8 challenges you’ll face when you travel with your best friend

Going on grand adventures with your BFF is always a good idea. You know there will be tons of laughter, love, and amazing memories. But even though you’re connected at the hip and have nothing but love for one another, you still might face challenges while traveling with your best friend.

To help you navigate the shallow — yet annoying — pitfalls of traveling with your bestie, we’ve compiled a list of things to be aware of while away. And even though the tension might get thick through certain parts of the trip, always remember why you two because best friends in the first place. Fix problems with laughter and enjoy the company you’re in.

1You’ll have different daily routines.

You pride yourself in knowing everything there is to know about your best friend. But when you travel with your bestie, you’ll come to realize that you guys run on different schedules and have different daily routines. You might wake up at 7 a.m. and your BFF likes to wake up at noon. This could cause problems when plotting out your sightseeing and adventures.

Sit down and plan out a compromise. In this example, agree to wake up at 9 a.m. each day, or figure out something to do solo while you wait for your pal to wake up from hibernation. Figure out this compromise on day one so agitation doesn’t build up.

2You might get annoyed with one another.

Spending too much time with someone you know so well can cause a lot of frustration. Those little things you dislike about them start to get to you and you’re trying not to let the tension ruin the trip.

Plan out some alone time. Take a walk on the beach by yourself or spend a day together at a spa where you don’t have to talk to one another. An afternoon of silence could soothe your annoyance and nip the buildup of tension from exploding.

3You’ll have to learn how to effectively argue with your bestie.

If you’re the type of person to walk away from a fight and only return until the tension has died down, that method of arguing probably won’t work while traveling with your friend. If you’re mad at one another, you’re going to need to work it then and there.

This is especially true if you’re in a destination where you physically can’t walk away from a fight without getting lost. You guys need each other to stay safe, so settle the score as soon as a fight erupts.

4Budget the trip evenly so money problems aren’t a thing.

We’ve all been put in the position where we end up paying for something for a friend who is notorious for never paying you back. If this sounds like your BFF, make sure you’re not afraid to charge them on Venmo or ask them to get you back right away. Don’t drain your own funds in fear of starting an argument.

Both friends should keep a record of money they’ve spent over the course of the trip, paying extra attention to money spent on group events or on covering your friend. Sometimes, money is the root of all evil, so keep it in check and don’t be afraid to speak up for your bank account.

5Sit down and make a list of goals for the trip.

One of the biggest things that could put a wedge in your friendship is realizing that you did everything your friend wanted to do and now the vacation is over. To prevent this from happening, make a list of things that both you and your BFF want to do during the trip.

Cross off destinations and activities as you do them to ensure that your personal goals for the trip are being met. You’ll leave the trip feeling fulfilled and like you each got an equal positive experience out of it.

6Make sure you’re sharing trip responsibilities.

Divide trip chores and responsibilities evenly between you and your bestie. You should each be hands-on with booking hotels or hostels, travel tickets, and communication with locals, guides, and hosts.

Dumping all the responsibilities on one person will cause them to be resentful and be more stressed while traveling than able to enjoy where they are. Planning and making arrangements might not be the most fun thing to do for a trip, but pairing up and doing it together will make everything a lot easier.

7Other friendships might be made along the way.

Although you guys are traveling as a pair, meeting other travelers along the way might offer a refresher from you and your BFF’s one-on-one time. The two of you should be open to making new friends. Adding a third to your duo for some of the trip might release tension or provide new insight into the adventure.

Plus, making new friends and allies is always a great idea while traveling. The more people who have your back, the better!

8If you’re annoyed, don’t let it ruin the adventure.

It might be hard to get out of your own head. Your friend could be doing nothing wrong, but you’re still just aggravated with them. Take a deep breath and remind yourself of where you are and who you’re with. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so don’t let your own frustration ruin this for you.

As we mentioned before, take a few minutes (or hours) to yourself and reset your brain. Go back to your friend feeling refreshed and ready to start the next adventure with them.

These rewards of traveling with your bestie far outweigh the challenges you may face. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and about each other, which is crucial for building a lasting friendship. Have fun, take pictures, and keep laughing through the entire trip!