1. Find someone who has similar interests and likes
Your travel companion doesn’t need to be your soul mate for life. But having someone who has some of the same interests as you will definitely make the trip go smoother by giving you someone to hang out with – which is the whole point of having someone to travel with.
2. Make sure you have the same budget in mind
If you envision staying in hotels and your travel companion is envisioning staying at the local hostel, you could be in for a bumpy trip. Make sure that you both have the same budget in mind and the same plans when it comes to accommodation, traveling and sightseeing. As an example: I was travelling in Australia recently and met up with an old friend in Melbourne. After spending a few days in the city, we decided to take a side trip to Tasmania. After the travel agent told us the costs ($$$), my friend backed out. She was traveling on a budget and couldn’t afford the unexpected expense. I, on the other hand, was willing to pay the extra cash because it was an experience that I might never have again (hello Tasmanian Devil!). Because I didn’t want to take the trip alone I decided to stay in Melbourne with her.
3. Test your companion
If your companion is someone that you met on a travel site (like here) it’s best to take them out for a test drive. You don’t want to agree to a 2 month trek through the Himalayans only to find 2 weeks in that you and your companion aren’t compatible. Arrange to meet up for a weekend somewhere, just to get a feeling if you’ll both be able to stand each other for the longer trips.
4.Someone with the same mind set as you
I’m a pretty quick, get-up-and-go type of person. Unless I’m going for a fancy dinner, my getting ready routine consists of shower, hair in pony tail and a quick swipe of mascara. I’ve traveled with some really good friends who feel the need to put on full make up just to go site seeing. While that may be okay at home, it can quickly tire when it’s cutting into your vacation time. Making sure that your travel companion is of the same speed and routine as you will make the trip go alot smoother.
5. Make sure that you can speak freely with the person
You don’t want to feel pressured into doing something that you don't want to do because you feel like you can’t speak with your companion. Make sure whomever you go traveling with is easy to talk to and will listen to your reasoning and decisions.
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