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One of the many nice things about having a paycheck and some real vacation time is that vacation quality potential improves in your mid-late twenties. So long and good riddance to the hostels or couchsurfing on friend of friend’s futon and the luxury meal being the 2 for $20 at the local beach Applebees (usually, somewhat inland and immediately off of a highway exit). You can finally fly and spend down some of your hard earned reward points on an actual Marriott and not a Farfield Inn for a nice weekend getaway.
However, one thing that I have learned is that although you may be ready for the adult vacation life, your friends may still be left in “Spirit has flights on sale to Fort Lauderdale!” zone. I recently traveled with my ex to Chicago (go ahead, judge me) and honestly, it was fantastic. We both travel a good deal, both are semi-active, and have a decent budget so there were no hiccups. We both are planners, yet go with the flow, when things are out of our control. Traveling with him made me realize how difficult it is to travel with friends post-grad. Everyone’s economic situation can be drastically different and traveling is truly a fucking skill. 2017 was the year I learned my lesson in terms of who to travel with and how long out of my friends. I overpaid and undersaw on a few trips, and 2018 may just be my year to do one of those hella brave solo trips to a foreign country. Regardless of what I do, I am sure there are plenty of you learning the ropes to post-grad friend trips. Below are the 5 types of friends I proceed with caution before saying “omgggg yes” to should we do a trip.
1. “In between jobs” Friend
They may have had a job when you originally booked travel and of course, you offered to put it on your credit card so you can get those points- which of course they promisedddd to pay you back once the trip took place. Now, you are both getting ready to part ways while they are looking at you, ready to have the talk about how they can’t exactly afford the tab and wondering if they can pay back in installments. Of course this happens when the trip is over and they insisted on getting apps at every meal.
Outcome: They are your best friend, so you know, you are simply out of $500+ bucks. They may, if you are lucky, get your tab next time you see them –consider yourselves even.
2. The friend that really doesn’t travel
This friend can afford the adult vacation, wants to think of him or herself as “adventurous” or so their tinder says; however, when it comes to actually clicking “confirm” or committing, the sticker shock to everything is insane. These are the friends who automatically insist on driving or believe that there is a magic time/day/fairy when it comes to buying plane tickets. Since they don’t travel, the sketch “boutique” AirBnB looks like the perfect place to get murdered, I mean, enjoy the sunset on the beach which is some 25.9 miles away.
Outcome: You never actually book a vacation because they can’t commit to anything.
3. The friend whose reckless with finances
Similar to your friend who is unemployed/uber driver/whatever, they don’t make smart finance choices. They want to experience and do everything, and at first, they seem uber generous. They lay their card down without you even saying a word; buy shots for the bar; upgrades to the better seats because, fucking YOLO. “Live mas” is their slogan and boy, they do. However, their wallet screams that they should be enjoying the live mas lifestyle at the Bell and saving the fancy dinners and whatever for when they aren’t maxing every card out.
Outcome: At the end of the trip, they have gone into panic mode about how much they spent and awkwardly now ask to go half on some of the crazy bar bills that they ran up. You didn’t even enjoy some of the items on each bill; however, out of weird friend guilt, you end up Venmo-ing them what you were expecting as the vacation leftover money you could spend on home upgrades at IKEA.
4. The lazy friend
Finally, you find someone who has their finances in order, and isn’t shocked by the price or thought of travel. This is going to be great! Except one thing: you forget how lazy they were back in college. Pulling them out to parties, getting them out of bed, simply doing anything was like pulling teeth, and it was damn exhausting. You would have been out all night and still up before them. Perhaps, they’ve changed… wrong, they have not. While your ideal vacation includes some relaxation, you also want your money’s worth in Instagram likes and snapchat views and make all those at the office and those who you used to sleep with jealous of your fabulous life. However, your friend has seen enough and the hour of sightseeing or barhopping equals the need for endless hours of hotel cable.
Outcome: You ending up making the most of the beer specials at lunch so you can pass out while they watch their TV. Hey, at least you saved some money by not going out?
5. The complete flake
Says yes to everything, you book and then never hear from them AGAIN. Of course, you are stuck with the full non-refundable trip.
Outcome: Ends up becoming your mom’s bday present that she didn’t ask for..
Image via The Wedding Singer / YouTube
Respond
@chelseamichelle
@chelseamichelle7
I can’t get past how psychotic it is to travel with an ex… that is borderline make a human skin suit while listening to the Chainsmokers crazy.
This isn’t going overlooked. What an odd thing to do
Wow I totally misunderstood that. Definitely thought they had traveled when together and were broken up now, and she was saying don’t judge her on the Chicago part. Oops
What can I say–I wanted to go on a drama free trip to Chicago. Live mas.
Also, “the trip with an ex” does not apply to every ex.
Why can’t you stay friends with an ex? Say you’re dating for a long time and they become one of your best friends, but for one reason or another you both decide to break things off. Is it impossible to still be good friends after a cooling period?
To sane people, yes it is.
Why?
So, only travel with friends that have money/aren’t cheap, have experiencing traveling, and never back out of commitments? Query produced no results
have experience*
Unless all your friends are consultants… in which case god help you.
Well it’s simple. The literal handful of people I’d consider going on a trip with amongst my friends have their shit together as not being flakes. I’ve been burnt enough times in the past with flaky ass people to know better.
Booking a trip with friends is like trying to herd cats
I don’t have any, but if I did, I imagine all my friends would fall into one or more of these categories
If I visit Houston, I’ll be the reckless friend with you at El T.
Oh come on dude, with your wit and charm, you surely must have friends 😀
Also, don’t travel with the person with reckless airport habits. For example, I have a strict 2 hour arrival prior to flight rule. Excessive? Maybe. Have I ever missed a flight? No. If you’re early then grab a drink and chill.
I have club access so getting to the airport late is not an option
I agree. My girlfriend always gives me shit about getting to the airport 2 hours early. The one time she won and dropped me off an hour and a half early, I had to flag down TSA as my flight was boarding and I was still far back in the security line. Never again will I listen to her. Nothing wrong with getting to your gate early so you can enjoy a coffee or beer. Doesn’t help that I get massive airport anxiety about missing my flight until I’m through TSA though.
Dude you need TSA Precheck
Same. I live 20 minutes from the airport in Charlotte but I will always show up 2 hours early, even if I’m not checking a bag.
Dad tells me to get to the airport FOUR hours early… you’re not excessive.
My dad splits the difference and goes with three hours. Looked at me like I was a lunatic when I said I went two hours beforehand on my last flight.
“Spirit has flights on sale to Fort Lauderdale”
Just booked budget flights to Fort Lauderdale for Tortuga and now I’m mildly ashamed.
They’re only on sale because they advocate Hamster murder
“The Friend who isn’t the least bit adventurous”
Nothing like having dinner plans messed up because the place you’re going doesn’t have chicken tenders.
Been there, my sympathies.
While in Japan, one of the guys I worked with refused to go out and try the local food. He would stay on base and eat at either Chili’s or the food court. Kid sucked to say the least.
The one time I did a trip with a buddy of mine it was actually pretty good, we went to an Archer Live performance in Milwaukee and it was a lot of fun, and no drama because he’s not a fucking asshole.
#StopDownvotingDave2k18
Meh, whatever. It doesn’t bother me if I get downvoted or not. I’m here to have fun and enjoy myself.
Never change Dave
Pro tip: Travel alone and never have to deal with this
I have been on trips with people that fit all these. It is a nightmare. Hell, one culprit has somehow managed to hit all these categories at one time or another in a 2 year span. His ability to be a complete fuck up is impressive, to say the least.