Meg and I just came back from our first adventure together, and while it went well, I must admit I feared it could be the end of our friendship. You often hear stories of women who go on trips together and come back as enemies. I’ve always wondered what could happen in just 3-4 days to ruin a friendship; the factors are numerous. Personally, I’m a travel snob! I like things a certain way, and not everyone travels as I do; this time, Meg and I were sharing a room. I anticipated this trip would be interesting, so in addition to this blog post, you can watch videos from our escapade on the “How We Vibe” playlist on my and PJ’s YouTube channel “Two Dope Ass Grandmas.” If you aren’t already subscribed to our YouTube channel, consider doing so.
Back to the trip: we traveled to Jersey to celebrate my friend Brian’s 41st birthday. Meg didn’t know anyone there except me, but she blended in perfectly and was beloved by everyone by trip’s end. After 48 hours of non-stop fun and laughter, I can honestly say I would do it all over again.
Here are some tips you should consider when traveling with a new friend so you can still return home as friends:
Before the Trip:
- Communicate: Have open and honest conversations about your travel styles, expectations, and budget. Discuss potential conflicts and how to handle them. Meg understood I preferred certain hotels, and after I narrowed down the choices, she picked her preferred one.
- Plan Together: Create a flexible itinerary that caters to both of your interests. Make sure everyone has a chance to contribute to the planning and include downtime. Both myself and Megg enjoy making sure we add in rest time so that was important for both of us.
- Set Expectations: Discuss your travel styles (e.g., budget-conscious vs. luxury, adventurous vs. relaxed) and agree on handling finances. Meg and I split costs naturally, alternating who picks up the check without keeping strict tabs.
- Research and Prepare: I took the lead in planning since that’s my strength, but we both made sure to stay informed and prepared.
During the Trip:
- Be Flexible: Be ready to adjust plans and open to new experiences. When the weather changed, we seamlessly shifted our plans from brunch to dinner, with no issues.
- Respect Boundaries: Allow for personal space and alone time. Meg spent considerable time on our room’s balcony, and we both appreciated the solo moments.
- Communicate Openly: Address any issues calmly and directly. When I realized Meg’s snoring bothered my light sleeping, I simply ordered earplugs from Instacart and the problem was solved.
- Be Mindful of Finances: We kept our financial exchanges fair and spontaneous, which avoided any tension.
- Enjoy the Journey: Emphasize fun and the value of creating new memories together. This is a new friendship so these memories are the ones you will cherish the most.
Ok, I’m exhausted from our adventures this weekend and in need of some electrolytes, rest and quality time with PJ .
Until next time …..truly yours,
Day
