Which Travel Friend Are You?

by Girl Tyler

There comes a time in your life when you must face a harsh truth: you can't travel with everybody. Whew. Let's unpack this. Remember the box office hit Girls Trip? The comedy starring Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tiffany Haddish, and Regina Hall, could easily have passed as a documentary. Although the girls survived the weekend getaway in one piece, there were some bumps and bruises along the way and their bond was tested. Vacations can make or break a relationship.

You like your friends for various reasons, but there are times when it is evident that you each approach life differently. You have the ride-or-die types, and then there’s the "I'm not in it" girls. You need to know who’ll have your back if something pops off while you’re thousands of miles away from home, so choose wisely. If you want to truly know someone, take them out of their natural habitat. You'll find out everything you need to know, like how they problem solve, how they interact with people from other cultures, and their definition of a vacation.

Believe me, that word has a different meaning for different people. Then, there's the mixing of friend groups. In short, plan your getaways wisely with the peacemakers and the peacekeepers. That's what vacationing should be all about, the ruthless pursuit of peace in a new environment. To be fair, you may be someone's "can't take her nowhere" friend. Yeah, you think you have it all together, but some of your friends think you could loosen up a bit. Review this list and see if any of these feel familiar. If so, adjust accordingly!

THE "I'M READY TO GO" FRIEND
This girl turns into a whiny six-year-old in the blink of an eye. She gets all fidgety in the car, complaining about every little thing. She doesn't like to try new restaurants. Outdoor excursions make her queasy. She's ready to go home by the end of day one.

THE "CAN I PAY YOU BACK LATER?" FRIEND
Most people are forced to pinch pennies in this economy, while others just live beyond their means. This person is always down for whatever, but never seems to have the funds. You've covered her many times when she was short a few dollars because she’s your girl, but at times she’s ducked and dodged with no intention of repaying what she owes.

THE "I FOUND SOMEWHERE REALLY CHEAP, Y'ALL" FRIEND
Everyone is looking for a deal. An all-inclusive trip is always a bonus for any vacation, but the goal is to be comfortable. Sometimes you need to be willing to pay a little extra for comfort. Not this girl. She'll find a janky Airbnb in a sketchy part of town to save a few dollars or opt for the complimentary breakfast buffet at a spot with bed bugs and negative reviews. She’s cool but never trust her with planning because you might get got!

THE "I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE" FRIEND
This person just wants to relax and get away from her current reality—no harm in that. Unplugging from the day-to-day hustle and bustle is essential, but she didn't tell you that upfront. She was down for the cause until it was time to execute the travel plans. Her idea of a vacation is staying in the room watching TV, which is all well and good for solo travel, but it doesn’t work for group travel. She's also the expert napper who may or may not cause everyone to miss a reservation.

THE "LET ME SEND ONE MORE EMAIL" FRIEND
This person is always in grind mode. Whether they're building a new company or holding down several hustles at once, you can always expect them to be glued to their devices. Problems arise when she expects the group to wait until she's finished working, or when she gets upset because the group made decisions without her (even though she was too busy to make her wishes known). This situation is most of us, especially when we're trying to low-key vacation and still work remotely. Guilty as charged.