No matter how much you love someone, the two of you might not make great travel partners. Your best friend may want to spend all day in museums, while your ideal vacation might involve lying on the beach all day reading a book. So if you realize that the two of you are incompatible before the trip even begins, it's a good idea to call the whole thing off.
One woman had to make that difficult decision when she realized that a friend was happy having an entirely different experience than her on a cruise. Below, you’ll find the full story of what led to the friend being uninvited, as well as some of the replies that invested readers shared.
Planning a vacation with a friend can be stressful
When this woman realized that her friend wasn't willing to have the same experience as her on a cruise, she decided to simply uninvite her
It's important to make sure your travel styles are compatible before going on vacation with a friend
Everyone has their own idea of what a perfect vacation is. Some people want to relax by a pool, drinking piña coladas all day without ever having to know what time it is. Meanwhile, others enjoy walking 30,000 steps every day of their vacation, seeing every inch of a new city, and hitting up as many museums as possible.
Both options are perfectly valid; as long as you’re having fun, you’re vacationing right! But before booking a trip with another person, you’ll want to make sure that you’re both on the same page. Because traveling with a friend can definitely be risky.
According to The Travel Psychologist, there can be pros and cons to traveling with friends. On one hand, it can be a wonderful bonding experience. Seeing new places, meeting new people, and having exciting adventures together can certainly strengthen a friendship.
However, going on vacation with another person can be risky if your lifestyles or goals for the trip are incompatible. Spending 24 hours a day with another person can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before. Plus, you’ll have to make decisions together on where to eat, what to see, where to stay, etc.
The Travel Psychologist recommends pinpointing potential areas of tension ahead of time, so you can address them before they become an issue. Have discussions with your friend before the trip about your expectations, so you’re both on the same page.
And if it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to come to an agreement, it might be best to call off the trip before you find yourself miserable in another country with someone you can’t stand.
Being stingy can take a toll on a person's quality of life and their friendships
Many commenters pointed out that the friend in this situation was being unreasonable. It clearly makes more sense to pay $455 for drinks and dining than to have to pay $4,000 for the entire trip. Plus, that $455 isn’t for nothing. It comes with the comfort and convenience of knowing that all of her drinks and food are paid for.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with being responsible with your money and trying to save up to plan for the future. However, there’s a fine line between being a smart spender and being straight-up stingy.
Soft Mind warns that being stingy can actually come along with its own costs. Being too strict about finances can stem from feeling insecure, anxious, or being fixated on having control. Meanwhile, it can take a toll on relationships, as others often perceive stingy people as selfish, unfriendly, and stubborn.
It’s often wise to be frugal, but stinginess can prevent a person from planning for the future. If they’re terrified to ever make large purchases or invest in their future, they might end up having regrets later down the line. Plus, they won’t be living as comfortable or fulfilling a life as they could have otherwise.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think the author made the right choice by uninviting her friend from the cruise? Feel free to weigh in, and then you can check out another article from Bored Panda discussing similar friendship drama right here.
Readers assured the author that she made the right call, and she joined in on the conversation to share more details about her situation
