A weekend on the French Riviera, doesn't it sound dreamy? If you study abroad in Europe, that dream can become a reality. But unless you want to Riviera-it alone, you'll need to round up a friend or two to accompany you. Thus begins the process of choosing good travel partners and being one yourself.
The first time you adventure with someone, you learn so much about each other. It's a fairly clean slate, even if you've known each other for years because people often act differently on vacation. You become faced with new challenges, often-frustrating circumstances, and financial choices. The following list is surmised from Kristin Newman's book What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding. In the novel, she recounts her years of traveling all over the world with all kinds of people and shares her knowledge with eager readers, like myself. I wholeheartedly agree with her list of what makes a good traveler, and reformed it a bit based on my experiences.
1. You are open to try and do new things. You become a “Yes Man", whether that means jumping off a cliff into a freezing Turkish river or going on the town with the Albanian couple whom you just met at your hostel. You say yes and let the possibly crazy experiences change you and make your trip incredible.
2. You go off the beaten path. You are not waddling behind a woman with a megaphone and a red umbrella, listening to her strangely-accented English through a headpiece. You are sitting on a bus next to a woman holding a live chicken while a local teen mariachi band plays in the aisle. Dinner destinations involve crowed restaurants where your table is the only one where English is spoken.
3 . You are not picky about sleeping, eating or transportation. You put up with your hostel, no matter what condition it's in when you arrive. You don't need a vegetarian meal in Argentina or a gluten-free meal in France. Overnight buses and trains are not a problem. You willingly sacrifice comfort for adventure.
4. You are considerate of your travel companions. When you want to do something they do not, you simply agree to meet up with them later. If one of them wants to take a side trip to Prague, you go along because guess what? There's probably a good reason to go. It's the wildcard factor I love about group trips.
5. You are capable. You can figure out how to work the bus system, you can read a map, or order even when you can't read the menu. You're not afraid to ask for directions. Every day presents a series of challenges and you want to conquer them.
6. You understand the cost of the trip, and can afford it. Simply, if you can't afford what is being proposed, you just don't go. Tough luck. Save your money and next time you can say yes.
7. Conversely, you are willing to slum it. If you have more disposable travel cash than your companions, you shut up about it and do what they can afford to do in the name of camaraderie. The people you meet who are also at the bottom of the spending chain are almost always more interesting than the spoiled children and adults staying at the local Four Seasons anyway.
8. You are aware of cultural differences and adhere to them. Put on the headscarf and maxi skirt when you go into the mosque in Istanbul. Kiss your new Italian friend on the cheek. Hike up your bikini bottoms in Brazil.
9. You play nice with the employees of the country you are visiting. Be it your hostel owner, the bike tour guide or the bus driver — you don't lose your cool when they don't understand what you want or if they tell you something you didn't want to hear. For the sake of good vibes and American reputation abroad, be kind.10. Most importantly — you go with the flow. If something comes up that changes your plan, it's not the end of the world. The overnight train from Munich to Milan was unexpectedly booked so now you're going to miss the famous Milan flea market? Tough luck, but now you get to spend half a day exploring Munich! You might meet the love of your life here, or just some really cool people. Stop complaining about the flea market and roll with it.
So there you have it, a comprehensive list of qualities to look for in your next travel partner, or a standard to be set by all members of the group you're already traveling with. Your companions can make or break a trip, so get everyone on the same page and you're bound to have a blast no matter where you all go.
