The Secret Sauce to Being a Good Travel Friend

I recently saw my bestie, Piper, post on her Instagram story a quote that said, “My circle is small, but every woman in it is a powerhouse,” and it instantly made me reflect on how lucky I am to have such a strong group of female friendships.

These friendships have also survived some pretty chaotic travel moments. And because of that, I truly believe there are people you can travel with and people you absolutely cannot. Traveling has a funny way of revealing personalities, and nothing tests a friendship quite like missed trains, canceled hotel bookings, and plans that simply… stop planning.

It takes a special kind of traveler (and an even better friend) to roll with the punches, keep it moving, and still manage to have a good time when things don’t go as expected. And while these qualities might seem obvious on paper, they’re much harder to execute when you’re tired, hungry, overstimulated, and standing in a train station with 3% battery.

So today, I wanted to talk about the qualities I think you need to have to be a good traveler, especially when you’re traveling with friends. Consider this the top five qualities (aka the secret recipe) to being the friend people actually want to travel with.

The Secret Sauce

1. Go With the Flow Energy

Travel rarely goes exactly according to plan and that’s kind of the point. The best travel friends don’t cling to a rigid itinerary or melt down when something changes. They pivot. They adapt. They understand that missed trains and closed museums are just part of the plot.

The vibe is: “Okay, not what we planned… but what’s the move?”

2. Capable (Independent, Not Helpless)

You don’t have to know everything, but you do need to try. Good travel friends can figure things out without immediately outsourcing every minor inconvenience to someone else. They can read a map, order food, problem-solve, and exist in the world without constant supervision.

I was traveling with a group of friends recently, and during lunch (and one bottle of wine in), we started talking about everyone’s travel strengths. You know—the vibe manager, the GPS queen, the one willing to call and make the reservations, and the friend who somehow single-handedly stocks the Airbnb fridge.

All that to say: figure out your strength and bring that to the table. Being capable = being easy to travel with.

3. Resilient When Things Get Chaotic

Travel will test you. You’ll be tired. Hungry. Overstimulated. Slightly unwell. Probably all at once.

A good travel friend can feel their feelings without letting one bad moment derail the entire trip. They take a breath, ask for what they need, and bounce back. Emotional regulation on the road is elite behavior. Like all things in life, communication is key.

I was in Lisbon with my best friend Sarah, and we took a day trip to Sintra. We left Lisbon on the train, had a quick lunch that absolutely did not hit the spot, and then proceeded to walk roughly 16,000 steps in the rain. The vibes? Simply not vibing.

I was hungry. I was tired. I was emotionally unavailable.

At some point, we were lost inside a castle trying to find the exit, and instead of communicating like a functional adult, I simply… did not. Long story short, I took it out on Sarah (we obviously recovered - she’s my ride or die), and now it’s one of those stories we laugh about even though I was DEEPLY unwell that afternoon.

Picture below for proof. Also—why do we look like missionaries 🫠🙃

4. Fun, Curious, and Not Afraid of Joy

This isn’t about being “on” all the time but being open. Laughing at the weird stuff. Finding joy in the small moments. Being grateful for where you are. Not acting like everything needs to be perfectly curated to be enjoyable.

The best travel friends make even the mundane moments feel fun whether it’s getting lost or sitting on the floor of an airport at 2 a.m.

5. Down for Anything Vibes (With Self-Awareness)

This is the sweet spot. You’re open to new experiences, spontaneous plans, and trying things outside your comfort zone but you also know your limits. You can say yes easily, and you can say no without guilt or drama. You communicate. You check in. You respect the group energy and your own. That balance is the real secret sauce.

No one travels perfectly all the time. We all have our hangry moments, our rainy-day meltdowns, and our “why am I like this?” afternoons in a foreign country. The goal isn’t perfection! It’s self-awareness, communication, and knowing when to grab a snack before things get personal. Be kind, stay flexible, and remember: it’s a trip, not a test.