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Solo travelers avoid psychotic travel companions

Most travel writers, and many other adventure travel lovers, have read a story or two of Tim Cahill's.  The adventure writer is "famous" for being one of the founders of Outside Magazine and for having what some consider one of the best jobs ever: traveling and writing about fabulous places around the world.

New West recently ran an interview with Cahill and he was asked what lessons his travels have taught him. I must quote what he said:

"Avoid psychotic traveling companions.

There's a corollary to that. The most carefully-chosen traveling companion becomes the most psychotic."

If you've ever experienced this, or some milder version, you know why solo travel is not the worst travel predicament. Far from it.

Because in addition to the psychotic companion, there's the irritable one, the complainer, the one who doesn't want to do anything you want to do but keeps asking, "hey, what do you want to do today," the picky eater, the late sleeper, the early riser, the cheap friend, the extravagant friend…and how did you not know this before?

If you only have a limited number of vacation days, you really don't want to waste time with that sort of nonsense. Nor pick a fight. Nor miss the things you want to do after spending a whole lot of money to get to the place you wanted to go.

If you're lucky enough to have a great travel companion, good for you. If you don't, and you feel sorry for yourself because of it, reread this post. As many times as it takes.

And if that doesn't work, go ahead and needlepoint yourself the Cahill quote.

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3 responses to “Solo travelers avoid psychotic travel companions”

  1. Chris Vaughan Avatar
    Chris Vaughan

    Is it that carefully chosen companions become more psychotic, or is it that when we carefully screen and choose someone, our expectations are higher?
    Either way, the chance of nutjob behavior is reason enough for me to insist on my own room or cabin, even if I’m travelling with others.

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  2. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    It’s a good question. But I think psychosis can occur without warning. Travel and 24-hour togetherness are difficult in the best of relationships. Separating even while traveling together is a good idea.
    And when traveling with strangers, I agree, you’re taking a risk when getting a roommate sight unseen. But I’ve always gone that route to save money and it’s never been a major issue.

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  3. Ted Avatar
    Ted

    I have learned the hard way that good friends don’t always make good travel companions. The “enforced togetherness” of sharing a hotel room and possibly a rental car can “stress test” a relationship in ways that would never otherwise occur. However, traveling with someone who has passed the “stress test” is as an experience to treasure. I’m fortunate to have one friend who has passed the “stress test” several times. The unfortunate thing is that he’s only available to take a trip about once every five years. But when that does happen, I find it particularly difficult to go back to the usual solo routine on my next vacation. Or two. Or three.
    I have taken trips with other friends where we agree in advance that we can’t pass the “stress test.” So we rent a two-bedroom condo, or get separate hotel rooms, and schedule time apart. That’s enough to eliminate any friction (and avoid psychotic episodes), preserving both the vacation and the friendship. But it’s also more expensive and limiting. And it’s difficult to coordinate schedules, vacation time, and interest, which is why I usually end up solo.
    Since I’ve had nothing but unpleasant experiences with assigned roommates, that’s not something I would ever choose to do. The risk of ruining an expensive vacation is simply too great, even though there’s also the possibility of meeting a new friend who is also a very compatible travel companion. I suppose one’s success at “roommate roulette” depends on past experience and personality. But for me, no thanks. If I can’t afford the single supplement, I’ll just do something else.

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