How to pick the PERFECT travel mate
How to pick the PERFECT travel mate.
All great ideas start over a glass of wine, “should we”, “I think we should”, “well why not”, “it will be amazing” … “OK LET’S DO IT (followed by the girlie scream)”!!! We are going to Paris!!!!
Picking the perfect trip, outlining the perfect itinerary, getting the perfect flight is all stressful (yet very fun) on it’s own. What is actually more important is choosing the perfect travel mate. No one wants the trip to be the relationship or friend deal breaker.
Basking in the glory of Paris, the day is slowing ending, you are feeling so chic and so French. It has been a great day – exploring – seeking – understanding all the best of what Paris has to offer … Sainte-Chapelle (must do), the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs Elysées. What’s next? All you want to do is have an excellent dinner with a killer glass of wine (ok, you are on vacation, you really want more than one glass of wine).
It comes to the part of the day -” what do you want to do?”, “I dunno what do you want to do?” “It’s up to you”, “no really it is up to you” … and then all of a sudden you realize you really should not have thrown down the last “it’s up to you” and all of a sudden your happy wheels demo travel mate “aka friend” says McDonalds. The shock and horror – I don’t even eat McDonalds at home why would you eat McDonalds in Paris? Do they have wine? For some reason my travel mate and “aka friend” thought McDonalds would be budget meal. To keep the peace (middle child syndrome), I passively aggressively agree (first mistake) and go to McDonalds. As I take the last bite of my Quarter Pounder with cheese, my travel mate starts to complain how expensive McDonalds is – I look at her and grin and think to myself this is Paris- where was my wine, my coq au vin, my croque-monsieur??? I watched Julie and Julia – I wanted a foodgasm!
I have had many adventures with good and bad travel mates, this is what I have learnt alone the way:
Top 5 in picking a travel mate:
1. Ensure you have a like budget and make it known.
2. Communicate: Ensure you can be open with another – share opinions – have opinions and to avoid the “it’s up to you conversation”.
3. Be willing to try new experiences or be cool enough with yourself to spend an afternoon alone
4. Balance: Remember you win some and you lose some.
5. You tell me!
What have you learnt alone the way?
What is your #5 tip in picking a travel mate?
About the Author
Lisa I don't travel to escape I travel to self discover. To see different parts of the world to build my personal tool kit. I enjoy the path less travelled to truly learn about the traditions and nuances of my fellow citizens of this great world. Born and raised in Toronto of Trinidadian descent I never forget my roots and as much as I love leaving on that jet plane I always find satisfaction in coming home to my great city to share the tales of my great adventures with my friends and family.
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