Traveling with your best friend is something that most people can only dream about. I remember having many conversations with my best friend about traveling together.
I do not know how I got lucky enough to live that dream. Not only was I able to travel with my best friend, we were also able to travel to France, immersing ourselves into the language that we had spent two years studying together.
Although traveling with other friends, family, or even by yourself all have benefits, I loved being able to travel with my best friend. It brought us closer together, and it was a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.
A perk of traveling with a friend is that you will never feel lonely even in a foreign city, state or even country. You will have someone to explore with, whether you have similar goals and expectations for the trip or if their varying interests will bring you outside of your comfort zone.
If you are traveling close to home or to an entirely different country, having someone to take that trip with you will make it much more enjoyable. During the six hour plane ride to Paris, my best friend and I talked, read, and watched movies together. Having a buddy for any mode of transportation makes all the difference.
When we were in France, my best friend and I almost never left each other’s sides. Getting to live in a hotel room with her for ten days was quite an experience. We may have missed our alarm one or two times, and living in a hotel room together may have confirmed that we are very different. But opposites attract.
Exploring a new place with your best friend means you also have a personal photographer for each adventure. I have no shortage of amazing pictures of myself in France that I cherish, and I didn't have to ask strangers to take those pictures. Of course if you do need to ask strangers to take your picture, you need to be willing to return the favor.
Our trip to France was possible through a high school program. That program did not allow lunch in the meal plan, so lunchtime was our time to independently explore Paris and try new foods. Being with my friend meant I had a daily lunch date, and usually an adventure along with it.
Of all of the benefits of traveling with a friend, perhaps the aftermath is one of the best parts. Even almost three years later, my best friend and I often reminisce on our trip together, and I am hopeful we will have more in our future, although they will most likely not be as cool as France. We now have lifelong stories and photos to look back on.
