Characteristics Of A Good Travel Companion

Taking a trip is a wonderful experience in almost any situation. Alone or with company, with money or without, short or long. When you travel, you interrupt your routine and you experience something new. It’s like putting your heart into “adventure mode”. Traveling is stimulating and has many benefits. Having a travel companion can make it even better.

If you’re thinking of your ideal trip, is it not always better to be able to share it with someone? A good travel companion increases your options. They give you the chance to instantly share your results and impressions of the places you visit.

“When you climb a big mountain, no one leaves their friend to reach the top alone.”

-Tenzing-

However, you can not just travel with anyone and expect a comfortable trip. Some travel buddies are a nightmare and ruin what could be incredible moments. Others enrich your experience. So how can you identify a good travel companion? Here are five tips to help you.

A good travel companion is supportive

The word “companion” implicitly implies the idea of ​​solidarity and support. “To accompany” is to be there for the other person. To be empathetic and receptive to how the other person is and how they act. To be willing to help and happily set aside personal interests to do so.

A supportive companion does more than just make your trip enjoyable . They increase your self-confidence and make it easier for you to be adventurous and discover new things. They are a valuable resource when it gets difficult. A selfish travel companion, on the other hand, takes joy away from your journey.

Flexibility and independence

Going to a new and unknown place exposes you to surprises. For example, you have planned to go to the beach, but the day is cloudy and it starts to rain with no sign of stopping. So you need to change your plan. Or you may just find something more interesting to do that was not in your plans . If your travel companion is not flexible, you may disagree with these types of changes.

No one wants to be someone else’s babysitter. Therefore, it is important that your travel companion is independent. Just because you travel together does not mean you have to do everything. If your companion is independent and able to adapt, it will be a great weight to be taken off your shoulders.

You must have similar budgets

Unless you have extra money to cover any expenses , we recommend that you travel with someone who has a similar budget. Otherwise you may have disagreements or one person will have to sacrifice for the other. It’s not always comfortable.

It is ideal for you to be able to share expenses and split everything evenly. Unless of course you have another deal. It does not have to be an exact mathematical equation, but it is healthy for both people to pay the costs fairly. It is good to agree on this before the trip.

Similar interests or at least not conflicting interests

This is really important if you want everything to go as it should. In other words, for it to go well! Your joys and interests must be the same. And if they are not, make sure they are not completely contradictory. Otherwise, the journey can turn into a nightmare for one or both of you.

When lifestyles and interests are very different, tension and conflict will happen every day. As much as you try to adapt to the other person’s joys and habits, you will definitely get tired of it. You do not have to agree on every little thing, but it is important that you do not disagree on everything.

You should have a similar energy and rhythm

Sometimes travel companions do not have the same expectations about the pace of the trip. Some prefer to sleep long and not make too many plans. Others want to take advantage of every moment, even if they get tired or do not sleep much.

It is important to agree with your travel companion on schedules. Forcing the other person to be more active or more passive can be very uncomfortable. You should know how tired you get from traveling, so it’s good if your travel companion has a similar rhythm. That way, they complement and support each other, instead of colliding.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses . There is no perfect travel companion. Or at least there will not be if you are not patient at times. There will always be something you disagree with, but if you discuss the points in this article with your travel companion before you travel, you can be on the same page and enjoy your trip. If you are too different, it may be best to take a solo trip or find more “compatible” people to travel with.