10 Things That Make Someone a Great Travel Partner

Finding the perfect travel partner can make or break your trip. Whether it’s a weekend road trip or a cross-country adventure, who you travel with matters — a lot.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things (the hard way) about what makes someone great to travel with. So here’s a fun list of what to look for in a travel buddy — and what to avoid if you value your sanity.

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1. Travel Partner That Moves at Your Pace

This is a big one for me. I hate traveling with someone who’s always ten steps ahead of me — literally. A good travel partner matches your pace. You’re strolling, not speed walking through life, and that’s just fine.

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2. Awesome Travel Partners Can Go With the Flow

Delayed flights? Restaurant closed? GPS losing signal? A great travel partner shrugs it off and says, “No big deal — let’s find something else.” Flexibility is key when things don’t go as planned.

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3. You Like Doing the Same Things

You don’t need to be travel twins, but it helps if you both enjoy similar activities. If one of you wants to hike and the other wants to nap in a hammock all day, someone’s going to be annoyed.

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4. Great Travel Partners are Good at Sharing Space

From hotel rooms to rental cars, you’ll be close — a lot. A great travel buddy knows how to share space without taking over every drawer or hogging the bathroom mirror.

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5. They Know When to Chat and When to Chill

Some of the best travel moments are the quiet ones. A good partner doesn’t feel the need to fill every silence with small talk. They just enjoy being there with you — no pressure.

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6. Find a Travel Partner That’s Not Always Glued to Their Phone

It’s fine to snap a few pics (guilty!). But someone who’s scrolling every five minutes or TikToking through dinner can take the fun out of your experience.

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7. They Have a Similar Travel Budget

This one’s often overlooked, but it matters. If you’re splitting expenses, it helps when both people are on the same page about money — no tension over fancy dinners vs. food trucks.

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8. They’re Problem-Solvers, Not Travel Partner Complainers

Travel throws curveballs. A great travel buddy jumps in with ideas or helps solve problems instead of just pointing them out. Bonus points for packing a backup phone charger.

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9. They Find the Joy in Little Things

Some of my favorite memories weren’t planned. Laughing over bad coffee. Watching the sunrise from a random rest stop. Great travel partners know how to make the little stuff feel big.

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10. You Laugh at the Same Things

This might sound silly, but shared humor makes everything better — even getting lost. If you can laugh through the bumps, the journey gets a whole lot smoother.

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Final Thoughts On Today’s Travel Post.

The perfect travel partner isn’t perfect — but they get you. You move at the same pace, enjoy the same types of experiences, and handle hiccups with humor and grace.

It could be your spouse (Steve), a best friend, or even your dog (shoutout to Mr. Jax 🐾 ), finding that person who makes travel easy is one of life’s best little wins.

👣 Looking for more travel tips?

🗺 Old-School Tip: Don’t Forget the Road Atlas

Technology’s great… until you hit a no-signal zone in the mountains. One of the smartest things Steve and I pack is a good old-fashioned road atlas. It never runs out of battery and always shows the scenic route.

👉 Grab your own road atlas here and keep it in the glove box — trust me, future-you will thank you.

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