It’s nice to have a travel buddy, but not required. Many people travel solo and love it. Entire tour companies are set up for solo travelers and we meet many people traveling enjoyably on their own in our travels.

If you are looking for a travel buddy, take a look first at your immediate circle of friends, your relatives and club, class or church members. A lot of churches and other organizations host organized tours where you can join on your own or with a partner. The only kicker is the double occupancy room prices, however, several tour companies I have seen lately are ramping up programs for solo travelers without the double occupancy penalty. 

Maybe in talking with your club or church friends, there is someone that always wanted to travel just like you. Invite them for a coffee and see if you have anything in common and where they have always wanted to go. None of us can ever have enough friends or even acquaintances.

 Ideally, you should have similar ideas about where you want to go, what you want to see and should be fairly equally capable. By capable I mean taking care of your own needs. No one wants to be an unintentional nurse while their on holiday. Be upfront about any issues that may be a little delicate. No surprises makes for a good trip. Remember, you are spending a lot of money on this trip, you want to enjoy it, so ask questions and be forthcoming. 

Speaking of money, you will also want to include a discussion about affordability. Perhaps your friend can just afford the trip and wants to take advantage of free entertainment and shared-plate dinners. Have the conversation in advance about what is acceptable. Remember there is also tipping to consider. No one wants to be stuck paying the tab for a freeloader.

Also, important to remember, you don’t have to do EVERYTHING together! If you download a maps program on your phone, you can pull up a map to walk just about anywhere with confidence, so don’t think you have to be attached at the hip when you travel. Also, it’s okay if your partner wants to have a nap in the sun and you want to have a cappuccino at the town square and people-watch. Don’t set your expectations too high and you won’t be disappointed.

Mom and I make it work because we have similar tastes in travel, such as not missing a museum, doing a fair bit of daily walking if it’s not too hot, hitting sweetie shops and taking the time to study where we are going in advance so we can already know the history and customs when we arrive.

However, we also are good travel partners because while we both decide where we are going next, I like to do the planning, and she loves to talk to people. I am also perfectly okay with helping Mom with her hearing issues, so that she can enjoy the trip as much as I do. Bonus is that she and I get to make memories together that we talk about nearly every time we get together!

So back to picking a travel buddy. Remember, it doesn’t have to be forever. If there’s someone you think you want to try travelling with, do it! If it doesn’t work out, note to self for next time.