Tips for Traveling with Other Couples

[MissouriBird]

We are considering making our 3rd trip to Alaska in 2020 and long-time friends, (who don't currently own an RV) mentioned they might like to buy an RV and tag along. We have had a travel trailer and road tripped for 20 years.

We are excited by the opportunity to share some of our favorite places along the way with great friends. On the other hand, we want to be darn sure all of this togetherness doesn't strain a long time friendship.

Any tips from others who have made long road-trips with other couples? Too much togetherness can even be hard on a successful marriage---let along just good friends. We want to do this and still be great friends when we get home!

[Veebyes]

Did an Alaska trip with good friends. Kept it loose. Set a time for next day departure but if one wanted to leave early no big deal. They broke down a couple of times. We went ahead & they caught up days later. It is not a caravan. Keep it independent & don't sacrifice what you want to see & do.

[CFerguson]

CA Traveler wrote:
Don't travel together every day, go to the same CG every day and the same places. ie Meet up and share along the way. They should do their own research and you may be interested in what they find.

Friends have different interests. Discuss what happens with say a more extended repair or other delay - I'd suggest staying in touch and meeting down the road.

This is what I was going to say. There's bound to be enough difference of interests for each of you to take side trips and generally meet up to do the things together that you want to do. Talking about it in detail up front cant hurt at all.

[CA_Traveler]

Don't travel together every day, go to the same CG every day and the same places. ie Meet up and share along the way. They should do their own research and you may be interested in what they find.

Friends have different interests. Discuss what happens with say a more extended repair or other delay - I'd suggest staying in touch and meeting down the road.

[RobWNY]

We haven't gone on a long trip with friends but we do go camping for 3-4 days at a time with them 5 or 6 times each summer. The trick is to make sure each day you and your spouse do your own thing for a few hours. Even if it's just eating breakfast by yourselves, taking a nap, watching TV, going for a hike etc. Spending every waking minute with anyone puts a strain on the relationship. Your friends will want to do the same thing once they get a feel for things. Also, remember that it's better to bite your tongue than to say something that will hurt your friendship because when the trip is over, what irritated you on the trip will be forgotten quickly but what's said while irritated will be hard to forget. Life's too short. Enjoy each other and have a great time!

[ppine]

This is a big topic. If you have your own rigs you have a good chance. Have you been on over night trips with these people before? Have you camped with them? Have you been together for several days together?

I have friends I see at a party or for an evening. I have friends I spend the day with. Friends I go camping with. Only certain friends are compatible for say a week long river trip or a long RV trip. People get exposed for who they are when they are tired, hungry or stressed. Go camping with these people before you sign up for a long trip. Make sure you have similar traveling styles. Good luck. Could be a great trip or a disaster.

[Lwiddis]

Take a couple of shorts trips with your friends. See how it goes. They can rent an RV.