Travelers often have specific criteria their companions must meet. Many solo travelers chose that route because they couldn’t find a suitable travel buddy.

But have you ever flipped the script? What might make you less than the ideal travel companion? Why might others hesitate to book flights, share accommodations, or explore tourist sites with you?

A curious social media user posed the question, “What makes YOU the less-than-perfect travel partner for many?” Here are some top responses from that discussion.

The Suburban Serenity Seeker

When visiting major cities, many people prefer accommodation in the city center. This way, you can access museums and other tourist spots quickly and easily. 

The original poster is okay with staying on the outskirts of a city and using public transport despite this being a deal breaker for a lot of people. 

“Other people are fine with overpaying for a hotel so they can be in the very center of the city. I’m fine with staying outside the center, even slightly outside city limits, if it means we’re paying 1/4th of the cost. Especially when it’s a city with excellent public transport and a metro that’ll take you to the center in a few more minutes than normal high tourist season.

“People will talk about budgetary concerns but are fine with paying $300 or $400 a night or getting the crappiest budget hotel to stay in the center. Meanwhile, I can find something way cheaper within city limits and by a metro line that’ll take maybe a 20-minute ride to the center, and no one will budge,” they said. 

Thermostat Fights: Cool Comfort Clashes

Thermostat fights may always be a thing for partners who have different temperature preferences. For instance, the original poster revealed they loved their room cool and were never compatible with anyone who liked it warm. 

“Thermostat. I prefer the room colder since I can always wrap up. I’d rather not wake up sweaty. I seem to be the minority in that,” they said. 

The Energized Wanderer

Still, on OP’s list, they are not the ideal travel partner for anyone who likes traveling to relax. With them, you must be comfortable visiting one site after the other without taking breaks. Seemingly, many of his travel buddies have had issues keeping up with his high energy. 

“I’m a high-energy traveler. I don’t get pooped or exhausted as easily as others. I can get off a long flight without jet lag or being too exhausted to do anything else. I can be out all day and want to go to this museum or that cultural activity, and I’m not exhausted at 6 p.m.,” they said. 

Access Struggles for Wheelchair Users

Traveling as a wheelchair user comes with a lot of problems. There are persistent complaints of airlines losing or delaying their wheelchairs. 

But that is not the end of it. Traveling with a wheelchair user may mean forgoing other tourist attractions because many places do not have wheelchair-friendly infrastructure. Even more frustrating is that tourist sites advertise as being accessible to wheelchair users when the reality is a different story. 

“This is more of an infrastructure problem than mine, but I’m not an attractive travel partner because I’m a wheelchair user. Want to go somewhere easily? Not going to happen; it takes hours of research to find a restaurant I can just enter. The quality of the food is an extra factor I often don’t get the chance to consider.

“Want to go to a major tourist attraction? There’s a 50/50 chance the advertised accessibility is navigable, and you might end up with an injured travel partner or seeing it alone at any point. Finding transportation and hotels is a nightmare, and once you find a hotel, there’s a good chance they were lying about accessibility and start panicking the second you come in in a wheelchair as you told them you’d be.

“I would love to be spontaneous, but I can’t. Plus, “cheap” and “wheelchair accessible” rarely go together,” they disclosed this devastating plight. 

High Spirits, Low Progress: Alcohol’s Influence on Exploration

Having a travel partner with a drinking problem can be frustrating. One commenter revealed how their previous drinking problem made them an unattractive travel partner. 

“I used to have a pretty serious drinking problem. It made it very difficult to travel with me. I was always losing things, falling, acting stupid, hungover, sweaty, nauseous, and counting the minutes until my next drink. I am 509 days sober today. It is such a better way to live,” read their comment. 

The Self-Appointed Designated Driver

Many people take pleasure in driving and would not be at ease if they were not behind the steering wheel. One commenter revealed they must be the driver and would not willingly take the passenger seat. 

“I have to be the driver. I cannot be a passenger after driving coaches all over Europe and the UK. That is my hill to die on,” they said. If you also like taking control of the car on those road trips, you would undoubtedly hate to have this commenter as a travel partner. 

The Path I Forge or No Path at All

“I don’t like compromising on what to do,” revealed one comment. Traveling in a group means making a lot of decisions together. Right from the destinations to visit, flights or transport means to take, accommodation, sites to visit, places to eat, and so on. There is no way everyone is going to fully agree with everyone. For everything to be successful, people have to be willing to compromise, which is something this commenter won’t budge on. 

The Joy of Leaving Room for Spontaneity

Many travelers love having their days packed just to get the most out of their trip. This way, they have a list of activities to do daily until the last day of the trip. 

Turns out there is a section of travelers that loves the spontaneity that comes with not having fully packed days. One commenter revealed that they are not the ideal travel partners because they love to have full, unplanned days. To them, thoroughly planned vacation days are as important and exciting as unplanned days. 

“I alternate planned and unplanned days – no exception. Planned days are great because you know what you have on the agenda, and unplanned days are great because random things are fun,” they said. 

Finding Museums Fascinating

A lot of people find museums boring. They are often considered dull, and a lot of tourists overlook them when visiting a new city. 

One traveler revealed that their love for museums cancels them out as an ideal travel partner, “I love visiting cities to check out their art museums, and most people I know find that pretty boring. They see me as crazy when I say I want to visit a museum. Heaven forbid I actually take the time to read the captions on the displays,” they said. 

First in Line: Early Airport Strategy

Arriving at the airport way too early is something that is looked at in two different ways. Some people love it because they find it more convenient, while others hate arriving and having to wait for ages for their boarding time. 

One commenter revealed that they do not compromise on this; if you are riding to the airport with them, you will have to get there way before your flight. 

“I’m going to get to the airport WAY too early. You are welcome to get to the airport whenever you want. But if you’re riding with me, we are getting there WAY too early. I don’t care,” they said. 

Traveling First Class: Indulging in Luxury

One traveler revealed that she is not the kind to go hitchhiking, couchsurfing, backpacking, or anything short of luxury travel. With many people doing all they can to save money traveling, this commenter would not be the ideal travel partner because she likes splashing their money to travel in luxury. 

“I like to spend my hard-earned money when I travel. Nice hotels, upgraded flights, fancy meals. It isn’t entirely like that; I also enjoy hole-in-the-wall restaurants and street vendors. But I do like to luxuriate, and my budget tends to be very flexible to accommodate that,” she said. 

The Need for Room to Breathe

One of the perks of budget travelers traveling together is cost-sharing accommodation. One traveler revealed that their hate for sharing space would cancel them out as a great travel partner. 

“I need space. I wouldn’t say I like to share a hotel room with my partner and child. We always rent apartments where we can spread out and have some privacy,” they said. 

Balancing Adventure With Moments of Rest

An ideal day for many tourists would be filled with activities, from waking up in the morning to catch sunrises or visit sites before they are crowded to being up late at night to taste the nightlife. 

However, some people cannot just take such activity-filled days. There must be gaps in the itinerary where they can dash back to the hotel to nap or relax. 

“I can’t be out all day every day of the trip. I like to sleep in, have a later start in the morning, and also need to return to the hotel and get a nap. Most of my friends want to maximize their time and want to be out and about from 6 a.m.-12 a.m., and my weak body just can’t deal with that,” said one of them.

This article was produced by Our Woven Journey. Featured Image Credit – Antonio GuillemShutterstock