7 Expectations vs Reality Scenarios When You Travel With Your BFF

Travelling with best friend

Finding the right travel partner is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning for your holiday trip. Due to lifestyle differences, there are many things you will have to compromise with one another so that the trip will be more smooth sailing.

Who else better to travel with than your best friend? After all, we are talking about someone you probably have known your entire life. This person understands you more than anyone in the world, so travelling together should not be much of an issue right?

The reality is that travelling with someone—no matter how much you love that person—does not always turn out to be how we expect it to be. There will be times when you get exasperated and annoyed, especially when your opinions are not the same.

Here, we share the Expectations vs. Reality When You Travel With Your Best Friend.

Europe Travel Guide

EXPECTATION #1: THE TRIP WILL BE PLANNED BY THE TWO OF YOU

But somehow, you’d end up being the only one planning for the trip and your best friend does not seem to be making an effort.

At times like this, it is a good idea to call up your friend or talk things out with her on a meetup. She may be busy with a recent project at work or facing some issues in her life.

You can suggest splitting up the workload so when you are done planning the itinerary, she can get around to booking the accommodations and transport tickets.

Bottom line: Talk it out. This is after all, a trip for the two of you.

Tokyo DisneySea

EXPECTATION #2: YOUR BEST FRIEND HAS THE SAME BUCKET LIST AS YOU

Of course, she wants to go to Disneyland! Who doesn’t?

Many people fall into the trap of assuming that their best friend is willing to visit all the places that they have on their bucket lists. However, that is not true. Everyone has their own preferences and dislikes so it is important to reach a mutual understanding.

There are two ways you can resolve this issue. One is to take turns visiting each other’s to-go list or two, separate your journey by going solo before meeting up again.

Bottom line: Compromising is key.

Travel Beach Getaway

EXPECTATION #3: YOU KNOW YOUR BEST FRIEND AT THE BACK OF YOUR FINGERTIPS

We are not doubting the friendship between you and your best friend. However, unless you have been living with the person for awhile, you will definitely be in for a surprise!

It may be something small such as snoring while she sleeps or a major issue such as throwing tantrums whenever something goes wrong.

Whatever it is, this is a good time to learn more about the other side of your best friend you never found out. At least you know if this person makes a good travel partner in the future!

Bottom line: Take the chance to discover more about your friend.

Cherry Blossom Tokyo Park

EXPECTATION #4: YOU WILL BE APPRECIATED FOR YOUR HARD WORK

So you basically did most of the planning and a simple “thank you” would have been nice. Instead, your best friend seems to have plenty of opinions on the timing of your flights, the night markets being too far away from the hotel and so on.

Well, she could have mentioned all these earlier when you were asking for her opinions.

Bottom line: Let her know what’s done is done. You can’t change the tickets anyway.

yum cha hongkong tst

EXPECTATION #5: ONLY GOOD MEMORIES WILL BE MADE

It is reasonable to expect that things do not follow through exactly with what you have planned. When things go wrong, it is difficult not to start pointing fingers and pushing the blame to one another.

While such incidents may occur, you should keep in mind the bigger picture that there will be good things awaiting you two further down the trip! Go have a drink and laugh it out after your problems are settled.

Bottom line: Even bad events can turn out to be one of the best memories from the trip.

Rooftops Hong Kong

EXPECTATION #6: THE TWO OF YOU WILL TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS

We have heard of people who get so annoyed with their friend when one of them is obsessed with taking their OOTDs and very “conceptual” pictures for Instagram while they themselves are more of an “into the moment” kind of person.

Oh yes, you may not have thought about this but clearly, it is an issue for some people.

Bottom line: Know that the trip is one for both of you and photographs are important to each of you in different ways. Just be a little patient and forgiving. At the end of the day, everyone gets their ideal photos and those will be your precious keepsakes from the trip.

New York City

EXPECTATION #7: YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIEND SHARE THE SAME BUDGET FOR THE TRIP

It is always good to know if the two of you are on the same page when it comes to budgeting for the trip. Things can get messy when one of you insist on booking an expensive hotel while the other just wants a simple Airbnb apartment to return to for a fuss-free shower and a night’s rest.

Money can be a sensitive issue but it is not a big deal as long as you two are willing to compromise.

Bottom line: Understand that not everyone is willing to spend more on things that are important to you as it is not their priority.


Julee is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She is an advocate of travel and hopes to visit Iceland someday. She enjoys having a good conversation over tea and a slice of cake.