Most RTWers think of everything they would need for a 6 or 12 month journey, the visas, plane tickets, what to pack, cameras, etc. They think of everything except how to deal with the people they will be traveling with or interacting with the people they meet along the way. People become evil versions of themselves when traveling, throw in being hungry, dirty, and tired and you have a perfect storm for disruptions along the way. Here are some travel ideas that my travel-to-be buds have come up with to stay sane in the eye of evil.
(This post is a living document and will be amended as good ideas are posted in the comment section)
- Instigate a veto rule. It can be for anything you want, but we plant to use it to veto places we don’t want to go. Only 1 a month and no rollovers. Use it or lose it!
- Make a full confession about your peccadilloes. Morning person v.s night owl. Most likely to get cranky when (fill in the blank). Pet peeves, extreme hygiene views or anything else that could cause discomfort while on the road.
- Give yourselves roles while traveling. For example, someone can be the medicine man, picture taker, official worrier, entertainer. You know your own personalities so gravitate to what is normal for you.
- Think about news ways to communicate to fellow travelers along the way. The ‘where you been, where you going‘ questions get old very fast. Why not ask them what they would be doing back home if they weren’t on this trip.
- Bring out the cards. When none of you can decide on what to do/where to go or whatever..play a nice game of War!
- Competitions!! I once bet a guy that I could spend fewer francs in Paris than he in a normal day of sight seeing. I beat him by spending only $4 the entire day…ate a whole baguette for lunch!
- Another tip that I am not sure I agree with yet or not- get into a huge fight with your travelers before you go…may help lessen the future ones you have as you learn how each other handle conflict. Who withers? who whines? who becomes a major jerk?
What ideas have worked well or not so well on your trip? We look forward to your comment!
These are great ideas. Thanks! -ben