BWT Adventure Guides: Choosing Your Travel Companions

Adventure is a State of Mind

This article is part of the BWT Adventure Guide series. The BWT Guides are designed to provide a quick and easy overview of information found on the Brave Wise Traveler website. They can be used as a guide in and of themselves. Or, if you come across a topic and want to dive in deeper, there are links to articles that will help you to do just that. Hopefully this guide helps you to become a more confident and knowledgeable traveler – a Brave Wise Traveler!

In life, it’s not where you go. It’s who you travel with.

Charles Schulz

Who Do You Want to Travel With?

• Decide whether you want to travel with one or two persons or with a large group
• Identify possible travel companions
• Consider whether you are a good travel match
• Discuss travel-related issues when deciding whether to travel together
• Travel with furry family members

Consider Options When Your Partner Doesn’t Want to Travel 

• Modify your plans so they are more appealing to your partner
• Consider alternatives, such as joining a tour group

Make Sure You’re On the Same Page

• Talk ahead of time about things like the budget
• Make sure you are in agreement about how long to be gone
• Develop a plan about how to share expenses

Making the Most of Your Time Together

• Consider the love languages of you and your travel companions
• Use travel to strengthen your relationships

Pro tip: Just because someone is a good friend does not automatically mean you’re well-matched as travel companions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about travel goals and desires as well as personal habits, and share your own travel-related goals, desires, and habits. 

Finding the right match in a travel companion (or companions) can make or break a trip. Being mindful of selecting someone who is a good fit with both your personality and the type of trip you have planned can be the key ingredient in planning a fun and memorable travel adventure. Hopefully this guide will help you make wise decisions!

Sandi McCoy Kramos Clinical Psychologist

Sandi McCoy Kramos is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate from the University of Virginia and over 30 years of experience as a therapist. She is also a lifelong traveler with years of experience planning and implementing individual travel adventures for herself and family and friends. When asked why she started this blog, Sandi said, "Over the years I've realized that when people say they want to travel but don't actually do it, it's often their own insecurities and lack of knowledge that get in the way. I want to give individuals the knowledge they need to actually make their travel dreams come true."

See Full Bio