friends! Friends can really make or break a trip. Here are my top tips on how to travel with your friends (& not hate them).
They say you should always travel with your partner before marrying them… Travel brings out a different side to everyone! Including friends! Friends can make a trip… or they can make you want to rip your hair out. Travel can definitely make or break a friendship. Here are my top tips to keep things running smoothly.
Get Your Expectations Clear
Are you expected to spend every minute together or can you split up for a day? What time does each of you wake up? Is the other person supposed to wait for the other to wake up before heading out? Hostels or hotels? Do any of you have specific times that you MUST eat? Are you willing to invite other people along to your dinners/activities? It’s honestly the little things that can drive two friends crazy (and apart), and it’s important to get your expectations straight.
Know How to TRULY Compromise
Compromising should be a 50%/50% effort. It shouldn’t be one person budging a little and another budging a lot. You need to be able to respect each others’ interests while still having a good time yourself. It’s a matter of being laid back but not TOO laid back.
Make sure you know WHY you’re going to a place.
For example, if you want to go to Amsterdam for the museums, canals, and culture, and your friends want to go to party until 7am, this might not be the right destination. The perfect destination is one that all of you are excited about for similar reasons.
You don’t have to do everything together.
It’s important that all of you realise that group travel doesn’t have to always mean spending every minute together. Everyone needs their own space sometimes, and it’s important to take time to yourself if needed/give it to those who need it. This is really important to discuss before travelling (see Tip 1). I’ve had a trip where I wanted to go bike riding, and a friend wanted to take a day tour. I thought it would be okay for us to split up for the day; she did not.
Communicate!!!
It’s super important to feel like you can communicate about how the trip is going. If it’s tense, it’s best to talk about it in order to make sure you all end up having a great time in the end. The only way things will ever be fixed is if you bring the issues up!
At the end of the day, travel is travel, and you’re going to end up making memories one way or another! Take advantage of seeing a new place!
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This is so great! Every year my best friends & I do a trip to a new city and these skills are def put to the test (also one of the reasons we travel so well together). I think another one is coming up with a loose itinerary before the trip – finding some places everyone wants to go, and building the rest of the trip around those core activities.
That definitely sounds like a great way to do it! I’ve definitely had an experience travelling with friends where I wish we’d have talked about things like that!
Oh my, such a relevant post for me! I’m so used to traveling solo now, that it’s HUGE adjustment to travel with anyone, leave alone a bunch of friends!
I’m the same way! After travelling solo for a while, I went on a trip with a friend, and it did NOT end well! It certainly is an adjustment! I’ve got it figured out now, but I wish I could have saved that friendship haha
LOL been there and have the t-shirt to prove it one trip and it cost us 3 years of not talking – so this is some great advice.
hahaha oh my I can relate!