Most of us want a buddy to travel with. Traveling alone can get really boring and at times even unsafe. Therefore we go through various stages to find suitable travel buddies. Like asking best friends first, then work people, then family, then friend’s friend, sometimes just acquaintances also. Lastly if nothing else, we don’t hesitate to log on internet to find people to travel with. Some people in fact take this as a first option rather then wait till the last moment as you get to meet new people and at the same time fulfill the solitary time or privacy.
Often in such cases where one does not know his or her new travel buddy much, it turns out that the person they were looking forward to have a good time with is a rather annoying creature to their taste.
I once came across a blog where the person left her travel buddy in middle of a semi jungle in Malaysia because she just could not take it any more! We can only hope the person found his/her way back.
Does this scare away your plan?
Worry not; there are few things one can keep in mind to get out of such situations
Never finalize with any body a ‘No spaces left’ travel plan. So you found somebody who also wants to backpack across Western Europe like you do, you hit it off on internet. Cool. But always convey about the elasticity of your plans, like you can go to many places unlike the other person, or I just want to have a travel buddy to share few laughs with, nothing more or that your plans are not permanent etc. If you set the expectations right from the first place, drifting away after the journey has begun becomes easier and more acceptable to the other person.
Try talking to your travel buddy, before taking any drastic steps. Who knows maybe he’ll understand and get better.
Their can be cases where you just can’t leave the person in mid journey. What to do then, well – start doing different things or same things at different times then your buddy.
Make ‘Genuine’ excuses about why you can’t come along this hour. Well we can’t be proud about making excuses, but ones got to do what ones got to do!
Pretend to read or be busy with something when he or she is around. Hopefully they will get the idea.
Another very effective way is to mingle with other people and groups. This takes the strain off by huge amounts. Maybe you’d even start liking the buddy in small doses then.