How to choose a travel buddy

You have scrimped and saved all your money and you have a rough idea of where you want to travel. The easy part is pretty much done. The hard part? You’ve decided against travelling solo, which means you now need to find a travel buddy to accompany you. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of who you travel with, as the wrong travel companion can really ruin a trip.

Honestly, you can never really know how someone is going to act once you’re on the road, but there are a few tips that can help you figure out the best travel buddy for you.

Agree on a similar budget 

Arguably, one of the most important factors to consider is your budget. If one of you wants to live it up and splurge on 5-star hotels while the other can only afford a hostel, you’re already off to a bad start. Find someone who is in a similar financial state to you, or at least someone who is willing to compromise on accommodation.

Not only that, budgeting for daily expenses is equally as important. You might want to spend all your money on new foodie experiences while your companion opts for cheap meals so they have more money for attractions. This part isn’t as important because you can always eat separate meals, however, it is still something you and your potential travel buddy should discuss and agree on.

Have similar travel experiences/wants

Having similar travel experiences and wants are important because you may be an avid adventurer, having climbed Mt Kilimanjaro or trekked into the depths of the Amazon while your buddy has never even left their home country. Before you go, you will need to know each other’s travel experiences and what the other is or isn’t willing to do.

Say you’re both having a great time in New York, but you spontaneously want to catch a flight to Peru and trek the Inca Trail. You will have to know beforehand whether your buddy will be up for this kind of spontaneity because if they aren’t, well, you just missed out on an amazing opportunity.

Find someone who complements you

You don’t have to be best friends or have the exact same personality as your travel buddy. In fact, opposites can be a good thing when travelling. You may be good at planning and organising while your buddy is good with actually booking everything and getting the details correct.

Then again, you don’t want to be too dissimilar because a Type A personality and a Type B personality may not travel so well together. Be realistic. You might want to go with your best friend, but they may not actually be the best choice.

Have good communication skills

If you can’t communicate effectively, you shouldn’t be travelling together. When you’re far away from home in new and unfamiliar places, communicating with each other is everything. Are you nervous about the language barriers? Are you homesick? Do you feel like your buddy is ignoring you or vice versa? Talking about how you’re feeling is so crucial when travelling, so make sure your companion is someone you feel comfortable communicating with and opening up to.

Feeling inspired?

• Visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a charity challenge perfect for you and a buddy!