Ah spring break. My favorite time of year. This year, for the third year, I was traveling around Europe for my Spring break. If there is one thing I have learned from my travels is that finding a good travel buddy is just as hard as finding a good roommate or a significant other, but unfortunately, most people don't realize or understand that. Every year when I study abroad I see people spend their spring breaks miserable because of the person they decide to travel with. But, alas, have no fear because this fate can be avoided. If you follow a few simple steps.
1. Discuss your budget.
It is SO important to make sure you are around the same budget as your travel buddy. If you want to go out to 5 star dinners every night, it will be really awkward if your buddy can't afford it. And it puts them in an awkward position because no one wants to say "I can't afford that." Discussing your budget will also be vital to deciding where to stay. Hostels are great, but they aren't for everyone. It is important to be completely clear when you say how much money you can afford to spend.
2. Discuss your pace for a vacation.
My pace for a vacation is very slow. I don't want to wake up earlier than 9 if I can. I like to explore the city a lot and do minimal museums. I would be miserable on a vacation with someone who wanted to squeeze in 5 museums in one day. Make sure to be clear on the pace you expect your vacation to move. Do you want to be up early? Out late? Do you want to be able to come back to the room mid afternoon and take a nap? These may seem like silly questions, but trust me they will save you many fights during your travels.
3. Go on a smaller weekend or day trip first, if possible.
This is not always a sound proof plan, but it is helpful. There are people who I go on one day trip or weekend trip with and I think to myself "yup never again." And then I thank the heavens that I didn't plan a trip with them for a whole week.
4. Wait to find a travel buddy.
This really only applies for study abroad students, but don't pair off with someone within the first couple weeks of class. I know it seems appealing, you just got your schedule for spring break and you want to run off to Prague so you'll go with the first person you can convince. But, trust me, wait. It is better to get to know the people on your program before you decide who you want to spend spring break with. Plus your friend group could change after orientation. It happens all the time.
5. Plan the itinerary together.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to make sure the vacation goes smoothly is to plan everything together. And I mean everything. Plan what you're doing what day (and what time) and how you're getting their. Trust me there is no such thing as over planning. Even discuss restaurants to eat at! That way when you are tired and hungry you already have a place and mind and an idea on how to get there.
Traveling is stressful. It just is. Just go into it with an open mind and remember that things go wrong sometimes! So just keep calm and stay positive. Everything will turn out fine.
