How to Travel Around the World with a Friend without Ruining the Friendship

Travelling around the world can be one of the most exciting things you ever do, but it can also involve a great deal of stress;things can be even more stressful when you are travelling with other people. Close friendships have been completely ruined on holidays like these because:

• When people go on holiday together they will be forced to spend a great deal of time with each other. There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt; when people are stuck with each other 24 hours a day there is a huge risk that they will start to annoy one another. In fact, it may be impossible to avoid completely.
• It is much harder to ignore other people’s annoying behaviours when you are with them all the time. 
• The stress involved in travelling from place to place can make people a bit testy at times. They may take their bad mood out on companions.
• There can be major disagreements about where to go and what to do. If one person seems to be getting their way all the time then it can lead to deep resentments that eventually lead to arguments.
• It is unlikely that travelling companions will always able to agree on the arrangements of the trip. Arguments are almost certain to arise.
• It can just be a bit boring to be spending so much time with the same people.
• One of the most common disagreements will be in regards to finances.

How to Avoid Ruining a Friendship When Travelling Around the World

Here are a few suggestions for keeping a friendship safe when travelling around the world:

• It is important to have agreed upon rules before you travel. This might not seem so important now, but it could be the difference between having and not having the friendship at the end of the holiday.
• One of the most important things to agree upon is finances. It is usually best if people take care of their own finances – pooling money can lead to a great deal of acrimony.
• It is important to make some rules in regards to where you go and what you see. These rules should be fair enough that everyone gets their way at least some of the time.
• It is vital to factor in some time each day when you can be on your own or at least away from your travel companions. Even an hour break can be enough to keep things moving smoothly.
• On a long holiday, it is best to deal with grudges and arguments as they arise. If things are allowed to fester then it can lead to major blowouts.
• It is not a good idea to agree to travel with people who already annoy you. You need to remember that the faults you perceive now will be greatly magnified when you are with this person all the time.
• Make sure that you have adequate travel insurance and encourage your companions to do the same. This should take a great deal of the stress out of your trip.