travel compatibility

Chloe Codling

Whether you’re going on a city break, a backpacking trip, or a luxurious all-inclusive holiday in the sun, who you choose as a travel companion is far more important than the destination. Here are my tips for ensuring you and your travel partner both enjoy your well-deserved time away.

The company you choose can make or break a holiday. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or partner, it’s important to consider whether you are travel-compatible. However, until said trip is underway, it is sometimes difficult to tell. Just because you’ve known someone for a long time, or you have fun with them on a night out, doesn’t mean that you’d see eye to eye when it comes to travelling.

“Being willing to make compromises and listen to each other’s wishes is the most important thing”

The common thread throughout all of these tips is that communication is key. No matter how travel-compatible you are with someone, you’re unlikely to be in agreement all the time. However, being willing to make compromises and listen to each other’s wishes is the most important thing. Both parties deserve to enjoy their time away and get the most out of the trip.

I was lucky enough to go away a few times in August with different friends and thankfully had a great time with them all. However, I did pick up a few crucial tips about travel compatibility along the way.

Start Small, Aim Big

Don’t plan a long, expensive trip with someone you’ve never gone away with before. Even if you’d both love to backpack around Thailand, start small before you commit to a serious trip like that.

Plan a little weekend break to a different city in the UK, or perhaps hop on a cheap RyanAir flight for an affordable long weekend somewhere in Europe. If you have a great time on one of these minibreaks, then that will give you the confidence you need to travel further afield with them.

Discuss What You Want To Get Out Of A Trip Before Going

Before my friend and I went away to Budapest, we discussed what kinds of things we wanted to do. City breaks in particular can take on many different forms. One person’s ideal trip could be sampling the nightlife of a city every night, whereas someone else’s could be sightseeing during the day and taking it easy in the evening.

“We established that we weren’t fussed about going out and getting drunk every night”

As a history nerd, I made it clear to my friend that I wanted to visit the historical sights in Budapest, which thankfully she was on board with too. She told me about the different recommendations she’d seen on TikTok (another top tip for travel planning) which I was also happy to explore.

We established that we weren’t fussed about going out and getting drunk every night. In other words, make sure you and your travel partner are on the same page about what you want to get out of a holiday before you actually get there.

Introvert Vs. Extrovert

If you’re an introvert, going away with someone who is more outgoing than you can feel a little daunting. However, as long as the other person is willing to listen to your wishes, it can actually be a really positive thing. The other person might push you out of your comfort zone, which can help increase your confidence. Equally, if you’re more cautious, you could be the perfect balancing force to ensure things don’t get too crazy. Striking a balance between spontaneity and practicality is key.

“Check in with yourself whilst on holiday”

As an introvert, if you know you’ll need some alone time at various points on the trip, ensure you communicate that to your travel partner. Explain that needing time to yourself isn’t an insult to them, it’s just your way of recharging so you can fully enjoy your trip. Check in with yourself whilst on holiday and if you need some time to decompress, or want to do an activity on your own, be sure to voice this.

Discuss Budgeting

One of the most common causes of conflict whilst away is budgeting. There’s nothing worse than when one person wants to splurge their hard-earned money on expensive cocktails and day trips, while someone else is on a tighter budget. If you’re on a smaller budget, you don’t want to hold your friends back from doing the things they want to do.

This is why it’s so important to discuss this beforehand. If you’re backpacking, are you budgeting whilst doing it? Would you rather stay in shared hostels, or get a private AirBnB? If you’re going on a city break, do you want to make it as affordable as possible, or relax the purse strings slightly? You and your travel partner don’t have to have the exact same financial situation to see eye-to-eye on this. However, if you’re going somewhere with a foreign currency, getting a similar amount is an easy way of ensuring you have similar spending goals in mind.

Discuss Whether Drinking Is Important To You

Another common cause of conflict is having different attitudes towards alcohol whilst on holiday. For some, this can be one of the most fun aspects of going away, whereas for others, it is less important. Being on the same page about this is key, especially if you’re going on a sunny, all-inclusive holiday.

“It’s also OK to split off into different groups if you want to do different things”

There’s a time and a place for a wild girl’s trip to Ibiza. But if you know you’d rather have a balance between fun, intoxicated nights and relaxing by the pool without a crippling hangover every day, then communicate that.

If you’re going away with a larger group of friends, it’s also OK to split off into different groups if you want to do different things. Rejoining at the end of the day just means you’ll have even more to catch up on.

Communication Is Key

At the heart of each of these tips is the importance of communication. If you and your travel partner truly care about each other having a good time, then you’ll be able to communicate maturely about the various aspects of going on a trip.

There are so many factors that go into making a holiday enjoyable for all those involved, so if all of this sounds like one big nuisance to you, don’t rule out going on a solo trip too. That way, at least you’re guaranteed to always be on the same page about what you want to do!

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Featured image courtesy of Element5Digital on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image licence can be found here.

Hey! I'm Chloe, a recent Durham graduate and aspiring culture and lifestyle journalist interested in all things pop culture, the internet, environmental awareness, and Film & TV. Connect with me over on Twitter @chloetypeswords

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