Rare. adj, exceptional, infrequent.
Few and far between, scarce...however you want to phrase it, the fact stands that good travel buddies are not that easy to find.
How likely is it that someone in your close circle of friends wants to travel at the same time you do? To all the same places? With the same budget, spending habits and interests? And even if they tick all these boxes, could you stand them - or could they stand you - for 24/7 for months on end?
With ample criteria to fill, qualifying as a travel companion is no mean feat, which is why so many people end up doing a RTW trip on their own. There are advantages to both: while I'm 100% behind solo travel (see my previous post to find out why), here are 5 reasons to consider taking a pal or partner with you on your adventures - even if it means making a few compromises along the way.
1. You feel safer - Ensuring you stay safe is of paramount importance, especially when you're travelling to a notoriously unsafe destination. Whether it's venturing out at night or exploring off the beaten track away from other tourists, having someone with you can not only make you feel safer but also ward off scammers and worse who might have approached you had you been alone. Having travelled on my own since April, I can honestly say it made a huge difference hanging out with Matt for 3 weeks in Cape Town: I was harassed less, stared at less and just felt safer in general. Your belongings are also at less risk of being stolen with two pairs of eyes on them, plus (actually this is the first thing that sprang to mind when writing this post) you can leave your stuff with someone if you fancy a dip in the ocean/need to pop to the bathroom etc. Little things!
2. You share amazing experiences - Sometimes experiences are all the better for being alone, but sometimes you can't help but think it would be nice if you had company. Memories become all the more treasured if you share them with someone else; a fellow traveller who is there in body and soul, who can empathise with what you're seeing and feeling - beats sharing photos with Facebook friends who will give them a quick glance along with an appreciative 'mm' before scrolling further down their news feed. Having a friend or partner alongside you for the duration of your trip also means you've got someone with whom you can relive the memories when you return home; someone who GETS you as opposed to friends and family who listen and nod along in all the right places but can never feel what you felt in that moment.
3. You always have someone to talk to - Lone travellers can get, well, lonely. I've gone entire days without saying a word to anyone, which can be just what I need, but often it leaves me craving company. In Paris, I spent four whole days on my own. I'd always intended to spend the first couple of days by myself, but because my roommates weren't brilliant and the one guy I met in the common room was clearly after one thing, I ended up spending the whole trip alone. Luckily the madness of Barcelona came immediately afterwards which more than made up for it, but I wouldn't have minded having a friend by my side for those last two days. Having someone with you also takes the edge off illness and homesickness; dealing with either of these alone is not fun.
4. You get to try new things - You and your travel buddy may have similar interests but odds are you'll both have hobbies or things on your bucket list that the other does not. This probably means that you'll find yourself in new and unfamiliar territory; who knows, you may throw yourself out of a plane, paraglide off a mountain, go canyoning and so much more that you'd never have thought to try otherwise. Things just got awesome!
5. You save money - It's all good if you're sleeping in dorm rooms* but if you need a night or two of 'me time', you'll inevitably end up paying a premium for single private rooms. Add another person into the equation and hey presto: room rates drop significantly. Same goes for cab rides, rental cars and supermarket runs. If you want to travel for as long as possible before settling back into life in drizzly old England, every penny counts, and a pal can help you make big savings with minimum effort.
*With the exception of Paris, where a bunk in an okay-ish hostel will set you back €40. Laaaame
*With the exception of Paris, where a bunk in an okay-ish hostel will set you back €40. Laaaame
Good travel buddies are rare gems: hard to find and worth their weight in gold. Even if you don't fly out with someone I would really recommend staying in hostels, which are generally conducive to meeting like-minded people and checking off all 5 of the above!
Image sources:
1.http://www.theantarcticbookofcookingandcleaning.com/huddle-penguin-cam-and-reindeer-cam.html
2.Veronica Frances
3.http://data1.whicdn.com/images/53482224/large.jpg
4.http://jp6.r0tt.com/l_9b9f2760-e357-11e1-a046-0f0a95e00006.jpg
5.http://iwastesomuchtime.com/on/?i=20970
