Now that you are part of the Baby Boomer generation or close to it, you may have the freedom to travel and be able to leave your home at the drop of a hat.
If you are married, you and your husband might be old hats at this.
However, if you now find yourself on your own, there are key considerations to picking a suitable travel partner. One solution might be to travel together but get separate rooms. This is far more expensive, but an option, if you need to take it. A wonderful trip can become a nightmare if you don’t do your homework in selecting the right travel partner.
I am fortunate to have several friends, both married and single, who are excellent travel partners. What they have in common are the following attributes:
1. Flexible – “Ok, if we can’t go in October, how about November?”
2. Fun Loving – “Oh, put on your big girl panties and let’s try it!”
3. Adventurous – “Hey, why not? You, go first!”
4. Not Whiners – “Oh just be quiet, already!”
5. Sense of Humor – “Man, alive, I can’t believe we just did that!”
6. Independent – “We don’t have to goose step each other all over the place.”
7. Honest Communicators – “Hey, there is something I need to tell you.”
My suggestion is that before planning a long trip with a prospective travel buddy, take a short weekender to test the water.
I remember going to the San Francisco with a group of girlfriends. It became real clear to me who I could travel with and who I couldn’t travel with.
If you ask 50,000 questions regarding what we should wear or where we will eat or do we need to park there and are constantly sending food back to the kitchen…you are NOT the correct traveling partner for me.
Do your homework & bon voyage!!
Photo Credit: Anne Worner Flickr via Compfight cc