identity TRAVEL
THE DO’S & DON’TS OF WITH FRIENDS
travelling
by Amina Moustapha
Planning on travelling with your pal/s this summer? That’s so cool. There is nothing more fulfilling than travelling and wandering the world, and no one better to share the road with you than your friend. But here is the issue, the choice of a travel companion could make or break any trip. It can sometimes even ruin your relationship with this person. Before you even pack your bag or decide on dates, you’ll need to decide on company. Many trips like family trips, honeymoons, school trips, etc. already have predetermined companions. Those come with certain expectations, but what about the regular trips? What should the expectations be? Let’s not waste time and discuss what are the do’s and don’ts of travelling with friends. 1. Discover If Your Travel Styles Synchronize Some character differences could be overlooked, meaning the two persons could find a middle ground, but with some differences it is hard to find a middle ground. In order to avoid bumping into this second type of differences, you must learn about them even before organizing the trip. For instance, if you’re an early bird and your companion is a night owl, if you’re the type who likes to really savour the place you visit, and your friend prefers to rush to see everything there is to see…you might have a problem here. If there is no middle ground, you better reconsider this trip.
44 IDENTITY • July 2021
2. Agree on a General Budget It is always awkward to discuss money with friends, but agreeing on a general budget before organizing a trip is a must! For example, if you like to spoil yourself and stay in luxury hotels, while your friend tends to play it cheap; how can these two scenarios coexist with each other? Same goes with food, places to visit, activities…When you agree on a budget, it gives you both a sense about the other person’s mindset.
