Buddy-Up and Keep Travelling

Part 1: Practicalities

Welcome to our new series of articles on travel buddies – where we explore the art of travelling with a specifically chosen other – someone who’s not your partner, and possibly not even from your friend or family group. But someone, never the less, who loves travel as much as you!

If you have a partner or close friend to travel with, consider yourself lucky. Because many travellers, especially as they grow older, often find themselves without a precious other who would once go anywhere with them – often at the drop of a hat. When this change occurs, whether it’s because of the loss of a loved one, a change in a friend’s financial circumstances, or simply through another’s loss of confidence, it can feel like your travelling days are over. The alternative, of course, may be to travel alone, but many seniors, understandably, don’t want to go down that road, especially with security in mind, the potential to feel lonely, and the extra costs of ‘single supplements’ to consider. If you’ve lost your journeying companion, before you flag away your future travel plans, you may want to consider the concept of a ‘travel buddy.’

A travel buddy is someone who joins you on your adventures, sharing costs, company, and responsibilities. They may be an acquaintance, a friend of a friend, or someone you’ve never met until you sought them out. However you team up, your arrangement is travel-focused, and one of mutual benefit. If it all sounds a little unusual, check out the practical advantages of having a travel buddy, below. You may find they help change your mind:

Partner-in planning

Whenever you decide to travel, there are always decisions to be made.  Where will you go, for how long, and what will you prioritise in terms of destinations and activities. There’s accommodation to choose, tickets to order, and events to book. Even when you’re travelling on a tour, there are still side-trips and add-ons to make decisions about. It’s a huge task for just one person, but when you split the work with a travel buddy, you lighten the load.

Sharing and saving

Whether it’s sharing a room, a rental car, or a picnic meal, there are always savings to be made when there are two of you.

Security

Staying safe isn’t just about having another person by your side to fend off touts and spot pick-pocketers. It’s about having another perspective on the route you plan to take back to your accommodation, on the invitation from the ‘friendly stranger’ to meet up for a drink, and on an impulsive urge to venture into uncharted territory. On a micro-level, it’s about having another person check you’ve locked the door, a helping hand if you should lose your credit card or passport, and a buddy if a medical issue arises

Navigators together

Nowadays, getting from A to B in unfamiliar territory is a digital dance, often achieved through the use of several apps at once. While one person is gazing at the screen, it can be hugely helpful to have another set of eyes trained on signs and streets. Besides which, different brains work – well – differently! While one person may navigate successfully through recalling landmarks, another may have a natural sense of direction. However it works, you have more chance of finding your way with two heads working together!

A problem shared…

Even the best travel plans are not immune from hiccups, and when it comes to solving a problem, talking about it out loud to another person often results in an informal brainstorming session which leads to the best possible solution. Sure, you can phone friends or family back home if you’re in difficulty, but unless they’re actually on the ground with you, it may not be of much help.

A travel buddy is someone who can join you in the practicalities of travel, but they’re a lot more than that. In our next article on travel buddies, we’ll explore the more personal advantages of journeying with another, and how they can enrich your adventures in so many ways!