Embarking On The Unknown: What To Consider When You Choose Travel Partners
The people you travel with can make or break a trip. Here’s a guide to weighing out your choices while picking potential travel partners:
The Girlfriends
Traveling with girlfriends can be a great bonding experience. Constant companionship and support that only close girlfriends can offer is guaranteed, and meeting new people on the road will never be a problem. Seriously, who doesn’t want to meet a big group of traveling girls?
Unfortunately, budget travel may not always be easy with this group because some girls tend to be more high maintenance than others. If you are interested in a trip to a country that is not fully developed or where roughing it may be necessary, leave the girlie girls at home.
The Boys
Traveling with a group of boys can mean great adventures and there is nothing quite like bonding over a beer (or ten) in a local bar. In countries where you are likely to travel with boys, like Southeast Asia and South America, you will probably participate in activities that are on the more reckless side.
Bungee jumping off a bridge or renting a rickshaw in India as your main form of transportation may not fly with girlfriends, but the guys are less likely to talk you out of it. After all, stupid ideas make great stories!
Be warned, however; your liver and your pride will be hurting by the end of the trip and you will probably go home with no shortage of bruises and battle wounds.
The Outdoors Guy
We all know — or have at least heard of — the legendary and rugged outdoors guy. This guy loves extreme outdoor sports, whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing or cliff diving.
He will push you outside of your boundaries and make sure you have an active, action-packed trip that will leave you feeling productive, exhilarated and in awe of what your body is capable of accomplishing. You will also have the coolest GoPro photos ever.
Don’t forget, though, every muscle in your body will be in agony after traveling with this guy. What if you just want to relax? He calls that “being lazy.”
The Resort Hubby
When traveling with the resort guy, all of your friends will fall over themselves with jealousy. You will be more relaxed than you have ever been in your life, basking in the glow of constant spa treatments, lounging in the sun and enjoying the luxury.
With the resort guy, you will have many chances to get in touch with your spiritual side. There will be endless time to indulge in daily meditation and yoga exercises! Your body and mind will thank you.
You may be surprised, but endless sunbathing and massages can actually get quite dull, so bring some good books and cut your vacay at five days.
The Lover
No matter where you go, with the lover, affectionate displays and romantic frivolities will enhance your trip. Do not travel with the lover if you are looking for an improvised, no-strings-attached trip or if you are looking to meet new people.
Chances are, you will be fully consumed by each other, so if freedom is what you want, the lover may induce the opposite and leave you feeling smothered.
The Long Lost Friend
It's amazing to be reunited with long lost friends. If you have friends scattered around the world that you haven’t seen in the while, it is great to meet somewhere in the middle, travel together and catch up.
It is amazing to rekindle an effortless connection in which the time you spent apart is insignificant and has changed nothing. Plus, you can engage in incredibly irresponsible activities with old friends and no one from back home will hear about it.
Sadly, there is always the chance of it being a hit or miss with a long lost friend. Sometimes, you have both changed too much and don't have that much in common anymore.
The Rando
Sometimes you go somewhere by yourself and end up clicking with someone really awesome at a hostel, and you end up traveling together for an extended period of time. Like meeting any new person, the rando is fresh and you will feel energized by this new connection.
If you are lucky, this person has traveled a lot and will be able to share great stories and travel hacks he or she picked up along the way. Every person should try traveling alone at some point and enable social serendipity by teaming up with someone new.
The Family
As we grow older, it's always nice to spend time with your family, especially if you live far away and don't see them often. Being together in a new environment may strengthen your bond.
They are, however, still your family, and let's be honest, everyone can only handle so much of this time. It is so frustrating when parents treat you like you are still 15 years old!
Travel partners are great; you have company, you split costs and you form life-long friendships with people all over the world.
All of these partners present unique cons and potential drawbacks, but all of the cons have very easy solutions — simply schedule time to do separate activities and don’t be afraid to explore alone.
Photo via We Heart It
