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7 qualities to look for in a travel companion

A person who rolls with the punches and even makes you laugh about them is invaluable.

 

Travel is mostly fun but at times brings out the worst in a person.  So having someone, who can relish the awesome sights, exotic foods and breeze through unfamiliar languages while at the same time take bus delays in stride, is a rare gem.

If you're looking to travel the world, the right companion can enhance the adventure.

Pick an honest companion, choose someone who isn't afraid of telling you when you're being an idiot, but make sure it goes both ways. This person will help keep you grounded and potentially safer.This person should be interesting Make sure you're with someone you can spend an unlimited time with and not want to hop into the nearest rickshaw to get out. Depending on the length of your travels, you could be spending a lot of quality time together. You better find this person interesting, or you're risking a lot of boring meals and train rides.

Meanwhile, remember to take out time for yourself. You both will appreciate each other more after ten minutes, an hour, or even a day apart. Companion who challenges your intellect Find someone with whom you don't agree with.

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While you probably don't want to be constantly bickering, a person who occasionally pushes a few of your buttons can be a good thing. Travel is about broadening your horizons and thinking in new ways, so a companion who challenges your intellectual comfort zone can be a good thing. Continually reaffirming each other's opinions will get tedious and doesn't lend itself to much creative thought.A good sense of direction is an added bonus While a person with a good sense of direction is an added bonus, it's also fun if this person has a penchant for wandering until, and even if, he or she gets lost.

While traversing an entire city on foot can be exhausting, it's also a great way to see things off the beaten path and get your bearings. Also, the landmarks you find this way will be permanently etched in your mind.Who isn't glued to a smartphone Although this might be a hotly contested tip by other travellers, many prefer a travel companion who isn't glued to a smartphone. A large part of travel is discovering the mysteries of an unfamiliar place and smartphones can play a spoil sport.

Though gadgets are helpful tools, but use them with caution lest they take over your experience, and beware those who prefer to stare down at a screen rather than up at life. Learning how to read maps, asking friendly locals for directions and restaurant recommendations, and making memories that can't be captured through a phone camera, no matter how professional their quality becomes.He should be a food enthusiast Find someone who is willing to try anything at least once, as long as it is edible. Food is a huge part of a region's culture, and in many ways it might be hard to understand people or their way of life if you don't experience their food.

When the group at the next table helps you place your order because you don't speak the local language, and then offer you a bite from their delectable looking platter, you should probably go for it.

You might also find yourself in a situation where you don't really know what are the ingredients of your food. You don't want to have to quiz the proprietor of a quaint eatery in an obscure place about whether they're serving something that you are comfortable eating.A person with a good sense of humour A person with a good sense of humour will go a long way (this may be a life tip, not just a travel tip). Travel is messy. It is full of flight delays, boat cancellations, missed reservations, unfamiliar food, difficulties communicating, and, even if you've studied up beforehand, cultural faux pas is a hindrance.

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You may have to spend a night sleeping on the floor of an airport in one country, or find yourself facing a plate of stinky tofu in another, travelling pops up bizarre surprises. A person who rolls with the punches and even makes you laugh about them is invaluable. While there are many personality traits that might make certain people better travel companions than others, much of it is about matching personal temperaments.

These recommendations are a good starting place, but you alone will have the final say in whose personality complements yours. Choose wisely and travel far.

Source: indiatimes.com

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