Travelling with friends?

Axle

"don't really care when i think about it, as long as we have a good time"

That's all that really matters

I'm a solitary sort of bloke when it comes to travel. Happy to meet and greet and yarn a lot, but ....
Have been on triips with others and it's never quite as enjoyable. Mostof the hassles of our early explorers came from taking the wrong people along LOL

When we go away with friends the arrangement is we nominate what we wish to do or see and if it its with the other people then we go together if not we go our own way and arrange to meet at another place that suits both. Most of the time we "do" together but without the pressure to comply it works well.

Neil

Travelling with others gets more difficult the older you get. We all have our own ways, own ideas, own methods, own interests and these have been developed with the input of a number of people and that is what makes each of us unique. Our long term partners have been around and evolved with us and therefore have similar ways and we accept the slight differences we have as we are familiar with these things. Throw in another couple or group and try and find common ground is impossible.
Solutions: Travel alone and visit friends.
Only take short holidays with friends and have time out.

Hi Axle

We've never been away with friends for longer than 4 - 5 days. Would never consider doing any long trip with friends, in fact it seems to be the best way to end beautiful friendships. We notice other members of our extended family who have spent long trips with friends and they comment that it gets very hard to get on with everyone after a while.

Cheers

JOhn

The old saying "Fish and friends go off after 3 days"

We too have mostly travelled on our own, but in the past 3 years have travelled for longish periods with others - from one other couple to being in a convoy of a dozen vehicles for a couple of weeks. This year we did a 3 month trip in the company of initially 2 couples for the first half, then just one other couple for the remainder.

There is a distinction between when you NEED company, such as when you are going into remote areas, and when you might like to have social contact.

On this year's trip we developed serious vehicle troubles and NEEDED the support of friends. It was freely given and greatly appreciated.

From a social point of view interacting with two (or more) other couples is obviously more demanding than interacting with one other couple. We found that our adventures were greatly enhanced though by sharing them with compatible friends. We had a great trip.

Regarding your proposed major trip with people about whom you have doubts - compatability is very important. An alternative might be to plan to travel loosely together, meeting up for the remote or difficult bits, otherwise going your separate ways.

You say "I think its hard when you agree to go and do something and are doing it , just to keep everyone happy!." - maybe an up front agreement NOT to try to do everything together would be a way around that difficulty? Hang loose - "You go on ahead, we'd prefer (a great word that one!) to do something else. We'll catch up with you tonight (or next week!)"

HTH

Cheers, J & V

Hmmm Axle.......conservation????....hahahahaha

I have an old mate(also a Member here) who comes along on trips. And the partners come along too, sometimes. Three months on one trip and some hard 4x4 treks along the way.

They irk us sometimes and no doubt we irk them but we have learnt to put up with one another and even if we have 'words' along the way, it soon blows over. We have had some prime time together and lots of adventures. We seem to fit like old boots....lol...although we live at opposite sides of the island.

With lesser known friends one can test the water for a few weeks. It is also best to give a run down of each others camping habits so that everyone knows where they stand. I am an early riser but me mate likes to spend time in the cot untill the last minute. Nothing has changed in 30 years and we have a good laugh about it. Me mate has a bad habit too of popping the bonnet on my truck and finding some fault or other and then insisting on either repair or break whatever even further. It has led to some classic arguments. The partners then butt in and say "Now, now, boys, be nice to one another"......LOL

Set the parameters for what you expect out of a liaison and then if you are all agreeable go for it and enjoy the company.


Cheers

Been travelling with another couple for quite a few years now, and it works out well. He and I were in the Army together 40 odd years ago,and although we weren't great friends then, we are pretty close nowadays. Our SWMBO's get on really well, and we aren't in each others pockets. We rarely have meals together unless it's a feed of fish we caught. We decide what the activities will be together, and if one of us disagrees, we'll each do our own thing that day.We always have an ale or two together at "Beer O'Clock", and discuss the next day.It's the best of both worlds. Company nearby, and privacy when we want it. I tell him that I only put up with his company because he's got the boat!! He actually thinks I'm joking!! lol.


Cheers Roger B..........

I also forget to mention that we live over 1000km. from each other. So we only get to see each other on our travels.

Hi Axle, we always travelled on our own when the kids were coming with us but in the last couple of years we have been travelling with company, the first was the CSR which was a tagalong, the group have all become friends and last year we went away with one of the couples from that trip, had a lovely time.
This year we went with longtime friends who we have holidayed with before and get on very well, no hassles at all, still planning more trips away with whoever wants to come. The difference we have found with going with others is the trip is more planned, when we go on our own we point the car in the general direction and go, ha ha ha

Personally I feel that the famous "give and take" saying fits in well here, I know that in some cases when friends wanted to see something that maybe ourselves we might have by- passed we in the end was glad we saw it. so really no matter where you go there is always something new to see.

Cheers

D

Just did a trip of 5 weeks with some long time friends, who we haven't travelled with before. We know each other's interests and quirks, so it went pretty well.
Rule No 1, every one has the right to say something and get it off their chest. We should be adults enough to understand.

We try and have at least one afternoon or day per week where we go seperate ways to look at things, or just do camp duties.

We try and discuss what we are doing in general terms for a few days ahead.

I did get a bit short of patience a couple of times.
Because we do have different interests, I did get taken places I wouldn't normally go, and it was interesting. I know we stretched them a couple of times. We like doing big miles some days, they don't.

We now have a better friendship because of it. It was worth the effort.

Why is the biggest issue (or it comes in 2nd) money, and how not to spend it? "naw, not going there, too much money".

We take travelling with our closest friends as a given & do so on an extended trip every 3 or 4 years. Over 20 years we have never had one tense moment & enjoy each trip immensely. Not only do we travel "together", we do it in the same vehicle, camp in the same tent (or C/t), & eat off the same stove. I guess its a sign of a good strong relationship that this is possible. Sharing the cost
makes a huge difference to what & where you go on holiday.
We laugh & joke & enjoy happy hour every day, extra hands make setup a breeze, no security worries. The blokes share the driving
& every day is a joy. We wouldnt consider this with any other
friends & certainly no relos, & consider ourselves priviledged to be
able to travel in this way. Mate drinks Jim Beam, mine is Bundy,
but we dont fight over that either...:))).......oldbaz.

We have always taken travelling companions along. We have done numerous trips all with different company and have always had a ball. Our last trip to Fraser Island we did on our own and while it was good, to me it seemed to be missing something.

Your post got me thinking why has it always worked out. I mean we have never had even the smallest of problems. We are still good friends with all those we have travelled with even though we don't necessarily see much of them.

I wonder if it is because on virtually all the trips I have been the one to organise and lead the trip and the others have tagged along. I have done the planning and research and have really shown them all around. It has almost always been our trip and they have been our guests. I am always willing to listen to suggestions and we have done lots of things at the request or insitigation of others but I wonder if the clearly defined roll has helped the relationship.

We did do a couple of trips without this clear definition and they worked out well too. One was pretty simple lets drive across the Simpson together, both parties did seperate trips till we met up at Eyres Rock that was good. But the most enjoyable week we have had was just sitting around Innamincka with another family. No one in charge and nothing particular planned. Then again I would have a good time with that guy sitting in the bilge of a leaky oil tanker.

Duncs

We have always taken travelling companions along. We have done numerous trips all with different company and have always had a ball. Our last trip to Fraser Island we did on our own and while it was good, to me it seemed to be missing something.

Your post got me thinking why has it always worked out. I mean we have never had even the smallest of problems. We are still good friends with all those we have travelled with even though we don't necessarily see much of them.

I wonder if it is because on virtually all the trips I have been the one to organise and lead the trip and the others have tagged along. I have done the planning and research and have really shown them all around. It has almost always been our trip and they have been our guests. I am always willing to listen to suggestions and we have done lots of things at the request or insitigation of others but I wonder if the clearly defined roll has helped the relationship.

We did do a couple of trips without this clear definition and they worked out well too. One was pretty simple lets drive across the Simpson together, both parties did seperate trips till we met up at Eyres Rock that was good. But the most enjoyable week we have had was just sitting around Innamincka with another family. No one in charge and nothing particular planned. Then again I would have a good time with that guy sitting in the bilge of a leaky oil tanker.

Duncs

Each of us is different therefore we each have different expectations of travelling companions ( if we have any at all ) ...last year we travelled to WA for 6 months with a couple who used to be our next door neighbours ... and we had a ball on our trip ! We had most meals together , the evening meal was usually a planning session for the next day , whether it be "on the road", sightseeing or just relaxing . Some activities we did separately , and there were the odd day when we would just wave to each other in passing , even though we usually set up our caravans side by side , but we finished the trip probably better friends than at the beginning , and at present we are planning another trip together for about 3-4 months into the Gulf country in Qld ( winter , next year ). We are all in our mid 60s , but I don't think "getting along with people" is an age issue , just a state of mind ....and even the most gregarious of people need some time alone . As I say " Each to his/her own!"
Charles.