It’s almost May Day again—do you have any travel plans with friends? Let’s take a look at these rants.
Miss Xu: I originally booked this trip to go traveling with my family. I wanted to make my parents happy and casually mentioned it to a good colleague of mine—and she said she wanted to come too. I didn’t want to refuse, thinking that one more person wouldn’t be a big deal. But then she told me she wanted to bring her husband and her younger sister too. She asked us to help book flights and hotels for all of them, and it didn’t seem like she planned to pay either. I’m so torn—I don’t even want to go myself now.
Miss Li: Just got back from a trip to Korea with a friend, and honestly, I never want to talk to her again. We’ve been friends for ten years. I did all the itinerary planning, booked the hotels and flights, handled the visa. I was the tour guide and translator the whole time. Every meal, she’d say she had no appetite and didn’t want to eat, but then she’d eat what I ordered—and afterward say the meal should be on me. When we got to an attraction, I’d ask if she wanted a group photo. She wouldn’t, but she’d still take selfies—why not take them somewhere else? She just had to do it there. I can’t deal with that kind of princess attitude.
Mr. Huang: Went abroad with a friend. He ditched the original itinerary and told me he wanted to go to some destination. I asked him, “Do you know how to get there?” He said, “You figure it out.” My phone doesn’t have Google Maps. So I burned through half my 3G data in a flash, figured it out, barely found the transportation, and halfway there, this buddy said, “Nope, can’t do it. My girlfriend’s upset—we’re going back.” After we got home, I cut ties with him for good.
Everyone says traveling with friends is all about saving money and having fun—but is it really worth all this heartache? The editors of “Traveling Together” are here to help. Follow these tips, and your trip will go smoothly:
1. Choose friends who share the same interests. For example, if you enjoy cultural and scenic spots, but your friend just wants to shop and take photos—then maybe you shouldn’t travel together.
2. Have a division of labor during the trip. Plan things out beforehand—for example, Person A handles route planning, Person B takes care of bargaining and shopping, and Person C gives the attraction introductions. Everyone does their part and shows understanding for others.
3. No princess syndrome. Travel is an experience—when you’re in unfamiliar places, lots of unexpected things can happen. That’s how we grow and learn through the unknown. Travel companions with a princess attitude aren’t suited for group trips.
4. Have a leader. When disputes arise in the group, someone needs to make the final call. Choose someone everyone trusts and respects.
Finally, hope everyone has a great time. If you have awesome travel stories, feel free to share them on the “Traveling Together” website. (Zhang Hua)