Sure we all have that little niggle at the back of our minds when we set of to travel with friends, what if we fight, or what if we can’t stand each other after a week!? Well here are some tips to help prevent nasty split ups along the way.  

Most of us will at one time travel with a friend or friends, if we are avid travellers. Solo travel is fun, but having a buddy there to share all those amazing moments, and talk about it when you get home is pretty special too. We all have a bad habit or two, and of course our friends generally have their own little idiosyncrasies as well. Having travelled quite a lot with friends, been a tour guide and having to get along with many different personalities, I am here to impart some basic wisdom to help you and your friend have a smoother holiday. It’s all up to you in the end.

Tip one: Space, sure we love being in each other’s pockets, it’s all very exciting, but if you don’t give yourself and your friend at least one day of free me time every so often than things may get stuffy. Remember you both may want to do something the other does not, this is the perfect opportunity to get out and do something solo, one may want to take a bike ride along the coast, and the other may want to sit back and relax in a day spa getting a massage and mud bath. Don’t procrastinate about it if you can’t agree, take the day off from each other and go do something separately. You’ll find you have loads to talk about on your return and you won’t be frustrated you missed out.

A separate room every now and then can also work like magic. If you’re having trouble sleeping, or your friends a bit messy and you’re a neat freak. Actually discuss the idea with your friend before heading off, most times you will share to conserve money, but every now and then splash out as a treat and have a room to yourself.

Tip two: Accept your differences. Yes we are all guilty of it, screwing up our noses at our friend’s choice of dress, dining spot or chosen activity for the day etc. You’re not going to make it through the trip if you can’t shake off your judgement, your friend has the right to be who he or she is, and getting worked up over what he or she is not doing, or is doing, is only going to make both of you frustrated and your holiday stressful. Always have a good book with you, or an inquisitive mind, if it’s all too much then head off down the beach to read alone, or explore the alley shops.

Tip three: Speak up. Your friend is not a mind reader, you know why you’re frustrated, but they probably don’t. A scheduled ‘how is the trip going thus far’ chit chat would go far, bring up what’s irking you and give them the opportunity to speak up as well. It’s not all about you after all. Try to work out a solution. Make sure if you are simply just feeling down or homesick, they know it’s not them, because they probably will think they have done something wrong if you’re just feeling blue and not explaining the reason, even if it’s just a brief one.

Tip four: Enjoy each other’s company and compromise. You must have travelled together for a reason, try to remember you are great friends after all the emotion of travel if scrapped away. Keep in mind that senses are heightened whilst travelling; things seem bigger than they actually are, and small issues can feel humungous. Try to peel back everything and look at it for what it is. Try to compromise an activity, your friend may want to do something that you don’t really and vice-versa. You may actually find you get something out of it, so give it a go, and don’t be a drag and go out of your way to show your not into it, this is their holiday as well and they have the right to choose a few activities for you both to do, they in turn will come along with you on your ultimate choice of things to do for the day.  

Remember it is what we make it, so make the most of it, because most people don’t get the opportunity to travel the world with a great friend.