The Five Types of Travel Companions: The Tourist

First in the “Five types of travel companions” series is The Tourist.  This person’s luggage is packed to the brim with guidebooks: Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go—you name it, they’ve got it.  They’ve got a camera in one hand and a map in the other at all times.  With this friend, you’re guaranteed to see every possible historical site, museum, and natural wonder that a place has to offer.  Sure, you may be exhausted by the end of the day, but you definitely won’t miss out on anything.

Pros: You don’t have to plan anything; your friend has got it all figured out.  Having an itinerary can help alleviate a lot of stress for anyone who’s anxious about being in a new place.   If your friend has a good sense of direction, you don’t have to worry about getting lost.  And as I said before, you won’t miss out on any museums or historical sites.  If this person is really organized, they’ll have planned out a precise budget, and you’re less likely to have money troubles if you stick to it.

Cons: While having an itinerary can be a source of comfort, being forced to adhere to an itinerary by your friend can be a source of conflict and exhaustion.  It also can’t be overstated that so much of the fun of travel comes from engaging with the local culture and being spontaneous.  This is really tough to manage if you’ve got your nose in a guidebook the whole time.

The bottom line: If you have some anxiety about where you’re going, The Tourist might be a good person to have with you.  If you’re looking to set out without any plans and have a crazy backpacking adventure, you and this person will probably end up butting heads.  If you fell somewhere in the middle, give solo traveling a shot.  You have the freedom to be The Tourist when you want, and to be spontaneous when you want.