Picnic Backpacks Galore!

Heading off travelling with a friend can be a wonderful way to see the world. You’ll share magical experiences that just aren’t the same on your own, and you’ll never be lonely. The familiarity of a friendly face will help with the culture shock you may experience in new countries, and of course two heads are better than one. Not only can you shared out the work tasks that need to be done on the road, but you can also share rooms and keep an eye on each other’s bags.

On the face of it, it seems as if travelling with a friend is the best way to go.

However, it’s not always such smooth-running. Travelling isn’t always a glossy life of perfect sights and relaxation. Occasionally you’ll find yourself up the creek without a paddle, and when travelling with someone else 24/7 the blame game starts to get played and tempers can run high. You might also feel restricted by having someone constantly at your side; travelling is as much about freedom as anything else, and having someone slowing you down – or sticking to you like a limpet and relying on you to make all the decisions – can be pretty wearing. Financial differences, too, can cause problems; if you’re flush with money but your mate doesn’t have two copper pennies to rub together, you’re going to be disagreeing quite a lot about accommodation choices and activities you’ll undertake. If the gulf between your respective travel budgets is really noticeable, you might find some resentment or jealousy rearing its ugly head.

This is not to say choosing to travel with a friend is a bad idea. Conversely, it can be a superb experience. But the point is to underline that it’s not something to casually walk into. Think carefully about who you want to go travelling with. Are they a good friend? Do you know them well? Do they have similar expectations to you? A similar budget? Will they share the workload or will they expect you to do everything? Could you really spend a year 24/7 with them? If you want to separate for a while and do your own thing, will each of you be happy with this? Or will you or your friend expect to be joined at the hip?

All these things need to be pondered before deciding to go off backpacking with someone, else you might find yourself walking into something that you will regret further along the road, and friendships may be permanently damaged as a result. If you do decide that you want to go travelling with someone, the key is to be as upfront and honest as possible about all the things that may concern you before you leave or book any tickets. Talk through your expectations. Are they roughly the same? Are you willing to share the legwork? Are you OK if you both want to temporarily separate at some stage? Talking through your expectations and any potential flashpoints will greatly increase your chances of having a successful backpacking trip that you’ll both remember in a positive light.

About the Author:

Darren is an experienced backpacker who currently lives abroad. He spends his time advising expatriates on expat travel insurance and how to settle into another culture successfully.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Backpacking With a Friend: Is It A Good Idea?

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