Not sure if a certain someone will make a good travel partner? Don’t make any rash decisions, ask yourself these 10 key questions and make the right choice!

Traveling with the right person is fundamental to the success of your trip.

Making the wrong choice can make you miserable and ruin a, perhaps once in a lifetime opportunity, to see a particular part of the world.

I once got stuck with a moaning minny whose whining reverberated around my ears like a dying wasp.

Luckily the trip was short. But not short enough.

Don’t make the same mistake as me. Ask yourself these 10 key questions before committing to a travel partner and go see the world in peace and harmony!

1.    Have you spent a concentrated amount of time together?

A crucial point. You never really know someone until you’ve spent at least a weekend straight in their company. This is a great test, do it!

You may be surprised what you find out about that person you thought you knew so well.

2.    Are you planning the same trip?

Have you actually sat down and scoped out the details of your trip? If not, you might be talking at cross purposes.

You don’t want to set off on your wild road trip only to find your buddy settling into the nearest yoga retreat.

3.    Do you have the same taste in people?

You’re going to meet a lot of people on your trip so it’ll help if you got similar ideas of who’s good company and who’s not. Think about the people they bring to parties.

Think long and hard.

4.    Is your relationship ‘issue free’?

All the deep-rooted grudges and resentments come out when traveling, that’s just the way it is. Ask yourself if there are any unresolved emotional issues between you and your potential travel partner?

If the answer’s yes then sort them out before you go…. Or go with someone else.

5.    Do you have the same routines?

You’re going to be doing pretty much everything together so your lifestyle’s had better be compatible. If you’re an early bird and they’re a nocturnal beast it just isn’t going to work.

6.    Are they a moaning minny?

Travel can be inconvenient, and frustrating and uncomfortable. A moaning minny WILL ruin your trip. See reverberating dying wasp anecdote above. You have been warned!

7.    Have they ever displayed violent, irrational or psychotic behavior towards you or anyone else?

This is an important one. You may love your friend dearly but if they’re a little bit cuckoo and unstable then I guarantee they’ll have sent you cuckoo too by the end of the trip.

8.    Do you like to do the same things?

Pretty obvious but it’s amazing how many people don’t think this through. Don’t go away with a bookworm if you’re a crazy raver. Figures.

9.    Can they roll with the punches?

The key to successful travel is flexibility. If your buddy can’t be spontaneous, go with the flow and muck in here and there then they will impair your enjoyment of the trip.

10.    Are they a good conversationalist?

Think long flights, train journeys, bus-rides and hikes. It helps if they’ve got something interesting to say.

Do you prefer traveling with a buddy or going solo?? Post up your comments below, we want to hear from you!

If you liked this you might also like: 10 Ways to Avoid Vacation Stress

Turning into a traveling nomad? Could it be time to go home? Check out these 24 signs you’ve been traveling too long and make a decision on that home-ward flight!

garryknight

I know that some of you guys have been on the road for years but could your trip be reaching its natural conclusion?

Check out these 24 signs that you’ve been traveling too long, it might just be time to hang up your rucksack!

1. You start every sentence with “so, where are you from?”

2. You have loads of new friends but have no clue what their surnames are

3. Carpet feels like cotton wool

4. You look dirty but it’s just your tan

5. Throwing toilet paper in the toilet feels wrong

6. You’re adorned with bits of coconut, stones and shells head to toe

7. You’ve been wearing the same pair of Thai pants for weeks

8. You very rarely know (or care) what the time is

9. Staying put for more than a few days makes you antsy

10. Paying more than $5 for a meal feels extravagant

11. Sleeping in a room with strangers seems normal

12. Your rucksack weighs about 50% less than before you left

13. You weigh about 50% less than before you left

14. Sunsets bore you

15. A 6 hour train journey feels short

16. You sleep well on airport chairs

17. You laugh in the face of the Lonely Planet

18. The thought of wearing a suit makes you snigger

19. Your family/friends have stopped asking when you’re coming back

20. Crazy people seem normal

21. Your home food cravings are becoming delusional

22. You’d happily trade in your iPod for a bubble bath

23. When stepping into a hotel lobby, it usually takes about 3 seconds until you’re escorted out

24. You used to have a day-job but it all seems very hazy

Identify with these tell-tale signs or think there’s never a time to go home?! Post up your comments, we want to hear from you!

Coming soon… 20 questions to ask yourself about your travel partner. Don’t miss out, sign up for free updates below.