How to Convince Your Besties to Take a Trip
You are currently located on a tiny tiny tiny corner of the map. You hear the sounds of the street: music tumbling through doors, laughter amongst foreign chatter. You smell meat smoking from the street vendors, mingling with the thick, salty air brought in from the sea. To your right, your best friend dances as she walks, a grilled corn-on-the-cob in her hand.
We all need a vacation. While the world is still finding its footing after a global pandemic, the possibility of international travel feeling safe and responsible again could be around the corner. I am restless to venture back out and shake off the film of dust on my passport from 2020. All I have to do is convince my friends to send it with me across the world- and here’s how I’ll do it.
First of all, are they really your friends if they don’t travel with you? Shhh. Of course they are. But, some are more willing than others to lock a plan in place and trust that the trip will be worth it.
A good travel partner is easy-going, someone who reacts calmly when things go wrong. There have been many missed planes, trains, and buses, and there will always be more. In these situations, having someone who will adapt and maintain a positive attitude is very much preferable to a companion that complains. For me, it’s important that my travel partner is useful- meaning they have something to offer during travels. This could mean being extra prepared- carrying face wipes, bandaids, Mario Badescu Rose Spray (it’s the little things) or it could mean having an excellent sense of direction and handling the maps. Bonus points if they know your good side and can capture all your angles on camera!
Additionally, look for someone with similar comfort levels. Are they risk-averse? Can they handle the arduous hikes you’ve planned, are they okay with walking 12 miles a day, do they need 1000 thread count sheets and refuse to sleep on anything less? I usually want to save money on sleeping accommodations, opting for cheap hostels or smaller spaces, because I won’t be spending much time in the room. Sharing a communal bathroom and sleeping area doesn’t bother me, but for some, it’s a deal-breaker.
The first step to recruiting friends for vacation is to identify the target. Sounds simple enough, eh? You’ll want to craft an elevator pitch that appeals specifically to them. Does your friend like the outdoors? Tell them about the active volcano outside of town. Are they a foodie? Win their heart with photos of the delicious local cuisine. Craft a loose itinerary to demonstrate the thought you’ve put into it, and to get them excited about the potential for a new passport stamp.
Budget
Finances are the biggest obstacle to traveling for young people. It’s not that you don’t have the money to travel- you just spend that money on other things, like $15 cocktails or Uber Eats delivery fees. Create a savings game-plan together to optimize the success of your trip!
Be transparent about your financial situation. This prevents awkward moments later on- like when your friend orders the most expensive entrée on the menu and then expects the bill to be split evenly.
Discuss and agree upon a budget for traveling. Determine how much should be spent on airfare, sleeping accommodations, food, entertainment and more. Obviously, you can each have a separate budget for things like souvenirs.
Motivate each other with fun challenges. For example, don’t buy coffee outside the house for a week or cook each other a meal at home instead of dining out.
Don’t expect your friend to ‘spot you’ on everything. If you don’t have the money, you shouldn’t spend it.
Fluff your itinerary with activities that don’t cost anything. Explore a bookstore, people watch in the park, or sign up for a free walking tour. Ask a local what they do for free fun.
Purchase flights as early as possible to save money.
Supplement your daily food budget by stocking up on snacks and other provisions at a grocer. It’s okay to ball out on dinner, but eating out three times a day racks up fast.
Making Time to Travel
Another excuse people make is that they don’t have time to travel. What I hear is that they do not want to think and organize that far ahead into the future. Of course, at this age, most of my friends do not have PTO. Most likely, you will have to take time off-where you will not be earning money- to spend money. Working in the service industry or retail provides little flexibility for workers, but with a little coordination and forethought, an epic vacation can be planned. If a trip is planned far enough out, employers will be sympathetic to the advance notice and likely work around it.
Plant the seeds early. If you’re even thinking about jetting off, mention it in passing and see if anyone catches the bait. Get them excited about the possibility!
Five days is a substantial amount of time to take off of work, but also the perfect number of days to explore a new place.
Utilize work schedules to be an advantage. Weekends off? Leave Thursday and come back on Sunday- use only two vacation days. Weekdays off? Great, it’s cheaper to fly during the week anyways!
What I’ve learned is that if people really want to do something, they will clear any obstacles to get there. That includes travel. Forget the excuses and choose to make memories with your friends-from the top of mountain peaks to dance floors 2000 miles from home- that will last a lifetime.
