Have You Ever Travelled with an Almost Stranger?
Feb 20th, 2006, 09:03 PM
#62
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Love Ital-- Ha Ha, good title for a trip report. If it goes well it will be: Trip Report to Benelux with (what was) and almost Stranger. If it goes bad it will be: Trip Report to Benelux with (what should have remained) a Stranger 
hahaha...hopefully not the latter
hahaha...hopefully not the latter
Feb 20th, 2006, 09:11 PM
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Love Italy--I think I found the report. Is this it? http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34698212
Feb 20th, 2006, 09:34 PM
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Hi Tamara, how did you find that report, I couldn't, LOL. Yes, when you have time you must read Barb's report. I don't know when I have laughed so hard although I felt bad about some of her experiences, but what a humorous report. Enjoy!
Feb 20th, 2006, 11:43 PM
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Barb's trip report was excellent!
Anyway, Tamara, I guess it depends. My first trip to Europe was with a coworker that I didn't know well, but we ended up being good friends.
My last trip with a coworker, however, was the trip from hell.
Please post here after the trip so we know how it goes!!!
Anyway, Tamara, I guess it depends. My first trip to Europe was with a coworker that I didn't know well, but we ended up being good friends.
My last trip with a coworker, however, was the trip from hell.
Please post here after the trip so we know how it goes!!!
Feb 22nd, 2006, 08:15 PM
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I finally finished Barb's report. It was SO long! Poor Barb. She should have got the F outta there, said her apologies, told the nutty one what was up, and gone.
Either way, I'm not concerned my trip will be NEARLY that bad. My friend is a traveler. Last year he spent a couple weeks in Senegal. He's been to Europe. In other words, I think we'll be ok having both open minds and realistic expectations of the trip.
Either way, I'm not concerned my trip will be NEARLY that bad. My friend is a traveler. Last year he spent a couple weeks in Senegal. He's been to Europe. In other words, I think we'll be ok having both open minds and realistic expectations of the trip.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 08:20 PM
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Hi Tamara, I thought you would enjoy Barb's trip report..great read wasn't it. I am still impressed, you found it and I couldn't. Take care and best wishes to you. AND don't forget to post a trip report!!!
Mar 11th, 2006, 06:07 PM
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Recently, I traveled and shared a room with a practical stranger. The only thing we had in common was our friend, so we were friends of friends. And we got along swimmingly. We met up with one of my friends (not our mutual friend), and it ended up that my friend was the stranger in our group! I would definitely hesitate to travel with that friend!
I had a little rant a while back about another friend who didn't know what she wanted out of travel. 3 months after I told her no, she figured out what she wants. We're now planning a trip together again. To Paris, where she will find another Pantheon.
I say go out and have fun. Being able to come back into a hotel room and sharing your finds with someone is always the best. Sometimes it's the friend you've had the longest that makes the worst travel companion.
I had a little rant a while back about another friend who didn't know what she wanted out of travel. 3 months after I told her no, she figured out what she wants. We're now planning a trip together again. To Paris, where she will find another Pantheon.
I say go out and have fun. Being able to come back into a hotel room and sharing your finds with someone is always the best. Sometimes it's the friend you've had the longest that makes the worst travel companion.
Mar 11th, 2006, 09:10 PM
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Tam, I think you'll be fine. The fact that you have the attitude of, "hey if it doesn't work out, I'll bail" tells me that you have thought about it.
Many years ago, the guy I was dating came over after I had finished a semester in Nice. I was very close to walking out in Rome or Vienna and just leaving him to find his own way back to London to his flight. As it turned out, we 'got it together' but surprisingly, the relationship didn't last. He wasn't an 'almost stranger', but it certainly didn't work!
On the other hand, we used to meet other students at hostels, things would click and we'd hang together and head to the next destination together. Met some amazing people that way!
You may want to mentally pick an afternoon now and plan something alone.... just so you get a break. If you need it, great, if things are going well, then invite him or bail.
Bottom line is this -- Trust your instincts.
That is the best piece of parenting advice I ever got (and from my pediatricin (sp?)). If you are comfortable (and it sounds like you are) and have a backup plan (you do), enjoy! Take lots of photos, walk lots, and enjoy yourself!
Many years ago, the guy I was dating came over after I had finished a semester in Nice. I was very close to walking out in Rome or Vienna and just leaving him to find his own way back to London to his flight. As it turned out, we 'got it together' but surprisingly, the relationship didn't last. He wasn't an 'almost stranger', but it certainly didn't work!
On the other hand, we used to meet other students at hostels, things would click and we'd hang together and head to the next destination together. Met some amazing people that way!
You may want to mentally pick an afternoon now and plan something alone.... just so you get a break. If you need it, great, if things are going well, then invite him or bail.
Bottom line is this -- Trust your instincts.
That is the best piece of parenting advice I ever got (and from my pediatricin (sp?)). If you are comfortable (and it sounds like you are) and have a backup plan (you do), enjoy! Take lots of photos, walk lots, and enjoy yourself!
Mar 11th, 2006, 10:04 PM
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Okay, I'll add some of my experiences.
I once traveled with a gal I knew from an organization and saw fairly regularly, although I cant say we were friends, just polite smiley "associates". Cheez, If I have learned one thing it is that if a woman has children who wont talk to her or have anything to do with her - there's a reason! That was the case with this woman, and another woman I know also who I was supposed to travel with and bailed. The first gal I did go to Las Vegas with. From keeping my mouth shut and not responding to her negativity - while I was at the point where I really wanted to scream - I broke out in a rash. The other gal I was supposed to go to London and Paris with last year. Another one who has a son who won't talk to her. I think I found out why. She's one of those people that keeps at it and keeps at it nagging until she gets what she wants.Fortunately I had taken insurance because I got sick, really -(although I think the effort I put in to fighting off her hairbrained ideas had something to do with it) Although she is about my age, and a mature woman, I felt like she was a little sister..and she acted like it too.
But here's the good news. I knew those two women although casually, and got to know I'd never never ever go anywhere with them . On the other hand, I took a cruise last Thanksgiving with a gal I only knew over the internet from a travel group, she came out and stayed at my house a couple of days before we went on the cruise - and although the cruise itself was a disaster - Carnival, never again = we had a ball giggling and laughing like 2 schoolgirls. Did I tell you that she lost her hearing when she was 40-was stone cold deaf(she had a coclear implant which she would take out at night) and was the best roommate - you could watch tv at 3 AM and not wake her up. Anyway, we have become fast friends and I hope we'll travel together again .
On the other hand, I'd never travel with a guy as a "roommate" whether I knew him or not...unless we were "involved". I tend to agree with Christina's post above - or at least that's been my experience Maybe it's a generational thing, different viewpoints. I suspect it is and Tamara will do just fine.
I once traveled with a gal I knew from an organization and saw fairly regularly, although I cant say we were friends, just polite smiley "associates". Cheez, If I have learned one thing it is that if a woman has children who wont talk to her or have anything to do with her - there's a reason! That was the case with this woman, and another woman I know also who I was supposed to travel with and bailed. The first gal I did go to Las Vegas with. From keeping my mouth shut and not responding to her negativity - while I was at the point where I really wanted to scream - I broke out in a rash. The other gal I was supposed to go to London and Paris with last year. Another one who has a son who won't talk to her. I think I found out why. She's one of those people that keeps at it and keeps at it nagging until she gets what she wants.Fortunately I had taken insurance because I got sick, really -(although I think the effort I put in to fighting off her hairbrained ideas had something to do with it) Although she is about my age, and a mature woman, I felt like she was a little sister..and she acted like it too.
But here's the good news. I knew those two women although casually, and got to know I'd never never ever go anywhere with them . On the other hand, I took a cruise last Thanksgiving with a gal I only knew over the internet from a travel group, she came out and stayed at my house a couple of days before we went on the cruise - and although the cruise itself was a disaster - Carnival, never again = we had a ball giggling and laughing like 2 schoolgirls. Did I tell you that she lost her hearing when she was 40-was stone cold deaf(she had a coclear implant which she would take out at night) and was the best roommate - you could watch tv at 3 AM and not wake her up
. Anyway, we have become fast friends and I hope we'll travel together again .On the other hand, I'd never travel with a guy as a "roommate" whether I knew him or not...unless we were "involved". I tend to agree with Christina's post above - or at least that's been my experience
Maybe it's a generational thing, different viewpoints. I suspect it is and Tamara will do just fine.
Mar 11th, 2006, 10:15 PM
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I would suggest to be careful.
Even the best of friends do not make the best of travel buddies. And, since you are going to a new area, you want to focus on the area, not any issues with meeting or hanging out with someone you aren't familiar with.
You can travel with a possible new friend, but you would need to keep everything separate as well as have seperate iteneraries---that way, you can agree to meet up for coffee or food a couple of times a day, but you aren't obligated to spending time with each other.
Even the best of friends do not make the best of travel buddies. And, since you are going to a new area, you want to focus on the area, not any issues with meeting or hanging out with someone you aren't familiar with.
You can travel with a possible new friend, but you would need to keep everything separate as well as have seperate iteneraries---that way, you can agree to meet up for coffee or food a couple of times a day, but you aren't obligated to spending time with each other.
Mar 12th, 2006, 08:00 AM
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As was stated earlier, we have no set in stone itineraries and he is much more go with the flow and I'm the one planning and getting info, so that sorta works. So far, our only commitment is our hotel rooms, all with twin beds. Two of the reservations in his name, two in mine. We chat all the time and though I'm sure he'll bug me at some point, and me him, I think we'll do just fine. We have no set day to day itinerary. If we don't want to do the same things, we do our own thing with no hard feelings. ALL of those things have been discussed and agreed upon. Including the details like privacy in the room. Let's say someone needs to "use" the bathroom. We've agreed that if one of us says, "hey I need ten minutes of privacy". That's acceptable and we respect each other.
I think many travel issues happen between significant others and friends because it's assumed you know that person well and everything will go smoothly. Because my friend and I are friends but not super close, we've covered a lot of these potential "issues" in advance.
I appreciate all the stories though, I find them interesting to say the least.
I think many travel issues happen between significant others and friends because it's assumed you know that person well and everything will go smoothly. Because my friend and I are friends but not super close, we've covered a lot of these potential "issues" in advance.
I appreciate all the stories though, I find them interesting to say the least.
