This Travel Influencer's List Of People He Will Never Travel With Is Going Viral, And It's Sparking A Debate
This is Ben. Ben is a consultant and travel influencer from Seattle who makes videos ranging from first-time traveler tips to travel etiquette. You may have seen his video about proper airplane etiquette.
Anyways, Ben recently made a video about the people you should absolutely not take a trip with, which has now been viewed over 1.7 million times. So as someone who's had numerous experiences dealing with conflicting personalities on vacations, I was allll ears.
@ivebentraveling / Via tiktok.com
Let's get into it.
1."People that need to recharge their battery in the middle of the day and force you to go back to the hotel or Airbnb to do that."
"I'm sorry you're telling me you can't not speak to me in a park or at a café, or with a glass of wine somewhere outdoors? You have to be in your bed?"
I definitely get this take, like, I don't want to waste my whole vacation inside. But also, as a girly with social anxiety, a nice mid-day or end of day recharge definitely helps me out.
2."People who sleep in on vacation."
"Unless you have been up until 4 in the morning, there is absolutely zero reason that you need to be sleeping in until 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. every single day. I can absolutely promise you I did not pay for this trip to New York for you to lay in bed."
I probably would have disagreed with this one in a past life, but after planning a vacation for the first time by myself this past summer, I realized just how much more accomplished I feel when my day gets moving early. Like, we can be hitting the sights at 10 a.m. and be horizontal by 3 p.m. Perfect!
3."Picky eaters. That. Just picky eaters."
TBH, I'm a picky eater, so I fully understand. But I'm not going to inhibit where we go eat! I might just order the most basic thing on the menu. And I welcome all judgment. But I'm getting better!!!
4."On that same note, people who want to always, like, eat meals at the place that you're staying."
"Obviously, having food on hand is fine, but the people who actually want to go to the store and pick up, like, pasta supplies and then go back to your Airbnb and cook at home instead of going and trying local restaurants. That's an immediate no for me, dog."
I'm all for grabbing a few easy things to save money on meals, but yeah, as someone who detests cooking and usually eats shitty girl dinners, I will not be chef-ing it up on vacation. I will leave that to the many chefs who are experts in the local cuisine.
5."People who will not stipulate a budget until they get there."
"If you know you cannot spend more than $100 a day, let me know that upfront. I don't mind reducing what I'm spending or I don't mind increasing what I'm spending if I'm capable of doing that and keeping up with your idea of this vacation...but don't surprise me with a budget that is really high or budget that's really low once we're there."
Misaligned budgets are a recipe for vacation tension. I've made a pass on a-many vacations I could not afford, but it's better that I knew what the expectations were upfront! Like if I go in with hostel money, I can't expect to afford the Four Seasons (though I would like to).
6.This tip is definitely a bit of a joke, but I kinda get it: "If you're going international, anyone named Rachel. If you're staying domestic, anyone by the name of Brad, Chad, or Thad."
7.When I asked Ben if there were any other people you shouldn't travel with, he had one more to add: "People who refuse to do ANY research before the trip. A Google search is but a click away, but you're telling me you're willingly going to show up ignorant to the a) culture, b) customs, c) common etiquette, d) social interaction style, etc.?"
"This is where folks get mad — if you're going to Paris and you expect them to be 'Minnesota nice,' you're going to be disappointed. HOWEVER, if you go to Paris and understand that the French are very different in their interaction style, chances are you'll adapt faster and have a better time. Those 10 minutes of research can only help you."
We've spent a lot of time talking about everyone we shouldn't take trips with, but what about the people you should travel with? Here's what Ben had to say:
1. "People who are equal parts structure and 'go with the flow'...especially if you're traveling internationally. A lot of museums, monuments, historical sites, etc. require timed tickets and sell out in advance. It's THIS type of experience where you need some structure. After you finish your tour, there's nothing better than strolling for a low-key lunch; it doesn't need to be structured, but knowing a lunch time will come AFTER the tour will help set expectations and keep everyone on the same page."
2. "People who understand tipping culture. It's different everywhere, and it's not always clear what the expectations are. If you have a friend (or you are the friend) who understands the nuances of tipping culture from state-to-state or country-to-country, add them to your travel squad immediately. It's an invaluable skill. The same goes for people who can strike up a conversation with anyone — this is where the best stories will come from!"
Now, of course everyone travels differently, so Ben's ideal vacation might be vastly different than your own. And that's OK! What matters is that everyone's expectations are communicated upfront. Like, sometimes it's best to realize you'd be better off not traveling together at all:
Ben told BuzzFeed, "A lot of people point out there are exceptions to the 'rules' that I lay out. That is 100% true, which is why I constantly stress that open and honest communication is a must when planning travel with friends or family. Discuss budgets, expectations, wants, and needs ahead of time and you'll avoid any unnecessary speed bumps!"