“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” - Mark Twain
Finding the right travel partner can be crucial to enjoying your trips. After all, finding someone whose company you enjoy enough to be stuck with them for days on end in an unfamiliar country is a big deal! While a travel partner definitely doesn’t have to be a romantic partner, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to share some of our tips for finding the “perfect” travel partner.
We have traveled with many different people over the years, separately and together. We have taken solo trips, trips with other family members, and trips with romantic partners. With all of these different experiences, we believe that keeping these tips in mind can help determine if someone will be a good fit as your travel partner no matter what the label of your relationship is!
Here we go!
1. There’s no such thing as “perfect,” but there can be “perfect for you.”
Apologies for starting out on a bit of a negative, but don’t expect anyone to be 100% perfect or to check off every box when it comes to sharing an experience as unpredictable as travel. We are the first to admit that we have moments of feeling overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or just plain annoyed. Those moments will happen no matter who you are with, but the most important thing is how you handle them.
2. Choose someone with a communication style that matches yours.
Since being able to handle those crazy moments in a productive way is so important, this is the logical next thing to consider! There are four main communication styles: passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive. You can learn more about each of these and determine which one you are HERE.
Without getting too detailed about each style, it’s easy to predict that having two aggressive communicators traveling together is likely a recipe for problems.
When it comes to our travel dynamic, we each have some passive and assertive tendencies. If one of us really wants to do something, we will take one for the team, but we always make an effort to have honest discussions about how we feel. It’s important to have that give-and-take with the person that you travel with. You will not win every argument or get everything you want, but you will find your way to a healthy compromise if you have complimentary communication styles.
3. Be honest about the type of traveler you are before going on a trip with someone new.
A few big things go into this one:
What is your priority when traveling? Do you have a list of “must-sees” that are the most important? Are you a culture junkie who wants to feel immersed without a set schedule? Are you a partier that puts the sightseeing on the backburner? Make sure that you find out which of these you and your potential travel partner are. If one of you wants to wake up early every day for sightseeing, and the other wants to stay out all night enjoying the nightlife, that is probably not going to make for an enjoyable trip.
Another important aspect of this is budget. Make sure that your ideas align when it comes to spending. For example, we would much rather spend our money on a fun excursion or day trip than a shopping spree or Michelin-star restaurant. A little splurge here or there is understandable, but it will likely become an annoyance if you don’t want to spend your hard-earned budget on the same things.
Lastly, how much of a risk-taker are you? If you don’t feel comfortable taking big risks in a new place or doing crazy activities (bungee jumping, rock climbing, etc.) that is definitely something to discuss prior to planning your trip. You can check out our tips for staying safe while traveling abroad HERE.
4. Independence is crucial!
While you may spend most of your time while traveling attached at the hip, make sure that your travel partner is okay if you go your separate ways for a little while. No matter how close you are, everyone needs some personal time occasionally (especially amid the craziness that can come with travel). You may decide that you want to go see something on your own or enjoy a meal solo, and you don’t want your travel partner to be offended by that.
5. Choose someone with a good sense of humor.
We can’t even tell you how many times being able to laugh about a stressful situation has saved the day. There will always be “oops” moments, language barrier snafus, and much more when you’re traveling, but being able to find the lighter side to those things is extremely helpful! One time we spent hours wandering around grocery stores in Spain looking for “bicarbonato” (“baking soda”) because it had been taken at the airport and Pam needed it for her crucial morning coffee. No one understood why it was a big deal and it took forever to find it, but we still laugh about it to this day!
Those are our top 5 tips to finding the “perfect travel buddy!” If you need a little bit of help to find the right fit, here are a couple of websites that offer help with finding fellow travel lovers:
With all of that said, we think that it’s important to note that travel is an amazing experience to have and can be just as fulfilling if you choose to go solo. If you are an extrovert, you can always make friends with other travelers or locals along the way.
Thanks for reading!
Nikki + Pam
