Traveling Abroad With Friends
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Last month, one of my dear friends and I had a little rendezvous in Paris for a European girl’s trip. Traveling the globe with your friend seems like a natural thing, I’ve heard horror stories in how it can go wrong. Don’t worry, the two of us had an amazing time and even talked about how great it was to be travel compatible together. It seems lucky right? Here are a few things to think about before you travel abroad with friends.
Discuss A Plan:
I know my style of travel isn’t for everyone. I like early mornings, cultural immersion, and lots of walking. My friend knew this about me long before we even thought about traveling abroad together. Because we had an open conversation about how we traveled, I knew that we were on the same page in a lot of ways. She would leave the super early mornings to me, but I really appreciated her early nights too. If you talk with your friend about how they travel, and find that you have little in common or that neither of you are willing to compromise, maybe you should hold off on a lengthened trip together.
Start Small:
Don’t let your first trip with your friend be a super extended and around the world sort of ordeal. It would be awful to be halfway around the world, not enjoying your time together, and still have a week before you get to go home. Instead, start with a small girl’s weekend to a domestic location. My friend and I had two trips to Las Vegas and my bachelorette trip to Palm Beach to get a feel for each other’s travel style. From there, we were able to start brainstorming about destinations that would be a good fit for both of us.
Take A Breath:
When you are in an unfamiliar surrounding, it’s only human nature to feel a little on edge. If you feel that discomfort starting to surface, be sure to take a breath and let yourself calm back down. Know that your companion may be having the same feelings and a discussion between the two of you can take place. Don’t ruin a friendship over something like personal space or a temporary bad feeling.
Have Some “You” Time:
Whether it’s a workout or a bubble bath, make sure to incorporate some ‘you’ time each day of the trip. Especially when you’re visiting a brand new location, it can be very tempting to entirely book every aspect of your day. Allowing for even 30 minutes of downtime is enough to help you feel recharged and ready to go to the next activity. Not only will it help preserve your friendship, but it will also make it easier to enjoy your vacation.
In a way, I feel extremely lucky. I have traveled with my husband, several of my dear friends, my family, and have felt travel compatible with everyone. At the end of the day, even with all of these tips, it comes down to being patient and easy-going. Even the most thoroughly planned out vacations can go horribly wrong, and with fault to no one. Instead of thinking solely about the destination or the activities, focus on the company you’re with. Make the most of the who, and not the where or what, and you will always have an amazing trip.
Love from NYC,
Katie
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