We know it feels like you’ll never get to travel again, but the truth is, the world is slowly starting to open back up. If you’re like most of us, this pandemic probably made you swear that from now on you are definitely making traveling as a couple a priority.
Hence, you probably already have your 2021-2022 vacations up on your vision board, complete with visuals of the exact outfits you’ll be wearing along with a jam-packed itinerary.
For that we say… (#same) and, Fabulous! When done right, there is truly something so magical about traveling with friends. You strengthen your bond, you feel safer in a distant land, and oftentimes, there are group traveling discounts involved. I mean…it’s an all-around win. Or is it?
The short answer to that is: it can be- but it takes some planning ahead. When traveling with friends, the most important thing to remember is to…
Communicate
It’s normal to get excited about hanging with people we totally vibe with, but we also need to remember that they probably live their lives completely differently than ours. Before even setting up the vacation, always get the technicalities out of the way by communicating:
- Budgets- You don’t want to set up at a Five Star hotel while your friends can only afford a hostel. Make sure to plan for activities that can be enjoyed by all couples involved.
- Travel Styles- Are you a schedule everything ahead of time in the itinerary traveler? While your friends are the “let’s wait until we meet the locals to find out what’s good” type of people? Talk about it beforehand and be communicative about things that are important for you to experience.
- Boundaries- Does someone have health issues that impedes long walks. Are they afraid of trains? Do you hate trying new food? Always make boundaries super clear.
- Time- Are you expecting to do all activities together? Or will you and your partner be doing your own thing at some point?
- Don’t over plan – We’re looking at you with the itinerary. Remember to remain flexible. Something always happens on vacation, someone drinks a bit too much wine, plans run late, someone loses something…etc. You have to plan for the unplanned.
These are very real scenarios that when left “up in the air” have been known to cause rifts in friendships. But when tackled head-on, can almost guarantee the best trip ever! These communication musts are bound to optimize your experience!
