How to Travel With Someone Who Sucks

Although I prefer to travel alone, I know that traveling with another person can be a wonderful experience. Whether you’re walking to a waterfall, getting lost in a new city, or looking at the Taj Mahal, you may feel a pang of regret if you don’t have someone to share with in the moment. A travel companion can not only make your trip more meaningful, but also strengthen your relationship. On the other hand, a crappy travel partner can ruin everything.

There are many reasons why you might be traveling with someone who sucks. Maybe you were at a terrible bachelorette party, or maybe you didn’t fully know your new partner until you saw how they treated the flight attendants. Whatever your situation, traveling with someone who gets on your nerves can really ruin the experience. But with some planning and compromise, you can survive the trip and still have an enjoyable time.

Discuss expectations in advance and choose your battles

Before you book your trip, have a frank discussion about everything you need for your trip. Make compromises on issues such as your daily budget, your morning wake-up time, your nightly plans, and your bathroom routine. The more you clarify in advance, the fewer surprises there will be in the future. This is doubly important if you know what specific irritation your travel companion might cause. Make it clear what you will tolerate and what you won’t.

When you get into the thick of the holidays, you’ll have to give up some things. Otherwise, small troubles can easily develop into big quarrels. Ignore minor irritations and save energy on discussing legitimate issues. No one is perfect, and differences in opinions or travel styles are bound to arise.

Build in your free time (and get your own room if you can)

No matter how well you get along, communicating 24/7 can strain any relationship. Be sure to include alone time in your itinerary so everyone can explore on their own. Agree to meet only for predetermined events.

Unless you’re a couple, consider not sharing a hotel room, even if it’s just for a few nights. The ability to retreat into your own space is priceless. If separate rooms are not possible, use headphones, sleep masks, and other privacy aids.

How to deal with the worst traveling companions

What makes a person bad at traveling? Really, all sorts of things. Here are some of the people you might want to keep at home and how to handle them.

Picky eater

Traveling with a picky eater who wrinkles their nose at local cuisine can limit your dining options and test your patience. You can try suggesting restaurants with familiar dishes, but for the most part, the “choose familiar food” suggestion will suck for someone who isn’t picky.

Former Lifehacker editor-in-chief (and seasoned picky eater companion) Alice Bradley advises that “food should be the picky eater’s responsibility.” Bradley says the secret to surviving with a picky eater is to: “1) follow a game plan—if you’re going to an exotic location, the picky eater will have to have a strategy to get through it, and 2) make peace with the food going out without the person.” If they need to travel with protein bars and eat in their room (or meet you for drinks later), so be it.”

I like to offer to share entrees so they can try local dishes without any commitment. Remind them that part of the journey is trying new things, even just a few bites. And they only eat bread for the duration of your trip, that’s their problem.

Complainant

Constant complaints about flights, hotels, crowds and costs quickly become boring. At first, you can try changing the subject or adding a positive spin when they complain. Remind them that you chose this place and activity together. After this, offer breaks from group activities so they can relax if needed. Feel free to say that you are here to have fun and would like more positive energy.

Chronically late person

Waiting for someone who is usually late can cause you to miss your reservation and even your flight. At best, you will have to start sightseeing without them. In the worst case scenario, you may still end up on a solo trip. In this case, you will have to be firm about the time – trying to “fool” them with an earlier meeting time can backfire if they think that the time when they are expected somewhere is not the “real” one. The most important thing is not to let their tardiness cause you to miss the event: if they are late, continue without them. The real consequences of being late may actually force them to change their bad habits.

The Ugly American Abroad

Loud, rude, demanding Americans can reinforce negative stereotypes abroad. It’s also completely disgusting. In this case, you should take them aside and advise them to be more respectful of local customs. Offer to help them learn key phrases in the local language. Model appropriate behavior and make a plan of action if you are planning a trip to a particularly culturally sensitive place, such as a church. If their behavior is truly embarrassing, it may be time to dump them—at least until it’s time for your flight back home.