Being with friends is fun, right? It follows therefore that traveling with them will be fun as well. Before you book your next trip with your friends as traveling companions, make sure to consider these points before you succeed in destroying such friendships.
Advantages of Having a Friend as a Travel Companion
First things first. There are admittedly many advantages of having a friend as a travel companion. One is the logical assurance that someone will be looking out for your welfare. Another is that it is easier to ask for help or assistance of whatever nature from a friend rather than from a stranger. A friend can also be the only semblance of familiarity in totally unfamiliar surroundings.
However, friends may find out that the travel scenario may just force them to reveal more of their natural selves than they would normally allow. Being together day in and day out for two weeks for example, certainly is more revealing than everyday meetings where they get to go home to their respective places at the end of the day. There is not much to be wary of if their friendship can withstand any revelation that may arise.
Reasons Why You Should Not Travel with a Friend
1. Do not travel with a friend who has different ideas of traveling fun. The last thing you would like to do on travel is argue with your traveling companion. Arguing about travel itineraries is such a waste of precious travel time.
2. Do not travel with a friend if his or her presence will prevent you from trying new things. Some “friendships” may be based on the approval of the other. If this is something that characterizes your relationship with your friend, then you are better off traveling alone or with other like-minded travelers.
3. Traveling with a group tend to slow down travel schedules. The more members there are in a group, the more time is usually required to have everyone ready for a single destination. This is especially so if one or two have certain idiosyncrasies in preparing themselves.
4. Do not travel with a friend if you are looking for a trip that will allow you plenty of alone time. It is easy enough to tell strangers not to bother you because you simply want to be alone. Telling your friend to leave you alone for most of the trip will do your friendship more harm than good.
5. Do not travel with a friend who depends too much on you for everything lest you become a travel caretaker than a travel buddy.