Tips for Traveling with Strangers

Most people would normally plan a trip with close friends, lovers or family, but occasionally you might like to hit the road with someone you barely know. Who doesn’t like an adventure, right? But here are some tips to keep in mind when traveling with strangers.

Do Confirm Their Identity

Look, the world can be a scary place with some pretty strange people, so it’s always best to do your homework and make sure your potential travel buddy is who they say they are. A thorough social media check and some heavy questioning are in order.

Don’t Get Creepy About It

That doesn’t mean you should run to the phone and call up their former employers and cross-reference past girlfriends, though. Facebook is your friend here and maybe a LinkedIn check is in order. If you feel the need to run a criminal background on them, you probably shouldn’t be traveling with them in the first place.

Let Your Friends Know

You should definitely let your family and friends know who you’re traveling with, and include their name and photo when you tell them. Just in case…

Travel In a Group

A lot of people fantasize about being in a foreign country and meeting the man/woman of their dreams and spending a wonderful week or spontaneously getting to know one another. The truth is, whether you’re a guy or girl, detouring from a travel plan to spend time with someone alone is a risky proposition. It’s best to do these things when you’re with a group; safety in numbers and all.

Keep It Fun

Avoid the political discussions and drama and just focus on having fun. It can be awkward enough being in close quarters with someone you hardly know, so there’s no reason to hike up the tension by lecturing on American vs. (insert random country here) political structures and why one is better.