I have been lucky enough to have gone on several trips with my girls. However, traveling with friends can be way more fun in theory than in reality. Even on the best of days, best friends can disagree or even argue. Add on the stresses of travel, budgeting, and sleep deprivation โ well, it can be a recipe for disaster. Itโs important to set time aside to reset and relax so that you can return to sanity. Here are some tips Iโve picked up along the way to help you stay friends with your girls once you get home.
Why Traveling With Friends Can Be Problematicย
Sometimes traveling with friends is just what you need to bring your relationship with your girls to the next level. It is a great way to bond all while getting a much-needed vacation the both of you deserve. I love traveling with friends because we already share common interests, so we can do what we love all while splitting costs and expenses.
However, traveling with friends can sometimes be way more fun in theory than in reality. If you arenโt careful traveling with your friend might be the last thing you do together.
Not All Your Girls Are Suitable Travel Buddies
Pick a group of friends you get along with individually and as a group. If you canโt get through a few hours atย brunchย without throwing shade at each other, donโt expect anything different over a long weekend. Youโre more likely to be more patient with people you have a long-standing friendship with. Why? Because youโll want to remain friends long after your travels.
However, even if you do get along both individually and as a group, it is important to understand each othersโ personalities and travel styles. Not everyone is suited to all activities. And so, be sure to take into consideration the types of people your friends are and the kind of trip that is being planned.
Communication is Key to a Great Trip
Communicate what you all want to accomplish. If your ideas are radically different, you may want to reconsider your travel plans. Or decide to split off into small groups or go off on your on (for a few hours) during your trip. You may even re-think whether you should travel with these particular friends. Girlfriendโ decide this before you begin your travels.
Donโt Wait Until You Get There to Discus Money
When you travel with friends, you need to agree on a budget upfront. Decide how much you will spend on accommodation, food, and transport. Nothing will crash the party faster than disagreements over money.
If you want to go on additional side trips or want to eat at an expensive restaurant, make sure to offer inclusive alternatives. And, always be sure to split bills in a way that allows your friends to budget. But, most importantly communicate your own financial situation. Let your friends know before the trip even starts if you will not be able to afford extra expenses that could come up.
Establish Expectations
Itโs okay to go your separate ways during your trip. If a couple of you want to go shopping and the others want to stay poolside, itโs okay. Not everyone needs to stay together for the entire trip. Have discussions about doing your own thing and then and then meeting up for dinner to share your experiences during the planning phase. Setting expectations for some alone time while traveling with friends will prevent situations where people feel left out.
Be Considerate
Donโt hog the bathroom, the conversation, or the wine. Make sure to stay tuned to behaviors that could upset your friends and make adjustments. Additionally, if you have any habits that people commonly find annoying, be sure to disclose them beforehand. Make sure you share little tidbits like snoring or the fact you like to get an early start each morning. Or in the case of my friend Danicaโฆ that you sleep in the nude. lol.
Keep it to Yourself
What happens on vacation stays on vacation.
Donโt assume your friends want to share intimate details about your trip. We all have embarrassing moments, some people may be ok with laughing about it later. However, some just want to move on and forget so respect that. And for heavenโs sake, donโt share things told you in confidence or after a few glasses of wine.
Conclusion
Relationships take work to build and maintain. Traveling with friends can be a blast if itโs done right. Remember to be considerate of those around you and just relax and have fun!
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